Chapter 24

NIFF

Monday

Leaving Dalton Jeff wore a proud look when Nick winced every time he sat, of course he felt a little guilty, but Nick assured him it was worth it. They said their goodbyes and put their last things into Jeff's car. They were spending a week in LA with Nick's family then a week in California with Jeff's family. They dropped the car off at Jeff's grandparents house and his grandpa drove them to the airport.

On the plane they cuddled and watched a film and Nick nearly broke Jeff's hand through squeezing through the pain of landing. "Still worth it." He smiled to reassure Jeff as they collected their bags.

"NICKY!"

"Hey Jesse," Nick chuckled as he was tackled by a seven year old.

"Who's that?" He remembered, Jesse was usually at Camp when Jeff visited them, but this year it was delayed for a week.

"This is my boyfriend, Jeff."

"Hey Jesse, Nicky, you never said she was this pretty."

"Well, I didn't wanna lose you now did I?" Jesse giggled and took one of each boy's hands. "Hey mom." Nick hugged his mother, she'd raised him on her own.

"Mrs. Duval."

"Jeff, what have I told you?"

"Mom," he grinned as she swept him into a tight hug. At the house the boys unpacked their clothes and Nick's mom told them to look in the Garage.

"My baby!" Nick exclaimed, dropping Jeff's hand. "Mom?"

"Steve, my new boyfriend, he's a mechanic, he fixed it up, as a project thing. And a graduation gift."

"Well, where is he so I can thank him, then intimidate him." She chuckled.

"He'll be here for dinner tonight he wants to meet you and Jeff, don't worry, I wont date anyone homophobic, you know that. Besides, Nick he moved in last week."

"Mom. I'm still intimidating him."

"OK, now, go on, take it for a spin."

"OK, Jesse, you wanna come for ice cream?"

"I'm in!" She clambered down the stairs and her mom kissed her bye.

"Later boys. Jesse behave."

"Bye mom," they called.

That evening as dinner was cooking and the boys were watching a film with Jesse, who conveniently placed herself between the two boys, a new voice called out. "Darling, I'm home."

"Hi Steve."

"Steve!"

"Hey kiddo, had a good day?"

"Yeah, Nick and Jeff are here!"

"Are they, well, you should introduce them." He ruffled her hair and she lead him to where the boys were stood in the family room. "Boys, you must be Nick and Jeff." He shook their hands.

"Please have a seat," Nick said and Steve knew what was coming. "Jesse, go help mom, we'll be five minutes." She nodded, Nick always had a 'talk' with their mom's boyfriend and she was never allowed in the room. Nothing bad, just guy stuff. "First, thank you so much for saving my car."

"No trouble."

"A few questions," Jeff said, he was the adopted son, he was able to help Nick. "Ever been married?"

"No."

"Any addictions?"

"None."

"Ever had a kid?"

"Never."

"Ever plan on it?"

"Never thought about it."

"My mom's life plan said she wants three, are you willing?"

"I'd love that."

"Afraid of commitment?"

"Nope."

"Ever been arrested?"

"Nope."

"He's good," the boys shared a look, "would you ever leave my mom?"

"Not unless she wanted me too."

"Would you ever hurt her?"

"Never, I'd rather die."

"He passes."

"Welcome to the family," Nick shook his hand again but he hugged him, Nick hugged back, he'd never been hugged by one of his mom's boyfriend's, not eve Jesse's dad and he'd stayed for two years, until he found out she was pregnant. Jeff smiled and excused himself to help with dinner.

"How's it going?"

"Hugging." Lisa smiled. The boys came in and Steve kissed Lisa's cheek, and Nick did Jeff's who kissed his back.

"Eww, gross, kissing." Jesse said, Nick and Jeff shared a look and moved with side of her, "what're you- Ewwwww!" She shouted as they each kissed a cheek. She sprinted to wash her face, complaining about cooties and the grown-ups laughed.

Tuesday

"Just think, three weeks from now will decide my future. It sucks." They were laid on a blanket in the park on their final night and were discussing the problem they had. Why did the one condom they used from the box Trent gave them, have to break just as they's reached their climax?

"Look, if you are, I'll deter my entry too, then we can start together."

"But, this is your dream, to dance."

"Nicky, you're my dream, that will never change. Jeff lay with an arm under his head and Nick had his head on Jeff's toned-but not rock solid -torso and Jeff was combing his fingers through Nick's dark hair.

"What do we tell the others?" Nick asked after a long pause.

"We wont, that way, there wont be as many lectures. And we can celebrate properly without the jokes." Nick laughed and sighed content. He loved Jeff and Jeff constantly told him that he loved him.

Thursday

Nick had been asked to get some child's cough syrup from the pharmacy and Jeff approached his mom and Steve.

"Is something wrong Jeff?"

"No, quite the opposite actually. I wanted to asked permission to ask Nick to marry me. O love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him." Steve smiled and Lisa took Jeff's hands over the table.

"Jeff, you're like family already, consider yourselves blessed."

"Thanks mom," he stood from the table and enveloped her in a hug.

Nick and Jeff spent the rest of the week hanging out with Nick's family before flying to California to Jeff's family.

Monday

"JEFF! Nicky!" Several voices chorused.

"Oh no, brace yourself," Nick wrapped his arms around Jeff and the pair were tackled by six others. Jeff was a big hugger, Dalton knew this, but put him in a room with his six siblings and he was the normal one! Jeff was the oldest and had one sister among brothers and he was very protective on her. Nick had met them many times and like at his place with Jeff, he was family. Jeff's parents gave their kids names all beginning with J:

Jeff
Joseph (Joe)
Jason
Jasper
and Jennifer and James (twins.)

"Hey guys, can we get up?" Nick laughed.

Jeff's family lived on a large farm with it's own private beach where the kids would swim in the ocean. Jeff's own room had been converted from the loft and it was big and warm. He and Nick had decorated it the Spring Break of Freshman year.

Their days were spent of the beach with the siblings. The youngest were 5, Jasper was 7, Jason 12, Joe 14 and Jeff 18.

Wednesday

Jeff was helping his mom take the twins for new clothes and Nick was helping Jeff's dad work on the car, while watching the others.

"Um, Sir-"

"Nick."

"Sorry," he blushed, "Brian."

"Yes Son?"

"I love Jeff. So much. I could never stop loving him. And, I want to propose to him and get married, after college, but I want to, but I was raised by a good woman and she taught me, ask, so I'm asked, Brian, for your blessing to marry your son." Brian stopped what he was doing to the engine, closed the lid and moved to the driver window, reaching in to turn the key. The engine roared to life and he smiled, cleaning his hands with a rag, he tossed it to Nick.

"Son, I can't think I've ever seen Jeff so happy. We sent a lonely, terrified boy to Dalton four years ago. And the first vacation he came back, do you know what he said to us?" Nick shook his head. "He said 'Dalton is cool, but the best part is my roommate, he's smart, funny, kinda cute and I think I love him.' He came back the Jeff we knew before he came out. Anyone who has that effect on my eldest son, is welcome to my family, you have my blessing son. Come here," he waved Nick over and hugged him tightly. Jeff and his siblings got their 'hugging' skills from their parents. It was genetic apparently.

Thursday

Nick was driving Jeff, he pulled up outside a bar.

"Um, Nick, I thought we weren't going inside."

"We aren't, we're going through and up." Nick lead him through the building and up the stairs to where a bouncer was stood. "Sterling and Duval." He checked his clipboard and nodded, moving aside to let them through.

"Nicky, what is this place?"

"You'll see," they went down another corridor and up another flight of stairs. "Ready?"

"Yeah." Nick opened the door and Jeff looked around. They were on the roof, there were tables and chairs set up, a small bar and stage too. "What is this place?"

"Open Mic on the Roof. I remember, Freshman year, you said 'the best thing in town is the Open Mic on the Roof, but you have to be 18.' Jeffy, we're 18, I called ahead and got us on the list, they were reluctant, since I'm not from here, but I told them about the Warblers, Jeff, the whole place gathered and watched Nationals, because your family said you were competing." Jeff, who had been staring at his surroundings looked at Nick and threw his arms around his neck.

"Thank you," he whispered and Nick smiled, hugging back.

Later on that night Nick's name was called for him to sing.

"Hi everyone, this is dedicated to my wonderful boyfriend Jeff, we've been together three and a half years last week. I love you Jeff."Nick took the mic from the stand and the MC hit play:

"It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I"

Jeff was blushing a deep crimson as Nick walked over took his hand and kissed it, Jeff grinned.

"Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me"

Jeff bit his lip to keep from laughing at how goofy Nick was being but her really couldn't help it as Nick caressed his face he smiled and allowed Nick to lace their fingers together.

"I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me

You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me

Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me"

As he sang, Nick pulled Jeff from his seat and towards the stage, looking him in the eyes as he sang the final verse, reaching into his pocket he took Jeff's hand as he lowered to one knee, Jeff gaped and grinned shaking his head.

"When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me

"Jeffy, I love you, you are my everything, the wind to my wings, the moon to my stars the three to my six, will you marry me?" The MC handed Jeff another Mic.

"Nicky, I love you and" he chuckled reaching into his pocket, "I've been planning to ask you the same question," Nick stood as the crowd 'awwed', "what do you say six?"

"I will if you will three."

"Then yes." They slid the rings on each other and Jeff pressed his lips to Nick's who kissed him back as the crowd cheered for them.

Friday

"How did we get so lucky? We live across the country from each other yet on a whim we both went to Dalton and got paired together in room 36."

"No idea 3, but I wouldn't change it for the world."

"Me either 6." They moved closer to cuddle in bed and fell asleep, it was their last night.

The next morning they rose early, said they goodbyes and went for their flight to New York. They were the first to arrive at the house, chose a bedroom and settle in. "What do we do?"

"Well, I don't know about you, but in the next few days, our friend will arrive with their kids, I say we take this chance to christen every surface in our room."

"Loudly?"

"Is there any other way?" Jeff smirked, "and I ran to the pharmacy when I was out with my mom and the twins." He held up a box of condoms and smiled.

"I love you." Nick said crushing his lips to Jeff's.

"You more."

"Not possible."

"Why?"

"Because, I Niff you."

"Niff you too."