WOO ANOTHER CHAPTER. A long one at that ;D I realized how much of a downer I was being with these chapters lately, but I just wanted to capture just how much pain and suffering a trauma like rape can cause.

It isn't something that goes away in a day like it seems in far too many other yaoi fictions.

But on a brighter note, this chapter is actually pretty happy. :D

ALSO: PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A TIME SKIP (which will be announced) IN THE MIDDLE. So please take note of why Allen and Lavi are all of a sudden so different from the scene before.

ENJOY!

000

It had been a week and a half. Allen was doing so much better than before. He could speak fluently (though there were still a few stutters here and there) and he could do little things for himself such as sit up and lie down, move and adjust himself on the bed, and on good days, he could even feed himself.

Lavi had only returned home 3 times throughout, and that was to check on everything, get the mail, bring a few things Allen might've wanted, and negotiate a 3 month vacation with his boss and agency. And this was all late at night while Allen was asleep, so he wouldn't have gotten lonely.

It was currently the late afternoon, and Allen and Lavi were back to their normal patterns of conversation. It was almost as if nothing had ever happened.

Almost.

But even still, things were fairly smooth. Allen still had frequent nightmares, but Lavi was always there to wake him up and comfort him.

It was that late afternoon in the midst of talking when Lavi began to discuss the immediate future.

"Allen."

"Hm?"

"When you get out of this place—when we get out of this place, you're going to need somewhere to go."

Allen stayed quiet. It's not as if the thought had never crossed his mind. He figured he could bribe the hotel owner into letting him in again.

"And…when that…I want you to be…" the redhead stumbled over his words before sighing and taking a breath.

"When you get out, it wouldn't bother me if you…came home with me." He murmured with nervous conviction.

Allen sat in a hushed shock. He…that would've been so wonderful. So many times since he met Lavi had he thought about living with Lavi, being with Lavi 24/7, being with Lavi for the rest of his life—forever.

But…

"You've already done so much already…"

Allen felt guilty making Lavi his caretaker. Lavi deserved better than to always have to worry about him.

"I don't want to worry you…"

"You'd worry me even more if I ever let you out of my sight again." Lavi pressed, why couldn't Allen see?

Allen flinched (only very slightly though) as Lavi pressed a hand onto his lap.

"I want this to happen, Allen. I've been thinking about it for a while now and I wouldn't mind at all."

"I…I just…" Allen brought a hand to cover his mouth as small tears began to form at his eyes.

Lavi was just too selfless. Allen didn't want to take advantage. He didn't want to put Lavi through the aftermath of everything. He still had a hard time understanding why he had even stuck around for this long.

He wasn't a perfect virgin; he was a goddamn prostitute for heaven's sake! He was already broken in (many times); he was used merchandise—second hand garbage.

Why?

Such kindness brought Allen to tears.

Lavi's eyebrows knitted together worriedly. Did that hurt Allen? Was this a bad reaction?

Lavi stood and cautiously moved closer to Allen, enclosing him in a very slow and steady hug so as not to scare him.

His thin shoulders were shaking and his back shuddered with small sobs.

"I know it sounds like a rash decision and it may be too soon…but I really want this to happen. All you need to say is yes. You make me so happy Allen, you really do…" Lavi murmured comfortingly as he gently stroked Allen's back.

"This…this would make me happy Allen. I want you to stay with me. I don't want to leave you ever again. I know…I know that maybe you don't feel the same way…but please, just stay for a little while? If you don't like it, I promise I'll get you a place somewhere else."

Allen was silent now, but he was still listening intently.

There were a few moments where nothing but the sound of a breeze outside the window filled the room with its pastel walls and drab linoleum floor.

"Would you really?" Allen whispered—his voice raspy and almost squeaky.

Lavi's eyes widened but his expression quickly dissolved into a warm smile as he held the boy closer to his chest.

"Yes." He whispered back.

And as he did so, he could feel Allen's arms hesitantly wrap around his neck.

"Thank you…so much…"

000

*Approximately 2 months later*

000

Allen groaned in pain after his legs gave out from under him. He gripped the two parallel metal bars on either side of him and tried to stand again.

Sweating and biting his lip, Allen hoisted himself upright and began to walk a few more steps, little by little while using his trembling hands to balance on the two bars that extended almost all the way across the room.

His physical therapist was a nice woman who helped him around a lot and often pushed him to his limits.

"You're getting so much better Allen, keep it up. Just a few more steps and you're done for the day."

Allen nodded determinedly, stepping forward again, and again, and again. His lower back hurt like hell and his legs had become so weak from lying in bed for so long that even this was a challenge.

The therapist clapped as a wide smile overtook her face.

"And you're done! You are making so much progress."

Allen smiled weakly.

"Thank you."

"You're certainly welcome! Why, at this rate you'll be done with regular visits in no time."

This brought another smile to Allen's face.

"You really think so?" He whispered.

"Sure! But in a bit, okay? Not just right now. Maybe in a few weeks." She warned.

Allen nodded and sat in his wheelchair. It was only temporary, meant to be used for the first 3 months Allen was out of the hospital because any complications such as sprains, strains, or fractures could easily send him straight back into the hospital. As soon as his physical therapist signed the papers that would enable him reprieve from his wheelchair, Allen could do whatever he wished so long as it wasn't dangerous.

Allen said a quick farewell as he slowly wheeled himself to the door which the woman held open for him. He waved once more before exiting.

Lavi had been waiting for him outside and stood when he heard the rolling of Allen's wheelchair.

He grinned, "All finished?"

"Mmhm." Allen smiled.

"Good." The redhead replied, giving Allen a small kiss on the top of his head.

"Do you really want to be doing that after I sweat all that much back there?" Allen smirked.

"I'll even do it again." Lavi countered playfully, giving him another kiss.

"Now stop that!" Allen laughed as Lavi grinned wider and walked behind him to push his wheelchair out the door. He had already checked Allen out of the clinic a few minutes before he finished his session.

Allen gazed at the sky and the spring sun as they headed to Lavi's car in the parking lot. They were going home.

Home.

Their home.

The white-haired boy smiled contently as they stopped in front of the car. Lavi was about to help him when he held up a hand.

"I can do this by myself now." Allen explained as he stood unsteadily and opened the car door.

He was about to trip a little when Lavi immediately scooped him up into his arms like a princess before setting him down carefully inside the passenger's seat.

"Hey! I was going to do that myself!" Allen pouted. He really could've done it by himself.

Lavi got in on his side after closing Allen's door and laughed a little.

"I promise you can get out on your own…for the most part." He grinned.

He'd never been happier since Allen had moved in with him. Every day was a good day. The moon was calmer, the sun was brighter, the birds sang all the more sweetly, and the day was lit up by Allen's smile.

Lavi had the privilege of waking up every morning to that lovely and peaceful face quietly breathing beside him. Lavi had the privilege of spending all day gazing into those silvery gray eyes—watching rosy pink spread across Allen's cheeks when they made eye contact. Lavi had the privilege of having meaningful and sometimes deeply intellectual and philosophical conversations with him, and Lavi had the privilege of holding Allen, comforting Allen, and kissing his tears away when he awoke from a nightmare.

It was just too bad that he had to return to work in a week.

He cherished the fact that he had Allen to return home to now, but he still worried about what could happen when he was away at work.

Granted, Lavi's agency was located 5 minutes more or less from his spacious apartment, there was still a chance that he could not get there in time in the case of an emergency.

Soon, they arrived home and sure enough, Allen got out of the car and into the wheelchair by himself (under the watchful eye of a certain redhead).

Lavi smiled, "Well done, well done!" he clapped.

Allen rolled his eyes jokingly as he wheeled away from the car so Lavi could shut the door. The two then took the elevator up and entered the apartment and into the bedroom in which then Allen was finally scooped up and lightly dropped onto the bed from a terrifying height of 5 centimeters.

Allen sighed and closed his eyes.

"Kiss me Lavi" he breathed with a mischievous smile on his face as he spread his arms in a T on the bed.

An eyebrow quirked.

"You sure are frisky today aren't you?" the redhead chuckled.

But he wouldn't question it since he hadn't seen Allen this joyful and playful in a long time. Perhaps it was because he was almost finished with his routine visits to the physical therapist.

Lavi leaned down for a kiss but stopped mid-journey. Allen's eyes were still closed, but his patience was running out quickly. Pretty soon he opened one eye, then the other eye. Lavi was smiling foolishly down at him.

Allen growled and pulled Lavi to him, grasping his fiery red hair.

It was just about the cutest thing Allen could've done. His growl sounded like a kitten trying to growl like a dog. It was just too adorable to bear.

Lavi flashed a wild grin before their lips connected. It was sweet and slow first, but Allen was growing surprisingly feisty. Lavi pulled away after a few moments before pressing a finger to Allen's lips (which were currently molded into an annoyed pout).

"Now now princess. Let's not get too frolicsome. You might break a hi—."

Allen had cut the redhead off in another small kiss, just to spite him.

Finally the white-haired boy pulled away on his own accord and yawned contentedly, stretching out his arms a little more on the sheets.

Lavi laughed out loud heartily before he folded the wheelchair and put it away.

"I'll get started on lunch. You take a nap."

"Sounds like a plan." Allen replied sleepily as he rolled over on his side.

"I'll wake you up in a bit, now get some rest."

Lavi shut the door soundlessly soon after and was about to walk into the kitchen when he heard Allen call.

"W-Wait!"

Lavi semi-ran back to the door—opening it to see that Allen had already sat up.

"I still need a bath…" Allen murmured embarrassedly. He felt so childish for saying that.

"Ah, that's right" Lavi repeated, "You should take a bath. Stay right here, I'll go fill the tub."

Lavi walked into the adjoining bathroom and started the water, making sure it was of the correct temperature.

"Hold on!" Allen yelled over the roaring water.

Lavi poked his head into the bedroom.

"What?"

"Maybe we could…take one together…later?" Allen's face gradually grew redder and redder as he said so.

Lavi looked dumbfounded for a moment before he smiled again.

"Sure. I'll drain the water, now get some rest. I'm getting hungry."

Allen smiled softly to himself after Lavi disappeared once more into the bathroom.

Soon enough, Lavi left Allen alone in the bedroom again to get some rest after a day of physical strain.

Allen began to ponder and even become quite nervous for tonight.

They hadn't done anything really romantic in a long time. There just wasn't enough time between Allen's physical therapy, emotional and mental therapy, doctor's visits, and necessary sleep.

They were also reluctant because of Allen's emotional fears acting up. When Lavi got too close for comfort, no matter how much Allen felt like he could trust him—he'd begin hyperventilating, wailing, and ask for him to stop. He'd just keep imagining…someone else. Things would keep coming back. Things he should've best forgotten.

But...maybe just for tonight, things would work out for them…

Maybe tonight Allen could forget and let go of a few things.

Maybe tonight could be a night when they could be like when they first met.

Allen laid back down and held a finger to his lips, smiling ever so slightly.

He couldn't wait until tonight.

000

WAS THIS CHAPTER TO YOR LIKING? :D

I certainly liked it, not to mention WORKED MY ASS OFF ON IT WHEN I SHOULD BE STUDYING FOR 2 EXAMS. LOLOL.

This may OR MAY NOT lead to smut. I think it might be a bit too soon.

What do you guys think? NOW BE HONEST.

Please review, it only takes 2 minutes of your time and those 2 minutes tend to make my whole day :)