When Jekyll awoke the next morning, he feared that the events of the previous evening had been a dream.

But he calmed down immediately, when he looked down and found that someone was sleeping in his arms, their bodies entangled. With a fond smile he ran his fingers through the dark brown hair of the head that was resting on his shoulder.

This is real … it really is.

Hyde began to stir and slowly woke up.

Jekyll's heart beat a little higher, when the brunette looked up to him and grinned sleepily.

"Good morning, my wild child", the older man cooed and kissed the other tenderly.

"Good morning, Fairest", Hyde crooned, when they parted, and stroked his cheek. "How did you sleep?"

"Better than I've slept in a while", Jekyll chuckled and leaned into the bony hand. "And you?"

"Ditto."

Another kiss.

"I love you", the blond whispered.

Hyde laughed quietly and didn't answer.

He would never be able to requite these words, Jekyll knew.

But it wasn't necessary anyway; the Doctor could read them in Hyde's bilious green eyes.

There had been only two moments in his life, when he had been as happy as now; the first had been at 25 years old, when Lanyon had confessed, that he loved him. The second one had been half a year ago, when he had learned that Utterson loved him (kind of; the lawyer still refused to say it, for Hyde's sake).

"My dear other half", he cooed, "My soul, my fire, my-"

"Good grief, stop!", Hyde snickered, "Goddammit, Henry! How often do I have to tell you to warn me, when you're about to be so grotesquely saccharine!"

Jekyll grinned: "Oh, but I will never stop, Edward! As long as I live, you will have to put up with it!"

"Oh, you hopelessly sentimental old man!", the brunette laughed, then smiled fondly. "But you're my hopelessly sentimental old man. Well, and Gabriel's, but let's gloss over that for now."

Said sentimental old man chuckled quietly and let his hands wander.

First Hyde's eyes widened in surprise. Then he shuddered and leaned into the fingers, that were tracing his spine teasingly.

"Ohhh, fuck! Oh, you fantastic old bastard, how I have missed this!", the young man growled and kissed him hungrily. When they parted, Hyde's eyes were glowing with passion and desire.

"And how much I have missed you", he purred. "Seduce me, fairest. Give me the best we've ever had. I haven't had good sex in weeks, you have no idea how much I have yearned for you."

The Doctor chuckled and wasted no time in relieving the brunette's sexual frustration.

...

"Are you satisfied?", he asked sweetly, when they were lying in the afterglow. "Did I please you … my dear other half?"

"It was … fantastic … my soulmate", Hyde panted, "Perfect … best time ever …"

He could have used many more words, but none of them would have been sufficient to describe the state of utter bliss he had been in. Still was.

Fucking Jekyll was always fantastic, but this had been so … so real. So full of real passion. Commitment. Love.

Yes, that was it.

He knew it now.

The realisation made him feel so warm and elated, that his cheeks reddened with joy. They had never done that before.

Jekyll was smiling at him adoringly and Hyde couldn't help but reciprocate that smile.

I want him to always smile like that for me.

"You're so beautiful, Edward", the blond cooed and caressed his cheek.

"No, I'm not", Hyde chuckled.

Jekyll lifted an eyebrow. "But you are! That's a matter of fact."

Hyde lowered his gaze.

If he looked into Jekyll's beautiful eyes any longer, he would cry.

"I love you so much", the older man whispered.

The younger felt his heart swell. He really wanted to say …

"Henry?"

"Hm?"

"I … I … I l… I lo… shit!", he shouted and burst into tears.

Jekyll's eyes widened and he pulled the smaller man in.

Bitterly, Hyde sobbed into his chest. He really hated his own tongue sometimes. It wasn't fair! It was just three simple words! Why couldn't he say them?!

"I just … I want to tell you … dammit, if only I could say …"

"Shhh, shhh. Please don't cry, Edward. You don't have to say it. I know."

"But … but …"

"Shhhh …", Jekyll cooed and kissed the tears away. "Think, Edward. Does it matter, as long as I know?"

Hyde sniffled and wiped his face on the bedsheets. "I guess not, but … it's so easy for you."

The blond looked sad. "I understand."

And his brown eyes told the green-eyed brunette that he did.

Jekyll sat up and onto the edge of the bed. "Let's get up. Poole will be delighted, when he comes and finds that he doesn't have to shoo us out of the bed."

Hyde giggled and let the other help him up.