It took Joe the whole night to get Nicky back to the city. He had not taken any brakes, afraid what would happen if he would put Nicky down on the ground. He was still disoriented and seemed to see things that were simply not there. Each time Joe had held him closer, trying to calm him down by talking to him. Joe didn't feel his feet and legs anymore, but he kept going. Every minute he needed took was a minute his lover was suffering.

As he finally saw the small port and the first houses in front of him, he started running.

'We're almost there Nicky. It's over.'

Joe brought Nicky to the well, filling up a bucket. He gently placed a hand behind Nicky's head, putting him in a sitting position and placing the bucket on his lips. Nicky reacted instantaneously, hands grabbing the bucket and purring the water over his face. He tried to drink as much as possible. As the bucket was empty, Joe got another one.

However, as Nicky wanted to drink the second one, he started vomiting. His stomach had not been prepared to deal with that much water at once. Joe decided to only give Nicky the water in small fractions, hoping that his body was ready to accept at least some of it. Nicky seemed to want to protest, trying to grab the bucket but Joe was able to get it away from him.

Finally, Nicky slowly came back to his senses. 'Yusuf?' he started to look around him, unsure where he was. Was he really back in civilization, had Yusuf really found him?

Joe took Nicky's face in both hands. 'I got you. It's all right now.' Nicky cradled in his lap, hugging the other man fiercely. Joe felt as if Nicky was about the suffocate him.

'Come on. I will get you into some shadow.' Joe got up, filled up his water bag and helped Nicky back on his feet. Nicky was still a bit precarious on his feet, but he managed. Slowly, both men walked to the port where Joe asked the fishermen if they knew a place to stay. Seeing the condition Nicky was in, they had compassion and showed them a small joint where they offered them to stay the night and gave Joe a few fish.

Nicky let himself fall against the wall as they reached the joint. Joe held out his water bag to Nicky and started to prepare the fish. After they had eaten, Nicky finally felt like himself again. He and Joe were sitting right beside each other, backs against the wall.

Nicky looked over at Joe, feeling the other man's graze on him. 'I'm glad you're okay.' Joe said and Nicky would have sworn he saw Joe's cheeks flush.

'Thank you.' Nicky leaned forward an placed his lips in Joe's.

Joe had been surprised; he had feared that these tragic events may have put another wedge between them, but the opposite seemed to happen. Nicky kissed him as if he wanted to disappear inside Joe. As Nicky's lips let go of Joe's to catch his breath, his hands still remained on Joe's face. 'I love you', Nicky said smiling.

Joe felt as if someone had just purred a bucket of water over his head. Did he really just say that? Joe broke into a smile. And then, completely out of his control, he had felt tears forming in his eyes.

'I love you too, I don't want to love anyone else for the rest of my life.'

Nicky laughed. 'Really? You're sure you want to spend eternity with me?'

Joe's eyes darkened. 'Ohh I'm sure of it. Let me show you.'

He captured Nicky's lips once again, placing his legs over Nicky's. He buried his hands in Nicky's hair, pulling his face upwards towards him as Nicky still sat with his back against the wall.

Joe started kissing down Nicky's neck. His fingers stroking Nicky's shoulder blades. As his kisses moved lower, his hands started moving under Nicky's shirt. Nicky's clothes were but rags at this point, but Joe didn't care. Slowly he pulled it over Nicky's head. His eyes roaming over the skin that was now exposed to him. Nicky had lost weight but to Joe, there could not be a more beautiful man walking this earth.

Their next kiss was passionate, urging for more. As Joe's hands trailed over Nicky's body, he felt Nicky sighing in his mouth. This simple sign of pleasure set Joe on fire. He could feel his need grow by the second.

Nicky showed initiative, pulling Joe's shirt over his head and capturing one of his lovers' nipple's in his mouth. Joe was grunting, the action sending electric impulses through his body.

Joe pushed Nicky down on the ground. 'I love you.' He said while starting to undo Nicky's pants. 'Let me show you how much I love you, Nicolo.'

Nicky was now laying in front of Joe, completely naked. He seemed a bit self-conscious as Joe's graze travelled over his body. Joe undid his own pants and bend back down to kiss Nicky. While one of his hands stroked Nicky's neck the other one was moving downwards. He felt him gasping as Joe's hand reached its destination. He started stroking Nicky's length and Nicky could barely lay still.

'Yusuf.' he gasped again, his hands holding onto Joe's back as another kiss stole his breath away. As Joe's kisses moved to his jawline and ear, Nicky's hands moved to Joe's core, putting a firm grasp around Joe. As he felt Joe shiver, Nicky couldn't help but smirk, proud of the feelings he could stir up in Joe.

'I need you.' Nicky whispered into Joe's ear. Joe obliged, gently positioning himself behind Nicky, both men on their knees. Joe held Nicky close as he started entering him. Nicky sucked in his breath, a small wave of pain soring trough him. But it only took his body seconds to get used to the feeling of Joe, conquering his body centimeter by centimeter.

'Nicolo' Joe moaned as he finally buried all of him inside Nicky. His arms holding the other man even closer. Nicky placed a hand on Joe's neck as he pulled him in for a kiss, just as Joe started moving.

They felt a sense of completion and love they felt for the first time in their lives. It seemed like the last piece of a puzzle had finally been put in place.

Nicky felt completely filled. Joe had to hold back, the feeling of Nicky all around him, was already too much. Their gasps and moans were silenced by their kisses.

Joe's hand slowly moved away from Nicky's stomach, finding Nicky's throbbing need.

'Yusuf. Too much.' Nicky gasped but instead trying to slow him down, Nicky's hand moved around Joe's. Both of them now directing Nicky to new heights.

'Please' Nicky whispered, his voice hoarse.

'I love you Nicolo. I'm going to give you everything.' Joe whispered into Nicky's ear-shell. Nicky came undone by Joe's words. A shiver running up and down his spine into his legs. Joe kissed Nicky has he felt the other man orgasm. As the walls around his own need contracted, Joe followed Nicky over the edge.

Nicky laid back onto Joe's chest, catching his breath, feeling Joe gasping into his ear.

Both men laid down afterwards, content, tired and spent. Joe was laying behind Nicky, an arm holding the love of his life close.