Originally written in April 2008
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. The pretty boys belong to themselves and the characters they portray belong to WWE.

It was another night in a town whose name escaped Shawn right now and a weekend of house shows lay behind him. After weeks of only being at the TV tapings, Shawn had finally managed to get away from home for some extra shows. He had told his wife something about the company asking him and Hunter to do a few DX matches because people were still eating it up. Truth was that nobody had asked them. It had just been the perfect excuse to get to spend a few days with each other again. And nights.

"Can I ask you something?" Shawn's voice cut through the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

"What is it?" Hunter sounded as if he had already been slowly dozing off.

He was quiet for a moment while looking for the right words. "Have you ever questioned us? What we're doing?"

Without missing a beat, Hunter replied, "No."

Shawn struggled to make out his features in the darkness of the room that was only illuminated by the pale moonlight, casting its dim shadows through the window. Hunter must have been able to see the expression on his face, regardless, because he continued.

"Don't be so shocked. Really, no. I know things have never been perfect, but I'm content with what we have. It's enough." The arms that pulled him closer only emphasized each word. "What about you?"

Shawn hesitated. He didn't know what to say that wouldn't come out the wrong way.

"You have, haven't you?"

The words were spoken without any hint of accusation, which made Shawn feel all the more bad that he'd have to admit that no, he didn't have the same faith in them. He took a deep breath before he replied, "I have, yes."

"Why?"

Just a simple question. But how come he again didn't know what to say if it was so simple?

"I love you, but…" He paused for a moment. "Sometimes I wonder what keeps drawing us to each other."

He heard Hunter chuckle quietly, "What? My charms and good looks aren't enough of a reason?"

"I'm trying to be serious here…," Shawn stated, some frustration probably showing in his voice that caused the other man to be quiet again and let him continue. "You and me, it's just… Sometimes I just wish things could be different, you know?"

He felt Hunter search for his hand, taking it in his. Somehow to Shawn that little gesture alone was comforting. The other man's voice was soft when he spoke up, "But they aren't. These are the cards we've been dealt. We're still lucky."

He couldn't say why but Hunter's words hit a nerve with him. Suddenly Shawn felt restless and he couldn't help but free himself from the warm embrace. As soon as he got out of the bed, he started pacing.

"You call this lucky? We're sneaking around behind our families' backs. We always have to be careful that nobody finds out." He threw up his hands. "Heck, in church I can't help but wonder when lightning's gonna strike me down."

Shawn hadn't even noticed how Hunter had also moved from the bed, until he felt the younger man wrap his arms around him again from behind.

"We still have each other." Hunter rested his chin gently on his shoulder. "And God hasn't struck you down yet so what we do can't be all that wrong."

Deep down Shawn wanted to believe him, but yet he pulled away, walking over to the window to put some distance between them. Looking outside into the night, he quietly wondered, almost as if to himself, "You don't ever feel guilty?"

He saw Hunter's silhouette reflected in the glass pane and how he ran his hand through his hair. His friend walked only a few steps towards him, seemingly careful to give Shawn the space he needed right now.

"I do. But it's something I've learned to deal with. Yes, I wish I could be honest with Stephanie, but I also know she wouldn't understand." When he paused for a moment, Shawn turned around to look at him. "This isn't about her, or Rebecca, you know? It's about us."

Another step that closed some more of the distance between them, but Shawn didn't stop him.

"Look, a long time ago we had to make a decision. We'd probably make a different one now. But then again, maybe not. One way or the other, you know as well as I do that the result would've been the same…"

A soft touch to his chin made Shawn look up into those hazel eyes he knew like the back of his hand.

"We'd still be together. Right here where it matters." Hunter's hand fell to Shawn's chest, just above his heart. "I don't care if we get to spend every day together or not. Cause nothing's ever gonna change that."

Shawn felt a lump in his throat. This time he didn't fight him when Hunter pulled him back into his arms. Burying his head into Hunter's shoulder, Shawn didn't even try to not let the emotions show in his voice. "Thank you for never letting me forget that."

When he looked up again, he saw the familiar smile on Hunter's lips. "That's what I'm here for, buddy." However, the other man's eyes still showed some of the same concern for him as earlier. "You're okay now?"

Shawn nodded slowly. "…I'm sorry."

Leaning his forehead against Shawn's, Hunter whispered, "I'll always have enough faith for the both of us. I promise."

Later, drifting off to sleep in his lover's arms, Shawn knew he believed him.