The next morning Thomas descended the staircase into the servants quarters and immediately found himself drawn to the delicious smell of freshly baked cakes wafting down the hallway from the kitchen towards him. He had eaten well the night before, Richard's mother had insisted on them both having second and third, and in his case forth, helpings of the cakes she had baked for them both. He and Richard had fallen asleep quickly last night, as if willingly drugged by mouth watering treats. In fact, if it weren't for Wilde padding up over the bed sheets the following morning, walking right up his back, and pressing his paws heavily into the back of his spine as he did so, then Thomas may have even overslept. The little terror has his uses. Unable to resist his old habits of pinching cakes, pastry and biscuits off the kitchen table, he pushed the slightly closed kitchen door open slowly with his foot and sauntered in as casually as he could.

"Mr Barrow." Daisy looked up as she saw Thomas cautiously walk into the room that was currently only occupied by herself.

"Daisy."

Daisy knew by the way that Thomas was laying his hand on the corner of the large wooden table and tapping his index finger up and down in an action that was far too deliberate to be causal, that he was only here because he wanted something. A few inches from his fingers were several trays of cakes of various descriptions needed for an afternoon tea party outside later today, waiting to be sliced off the cooking trays and onto several cooling racks. She inwardly rolled her eyes as she watched Thomas Barrow, the man who wanted to be treated as a leader and taken seriously in his role of butler of this house, making a pathetic attempt to pickpocket his way into getting a cake or two from the table while she wasn't looking. "Need anything Thomas? Or are you going to offer to help with all of these?"

"What?" Thomas looked in her direction caught off guard. "Um no. I just came to-" He knew that Daisy was not a fool and was wise to his keenness of all things sweet, so he felt a little ridiculous trying to steal one from under her nose. Should be grateful that Mrs Patmore isn't here I suppose. Butler or not she would attack me with a wooden spoon if I took too many of these! He looked at Daisy again, who was now folding her arms and waiting for him to explain what he was doing here. Then again, best not underestimate her. He gave up. "Don't suppose you got any of these going spare do you?"

"Hmm, well that depends." Daisy had a plan.

"Why?"

"How was your evening last night?" She turned her back for a moment to fetch a pallet knife to slice the biscuits off the tray closest to her. These ones in particular were for the children and were to be covered in strawberry jam later.

"What's that got to do with anything?"

Daisy sighed. One thing that hadn't altered too much about Thomas since he met Richard was that he still wouldn't share too much information about himself. She understood why of course, he had spent a lot of his life hiding from everyone and it is a hard habit to break. He also had good reason to be cautious. "Just answer the question!"

Thomas raised an eyebrow in response to Daisy's persistence. He wondered briefly why she was so interested in what he did last night, before he remembered that Daisy had bumped into Richard's parents yesterday. "Um, it was nice."

"Really? 'Nice? Is that all I get for an answer?" Daisy sliced the first few biscuits off the baking tray and carefully placed them on the cooling rack next to her.

Thomas watched with envy. "Well I don't have to tell you everything do I?"

"No. But I would like to know a little more. I'm intrigued after meeting Richard's parents yesterday, and anyway, if you want me to give you one of these then you will give me a better answer than just 'nice', okay?"

Thomas sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Bribery then is it? Fine. Deal, but I want one of the chocolate ones okay?" If I have to earn one of these then I may as well make it a good one.

"Agreed," Daisy answered with a quick nod. "Now, how was your evening?"

Thomas pulled up a stool to the table and sat down, a sea of food stretching out in front of him. Surely a small tea party won't need all of these. He made a conscious effort to shift his thoughts away from cake and focus on the topic at hand. A little nervous, which was silly as he knew Daisy was trustworthy, he began. "It was good. As you know Richard's parents came to visit him, well us. They haven't actually seen the shop or the flat since Richard bought it, you see. I wasn't present when they arrived and Richard showed them around, but he told me they were impressed."

Daisy didn't expect Thomas to say as much as that, and now that he had started talking, it looked as though he wanted to continue. "I've got no doubt that they were. It was an achievement, changing jobs moving here and you moving in as well." She wanted to say that him moving in was the biggest achievement out of it all, considering the risks but doing so all the same. Thomas's shy smile that he hid quickly as she looked in his direction again after placing another biscuit on the cooling rack, indicated though that he knew at least some of what she wanted to say. "Did Richard cook? you always say that he is rather talented in that area."

Thomas was grateful for the prompt. "Yes, well mostly. He was doing chicken roast, had most of it prepared and cooking before they even arrived. It tasted wonderful as he is handy in the kitchen yes, but he did almost make a mistake that could have ruined the chicken. He found himself distracted but his mother, Marion, saved it just in time so there was no harm done."

Daisy noticed a distinct look in Thomas's expressions as he spoke of Richard getting distracted. He wouldn't look her in the eye now, in fact his gaze wouldn't settle on anything much until he set it down at the table in front of him in the end. Thomas was a man of many sides in a way. He was someone who would not hesitate in voicing his opinions if he felt strongly about something or if he was defending himself or someone he cared for, but other times he would hardly say a word. "Distracted how?"

"You don't have to know every detail do you?"

"No, but you've said it and now I am curious."

If Thomas had been sitting in a chair and not perched on a wooden kitchen stool, then this would be the moment where he would slump back in his chair and groan. But such actions were unwise considering they would mostly likely result in him falling backwards onto the hard stone floor and injuring himself painfully. So instead he just tapped the heel of his shoe on the floor below the table, a few times. "He got distracted by me. When I came home, he came downstairs to see me making the excuse to his parents that he needed to check on the chicken. He wanted me to relax and so he-" Thomas looked around at the slightly open door into the hallway and the rest of downstairs nervously. "You don't need to know. I'm sure your powerful imagination can guess and put two and two together?"

Daisy had now found herself distracted from her tasks and the pallet knife lay on its side uselessly as she focused on Thomas entirely. "I probably can, but you never get to talk about him do you? Don't you ever just want to tell someone about him?" Daisy thought that must be one of the hardest things for Thomas and Richard and indeed any other people like them, not being able to tell the world how wonderful the person they are in love with is. She knows she talks about Andy a lot, probably too much. It must be stifling not to be able to say anything. Thomas looked at her, there was a longing in his eyes that told her even before she spoke that she was right.

"I do, yes." Thomas looked around behind him again in the direction of the door.

Daisy nodded with encouragement. "You know there is no one out there who will mean you harm. Go on," she gently encouraged him.

"He must have noticed I was tired and that I had a lot on my mind. He loosened my tie and took it off me, and my jacket and a few buttons on my shirt. He knows how to distract me from my concerns and well, he teased me and I encouraged him and," Thomas hesitated, feeling himself getting a little hot behind his neck as this was not a conversation he has ever had with anyone really. "In the end, we got so caught up in each other. He has a way with his lips and his hands were just in the right... No! Sorry! This is too strange, I can't talk like this," Thomas stopped, jolting out of his seat and turning a full circle before standing with his hands on his hips looking concerned.

"Sorry, I don't want you to regret telling me. You can leave the rest out if you don't want to say anymore." Daisy reassured him as she observed a clearly flustered butler.

"Thing is I do. Just give me a second." Thomas breathed slowly as he looked at the ceiling, his hands still on his hips, before shakily breathing out and letting his arms fall to his sides before sitting down heavily again. All this honesty just because I smelt cake. "I had him close to me, touching me and we stumbled backwards into the back of a chair at the kitchen table. The noise of the chair scraping on the floor as we...Well not too long after Richard's mother was right behind us."

Daisy had already made an assumption that Richard's parents were like her in the way that they didn't mind who Richard loved as long as he was happy. That being said, she didn't know for sure so she looked at Thomas with caution as she spoke. "I take it that they weren't shocked?"

"Oh no! They are brilliant in that way. Richard has nothing to fear from them, we can be ourselves. Besides, it's not the first time she's seen us, together. But anyway, she was more concerned about the fact that the chicken was starting to smell like it was ready and that it would start to spoil soon if not tended too. She took over with the cooking after that." Thomas's smile fluttered. "I don't think under the circumstances Richard minded too much."

"Well that seems like an almost worthy reason to neglect a perfectly good roast chicken," she teased him. Thomas looked awkward once more.

"You can't go telling everyone. I know they don't mean me or him any harm but-"

Daisy nodded. "-Not a word to anyone about anything, not even Andy I promise." She took a small butter knife and delicately spread a biscuit with jam and another with chocolate that had been melting on the stove in a bowl over a pan of water. "Here, I got enough detail for two of these to go 'missing'," she tittered as she handed them to him.

"I think the biscuits are a bonus. I thank you for pushing me. I've never spoken that way." Thomas meant it, he was grateful. "I should be getting on, I suppose, things to do." He bit into the chocolate biscuit licking his finger as he left the kitchen, looking what Daisy could only describe as 'free'.

…

A day later...

David almost tripped over his own feet as he walked nervously up the main driveway to Downton that morning. The smell of exhaust fumes hung in the air as a motor car had just passed him and was now ahead of him and out of sight. He stopped himself from stumbling too much so that he would fall to the ground in an undignified heap just in time, whilst being vaguely aware of the sound of a car door ahead of him slamming with a metallic clang. Mathew Tomlinson had told him that he would teach him to drive the tractor sometime as it would be a handy skill to have on the farm. David was grateful as he had never had the opportunity or reason to learn before. He was grateful to Mr Tomlinson for a lot of things. Having worked for him for several days now he still couldn't believe he had been this lucky. He was most grateful for him to provide a reason and a means to stay in Downton. This thought brought David back to the reason he had tripped once again and why he was heading to Downton now. He needed to talk to Thomas. He had to ask him. He would know surely? David needed an answer to something that he had to be sure about before proceeding any further.

A short while later, he rang the bell at the back door. Despite it being late morning, and that the house staff would have been up and working for several hours by now, no one was around outside. He had hoped to find Thomas outside, taking a break, but he was nowhere to be seen. He stood back a step back after ringing the bell fiddling with his hands that he tried to keep clasped in front of him with anticipation. He put them in his pockets then brought them out again as nowhere felt comfortable for them right now. He wasn't worried about talking to Thomas, he was more concerned that Thomas couldn't give him the answer to his question that he was hoping for. He was hoping that Phyllis would answer the door. He wanted to talk to someone who knew him a little more and he doubted that Thomas would answer the door. He assumed that he would be too busy with the day to day tasks involved in running a big house to do something as trivial as answer the door. As the door opened though, David saw immediately that his assumption had been wrong.

"David?" Thomas opened the door and waved David inside by means of invitation.

David felt quickly relieved. He decided to get straight to the point. "Tommy, I hope I'm not getting in the way of things here but I need to talk to you."

Thomas reckoned his usually composed and laid back friend was looking rather on edge, which was concerning as this was not like him. "I can see that. What is the matter? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." David felt hot and his lips were dry. He tried to breathe easier but it was no good. He felt stupid now. Thomas was clearly wondering what was up with him.

"You're not. You look like you're scared of something." Thomas's face paled as he had a very sudden and serious concern jump to the front of his mind. "The man from Liverpool, he hasn't found you has he?" Thomas looked behind him down the hallway and lowered his voice. "The one who threatened to kill you."

"No! No, not him. Thankfully. Nothing as bad as that, but I'm not sure I'm okay. Something is on my mind and I can't seem to shake it and I need to know the answer to my question or I fear I might go mad Tommy."

Thomas wasn't sure if he felt reassured by David's answer. His friend, though, was clearly conflicted over something. Thomas gave David a wry smile. "You haven't asked me anything yet David so I can't very well answer you can I?"

"Oh, um well no. I'm sorry, can we talk in private?"

"Follow me." Thomas had an idea of what, or rather 'who' this was about, as he led the way down the dimly lit hallway past the kitchen and the servants hall, that were buzzing with activity of a normal mid morning, to his office. He showed David in and shut the door before sitting down behind his desk. "So, can I know what has got you so hot and bothered?"

David looked to the floor then to the ceiling and then to his friend who was doing a marvelous job of appearing unphased by his unusual behaviour. "I think I… that is I think..." He sighed. This is going nowhere, come on! Out with it you fool! "Chris." One word. One name and the look Thomas gave him might have meant that he didn't need to say anymore. "That is, I know that you and Richard have noticed that Chris and I have grown close since we met. I feel like we have reached a point where..." David stopped and rubbed the back of his warm neck with his hand. "Sorry this is sounding stupid. Look Tommy, I know you and him have a history and that he has strong feelings for you, but I just want to know before I do anything what you think. Do you think he is interested in me? Do you think there is any chance or am I wasting my time?" Thomas didn't answer David straight away. He just looked at him as if he was mad and David now felt like the room was a lot smaller than it actually was. He now had a bad feeling. If he was hoping that his friend would give him some reassurance then he was beginning to feel downcast.

Thomas however, sniggered, as he slowly stood up. David heard him mutter something when he had his back turned, although he couldn't make out what he had said. Thomas then sat closer to David, more casually now as he propped himself against the corner of his desk. Thomas folded his arms and shook his head in disbelief. "And I thought I was stupid."

"What?"

Thomas huffed. "David. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure this out? You seriously came to ask me what I am sure you know the answer to if you are honest with yourself." The look Thomas gave him reminded him of the look the headmaster had given him on the number of occasions that he had been called into the school office when he was a child and had found himself in trouble. Thomas, though, wasn't about to tell him off. He shook his head again, "You are an idiot David, of course Chris is interested, it's written all over him!"

David laughed with relief, "You had me worried there Tommy." He shuffled in his seat. "Is he seeing anyone else though? I don't want to make things complicated."

"Not as far as I know. He's never been interested in anyone other than me until you came along. So I reckon, you should ask him if he is interested, or make some indication that... I'm not exactly an expert in all of this, but tell him. I know that you have no chance if you both keep dancing around your feelings and someone has to make the first move."

David's heart refused to be still, he tried to calm himself as his hopes had now been raised to a whole new level. I haven't been wrong. I was reading him right all along, maybe since the very beginning? "Thank you Tommy. If this works out I'll owe you a huge debt." He didn't try to stop himself when he got up suddenly and pulled his friend into a hug. Thomas was clearly not keen on hugs, as he felt rigid in David's embrace, but he didn't push him away.

"I take it you are grateful?" Thomas joked as he got up and sat back in his chair behind his desk once more.

"You have no idea." David sat back down opposite Thomas as Thomas stretched his arms above his head before resting them on the table in front of him, the cuffs of his sleeves now a little further up his wrists, as a result, than before.

David found his joy and relief hard to dampen. However, as he happened to look at Thomas's hands and wrists he saw something that killed any feeling of joy. He had an abrupt notion of dread in his stomach that must have shown on his face as Thomas now looked worried too. God no! He didn't...did he? I have to be wrong. I have to be. "Tommy I-"

"-What is it?" Thomas asked as he cut David off. Only a second ago, David had been glowing with the joy that the man he had fallen for, most likely had fallen for him in return, and now... Now he looked like he had just been on the receiving end of some grave news. Thomas went over his words in his mind, trying to figure out if he had said something to cause this sudden change of mood. He couldn't think of anything that would have been amiss until he looked down at his hands on his desk and, with a jolt of dread, realised what David had just seen. Thomas felt he had to say something, anything but David beat him to it.

"Tommy, what happened? Tell me I am wrong." David's words were spoken in a small voice that was begging for reassurance.

"You don't know anything." Thomas pulled the cuffs of his shirt down again and fiddled with the button on his left wrist nervously. He felt himself closing off, the walls of defense he had spent his whole life building, rose up.

"You're right. I'm sorry, you don't owe me any explanation. I won't bother you about it, okay?" David asked as he stood up to make his leave. He wasn't happy about leaving on this note but he had overstepped the line.

Thomas knew he was pushing yet someone else who was only showing kindness away. It was something he had done far too much in his life and had only recently, relatively speaking, made any effort to stop. "We used to tell each other everything, didn't we?" Thomas felt vulnerable as he spoke with such a small voice.

David turned away from the door and back to Thomas. "We did. But you have no obligation to share anything with me."

"You guessed then?"

David nodded. "Not many reasons anyone has scars like that, in a place like that." It was his turn to perch himself on Thomas's desk now. Sitting in a chair at a respectable distance just didn't seem right somehow.

"Several years ago. Before Richard. I did it then. I was sick of it all. Everyone else was going somewhere, getting new jobs, falling in love, getting married and where was I? I had no one, only people's sympathy and that was exhausting in the end. All I had was a lost soul and a damaged mind and my job here. Although then I lost even that."

David frowned. "But I don't understand. They fired you? But you're still here?"

Thomas let out a singular bitter laugh. "Yeah well it turns out that even after fifteen years of working here and being bloody good at my job they still didn't trust me. They had to make cut backs you see, and I was the easiest to part with. I was merely a decoration that would not have been missed in some people's eyes." Thomas bit his lip in anger as it all came flooding back. It was hard, looking around him with the life he has now, with the job he always aimed for, friends and someone who loves only him, to imagine a time where he hated the world so much he wanted to leave it. "I did lose my job here. I was under butler then and they didn't need one of those anymore. I was allowed to stay whilst I found another job but I couldn't and so after losing the only thing that was keeping me hanging on, I decided that there was simply no point in hanging on anymore so, so I didn't." Thomas felt himself welling up which he didn't want David to see, but there was no stopping it now. "I co-couldn't do it any-anymore." A tear fell from his eyes followed by another that he angrily wiped away. When he couldn't stop them from falling, he buried his face in his hands. David did the only thing he could think of right now, he sprung forward and pulled Thomas into another hug, that this time Thomas welcomed. He let Thomas sob into his shoulder, allowing the sounds of his pain to be muffled and kept hidden from anyone outside of the room. "I tried to be strong," Thomas sobbed. "But I was tired of fighting. Not when I couldn't see, an-anyway out. Didn't s-see the point. I wasn't strong enough."

"God Tommy I wish I was here for you. I should never have left." David spoke into Thomas's neck. He wasn't sure if he had meant for those words to have been spoken out loud.

Thomas sniffed and pulled back from David's shoulder. They were sitting on his desk now. On top of books and sheets of paper, but he didn't care. "Not your fault." Thomas managed a small smile amongst stuttered breaths.

"You are strong though Tommy. I see that. Others do too. I know Richard does. To be where you are now, it's magnificent."

Thomas's smile changed into a shy smile now. "I don't think anyone has called me that, but thanks. I only got this position back at Downton though after what happened when a twist of circumstances left a vacancy and I was the only one to fill it. I also..." Thomas looked over David's shoulder towards the closed door. "...I wouldn't be here if it weren't for some of them. Phyllis, she made the connection before it was too late and along with some of the others, got to me in time. I didn't make it easy, they had to break the bathroom door down."

"I'll forever be in her and their debt too then. Does Richard know?"

Thomas nodded. "Told him ages ago when he wanted us to have a bath together and I refused. I couldn't lie in one anymore without getting that feeling that I..." Thomas smiled nervously at David. "...I'm better at that now, as long he's there too." David nodded and they sat shoulder to shoulder on Thomas's desk in silence for a few moments. "Sorry about ruining your joyous mood. Not what you were expecting to talk about right?"

"No, but I am glad I know. I won't tell anyone okay? Chris doesn't need to know."

"Thank you. However I think Chris does know, not the details but I think he does. He's not an idiot, he would have figured me out ages ago too I imagine. He's smart."

David smiled fondly. "Yeah he is."

...

The next day...

Chris held the warm brown paper bag tightly in his hand as he walked quickly along the gravel track that wound its way around fields and woodland until it reached the farm Mathew Tomlinson managed. He had made his way down here straight after the shop closed and whilst the brisk pace of his walking was not the best thing for his leg, he made a big effort to push any pain aside as he couldn't slow down now. His pace was necessary as it seemed that the anticipation of seeing David again was too much to keep him from slowing down to a more sensible pace. He hadn't seen David for a few days now as he had promised Mr Tomlinson that he would make up for the time he took off to spend time with him. Mr Tomlinson was not someone who would be angry at David taking time away from work after starting such work not that long ago, but Chris understood that David felt a sense of loyalty towards Mr Tomlinson so he had wanted to be uninterrupted for a few days in his work.

A piece of loose gravel was kicked accidentally by Chris's shoe as he walked along the track that was dotted with pot holes that were empty of water now after several days of no rain and fair weather. The stone bounced several times along the track ahead of him, until Chris caught up with it and kicked it, this time on purpose, again. He passed under several patches of dappled shade but most of the walk was in muted sunlight, hidden partly by high clouds above him. As he walked his mind focused on various things along with the fact that the usual late afternoon bird song was absent. Usually there was the chattering of hedge sparrows or the tuneful call of a blackbird or a cackling of a crow, but it was silent. The reason for this silence of nature flew low over his head suddenly. A buzzard's shadow glided across the ground in front of him, it's screech the only sound in the sky as its prey hid from view and from ear. Another buzzard then joined it as they flew over the fields of corn, searching for a victim. Chris remembered how David had told him about how buzzards often hunt in a group. For a man who is from the city, he knows a lot about the country.

...

"Hello Mr Webster, I take it you are looking for David?" Mathew Tomlinson spoke as he held an oily rag in his hand as one half of the tractor's bonnet was folded up exposing the engine.

"I am, I was in the bakery earlier today and I thought I'd get him something to treat him." Chris kept his tone as normal and casual as he could.

"Ah well I am sure he will enjoy that. He's in the bottom field by the small stream. I would give you a lift down there to save you the trip but as you can see modern technology is being a pain right now. These machines are wonderful when they work, but give me a couple of strong horses any day!" Mathew wiped his hand on another rag and got down from the small step ladder he was standing on previously. "As long as you can manage though? Or I can fetch him up here for you?"

"Oh no, don't worry about that. I'll get down there well enough. Besides, you're clearly busy."

Mathew chuckled in spite of himself. "I am indeed. Who knew? Farmers are now required to be mechanics as well. These machines were supposed to make things easier. Oh well, ignore my moaning. You go and see David."

Chris nodded. "Good day Mr Tomlinson." He knew the way to where Mr Tomlinson had said David would be. On one of their walks, David had shown him a short cut down a narrow lane, not wide enough for a car, that would take him straight there.

Mathew watched Chris go. He shook his head and chucked to himself. "Oh those two. Eventually, they will get there."

...

Chris saw David over the hedge in a field that until today had been thick with long overgrown grass, left to go to seed. There were horses in them sometimes, but not recently or the grass would have been clipped low naturally. He approached, looking over the low hedge that was no more than two feet tall on the track side, but due to a ditch on the field side it was at least double that in height. Half of the lower part of the field had been cut, thousands of stems of grass felled to clear the field. The other half remained a foot or two tall and on the border between the two, was David. The sound of the small trickling stream faded out of earshot, despite Chris not moving further away as he saw David at work.

No one was around so Chris allowed himself the luxury of looking. David was not in the foreground of his view but he was close enough to admire. He must have been working for hours down here as he had stripped off his shirt. He had a scythe in his grip that he swung back and forth, cutting down the grass and the occasional wild flower. The movement of his muscles on his back and arms was almost mesmerising. Chris didn't hang around. He opened the gate and shut it behind him as he entered the field and approached David who still hadn't seen him. On closer inspection, David appeared to have developed a bit of a tan. His back shone with a gleam of sweat and his hair was even more messy than usual. He should have been a farmer all his life, Chris thought admiringly. The pollen that hung in the air all around them ruined the moment somewhat when Chris felt a tickle in his nose. He sneezed and with that David looked around suddenly.

"Well this is a nice surprise!" David put down the blade resting it carefully so it wouldn't accidentally take his or Chris's arm off. He felt Chris looking at him, the blush on his face clearly not just a result of the heat or the walk down here. He was not a vain man, but he did love the effect he was having on Chris right now. Chris would look at him, sense that his observations were being noticed and then look quickly away, only to look once more. I want you to look at me. I would like to look at you.

"I thought you could do with some refreshment." Chris held up the bag in his hand, whilst cursing himself due to his lack of ability to be honest. I wanted to see you. I am very glad I came here when I did!

"And you just knew I would be hungry didn't you? Great minds and such am I right?" David smirked. After speaking with Thomas and confirming that Chris was very interested after all, David had been thinking of what to say and when to say it. He hadn't gotten past the thinking stage yet.

"You might indeed be. But, even if you weren't I saw this and I thought of you...That is it reminded me of you." Chris handed David the paper bag.

"Oh so I remind you of a warm slice of apple pie?" David joked.

Chris laughed nervously. "No, well um...yes. Sort of. I know you like it, that's all."

"I know what you mean. Sorry teasing you is hard to resist. But thank you for thinking of me." David picked up his shirt from the ground and shook off the grass. "You can stay if you like? I can't eat on my own."

Don't put it back on. You should stay as you are. "Oh um, yes I'd like that." Chris stumbled over his words as he had almost missed David's invitation on account of his wandering eyes and mind. Not my fault, you are distracting. David sat down where he was, in amongst a couple of feet of long blades of brown grass. "Oh here?"

"Why not? Good a place as any. Will I need to offer you my hand and pull you down with me again?" David offered Chris his hand along with a mischievous smile.

"I can manage but I don't mind the help." Chris took David's hand and he landed next to him with a thud which made them both laugh.

"We can split this if you like?"

"You have the bigger half though, it is really yours." Chris took the smaller piece of the slice of pie that David handed him. Sticky as the pastry had broken in places, but warm and inviting. Chris focused on the pie and he finished before David finished his. He looked up to see David looking at his face intently. He felt nervous again and licked his lips subconsciously as he found himself with the desire to look into David's blue eyes but everytime he tried he found that he couldn't. David leaned over to him and Chris was sure his heart stopped beating.

"There, you had a bit of pastry just in the corner," David said as his finger brushed Chris's lips. When will I stop teasing us both? Thomas is right and I have to tell you, but how? Not a clue.

Chris barely heard his own voice as he whispered, "Right." He wasn't sure how much more he could take of this, but all the same he was not willing to step away at all.