Richard looked out the window of the van as Daniel drove slowly down the street towards his shop and home. Nothing about Downton had changed, but to him after being away for a month it all felt so new, so strange but he knew as soon as he settled in again, he would feel at home. Thomas, who was sitting close next to him, squeezed his hand that he'd been holding for most of the journey home and smiled reassuringly at him. Thomas had been given the afternoon and the rest of the day to pick him up from the hospital in York and had been waiting by the van when he was accompanied out of the hospital by his father and mother. After a very long time without spending hardly any time on his feet he had been a little unsteady, but Thomas had helped him up into the van after he had said goodbye to his parents. They had agreed to visit him at home in a few days time as he had insisted that they take some time to rest themselves now, after all they have done for him. Richard knew that this had taken its toll on them too even though they reassured him that they were fine.

The van stopped right outside the shop and Daniel switched off the engine. Richard was glad that he had come home in the evening as if it had been earlier in the day more people would have been around to see him return. He knew that the village gossip would have been about what had happened to him, and so it would only be natural that his neighbors would be curious to see him return.

"Home," Thomas said simply, with a hint of relief. Daniel jumped out the driver's side of the van and opened the passenger door and let Thomas climb down.

"Yeah," he replied before carefully sliding himself across towards the door from his position in the central seat. He still had to take his time, too sudden of a movement and his ribs would jab and he would have to stop to let the pain subside before attempting to move again. Thomas waited patiently for him and then, when he was ready to climb down, Thomas offered him his hand along with a loving smile that was only ever meant for him. But as much as wanted to take Thomas's hand once again, as any contact was sacred now after being deprived for so long, he hesitated and his hand hung in the air as he looked to Thomas and then around them in caution.

"I'm helping you Mr Ellis," Thomas reassured him. "People will understand."

So he took his hand, the raised ridges of Thomas's scarred skin, feeling reassuring as he took hold. Another hand on his other arm, taking his weight as he lowered himself down onto the pavement. As he had his feet firmly on the ground again he looked around him. There were a few curious faces of fellow villagers on his side of the street and opposite. Part of him worried their interest was because of Thomas's hand on him, but he knew it was really because he was here at all. Thomas let go of his hand though, sensing his uneasiness. "Thank you, Mr Barrow."

"Will you be okay Mr Ellis or do you want me to help you inside?" Daniel offered.

"No, I'll be okay, thank you Mr Jones. Thank you for everything you have done, we are both very grateful and we won't forget it," Richard said.

"It was a pleasure Mr Ellis. We are just all glad that you are okay now," Daniel smiled as he took his key back out of his pocket. "I should be getting back now though."

"Yes of course."

"Thank you Mr Jones," Thomas added as the shop door opened and both Chris and David rushed out of the shop door.

"Richard!" Chris exclaimed as he shook his hand warmly before he even had the chance to reply.

David shook his hand also and was about to hug him but stopped himself. "I would hug you but I wouldn't want to hurt you. But I am very glad to see you, very glad."

"As am I David, glad to see you both and this place again." He looked up behind them at the shop with his name above the door. "There was a time when I never thought that I'd..." He saw Thomas's look of concern. "Well that doesn't matter now does it? I'm here now."

He saw Thomas sigh, as though in relief. "Yes you are. Shall we go in?" he prompted before the four of them entered the building through the shop door, Chris locking it behind him. He found himself walking slowly through his little shop that he had grown so fond of, Thomas just behind him. His pace was slowed by his injuries of course but also because he felt like he was in some sort of trance, as though none of this was real. He half expected to wake up in his hospital bed any second now. This feeling continued as he followed David through the door into the tiny kitchen that had been a cosy place of comfort since he and Thomas had moved in over a year ago. "Are you okay?" Thomas asked him as he placed a gentle hand on his arm. Now that they were away from prying eyes, Thomas allowed his affections to be seen and felt once more.

"Yeah, I'm just taking in the tiny things that I didn't even know I missed. Sights and sounds, the smell of the shop, you know, just getting used to everything again. But I'm okay Thomas." He took Thomas's hand once more as David pulled out a chair at the table for him and he slowly lowered himself into it. Thomas kissed him tenderly on the forehead and Richard noticed Chris looking in the corner of his eye. But unlike before, when such an action between Thomas and himself would have caused Chris to fail to hide his saddened expressions, he actually smiled. Richard could only feel glad that through finding David, Chris had been able to move forward somewhat. His attention then turned to the smell of cooking meat wafting over from the stove. "Speaking of sights and smells though, have you been cooking?"

Chris grinned. "We have! Well we are, it's still cooking. Thought we'd put together dinner for you. Chicken soup, nice and thick, lots of vegetables, some potatoes in there. More like a stew I reckon, lovely and wholesome! Reckon you'd need something like this on your return."

"You didn't have to do that, but thank you." Thomas stood behind him with both his hands gently massaging the tops of his shoulders. He wondered if Thomas realised what he was doing or if it was just as instinctive as breathing or blinking. Either way he leaned back into it, savoring his sacred touch. Ever since they were reunited properly in the van on the journey home, they had taken advantage of every little piece of physical contact. It was the air they both needed in order to survive and over the past few weeks they had been left gasping for it.

"I have found that my appetite has returned more recently, so yes this is perfect thank you both of you." He reached around behind himself towards Thomas's thighs as much as he was able. It was going to be hard to keep his hands off him for the next couple of weeks or so. The doctor had said he shouldn't engage in any physical excersion and whislt he did not explicitly mention it, Richard knew that meant sex with Thomas, as that was most definately physical excersion. He bit his lip as he grinned to himself about his private thoughts. "But have you both been cooking, David?" he asked to take his mind off Thomas.

"What, him?" Chris mocked as he gave David a playful shove.

"I have been helping actually, despite what he says I am not entirely useless in a kitchen. I washed and chopped the potatoes, didn't I?" David said in his defense.

"Yes you did. Eventually." Chris and David were standing on the opposite side of the table to himself and Thomas, as Chris had checked on the large pot of soup and had given it a stir when they entered the kitchen earlier. "You were a distraction."

"But I thought you liked my distraction?" David asked, the flirtatious tone obvious.

"I did, yeah." Chris put down the spoon and kissed David who immediately threw his arms around the back of Chris's neck as the couple embraced each other's kisses, seemingly forgetting that they were being watched.

Richard looked up at Thomas, who was still standing behind him, although he was grinning now. "Shall we go upstairs? Give them some privacy? I could do with getting my shoes off my feet anyway."

"I was thinking the same thing, my love," Thomas agreed.

Richard stood again and they left the room, and their two friends who were still caught in a passionate embrace. Before he pulled the door closed slightly though he smirked as he saw Chris reach out with one arm and give the pot of soup another stir as David kissed him.

...

Thomas let Richard go up the stairs first on purpose so that if he felt weak or faint then he could stop him from falling. He still had the image of David and Chris in his mind. He had been captivated by them at first, until he felt awkward and then rude for staring at such a private moment. But he was happy for them, especially for Chris. If they could be comfortable as couples like this around each other, then it would make everything so much easier. "We'll give them some time," he said as he pushed open the door to their bedroom. He had returned home this morning to drop off the clothes and toiletries that he had been using whilst staying in his old room at Downton, but other than that this was the first time he had been home for a month. "Besides, I think you look tired. You should lie down."

"Sweetheart, I have been lying down for weeks," Richard complained as he entered the room after him. Thomas saw him look around and nod to himself.

"I know, but we can eat up here when it's cooked, I have cake as well. When I told Daisy that I was picking you up today, she and Charlotte whipped up a quick victoria sponge. Its downstairs in a tin on the side." He slipped off his coat, and threw it over the back of a chair, and stood behind Richard as he wriggled out of his. "Let me?" He smoothly slid his overcoat off his shoulders and his back, careful so he didn't cause Richard to do any sudden movements that might hurt him.

"My shirt too," Richard prompted.

Thomas raised an eyebrow out of sight of him. "You want me to undress you?"

"Just my shirt, I would appreciate a clean one. It smells of the hospital too much." Richard sat on the edge of the bed and so Thomas decided to kneel behind him, sliding the garment off him from behind also, revealing Richard's bare back. He touched the base of Richard's spine and he jumped and immediately winced with discomfort.

"Sorry." Thomas withdrew his hand quickly.

"No, please carry on. Your hands were cold, that's all."

Thomas tentatively touched him again, a light press on the small of his back by the spine. He slowly slid his hand up his spine before veering off to the left so he felt Richard's shoulder blades under his fingers. His hand warmed from Richard's body heat and Thomas smiled as he pushed his shoulders back into his hands. Neither of them had to say a word. A faint tick from the clock and the occasional sound from the kitchen below broke the otherwise comfortable silence. They were alone. Finally together. A gentle kiss on his bare shoulder, another on his collarbone. Thomas kept his eyes on Richard the whole time, but Richard had surrendered and his eyes flickered shut as he leaned back into his embrace. Thomas enveloped him from behind, careful to only touch him on his stomach, not his chest. They leaned back further until they both cuddled in the cushioning comfort of the mattress and duvet. As he lay there with one arm still over Richard's stomach, his face nuzzled into the crock of his neck, breathing him in, Thomas refreshed the memories that he had been clinging onto for so long. At first all he had to do was close his eyes to feel him, but as the days turned to weeks and the number of weeks grew, it became harder and he had feared losing Richard in his mind altogether. "I love you."

Richard touched his face and turned towards him, their noses brushed, gentle lips caressed each other. Richard's chest rose and fell peacefully as he sighed pleasantly. "In my dreams, I think it was like this. You and me, like this. Except..."

"Hmm?"

Richard's chest vibrated under his hand as he chuckled. "You were wearing less."

Thomas smiled as he pushed himself up on one elbow so he could look down at him. "I was supposed to get you another shirt to change into. I had quite forgotten." It was then that his eyes fell on the mark on the left side of Richard's chest. It was hard to think how such a small, almost insignificant mark had caused so much torment, anguish and pain. A small slight depression, twisted and ridged skin as skin and flesh had knotted itself together, along with the stitches that had been there until recently, to fix what had been broken.

"Not so perfect now am I?" Richard's sullen voice broke through his thoughts, so he was torn away from the wound and back into Richard's eyes.

"No, you are. Thinking about how it was and how it is now…it's amazing and I will never stop being thankful." Thomas leant over to kiss him, letting Richard's hand on the back of his neck guide him closer. They only stopped when there was a tentative knock on the bedroom door.

Thomas pushed himself upright once more. "Sorry, I've got dinner here." David held a tray with two bowls of steaming soup and another smaller tray with a smaller jug of water. "I could come back a bit later, although it's gonna get cold." Thomas jumped up and took the larger tray from David who smiled gratefully. "Thanks Tommy, Chris is the chef, which leaves me as the inexperienced waiter I'm afraid."

"No problem." Thomas put the tray down on the table and the water on the window sill. He had spotted the tray wobbling a little as David stood at the door, he could see what would have happened if he hadn't offered a hand.

"Chris and I will have ours in a minute and then we'll head home, I mean I'm going back with him. It's been a bit of a day," David said as Thomas opened the wardrobe door and rummaged for a shirt for Richard. The evening was beginning to draw in and the temperature in the room was already dropping. Despite how he liked Richard as he was, that thought was selfish as he couldn't let him get cold while he was still weak.

"It has indeed, and you should David. I think Chris will appreciate it," Richard encouraged as Thomas smiled to himself hidden by the wardrobe door, before shutting it and passing Richard his shirt. "Thank you."

"Do you need me to help?" he offered as Richard pushed himself up. His movements were steady, cautious but quicker and less painful compared to when he visited him in hospital a few weeks ago.

"I think I'm okay Thomas, thank you." Richard reached behind him for the other arm of the shirt. "Actually, can you just pass me that one?" Thomas held the sleeve open allowing him to slip his arm through. He buttoned the shirt up as David poured a couple of glasses of water.

"You have the tray Richard, if you're okay without Tommy? Or I could fetch another?" David offered.

"I'll be fine holding the bowl, Richard can have the tray." Thomas took the bowl and spoon and placed it on the tray David had given Richard, who was sitting up with the duvet over his lap to prevent the thick warming soup from burning his legs. They had a small armchair in the room, which was used more by Wilde as another bed than as a chair for either of them. So far there had been no sight of their cat, and Thomas couldn't help but feel disappointed. He had hoped Wilde would be back by now.

"Is Chris downstairs still?" Richard asked, sipping the hot soup from the spoon carefully.

"He's tidying up. I should help him really but I wanted to say something to you Richard. It should have been the first thing I said to you actually, since you've been home." David sat down on the end of the bed and looked down at his lap. Richard had stopped eating, giving him his full attention. "Two things: firstly, and this is the most important I reckon, I should thank you for saving my life Richard. I don't know why you did it, but you did. It was a selfless action and I shall forever be in your debt for that. We don't know how it might have been if you hadn't. But I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I don't think I would have been as lucky as you were—Not that you were very lucky obviously," David smirked as did Richard. "But I know Martin wouldn't have missed. He would have killed me there and then. That brings me onto my second point." David took a deep breath. Thomas saw him look in his direction for a blink of a second, before focusing on his hands again. "It was my fault that Martin came here. I know Tommy, that you don't blame me, but I blame myself. I want to appologise for the trouble he caused because of his obsession with finding me. I was foolish to think I could escape him here, that he'd not bother with me. I knew deep down that he would. After all I pushed Chris away from me because of the fear I had, but after he and I found each other...I was selfish, I was happy and I didn't want to dwell on my past so I ignored it with the hope that if I did then there would be no problems."

Thomas felt like speaking, if only to reassure his old friend that there was no grudge held against him, no blame for something the logical side of him knew was not his doing, but he held himself back so Richard could speak. "What's the point in thinking about what might have happened?" Richard asked rhetorically. "I don't know why I did it David, maybe because I didn't want Martin to get his way, or because I couldn't let Thomas lose you? Who knows? But what's done is done. We can move on with our lives now." David's eyes were still filled with guilt. His back was held rigid, uncharacteristic from his usual laid back posture and Thomas could tell he was still unsure on what Richard was saying, and whether he blamed him at all. "When I say move on, I mean that I forgive you, if that is what you need to hear, but like Thomas I don't hold Martin's actions against you David," Richard clarified sincerely. "He is the only one I blame for this, no one else."

Thomas heard the floorboard creak in the hall outside. Chris appeared at the door not long after leading Thomas to the conclusion that he must have heard David and Richard's conversation, or at least some of it. "How was the soup?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Still enjoying it Chris, but excellent as always," Richard praised.

"Good. And what about you?" he asked David. "Everything good?"

"It is. Thank you Richard," he said.

"Chris, any sign of Wilde?" Thomas asked.

Chris sniggered, "Oh he's been around. He came in earlier and naturally got distracted by food in the kitchen, otherwise he would have come straight up here I bet. I expect he'll be—" Chris turned and peered around the door into the hall. "Speak of the devil."

Wilde strutted in like he owned the place, and jumped up onto the bed, carefully padding up the bed. Thomas quickly moved him away from Richard though as he guessed that their cat was going to walk straight up over Richard like he always used to. "Hello you," Richard gleamed as Wilde pushed his head into the palm of Richard's outstretched hand, purring and smiling contently. "Did you miss me?"

Thomas along with the others laughed as Wilde, behaving as though nothing had changed, settled himself unhelpfully behind Richard's head on the stack of pillows, purring loudly over Richard's shoulder. "I think he has. Maybe now he is back, things can start to settle to be as they were?" Richard gave him a look of love and he now desired nothing more than to snuggle down into bed with his family. That is what we are after all?

"We'll be going Tommy okay?" David said, his arm around Chris's waist who blushed at the action.

"We'll be back tomorrow, good night," Chris said as they left together. The Chris he had first met five and a half years ago who had brazingly flirted with him in a York pub would never have blushed at such a chaste intimate gesture. But he had changed since then. He had been shaped by awful experiences, molded by the cruel words and actions of others, his self confidence shattered, his heart broken. So Thomas decided privately to himself as he saw the couple leave that Chris's blush suited him. It meant that he was alive again. Thomas put the soup bowl down on the floor and reached for Richard's hand. Being alive...he knew that feeling well.

…

Chris pushed his sleeves up to his elbows before dipping his hands into the warm water of the sink in the kitchen to retrieve the last piece of cutlery from this morning's washing up. He had left it all before leaving for the shop in the morning and had completely forgotten about the task when he and David returned to his cottage later that evening, just as the light began to fade. The evening was crisp and the blue sky from the day was being replaced by a streaks of oranges, purples and reds, flicked with the occasional yellowish cloud. Out of the kitchen window the twilight sky straight above was cast in a royal blue and if he focused, a few of the brightest stars began to shine above. He didn't know their names from just one or two visible, he bet David did though.

David was outside in the garden around the side of the cottage. Chris could hear the rhythmic sound of an axe splitting blocks of wood. David had offered to fetch more firewood when they returned. He pulled the plug out of the sink and watched the dirty water drain away, and watched the little whirlpool that formed before the last dregs of water disappeared. He felt a wave of tiredness wash over him. Today had been a day he had been looking forward to for a long time, but he had hardly any spare moments to himself. A blackbird tweeted somewhere outside in the garden, joining the choir of birds singing their good night greetings to each other before the night set in. He leaned on the edge of the sink, hung his head with exhaustion, and closed his eyes.

He jumped. "Are you okay?" David asked, just behind him. Chris had never even heard him come in.

He pushed himself away from the sink, grabbed a towel and dried his hands, before turning around to his concerned partner. David still had his jacket on, but even in the low light, he could see the flecks of dust from the wood, a few little splinters clinging to the fabric that would need to be brushed free. His face was plastered with concern though, and Chris was left wondering how long he had shut his eyes for. He sighed with an unconvincing smile, "Tired that's all. I'll be alright, don't worry about me."

"Need me to help with anything else? The logs of wood are outside, but I could bring them in?"

"No they'll be fine out there tonight, I'll bring them in tomorrow. It shouldn't rain tonight." He laid the towel down over the rail, and groaned as he ran his hand through his hair that was lacking its usual neatness. He hadn't had the time to think about much concerning himself today or most days recently.

"I'll bring them in tomorrow, if you want me to stay?"

Chris lazily walked over to David who still stood in the doorway between the kicthen and the little living room he called his own. "I'd like that."

"Sit down Chris, please? You've been working on things non stop since we returned. I think sometimes you're addicted to working the amount of effort you put in, not that I say it's a bad thing to be focused, but you shouldn't take everything on your shoulders you know. It's not all down to you." David stepped closer to him and smoothed away a stray strand of hair from his forehead, the feel of his rough hard worked fingers on his forehead allowed a little pleasant relief to Chris's anxieties. David's hands encircling him around his hips holding him close, offered more.

"I know, it's just who I am. But David, do you...do you think that this is all over now? Now that Richard's home, do you think we can begin living again?" Chris was aware he sounded desperate for hope, for reassurance. But he was, so he looked into his kind eyes and asked anyway.

"I think..." David's hands moved ever so slightly on Chris's back so he responded with a delicate touch of David's neck. "...I think that we can say that it is beginning to be over now yes, I can be more sure of that now. I know Tommy has reassured me that he holds no blame on me, but I had to hear it from Richard I think, to begin to believe it myself. But Chris, we have no reason to rush anything, Martin's gone and we have each other. We will heal, as with Richard and Tommy, in our own way and in our own time. I trust that."

A glimmer of a smile, traced Chris's mouth. "Thank you. I don't know how I've ever managed without you." An unwelcome thought distracted him from his thoughts and the way David was looking at him, his gaze flickering between his eyes and his lips, as if he was deciding something. But Chris was pulled away from this by a glance over his shoulder at the dresser where the revolver he used was hidden away again.

"Chris," David took one of his hands away from his back and Chris immediately found himself missing the comforting warmth of another's touch, but he needn't have feared as David only removed it so he could touch his face instead, turning his chin towards him once more, as though he knew what he was worried about. "You can forget about all of that too."

"Do you think I should get rid of it?"

"No. But you needn't see it again for a long time." David smirked. "Perhaps that's why I am so untidy. I can't get rid of things in case I need them again."

"I rather like you untidy. Don't change?" he asked as he fiddled with the back of David's unruly blonde hair, feeling a little better at the distraction already. Such a remark towards David would normally result in a little chuckle or at least a smile, but David's eyebrows knotted with a frown as he searched his face once more, his gaze searching his eyes as if he was fighting an internal battle in his mind. "What is it?" Chris felt his heart jump as David looked at him intensely, and he was not sure if he had said something wrong. But just as he tried to figure out what his mistake may have been, David leaned in and caressed his lips with his own, cautiously at first but then Chris felt his kiss asking for permission for more and so, with one swift action, he swung his arms up around David's neck and let David in. Their passion intensified so since he was aware that the living room curtains were still open and the light on, he moved them both around the corner of the door into the kitchen out of view. Chris felt his back hit the cold wall behind him as he slid his hands down from David's neck and to the small of his back, urgently pulling him in tighter as though any space between them would hurt him, but just as quickly as things escalated, so they slowed down. David broke their kiss suddenly, catching Chris off guard leaving him panting and hungry. He searched David's face for an explanation, but David looked conflicted again, nervous. His chest was moving up and down with his heavy breathing and with his razzled hair and parted lips, Chris found him irresistible. But there was something else that he couldn't put his finger on as David pulled him into a hug so their faces were hidden from each other for a moment.

"I love you."

It was a whisper, barely audible sound in his ear. His heart thumped in his chest. What? What? "What?"

David looked at him again, and stroked him on the neck. "I think you heard me. I love you Chris."

It was impossible. He had never had anyone say that to him, and he had never dared to hope. He didn't know what to say, his mouth had gone dry and if he didn't know that breathing was an automatic action, he would have said he had forgotten how to as though his lungs were empty. But amongst the shock and then the realisation that for once, this was real, he showed a tiny smile, which was all David needed to relax. Chris understood now. "I-I." He still didn't have the voice, so instead he pulled David in once again and they immediately fell into the rhythm that they found before. Chris let David tease his lips, he savored everywhere David's hands roamed as their passion intensified. He also let his hands wander, up under David's jacket, pushing it from his shoulders hearing the buttons rattle on the stone floor as they fell, David played with the top of his braces before sliding them off his shoulders one by one until they hang loose from his waistband. He let him fumble with the button of his shirt, as their lips bruised each other's. "David...darling." The word came easy to him. "Mmm," he moaned into his mouth as felt David rub up against him. "David...my bedroom."

...

Thomas crept into the bedroom as night began to fall. After Chris and David left he had gone downstairs to fetch the cake that Daisy and Charlotte made for them. Richard had been awake enough to eat it, but had nodded off just as he began to pick the crumbs off the plate. Wilde remained on the pillow, comfortable on his new bed, but had scowled when Thomas had removed him so that Richard could rest his head properly. Wilde had sulked off outside but now, as Thomas stepped over a pair of carelessly discarded shoes, Wilde jumped back onto the bed having crept back into the bedroom unknown to him. He lifted the duvet and climbed in carefully so he didn't wake Richard who was breathing deeply in his sleep, his head turned to the side in the pillow. They were both exhausted, it seemed from all the excitement of coming home again and as soon as he laid his head down next to him, Thomas fell asleep calling. He had been told he did not need to rush to Downton tomorrow, which allowed him the pleasure of watching Richard wake next to him for the first time in a long time.

...

The door hit the wall with a bang as Chris pushed it open as David and him burst into his bedroom. His shirt was lost, discarded somewhere as they both stumbled upstairs. The backs of his knees collided with the end of the bed and he fell backwards unceremoniously, whilst gripping the back of David's trousers, pulling him in between his legs as he sat upright. David's lips attacked his shoulder, neck and lips mercilessly as he rushed to undo the remaining buttons of his shirt. He only let go to stand back so he could shed his shirt and pull off his undershirt up over his head, tossing it to the side on the floor, before coming at him again. Chris shuffled with his hands and feet backwards, allowing David down onto him who had lost his trousers and any remaining clothing in no time at all. They kissed again as Chris allowed David to undo his belt, who slipped his hand inside causing him to squirm and groan in an undignified but entirely willing manner. With both of them entirely nude, David sat up astride him, and looked down admiringly. But Chris felt a wave of insecurity pass through him and he guessed that it must have shown as David's lustful eyes eased a bit and flickered with concern. He didn't want that now, he didn't want to ruin this, but he found it hard to not compare himself with the gorgeously sculpted man in front of him. David was divine in his eyes, he had thought so weeks ago when he had seen him working out in the fields shirtless and layered in sweat. He didn't think he was anything to compare to, even more so when he considered his injuries and scars that permanently marked him, so he looked away.

"I want you Chris, but we could stop? We have all the time in the world," David reassured him, panting.

"No. No, I don't want that. I want you now more than anything. But you...you're so perfect, and I'm...well I'm not much to compare to you."

David answered in part by touching Chris's chest with his hand, smoothing it down over his stomach to his naval, and then over a thin scar about an inch and a half long that was all that remained from the attack he received in York several months back. "You're beautiful," he breathed. "Real." David leant down onto him again, covering him as they kissed, whilst their legs entangled further down the bed. "I'm not perfect, feel my back my love."

Chris pushed his hands into David's back, forcing them closer still if that were possible, he felt up and down David's toned back and his smooth unblemished skin, which was as far as he could tell, so much unlike his own that bore the marks of mistreatment from many episodes in his life that he didn't want to think about now. But then he reached a bump, a ridge of mottled skin to the side of David's spine. He couldn't see it of course but he could feel how it stood out from the rest of him well enough. The mark was about half the length of his finger, maybe more. As he felt it, David watched him letting him explore this insecurity. Chris remembered then how David had told him about the close call he had with a sharp shard of metal during the war. He had played it down at the time, making it seem like nothing but Chris could feel now just how close it was to his spine, just how lucky he was. "David?"

"Yes?"

"Can I...it's been a while but, I want to feel you?" Chris cursed his shyness, with the exception of Michael, and that was different, it had been a very long time. Years ago, when he was more careless, he never lacked confidence. Inviting Thomas out that night had been evidence of that. David knew what he wanted though so they kissed again, picking up from where they left off and Chris allowed himself to forget every worry, every insecurity because like that mattered now, he was determined to let David love him, and to love him in return. He pushed his heels into the bottom of David's back, his arousal flinched as David let out a lustful whimper...

...

Sunlight patterned on the wall opposite the window as Thomas roused himself the following morning and he smiled at his and Richard's current arrangement. Whilst sleeping it appeared that they had tied themselves together. One of his legs was underneath Richard's, the other loosely laid over one of his feet below them. Thomas found his right arm growing numb below him whilst the left was slung protectively over Richard's waist. He carefully turned himself over to see the time. Eight O'Clock. He turned back over to Richard, and laid his arm over him again as it was before.

"Thomas," Richard moaned sleepily, his eyes still closed.

He kissed Richard's forehead, as he woke up. "Morning."

"It is, and this is better isn't it?" Richard blinked awake and Thomas felt a warm pleasant shiver caress his spine as Richard touched his back.

"Mmm it is." They kissed as above them, on the pillow, Wilde stretched and yawned, having reclaimed his favorite sleeping spot unknown to them at some point during the night. Thomas batted away the slightly twitching fluffy cat tail from his head.

Richard chuckled. "I woke up earlier, not sure when but it was still dark, and his tail was right across your face Mr Barrow."

Thomas rolled his eyes in their cat's direction, "Well that hardly surprises me."

"When are you expected at Downton today?"

"Lady Mary didn't specify so I'm taking full advantage of that. I'll go up there later in the morning after I've got you breakfast. You'll be okay on your own for a few hours will you? I expect Chris or David will be around sometime."

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me. I want you to do normal things now. Things can go back to being normal again soon. Chris should be here now though shouldn't he?"

"It's Saturday Richard. Chris hasn't been opening the shop on weekends since he's been running it," Thomas reminded him.

"Oh yes, you told me. Should give him and David some time together. You saw how they were yesterday, couldn't keep their hands off each other!" Richard recalled with a suggestive grin.

"I'm not discussing their private life Richard!" Thomas scolded him.

"Neither am I, but it reminds me of how I am feeling impatient to get back to ours."

Thomas felt himself blush as he bit his lip in an attempt to hide his grin. He had a dream last night which he had rather enjoyed. "I know. But we can't be too..."

"Enthusiastic?" Richard smirked.

"Yeah. But you must get better, fully okay, and then..." he pushed himself up onto his elbow leaning into Richard's slightly parted lips. "...Then we can have our hearts desire." Thomas teased a kiss against Richard's lips before turning away and getting out of bed. Behind him he heard Richard sigh with frustration.

"Boiled egg and toast okay?" Thomas pulled on his dressing gown as he changed the subject.

"It is, Mr Barrow."

...

Chris sighed as he turned over and pushed himself into the side of David's bare chest. The curtains were still open as neither of them had remembered to close them the evening before. The morning sun was glinting off the window frame onto the window sill and a glass vase of flowers. They had overslept. He pushed himself up onto the pillow that lay parallel to the bed instead of in its correct horizontal position. He remembered how it got there. The duvet had been thrown on the floor and lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. He remembered how that got there too. David, turned over in his sleep and reached out an arm towards him. Chris felt his heart warm to the sight of him, naked, ruffled hair, reddened lips, several crescent shaped marks on his back which Chris recalled pressing into him as he cried out his name several hours earlier. I love you. So simple the words sound but the impact on him as David had whispered them yesterday had been huge. David stirred as he began to wake, Chris watched him push his face into the pillow and turn towards him, eyes open.

"Morning." David smiled into Chris's kiss.

"I...Morning." The words hung on Chris's lips as he tried to decide whether now was the time.

"Saturday. So no rush for you?" David asked, fiddling with Chris's fingers.

"No. David."

"Yes?"

"I love you too. I should have said yesterday, or earlier but—"

David traced his finger over the hair above Chris's lip and gave him a smile full of devotion. "I know, but your words feel as sweet as honey when you say them." David kissed him and they embraced as they lay, tangled sheets at their feet.

"Sweet as honey? What is this, poetry?" Chris teased.

"Hey! It's the best you'll get from me. You're better at words and such!" David laughed as he sat up, straddling Chris again like last night. "But anyway, are you hungry Chris?"

"Not really. I'm not willing to get up yet since the view is so wonderful here!" he freely and unashamedly admired David all over.

"Well, neither am I. But I'd say, since we have all the time in the world, that we could see about working up an appetite?" David's smile kinked with a welcome suggestion.

"We could, but I'll cook, you know you're hopeless at that!" Chris mocked further.

"Oh am I? Well you're asking for it now!" David exclaimed, before Chris jerked and laughed as he tickled him on a very sensitive part below his ribs.