The Healing Path

Disclaimer: I do not own this, or anything in it

Notes: Not much to say in here, just thanks for the reviews and keep them coming!

It was a long night, but they made it though.

Dylan woke up feeling that something was amiss, he looked at his new clock and it read 6:13. Wondering what had woken him up he rolled onto his back to think only to find that Marco was not sleeping next to him. Panicking he jumped out of bed softly calling out his name so he wouldn't wake anyone else. He wasn't anywhere in Dylan's room Dylan finally concluded. (Well duh, where would he hide, under the bed, in the on)

Dylan went to the bathroom to see if he was there, that would be the logical place if he wasn't in his room. He was worried to find nothing there, but he did almost step on a razor, he put that away before someone got hurt.

Not knowing where to look, and running out of places for him to hide Dylan tried downstairs. He was surprised to find his dad sleeping on the couch, surprised and worried. What if something had happened and his dad was trying to protect them by stopping anyone trying to get in through the front door. Dylan frantically ran to his dad and started to shake him.

"Dad, where is Marco, I can't find him anywhere, do you know where he is?" Dylan asked.

Mr. Michalchuk shook his head no, "I have no idea nor do I really care, check with you mother," he said confusing Dylan by his words.

"What do you mean you don't care, how could you say that?" he asked, almost forgetting about his search for Marco, angered by his fathers words.

"The boy is doing this family no good, look how much money he cost with all these hospital bills, you are missing school, the best year of your life, the most important year, and all because of this boy that you think you fancy?" Mr. Michalchuk said. Dylan couldn't take it; he punched his father square in the nose and ran up the stairs, but not before turning to say something.

"Marco is the best thing that ever happened to me, and if you can't see that, well then you are blind," he said to his father like his dad was dirt. Dylan reached his mothers room and didn't even bother to knock, Marco had to be in there and something had happened last night by his dad's tone of voice.

"Dylan keep the volume down, he is sleeping finally," Mrs. Michalchuk said shutting her oldest up before he could wake Marco, she went over and wrapped her arms around him. Not many saw what this did to Dylan, to see Marco like this, to have been seeing him like this for the past few days. Dylan just leaned in and cried in his mothers shoulder. "He had a nightmare or something last night, he tried to take his pain killers but he heard me and your father arguing last night. Your father said some hurtful things and I think Marco tried to hurt himself but was unable. I found him in the bathroom in the tub crying. I think he fell and it hurt his cut obviously so I just took care of him and allowed you to sleep."

"Thank you for being so good to him mom," Dylan said whipping his eyes, he made his way over to the bed and laid down next to Marco, it wasn't long after he did that he fell asleep. Mrs. Michalchuk watched in amazement as Marco seemed to sense his presence and snuggled close to her boy who in return wrapped an arm around him.

Leaving the room in amazement she went down to speak with her husband while both boys were resting nicely. She noticed he was already awake on the couch, just sitting there, not doing anything, and just sort of holding his face where Dylan had punched him. At first the shock that Dylan hit him was there but then the pain seeped in, he could tell Dylan was holding back, he knew his boy could have broken his nose if that was his wish.

"We need to talk," she said simply.

"What is there to talk about, my son hates me, my wife didn't want me in her bed last night, and do you have anything to add?" he said snapping at her.

"Well, maybe if you weren't acting so pig headed you would have slept in my bed, and I am not sure why you think Dylan hates you," she said.

"Because he yelled at me, I don't remember him ever yelling like he did, and he hit me, he has never, no matter how mad he has gotten, hit me," Mr. Michalchuk said simply.

"Why can't you see how much those two love each other, why do you want them apart, your son unhappy?" she asked.

"I don't want my son unhappy, I want him straight, and to be in the room with a girl, not this weak little boy," he said spitefully.

"We have been through this before, there is nothing you can do to change him, by doing this you only make him mad at you, I was thinking, I saw this pamphlet in the doctor's office last time Dylan got a check up. It's about a counseling group for the families of gays and lesbians. I think we should go, Paige, you, the boys, and I," she said.

"Do you think it will change me, the way I feel?" he asked, she shook her head.

"No, but it may allow you to understand a little more," she said.

"When is it?" he asked, almost whispered.

"There is a session tonight, you will be off from work so don't try and use that excuse," she said, he nodded and she hugged him. "You won't regret this; you will see how people just like us deal with it."

Just then Paige came down the stairs getting ready for school. "Morning Mom, Dad, why are you guys down here, and mom why are you up, it's your day off?" she asked.

"Well, we have decided, remember that thing I told you about, I just got your father to agree so we are going tonight," Mrs. Michalchuk said finding no reason to tell her about their fight.

"Oh daddy that's great, I can't wait, did you tell Marco and Dylan?" she asked.

"No, and let them sleep," Mr. Michalchuk spoke up, his wife smiling at him. "Finish getting ready, I will get dressed and then I can give you a lift to school before I go to work."

"Okay dad," Paige said going into the kitchen to get breakfast. Mr. Michalchuk went into his room and almost lost it when he saw his son in bed, with his arm wrapped around Marco sleeping peacefully. He shut his eyes, cleared his head, grabbed his clothes, and went to the bathroom to get changed.

Mr. Michalchuk dropped Paige off and he was immediately flanked by Hazel and they entered the school together. In homeroom Mr. Simpson quieted the class for an announcement.

"Class, in light of some things that have been occurring we are going to an assembly. Please gather your things, I can't tell you what it's about yet," he said, the class got up and he lead them into the auditorium.

The room got quiet as Mr. Raditch got up and took the microphone. "Settle down kids, it has become apparent that this school has a problem. We are supposed to be able to be ourselves in school, be it gay, lesbian, or straight. Two students in our school have been repeatedly teased for being gay and I will no longer stand for it. They have just as much right to be here as you do. One of the students has been badly injured by another and that is the real reason for this assembly. Harming another student is out of the question and I am sure that the families of these students would agree," he said. Paige was getting angry, here was this guy, preaching about something he knew nothing about, and she decided that was wrong.

"Excuse me sir, but speaking about something that is wrong, what you are doing in wrong," she said making Hazel and Mr. Simpson look at her like she was crazy.

"Do you care to take the stage Miss. Michalchuk?" he asked, she nodded and made her way up there right passed a stunned Mr. Raditch.

"This school will never be safe for gay and lesbian children because kids will do as they wish even if it means that they will get in trouble. My brother is gay and has been openly so for a while, he knew it would be hard but figured that they school would some how protect him, he was wrong. No matter how many times you yell at those who write nasty things on his locker, they will still do it. Nothing you say will matter to those people, they need to learn to not judge someone until they really know them," Paige said simply and then Mr. Raditch did something she would have never expected.

"And what about Mr. Del Rossi, he is not openly gay, but still gets hurt? What am I to do? If his kind go around defying the bible then how am I suppose to stop good church going individuals from trying to right his wrong" he screamed loosing his cool and reviling Marco to anyone who didn't know already.

Paige looked horrified at what he just said, "You have just dug his grave, you have no idea of the severity of what you have done, you will be lucky if it's my mom, not my dad, that gets to you for saying that. And another thing, I think I now understand why nothing was done when people vandalized my brothers locker, you'll be lucky to have you job next year!" Paige stormed off the stage and right out of the school. She pulled out her cell and called her home, just as Mr. Simpson showed up.

"Paige, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I am calling my mother, going home, and going to try and break it to Marco softly that everyone in the school knows that he is gay, because they didn't all know that!" Paige yelled, this was going to be very tough because Marco was very unstable.

"Paige I don't know what happened to Marco and what he said was wrong, very and I am sure that your parents won't be the only ones to complain, I'm sure Marco's parents will. Oh and Emma will probably start some kind of thing to try and help." he said, since Marco was one of his students he cared about him.

"Mr. Simpson, I am not sure if I should be telling you this but Marco's parents no longer have any ties with him. And they lost all rights to him when they laid a hand on him. And now this, you can tell Emma I say thanks and anything she does will be appreciated. If we thought what happened to Marco in the park was bad then when he gets back in school it will be ten times worse. I take back what I said in there though, about him hoping it was my mom instead of my dad," she said.

"Threatening the principal was not a good idea, even if he was wrong. If he asks you, will you apologize?" he asked, not use to people backing down, he did live with Emma after all.

"No, all I have to say to him is he better pray that it's not my brother Dylan, because then he will be in serious trouble," Paige was about to go on but someone picked up on the other end. "Mom, its Paige, pick me up, I have some hard things to explain plus I'm sure Raditch was going to suspend me anyway, what, no, I'll talk to you in the car, okay, bye mom," Paige finished.

"You can tell Raditch I am leaving and that he can call the house with my suspension," she said sitting down on the curb waiting.

"Um, okay, this probably isn't allowed but I will let you go," he said walking back inside.

Not to long after Mrs. Michalchuk picked her daughter up from school a little worried and very confused.

"Okay Paige spill it, what did you do?" she asked as they neared the house.

"Mom, Mr. Raditch is a complete homophobe, he practically announced it to the whole school at an assembly this morning, of course after announcing that Marco was gay to the entire student body!" Paige said obviously still angry.

"How can someone practically announce that they are homophobic?" Mrs. Michalchuk asked, she was trying to give Raditch the benefit of the doubt because he was the principal.

"Well, he asked me how he could try and condemn people for punishing those who are wrong in the eyes of the bible. No wonder nothing has ever been done with Dylan's locker bashings," Paige said.

"I see, we will explain it to Marco gently when he wakes up. And I think that we should still go to that counseling session tonight. Marco has a doctors appointment Sunday to see if he is healthy enough to go back to school, I know he is in danger there that's why you need to make sure someone is with him at all times. I just can't keep him out of school much longer he has already missed a week of school," Mrs. Michalchuk said.

"I understand mom and I agree with your decisions," Paige said.

When they got home Dylan was cooking eggs on the stove. He looked over surprised to see Paige at home. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well I do live here, but that's not the only reason, I also got," the she was interrupted by the phone ringing. Dylan was right next to the phone so he picked it up.

"Hello, Michalchuk residence," he said.

"Ah, Mr. Michalchuk, skipping school I guess, so like your type, I am just calling to say that until Paige apologizes for threatening me she is suspended. Can you pass that on to your parents?" he asked, he sounded really mad. Dylan was a little confused but mostly angry, what did he mean by that 'so like your type' line?

"Sure, sir," he spat back before hitting the phone on the ringer.

"Dylan, sweetie, is everything alright, did you get some disturbing news?" his mother asked.

"No, I just spoke with Mr. Raditch. He said for me to tell you that Paige is suspended until she apologizes for threatening him. But he made a rather homophobic comment, what happened today in school?" he asked Paige in general.

"Raditch held an assembly to try and get the bashings to stop I guess. He was preaching a whole lit of bull, so I told him that he was. I tried to explain that no matter what people would do what they wanted to wither it was right or wrong. I said something about how coming out made it almost dangerous in the school for you and he practically told the whole school that Marco was gay," Paige explained.

"He didn't," Dylan said.

"Yea, he did, and now I really fear for Marco's sanity," Paige said.

"Okay kids, we have to figure out how to tell him this, and Dylan, your father and I thought it would be best if we all attended this gay counseling session. I think it will really help your father understand some things better. Also as you know Marco has an appointment Sunday to see if he is well enough to go back to school, if he is we need to make sure that there are people who can help him if he needs it, so I will leave that to you kids to figure out how it will work," Mrs. Michalchuk said trying to be the calm level headed person in the whole situation.

"I think we need to just tell him the truth and just try to make him feel as safe as possible," Dylan said sincerely.

"I agree, we can't beat around the bush, just come outright and say it," Paige said.

"Speaking of Marco, where is he, did you leave him alone Dylan?" Mrs. Michalchuk asked.

Dylan shook his head no, "I carried him down to the couch so I could keep an eye on him, and he was so tired he didn't even wake up when I picked him up."

"You guys are so cute!" Paige squealed and Dylan rolled his eyes.

"Yea, whatever but I need to wake him up so he can eat, I'm sure he is hungry," Dylan said putting the now cooked eggs on a plate with some toast. He went into the den and sat the plate down on the little coffee table there. "Hey, Marco, wake up, I got some food I would like you to eat," Dylan said.

Marco moaned, he didn't seem to want to wake up but he did wrap his arms around Dylan sleepily and pulled him close. Dylan laughed at his boyfriends antics. "Come on Marc, wake up," Dylan said.

"I don't want to," he whined, "Make it worth my while Dyl," Marco said and Dylan was starting to wonder if he was either running a fever or sleeping because Marco had never spoken like that to Dylan. He was a little embarrassed because his mother and little sister were in the room watching this, he waved them away with his hand and was glad when his mother lead Paige into the kitchen.

Dylan grabbed Marco carefully and lifted him slightly so he could take a seat, Marco on his lap. He felt his forehead, no fever so that was good.

"Marco, aren't you hungry?" Dylan asked.

"Hungry for you," Marco said and Dylan choked and coughed loudly. Marco opened his eyes this time, a little confused looking, he saw he was in Dylan's lap and blushed. Dylan smiled down at him figuring he was dreaming, dreaming about him.

"Did you have a nice dream"? Dylan joked and Marco looked horrified.

"What do you mean, what did you hear, and what did I say?" Marco asked he looked worried and like he was about to cry.

"Calm down Marco, it's cool. Don't worry about it, I was flattered to be in your dreams and I am happy that it was a pleasant one," Dylan said kissing Marco on the forehead.

"I thought you would have been angry with me," Marco said quietly.

"Why would you think that?" Dylan asked genuinely confused.

"I don't know," Marco said he didn't want to have to talk about it anymore; the fact that he had just had a dream like that about Dylan was sort of embarrassing and then when Dylan had woken him and teased him about it he just felt like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Hey don't worry about it," Dylan asked seeing how Marco didn't want to talk about the subject.

"Hey, Marc, I got some bad news for you, something happened in school today, besides Paige getting suspended, something else happened," Dylan said, he wanted to put in gently but was having a hard time finding the words.

"Paige got suspended? Why?" Marco asked.

"Well, there was an assembly today to try and protect the gays and lesbians in the school and Paige spoke against Raditch. We found out that Raditch was homophobic and he sort of let your secret slip, I'm sorry Marco," Dylan said. "I swear that if I see him in a dark corner he won't come out of it," he said trying to make Marco feel a little better. He waited, for the tears, for the wetness on his shirt, for the sound of Marco's broken sobs but they didn't come. He looked down almost afraid of what he might see, not at all prepared for it.

Marco looked as if he was processing the pros and cons of what Dylan had just told him and now Dylan was really wondering if Marco had a fever. I was taking this well, actually, it didn't seem to bother him.

"It's okay to be upset Marco, if this had happened to me I would certainly be upset," Dylan said, maybe Marco was embarrassed of his tears.

"I should be upset shouldn't I?" Marco said softly.

"Marco I am not sure if I understand, I know everyone takes things different but this is sort of weird," Dylan said.

"Well he did all the work for me, I don't have to worry about people finding out about me everyone knows, everyone that I will be in contact with on a daily basis knows all about me. I guess it takes a lot off my mind. No longer do I have to look over my shoulder when I am with you, worrying that someone might catch on. No longer do I have to fear writing on the bathroom wall because it will be no news if someone does. I guess I can thank Raditch right? Am I making any sense?" Marco asked, he was getting emotional now and he wasn't sure why, why the tears were coming when he thought he had it under control.

"I understand Marco and it makes perfect sense, Raditch set us free," Dylan said taking a deep breath and hugging Marco. Dylan didn't want to let go but he needed to talk to Marco about the session his parents and Paige wanted them to go to, it may be too soon for Marco and Dylan understood that.

"Marco, my mom thought it would be a good idea for us to attend this thing. It deals with being gay and lesbian and it also deals with the emotions that the families are feeling and after last night and this morning I know my dad needs this," Dylan said thinking about how he hit his father.

"What do you mean, what is wrong with you dad?" Marco asked.

"We bother him a lot, us together but that doesn't matter to me, if he can't see how happy I am with you then he does not deserve me. We had a fight this morning and I hit him, not hard but I did, he was insulting you, so I just hit him," Dylan said, he heard Marco gasp.

"Did he hit you back?" Marco asked tentatively.

"No, he was a little shocked that I hit him I think, but I think tonight will open his eyes, that is if you want to go," Dylan said.

"I think it would be a good idea, for all of us," Marco said hugging Dylan because he could tell the fight with his dad still laid heavily on his mind.

"Okay, so then tonight we will go, but now you will eat," Dylan said giving him the food, Marco smiled sheepishly and started to nibble at his toast.

That night Marco was actually nervous, he could tell that Dylan was completely at ease as was most of the family, only Mr. Michalchuk seemed tense as they pulled into the parking lot of the meeting. Getting out of the car was still hard for Marco with his injury but Dylan was slow with him and they entered the building slightly after the others for a few reasons.

"Dylan, why am I scared to go in there, why does it feel like my legs are made of jelly?" Marco asked catching his breath after maneuvering out of the back of the car.

"You just came out; it seems natural for you to be nervous. Take a deep breath I am here for you, so is my mom, and Paige," Dylan said taking his hand and lacing their fingers, Marco leaned on his momentarily before they two entered the room and took seats with the rest of the Michalchuk's in the semi-big circle.

"Welcome, I see we have some new faces, and some old, nice to meet the new people and welcome back familiar faces. My name is Mary, why don't we go around and introduce ourselves starting with you," she said pointing to Marco. At first Marco's breath was caught in his throat, why did she have to pick him, he knew Dylan's eyes were on him so he took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"Hi, my name is Marco," and then he faulted, not sure if he should give his given last name, he was disowned after all, after the small internal battle with himself he decided not to say anything.

"Nice to meet you Marco and welcome," Mary said seeing he was uncomfortable, "There is no reason to feel scared here, nothing will leave this circle." She said trying to ease Marco's nerves a little; he just nodded not trusting his voice.

Then the introductions continued no one quite as quietly as Marco. "My name is Dylan Michalchuk," Dylan said beside him, Marco drawing from his confidence, Marco put his head down to gather himself for a moment until he heard a familiar voice.

"My name is Ashley Kerwin," Marco's head shot up and he was met by the soft gaze of Ash. What was she doing here, he saw her take a deep breath and continue, "I am here because my dad is gay and I am having a hard time accepting his partner," she said.

Mary looked as her and smiled, "It takes a lot of courage to admit that to yourself and others and that is the first step to acceptance. Good for you," Mary said and the introductions continued until they were done, then Mary took the floor.

"Okay, tonight we are going to talk about acceptance so Ashley this was a good session to attend. When a loved one tells us that they are homosexual what are the feelings that run though you?" she asked the group and people started to raise their hands.

"Confusion"

"Acceptance"

"Anger"

The last one coming from Mr. Michalchuk, and Mrs. Michalchuk looked appalled at him for saying that.

"Ah, the one I was looking for, of course you are angry, you feel betrayed, how could they do that to you, how dare they, am I correct?" she said and there were a few mumbled yes' throughout the crowd.

"But then you need to realize that nothing has changed, if you watch them carefully, they are no different then the people they were before they came out to you. They may even seem happier that they no longer need to lie to the people they care about, they may smile just a little more, almost not noticeable," she explained and there were many nods from the crowd.

"And what if they don't," Marco whispered to her looking her right in the eye, a pale bruise still slightly visible from his beating his father had given him before Dylan saved him.

"Care to explain?" Mary asked, she obviously noticed the angered look she got from Dylan when she asked that, but what he didn't know was that this would help.

"What if they don't see that you are happier out of the closet? When if it angers them to a point where it clouds their reason and they hurt you?" Marco asked.

"Then you have to question if you had unconditional love from them," she said simply. And that made Marco think, and really think, she seemed right. If they really loved him unconditionally then they wouldn't have acted the way they did, and he wouldn't have done what he did.

Dylan had noticed that Marco had become quiet, but didn't worry about it too much, Marco was handling himself well today and he didn't think this would be a major setback.

Mary had noticed Marco's sudden silence, "Marco, here we let it all out, tell us what you are feeling, your thoughts," she pried.

"Unloved," Marco said and Dylan all but gasped, how could Marco feel unloved when his whole family was there for him.

"You say unloved Marco and yet you are here, who brought you here, why are you here," she said gently again.

Marco paused to think about that, he was here with his boyfriend who he loved very much and who on many occasions had expressed his love to him. And he was here with Paige who had always tried to look out for his best interest and speak up for him when he needed it. And the Michalchuk's who had for the most part given him nothing but unconditional love and had taken care of him. He had no idea that while he was thinking five minutes in silence had passed by. Finally Marco cried out, grabbing Dylan, "I'm so sorry." And then he proceeded to cry into Dylan's chest who was a little confused.

"Explain to your loved ones why you are sorry Marco, let all your feels out," Mary said.

"I'm sorry I was being so selfish thinking that there was no one who could ever love me after what happened but I know now, Dylan, I love you and you love me, and I love your family too, they have been so good to me, thank you, thank you," Marco cried. Dylan just grabbed him and let him cry, he had a feeling that this was a good thing even though Marco was emotionally unstable at the moment, he knew that things would be okay, that they were on the right path.

Okay, so that was another chapter, and I'm sorry it took so long; hopefully you all still want to read my story.