A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews in such a short amount of time. I am shocked and amazed, not to mention grateful.

I'd take the time to mention you individually but I'm tired and figured that you'd rather see the chapter. So thank you and know that each of you is appreciated.

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Chapter Fifteen

Mrs. Michalchuk walked into her son's hospital room for the third day in a row, finding Marco slumped over the bed. He had finally fallen asleep in what could be the most uncomfortable position in the world.

"Marco, honey, go home and get some sleep. You need your strength." Mrs. Michalchuk pleaded.

Marco stirred slightly and looked up at her with tear stained cheeks. "I can't leave. I want to be here when he wakes up."

Mrs. Michalchuk shook her head. She knew there was no changing his mind because he was in love. She knew the feeling well.

Marco rested fitfully next to Dylan's bed. He couldn't get comfortable and was afraid if he did, he'd miss Dylan waking up.

Around ten thirty at night on the third day, Marco fell asleep with his head resting next to Dylan's hip. He had finally exhausted himself enough that position didn't matter anymore.

About an hour later, Dylan woke up. He saw Marco sleeping and smiled slightly. He was stiff and couldn't remember why he was in the hospital. He was extremely happy to see Marco, however.

Dylan laid there staring down at the Italian boy for about 20 minutes before he realized his head hurt. He slowly closed his eyes to block out the dim light coming from the hallway.

Mrs. Michalchuk entered the room around six the next morning and found her son awake. She smiled brightly but didn't say anything since Dylan motioned for quiet. He pointed at Marco and shrugged.

She smiled and nodded her understanding.

"What happened?" asked Dylan whispering.

"You were in a car accident. You've been in a coma for three days. He hasn't left you except to take a shower," whispered Mrs. Michalchuk.

"I feel sore but ok, am I?"

"After some recuperation time, you'll be fine."

Dylan sighed heavily at the news, that was great.

Marco started to stir from his sleep. His neck was hurting but he thought he heard voices. He opened his eyes and saw Mrs. Michalchuk at the other side of the bed. He looked over and saw Dylan awake. He did a double take, not believing his eyes.

"You're awake!" exclaimed Marco.

Dylan nodded and tried to force a smile.

Marco hugged Dylan to him and started crying again. This time the tears were from happiness and not fear. It was refreshing.

"Marco, why are you here?" asked Dylan.

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be here?" inquired Marco.

"I was sure you'd leave. I just wanted to know if you're leaving why you're here," said Dylan, hurt tracing each word.

Marco sat down and put his head in his hands. He looked up again after a few moments, "Dylan, I wasn't going to leave. I'm staying. I can't see my life without you."

Dylan started to tear up at those words, "You're going to give up your parents and Italy for me?"

Marco nodded, "I feel it's a better investment for my life to stay with you. I love you."

"I love you, too. Why did you make me wait so long for an answer?"

"I couldn't decide at first. Your letter made more sense to me than it had any right to, I'm sure. I don't regret my decision and I don't think I ever will." Marco said honestly.

The boys hugged again. Mrs. Michalchuk looked on at this display of honest love and affection. She felt blessed to bear witness to such purity and beauty. Her son was in love and it was a good thing.

Marco returned to school that morning happily. He ran into Paige and Chad outside the building. Paige looked at him fearfully as he approached. Marco swung her into a hug, "Dylan woke up late last night or early this morning. He said he feels fine but sore."

Paige squealed in delight. Tears of happiness streamed down her perfectly made up face. She didn't care what she looked like, her brother was fine.

Chad smiled broadly at the news. He was more that happy to have his friend back.

The three made it to lunch and then decided to sign out and go see Dylan.

Dylan was sitting up in his hospital bed flipping through a magazine when the three teens traipsed through the door. He looked at the clock and smiled, "Early dismissal?"

"For us. We couldn't wait to see you." Paige exclaimed launching herself at her brother.

Dylan groaned, "Punctured lung. Internal bleeding. Any of that ring a bell?"

The boys laughed at the stricken look on her face, "Did I hurt you?"

"Yes but I'll be okay. More gently next time please." Dylan said.

Marco leaned across him to kiss him gently on the lips. "Hi. You're looking better."

"Mmm. I feel better. They let me get up, walk and even take a brief shower." Dylan said smiling at his lover.

Chad laughed, "You and your showers, can't even let a coma get in the way."

Dylan chuckled lightly at Chad's joke.

"Just because I'm better looking and like to take my showers seriously is no reason to get pissy."

Chad laughed at him and nodded. It was a long standing joke between them that Dylan hated to be dirty longer than necessary.

The teens continued to chat until a doctor entered the room. It was one that none of them had seen before, except Dylan. "Good afternoon, Dylan." Dylan nodded at him as he looked around the room. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Dr. James. I heard about some problems with Dr. Kildare and I've taken Dylan's case over. I'm chief resident here."

"It's nice to meet you. Dr. Kildare wasn't a very pleasant man," said Marco bluntly.

"Who are all of you? If you don't mind a nosy old man." Dr. James asked.

"I'm Dylan's boyfriend, Marco. This is his sister, Paige and his best friend slash her boyfriend, Chad." Marco said making all the appropriate gestures.

"What a tangled web we weave. It's nice to meet all of you. What did they bring you for lunch?" the doctor asked as he pulled the lid off the tray. "No wonder you won't eat. This is gross. If one or two of you want to get him a burger and fries, I'll okay it. He needs to eat but isn't on a restricted diet."

Paige and Chad nodded. They left to get him lunch.

"I was hoping they'd leave. I'm sure you're both wondering whether or not Dylan can get intimate again. Please don't blush or try to deny it. I'm sure you're active, judging from the way he stayed here the entire three days." Dr. James said brazenly.

Marco and Dylan shared a look and turned their attention back to the doctor.

"You have to be careful for a while. You can resume prior activities in a week or so but make sure you listen to your body. It will tell you when the pain is too much." Dr. James said seriously. "Now that the uncomfortable portion of the afternoon is over, I shall say good bye. I'll check on you later tonight. Marco, go home and get some sleep tonight. You won't do Dylan any good if you're in here yourself."

Marco nodded to him and smiled, "I will."

With that, he left the two boys alone.

"That was odd." Dylan stated.

Marco sat down on the bed next to his hip, "I didn't expect to be confronted with that particular bit of information. I was curious but I wasn't going to ask."

Dylan smiled, "I was curious myself but was afraid to ask."

Dylan and his friends ate lunch and chatted about school. They were filling him in on the gossip surrounding his absence.

"I heard that Marco dumped you and you took a bottle of sleeping pills. Now you are in the psyche ward."

"I heard he ran the car into a pole to make Marco stay."

"Someone told me that Marco was leaving and Dylan tried to commit suicide in the car."

The stories just got more ridiculous with each passing day. And they had heard every version.

The next day, Dylan got to go home. He couldn't go to school yet but was relieved to be out of that sterile room.

Dylan sighed happily as he sat on his bed. He was back to his messy, although it appears his mom cleaned, cluttered and generally disorganized room.

Marco brought him a glass of water and some pill the doctor instructed he take as Dylan lounged on his pillows.

"No, I don't want to take it," said Dylan stubbornly.

"I don't care. You're taking it," teased Marco, falling smoothly into Dylan's petulant child routine.

"But I don't wanna," whined Dylan.

"Fine, don't take it." Dylan beamed a smile of triumph at Marco, "But I won't come anywhere near you until you start taking your medication without a fight. No kisses, hugs, or anything else."

Dylan's smile fell, "Okay, give me the drug. You don't fight fair."

Marco smiled and tried not to laugh.

Mrs. Michalchuk walked in as Dylan swallowed his pill, "Wow! That was quicker than I thought. I underestimated you, Marco."

"To understand the three year old in question is half the battle," said Marco laughing.

"Hey, I'm not a three year old," cried Dylan, trying to sound offended.

Mrs. Michalchuk laughed at her son's plaintive protest because he did sound just like he did when he was three.

Dylan slumped down in his bed in aggravation, causing more laughs from Marco and his mom. He was beginning to look like a petulant three year old.

About a week later Dylan tried to go back to school. He was sick and tired of staring at his walls. There was only so much he could take of soaps, talk shows and cartoons. Don't get him wrong, the cartoons were fun but enough was enough. He was going stir crazy.

Marco walked him up to the door of Degrassi and held it open for him. The students who were milling around before their first classes were amazed to see Dylan upright and with Marco. They heard startled gasps as they passed by to the office. Marco and Dylan shared a small smile as they heard rumors of what had happened.

Mr. Radditch looked extremely impressed that Dylan was up on his feet considering the ordeal he'd been under. Marco assured him that Dylan would be okay if he took it easy.

By lunch, the student population of Degrassi was buzzing. Marco refused to tell them he was staying and swore Chad, Paige and Dylan to secrecy. He wanted to see how far the rumors could be taken before totally getting out of hand.

The whispers were heard through the cafeteria.

"He's just stringing poor Dylan along."

"He's only staying because Dylan got hurt. Once he's better, Marco's on the next plane."

"He so selfish he's only doing this to look good."

"Maybe he'll actually stay because he loves Dylan."

"You've got to be kidding. He's straight but thought he'd venture into homo land and see the rides."

"If homo land offers Dylan rides, sign me up." (Marco laughed at this one from a particularly amorous young girl.)

They were getting stranger as the day went on. By last period, Marco had heard everything from he's leaving and hates Dylan to he's staying and hates Dylan. He didn't know where they thought these things up but they were entertaining.

Marco drove Dylan home after school and settled him back into bed. Dylan was protesting loudly that he felt fine but Marco saw the dark circles and painful expression in those beautiful blue eyes.

"Dylan, get into bed and stay there." Marco ordered forcefully.

Dylan cracked a smile, "Aye, aye Captain." Dylan slid into bed and stared at his boyfriend.

"What?" questioned Marco.

"Will you lay with me? I'm tired of being alone in this bed." Dylan said seriously.

Marco looked at him skeptically but nodded as he kicked off his shoes and climbed in next to Dylan. "I'll stay for a little while. I need to call my parents and tell them I'm not going anywhere."

Dylan nodded against Marco's chest as he curled up into his lover. "Thank you for staying and loving me enough to stay."

Marco chuckled lightly as he ran his fingers through the curly blonde locks, "As if I really had a choice." He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on the blonde head.

Dylan quickly fell asleep listening to Marco's steady heartbeat. It was a sound he'd come to know and love but didn't realize it until he'd almost lost it. His Marco was staying.

Marco watched Dylan sleep peacefully for two hours. 'I knew letting him go to school was too much. He's worn out. Oh well, he's happy though.' Marco mused while stroking Dylan's hair absently.

This is how Mrs. Michalchuk found the two boys when she got home. She knocked softly before entering and heard Marco's quiet call of come in. She looked at them for a minute with a small whimsical smile. She knew her son was in good hands with Marco, he'd take care of him.

"How was his day?" asked Mrs. Michalchuk softly.

Marco smiled, "Good. He seemed happy to be out but I think the entire day was too much. He's exhausted."

She nodded her understanding, "Maybe he should start out with half days. Dr. James said he'd be weak for a while considering the surgery and the internal bleeding."

"You know as well as I that he won't cut back now. He's gone a full day and will continue even if it means a three hour nap before dinner."

Mrs. Michalchuk nodded again. She knew how stubborn her son was and he wouldn't back down from a challenge this big. The one thing that struck her was that Marco knew her son that well. It was just one more sign of how in love these two boys really were.

A few more days passed and it was time for Marco to face his parents. He'd managed to delay calling them because of Dylan's accident. He couldn't run forever unfortunately.

He picked them up from the airport and drove home, listening to his mother's chatter about Italy. It was good to see her so animated about being somewhere again. His father sat in stony silence watching the road his son was driving down.

Marco sat his parents down in the living room after they settled themselves from their journey. He figured now was as good a time as any to break the news of his wanting to stay.

"Mama, Papa, I know you've been wondering since the funeral if I was going to stay here or return to Italy. It wasn't an easy choice to make, I hope you both know that. I was forced to choose between my parents, my homeland and the school I've been finally accepted in for who I am. Also, I had to choose to stay or leave Dylan. That was the hardest part of the entire thing."

Marco's mama looked nervous, "Please Marco, kill the suspense. Are you staying or coming with us?"

Marco tried to smile but failed, "I want to stay here. I love Degrassi. I'm accepted for being gay and I don't want to start over. And most of all, I love Dylan. I can't picture my life without him."

Marco's father shook his head in disappointment, "You know, I figured that you would take this road. I hoped family honor would win out but I guess I was wrong." With that, he left the room.

Marco's mama was crying silently into her hands. "My son, I'm glad you made the right choice. You wouldn't have been happy in Italy with us. Let your papa adjust and he'll be okay."

Marco hugged his mama, "It's okay if he isn't okay, Mama. I'm okay and I'm in love. He can't change that for me. I'll come and visit you every chance I get."

"You know he's going to cut our trip short now, right?" inquired his mother.

Marco nodded. He knew his father wouldn't stay any longer than necessary since he'd chosen love over family.

Later that night, Marco heard a soft knock on his door. He called out to whoever was on the door to enter.

His father stood there in his robe at the doorway, unsure whether to actually enter or just shut the door and leave again.

"Yes, Papa?" questioned Marco.

"Can we talk, son?" inquired his father. It was more of a demand than a question so he entered the room anyway.

Marco nodded, "About what?"

"You and Dylan. You and Degrassi..."

"You want to know all of my reasons for staying instead of leaving and hope you approve of at least one of them." Marco completed for him.

His father half chuckled, "Yeah, I guess I do."

Marco closed his eyes for a minute in thought, "There are many reasons that I thought of to leave. I love Italy. You and Mama are there. Some of the family is still there. My childhood home." Marco shrugged. "Then the reasons to stay started to float into my mind. Dylan. Soccer. Degrassi. Accepted as gay. Friends. Most of my favorite family members don't live in Italy anymore. Rosa's here now. Ellie. Dylan. College. The list just kept going for Canada. My list for Italy seemed to keep running short."

His father looked pensive for a minute, "So, you really did think this through. This isn't some puppy love excuse to stay."

"No, Papa. If it were only about Dylan, I probably wouldn't stay. I have a lot more going for me here than just him. I do love him and would hate to leave him but if it was the right choice I would do it." Marco said definitely.

"When did you grow into a man? It must have been when I wasn't looking." Marco's dad said in amazement.

"That's normally what happens when you travel more than you are at home. I grew up and no one seemed to notice or care." Marco responded sadly.

"I am sorry about that, Marco. I'm going to try and pay better attention next time." His father promised before leaving Marco with his thoughts.

Marco smirked lightly as his father retreated.

The next morning, Marco walked up to school slowly. He made arrangements for Paige to bring Dylan that morning so he didn't have to worry about it. Chad was waiting on the steps for his girlfriend and best friend.

"Where's Dylan?"

"Paige is bringing him this morning." Marco said.

"Are you okay? You look a little, I don't know, depressed." Chad said astutely.

Marco chuckled lightly, "I've got everything going for me and yet I can't seem to get happy. Dylan's fine, I'm staying and yet my parents are still disappointed in me. Oh well, that's life I guess."

Chad slung an arm around his shoulder, "It'll be okay, man. I still love you."

Marco smiled tiredly. "I love you too. You're such a goof."

"Oh I see. You leave me with my sister so you can fool around with my best friend." Dylan said from behind them.

Marco turned and smiled widely at his boyfriend, "Yep. You got it on one. I've been sneaking around with Chad behind your back while you've been on the mend."

Paige giggled lightly, "At last the truth comes out. My boyfriend prefers my brother's boyfriend."

The four teens giggled like before all the melodrama. It felt good to get back into the old swing of things.

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This isn't going to be the last chapter. I got a burst of inspiration on this line, so look forward to at least two more chapters.

Please review. Tried not to leave you with a heart stopping cliffy on this one, for the sake of those who are claiming to be suffering from heart failure.