Thank you to all my reviewers. I know I didn't get the twelve I asked for but the ten I got made up for it.

Kate: I'm sorry you didn't get to review on the site but I'm still so happy you reviewed by email. I love your review, as usual.

A/N: I'm going to let the cat out of the bag…This is only the second part of this story. I decided to turn it into a trilogy. So, while this is ending after chapter Twenty, fear not, it's not over yet.

Chapter Seventeen

Valentine's went well. Dylan and Marco managed to befriend William with ease. He was a really great guy. Well educated, well read, so he and Marco got on fabulously, and attentive to Scott. Scott was definitely happier than ever.

Another month had passed and Spring Break was beginning. Scott dropped Marco and Dylan off at the airport.

Marco wasn't looking forward to this plane trip again but Dylan couldn't have been more excited.

Rosa met them at the airport after a really long flight. "Hey, boys. Looking a little tired."

Marco grimaced, "I hate this flight. I just want a hot shower and a bed."

"Yeah, me too." Dylan said with a smile.

Rosa smiled, "Can't you and Dylan wait for those activities until everyone goes to bed?"

Dylan laughed as Marco rolled his eyes.

"Let's just get the luggage, please." Marco fairly begged.

Dylan managed to get Rosa out of earshot, "You going to help me?"

Rosa nodded, "Yeah. I've got an errand that should take about two hours tomorrow. I'm taking Marco with me. There's your chance."

Dylan half-hugged her, "Thanks."

Rosa laughed, "Thank me after this confrontation. Good luck with that by the way, you might need it."

"I know but I love him. What else can I do?" Dylan inquired with a shrug.

"Elope?"

Dylan gave her a reproachful look.

"Yeah, I know. This is your only option." Rosa said with a tight grin.

The next day, Rosa made excuses about wanting some alone time with her cousin and made him tag along for her errands.

Dylan found Mrs. Del Rossi in the kitchen, "Hi."

"Hi Dylan."

"Do you think I could talk to you and Mr. Del Rossi for a minute?"

Mrs. Del Rossi turned and looked at Dylan, "Of course. Is there something wrong?"

Dylan shook his head, "Umm, no. I just have to talk to you both about something."

Mrs. Del Rossi nodded and led the way to her husband's study. She knocked as she entered, "Caro, Dylan wants to talk to us. Are you busy?"

Mr. Del Rossi looked up, "Not terribly so, come on in."

Dylan entered just behind Mrs. Del Rossi. When she motioned he sit in one of the chairs, he followed her lead. "I've come to ask for a huge favor. I want to marry your son but I'd like to have your permission to do so first."

Mrs. Del Rossi smiled brightly as he husband sat in stony silence.

Mr. Del Rossi spoke first, "No, I can't allow it."

Mrs. Del Rossi looked at him like he'd lost his mind, "Why do you say no? He loves your son, isn't that enough?"

Mr. Del Rossi crossed his arms over his chest, "Fine, tell me the reasons you want to marry my son."

Dylan looked at Mrs. Del Rossi, who shrugged a little as if to say here's your chance, "I love your son, Mr. Del Rossi. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I hope he could say the same for me. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. He completes who I am, he's my soul mate. I know that this all sounds fanciful to you but it's true. I love him more than anything else in this world."

Mr. Del Rossi nodded, "I still can't give you my permission."

Dylan stood up, "While I don't like your decision, I respect it. I still want to marry Marco and I will. I will wait until we go home before proposing if I don't have your permission by then. So, I will wait and hope you change your mind. Because I know it would mean the world to Marco if you and Mrs. Del Rossi were behind this marriage from the beginning."

With that, Dylan walked out of the study and went to the patio. He sat in a lounge chair and picked up the book he'd been reading when Marco left.

Mrs. Del Rossi squared off with her husband, "How could you say no? He came to us to ask our permission. He knew how much it would mean to Marco. I can't believe you wouldn't put aside your stubborn pride and give that boy your blessings."

"I can't let my son marry another man. It's not right." Mr. Del Rossi roared back.

Mrs. Del Rossi laughed humorlessly, "So, in your mind it's okay that he's gay and living in sin but god forbid he wants to marry. What is wrong with you? You do know he's going to say yes, whether we allow it or not. You are aware that if you aren't behind this that we probably won't see our son again. What if they choose to adopt, we'll never see our grandchildren? Can you live with that?" She was almost pleading with him now.

Mr. Del Rossi just shook his head, "It's my decision. If I promise to think about it, will you leave me in peace?"

Mrs. Del Rossi looked somewhat satisfied, "Fine." She left him to do whatever it was he did in there.

Mr. Del Rossi worked for a while longer. He heard his son come back from his jaunt with Rosa.

Mrs. Del Rossi left her husband's study and went straight to Dylan. "I know he said no but you have my permission. I'll work on him. We'll get him to change his mind."

Dylan smiled, "Thanks. How will I let Marco know that it's okay with you?"

"I'll write a letter and have the jackass sign it when he changes his mind."

"If he changes his mind."

Mrs. Del Rossi shrugged, "Whatever. It'll work out."

Mr. Del Rossi turned to his window and looked out. His son and Dylan were sharing a chaise lounge, talking. He couldn't hear what was said but it didn't matter, the body language said it all.

A few days had passed and Mr. Del Rossi had done some serious thinking and watching. He saw his son was happy with Dylan. He watched the way they interacted.

Dylan was walking toward the back patio four days after his talk with Marco's parent when he was stopped by Mr. Del Rossi.

"Join me in my study, please."

Dylan followed him and sat down.

Mr. Del Rossi sat down in his chair and looked at the young, blonde man in front of him. "I've decided to give you my permission to marry my son."

Dylan's jaw dropped open, "I'm sorry but what?"

Mr. Del Rossi laughed a little, "You have my permission to marry Marco."

Dylan smiled, "I'm leaving now. I don't want to press my luck on this. So, thank you for your permission. It's going to mean a lot to Marco and it means a lot to me."

Mr. Del Rossi nodded as he watched Dylan exit the room quickly.

Dylan saw Marco on the back patio and headed for the kitchen. He saw Mrs. Del Rossi and Rosa sitting at the table.

Both women jumped as he barreled through the door. "He said I have his permission."

The women looked at each other, mirrored expressions of shock. "He did?" Rosa asked.

"Yes. He pulled me back into the study and gave me his permission. Better write that letter, Mrs. Del Rossi. As soon as I can arrange it I'm taking him out on a romantic picnic, once again, a little help would be greatly appreciated, Rosa. I'm proposing and I hope he's going to say yes."

Mrs. Del Rossi hugged Dylan, "I'll write the letter and pack the picnic, don't worry. Rosa, help with the location and time. You have a ring, right?"

Dylan nodded, "I bought it back in January."

Rosa squealed and Mrs. Del Rossi beamed. She was so excited for her son.

Dylan went to find Marco before he started searching for him. They spent a quiet afternoon on the back porch until Catalina came over. She wanted her cousin Marco to play with her. Being the softy Marco is, he relented.

Dylan went into the house while Marco was distracted by the little girl. He found Rosa and she helped him plan for the next day. Everything was very covert. It felt good to be able to pull something over on Marco again.

Rosa let Mrs. Del Rossi know of the plans so she could have the letter ready and the picnic basket packed.

Mrs. Del Rossi entered her husband's study with a piece of paper in her hand. "I wrote Marco a letter saying we consent to his marriage to Dylan. I want you to sign it so he knows that you're behind this."

She slid the piece of paper toward her husband and watched as he signed under her paragraph.

"I want to add a few things. I promise to put it in an envelope and give it to Dylan."

Mrs. Del Rossi nodded and left him with his note.

Rosa gave him a map of a secluded park location. Mrs. Del Rossi gave him the picnic basket and a kiss on the cheek.

Dylan told Marco he wanted to have some time alone away from the house with him and it worked. Marco came with him willingly enough.

At the picnic site Rosa told him about, Dylan spread out the blanket.

Marco smiled at him, "What's in the basket?"

Dylan smiled sheepishly, "I don't know. I mentioned a picnic to your mom and she took care of it."

Marco laughed, "That's Mama. She loves to do things like this. Let's see what we've got here." Marco opened the basket and pulled out an assortment of cheeses, meats, crackers, fruit, chocolate, and wine. He arched an eyebrow as he looked at the spread. "This looks like a scene for seduction."

Dylan just tilted his head a little. "Maybe."

Marco leaned over and kissed Dylan sweetly on the lips.

They had a leisurely picnic with a few stolen kisses and a fondle or two for good measure. Marco was lying with his head on Dylan's chest, both of them watching the clouds pass overhead.

"I could be happy with days like this for the rest of my life," said Marco, wistfully.

Dylan smiled at the azure blue sky, "Really. Days like this or days like this with me?"

"You definitely are a huge part of why I'm feeling this way. I'd say, days like this with you." Marco said turning to his stomach.

Dylan repositioned Marco so he was lying on top of him, he kissed him gently. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Dylan pushed Marco off of him gently and sat up. "I'll be right back. I forgot something in the car."

Marco looked at him curiously but shrugged it off. He started cleaning up the picnic while Dylan was gone.

Dylan watched as Marco straightened everything on their blanket. "Hey. I'm back."

Marco turned and saw Dylan had a cooler. "What's in the cooler?"

"Don't worry about that now. I need to talk to you."

Marco looked around nervously, "Is there something wrong? I don't need to worry about anything right?"

Dylan smiled, "No, this isn't a bad conversation."

Marco sighed in relief.

Dylan knelt down next to Marco, "Marco, I can't start on a pretense so I'm just going to say what I need to say. Will you marry me?"

Dylan flipped open the ring box he had hidden in his hand.

Marco gasped at the ring. When he didn't say anything Dylan started to talk again.

"I love you. I know I've done this before but all your reasons from before are null and void. I'm hoping you'll say yes this time because I don't think I have the strength to go through this again."

Marco shakes his head, "We can't get married. It's not even legal in Boston."

"We'll get married in Canada. It's legal since technically we're both still legal residents in Canada and Massachusetts has to recognize it."

"We're too young."

"You know as well as I do that isn't a factor. We're in love, we can make it work."

"School?"

"We'll be fine."

"Hockey?"

"It will work out. I probably won't even make the pros."

"A job? Support?"

"It will all be fine."

"My parents?"

"We have their permission."

"We're too young?"

"You already said that."

"Wait did you say my parents are okay with this?"

"Yes."

"That means you asked their permission first."

"Yes."

"Am I the only one who didn't know this was happening?"

"Yes."

"How can my parents be okay with this?"

"I don't know. They wrote a note."

"I can see Mama saying yes but Papa, give me a break."

"It took four days if that's any consolation."

"Four days? That means you talked to them the day we got here."

"The day after."

"When I was out with Rosa?"

"Yes."

"How could I not have gotten wind of this?"

"We're good at covert operations. You know I keep saying yes when it's you that needs to say yes." Dylan suggested.

"Did you say there was a letter?"

"Yes. Do you want it?"

"Of course."

Dylan handed him the letter after removing it from his pocket.

Marco sat there for a few minutes looking at the envelope. He wasn't sure if he actually wanted to read it. It would take away his most important reason for saying no. And if he couldn't say no with a reason it would mean he'd have to examine his feelings for Dylan more closely and actually make a decision.

Did he want to marry Dylan? Could he see living the rest of his life with the man kneeling before him? Could he see living his life without Dylan if he said no?

Yes, evil still reigns. I'm leaving you hanging here. If you review, I'll post quicker and kill the suspense.