Thank you to my reviewers. I love all of you greatly. This is almost the end, unfortunately. One more chapter to go. I'll give you the title of the third installment next chapter.

Kate: Thanks for the encouragement and sticking with me through the rough spots.

Chapter Nineteen

Marco rolled up into a sitting position onto his bed around 3 in the afternoon. Dylan was sitting in the chair next to his bed, "Ugh, I feel like hell."

Dylan smiled, "I'm sure you do. Come on, you've got to get up and get moving. We've got dinner with my parents tonight."

Marco groaned lightly, "Can we postpone?"

"No, tomorrow is Easter and we fly out on Monday."

Marco stood up, "Fine, I'm going to shower now." Marco headed for his bathroom walking slowly. At the door he turned and looked at Dylan, "You coming?"

Dylan smiled and followed him into the bathroom.

"So, do I even want to go downstairs?"

Dylan turned on the water and pushed Marco gently under its spray. "Your house is fine. Ellie, Paige and Chad came over this morning. We cleaned it spotless."

Marco kissed Dylan lightly, "You're wonderful. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure. I knew you'd feel like hell considering you were mainlining tequila all night. Good job by the way."

"With what?"

"I was surprised that the only person you told off was Spinner."

"I told off Spin…"

"Yeah," Dylan replied smiling. He was washing Marco's back and knew he couldn't see the proud look that was there.

Marco turned so abruptly that Dylan didn't have time to move the washcloth away. "If you wanted your chest washed, all you had to do was ask," Dylan teased.

Marco gave him a slightly amused smile, "What did I say last night?"

Dylan chuckled, "You called him an ass."

"Okay, I do that sober…"

"And you told him he needs to grow up. That his cheating on Paige with Manny was uncalled for and then on Manny with Jay, Alex and Amy…"

"Oh God!"

"Oh, wait it gets better. Alex came up, ready to swing on you, denying anything to do with…how did she put it…oh yes, cretin boy."

Marco laughed in spite of the seriousness of the situation.

"To which you replied, sweetly I might add, not you but the guy from our Grade 11 English class."

Marco groaned, "I can't believe I said that."

Dylan shut the water off and guided Marco out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around the younger man waist, "It's okay. Spin deserved everything you said. He was being a jerk about Paige and Chad and our engagement. One thing though, did all of that really happen?"

Marco blushed, "Yeah, I know all about Spin's adventures in homoland, as he dubbed it. Not once but twice, well with two different people…eww…I don't want to think about that." Marco shuddered in disgust.

Dylan laughed as he pushed Marco toward the bedroom, "Go get dressed. I'll be another moment or two."

Dylan stood there and faced his reflection in the mirror. He'd been hoping what Marco blurted out was just the tequila talking but alas it wasn't. He had to decide whether or not to divulge to Marco just how friendly Spin was attempting to get last night. 'I guess he couldn't bed one Michalchuk, now he's trying for the other one.' Dylan mused.

Dylan shook his head and decided it was better left unaired for now. He'd find the time to tell him in Boston.

The two finished getting ready. Marco now mainlining Motrin instead of tequila.

Dylan smiled sympathetically, "I know you feel like hell but we've got to go. It's time to meet my parents."

Marco looked at the clock and did a double take, "It took two hours to get ready?"

Dylan nodded, "Yeah, you're movin' a little slow, love."

Marco just nodded.

Dylan drove to meet his parents at his childhood home in Paige's car. She'd loaned it to them while they were in town, being the nice sister she is and all.

They went to dinner and were grilled for the first hour about their plans. The first of which was about the wedding date.

"We don't know yet."

"Where will you live?"

"Marco's townhouse."

"Mortgage?"

"Paid for in full."

"Money?"

"I've got it covered."

"Job?"

"Also covered."

"School?"
"Attending still for both of us."

"This is forever right?"

There was a simultaneous yes from both men. It was the first time Marco spoke during the questioning. His head was still pounding and the rapid fire way the questions were being hurled at him didn't help.

With the fears abated to an extent, the Michalchuk parents eased off their questions and just enjoyed their son and his fiancé. They heard stories of classmates, hockey friends, over zealous fans, and teachers.

Dylan waited until dessert to divulge their plans for summer vacation. "I know Paige is graduating this year…and before you say anything we wouldn't miss it for the world. We're going to Florida after the parties die down here though. Scott and William invited us to see the sunshine state and all its various playgrounds."

Marco smiled, "And we're giving Paige and Chad tickets to go with us for her graduation present. Only she doesn't know it yet."

Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk shared a look, it said no children for the entire summer. Paige leaves to go to school in August anyway. "Okay. I think it's a wonderful idea." Mr. Michalchuk said.

Marco went to church on Easter morning and ran into Chris' parents. "Hi, Tio Angelo, Tia Lena. How are you?"

He got a stony stare from his aunt and uncle, "Fine considering you helped kill my son."

Marco seemed to weigh this option, "I'm sorry you feel that way. Have you met my fiancé, Dylan?"

Dylan looked about uncomfortable to be facing Chris' parents and then being introduced so callously.

They looked him over with some disdain, obviously they knew exactly who he was in relation to their son.

The four stood there outside the church for a moment, waiting to see if anyone would speak again. Finally Marco's aunt and uncle turned and walked away.

On the way home Dylan expressed his feelings about that scene. "Umm…that was mean."

"What?"

"Introducing me to Chris' parents like that after they accused you of slitting his wrists for him."

"Oh, that. I didn't slit his wrists. He was on the edge of that blade before I did anything."

"As long as you can sleep at night…"

"As we all know I can."

They got through a family dinner with Dylan's parents, Chad's parents, Paige, Chad, Ellie and her boyfriend.

Monday night found Marco and Dylan eating in Marco's kitchen back in Boston. The whole Spin thing was weighing heavily on Dylan's mind.

After the dishes were done, Marco decided to broach the subject of Dylan's mood.

"Are you okay love? You've been distant."

Dylan looked beyond troubled, "There's something I need to tell you but I think this might be better in the living room. Not so many sharp objects…" He was half teasing but wasn't taking any chances.

Marco felt a lump of fear and dread settle in his stomach. He tried swallowing past the lump in his throat to no avail. He nodded his agreement and followed Dylan into the living room.

"Something happened at the engagement party."

Marco groaned, "What else did I do?"

"It wasn't what you did." Dylan said carefully.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing, it was what Spinner did…"

"Alright, what'd Spin do?"

"He continually grabbed my crotch while making lewd comments about what he wanted to do to me. This was while he was sober."

Marco didn't look particularly surprised, "Okay, Spin's an idiot and that's nothing new. As long as you didn't act on said invitations we don't have a problem."

Dylan did his best Clueless impression, "Ugh! As if!"

Marco laughed.

"Why would I want a sorry imitation when I had the real deal plowed with tequila? And believe me you were more than willing…"

Marco smirked, "They say imitation can be as good as the real thing, if not better because it's cheaper."

Dylan grinned, "Yeah but the real deal would be a steal at quadruple the cost."

Marco stood, "Screw pretense, let's go to bed."

The next two months were a myriad of wedding plans, classes and finals, and preparing for upcoming trips. Marco and Dylan had decided on a June wedding for the following year.

At the end of May, Dylan and Marco drove back to Degrassi for Paige's graduation. They partied with their friends. Marco celebrated what should have been his graduation as well. Paige and Chad were shocked at the generous gift of a vacation to Florida.

A week after Paige's graduation, the four flew out of Toronto to Jacksonville.

The three couples had a wonderful time traveling through Florida. They did all the tourist stuff; Disney, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM, Universal, Islands of Adventure, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Miami, Daytona, Panama City, and St. Augustine. There were more sites but it became a blur after a while.

At the end of their trip, they went to Six Flags over Georgia. They were having a great time but decided to separate into pairs. It was easier since everyone wanted to do something different.

Marco and Dylan were waiting in line for The Ninja when Dylan felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found James.

"Hey coach."

"Hey guys. What brings you to Georgia?"

Marco gestured to the park, "We were in Florida, saw everything it had to offer so we decided to move north before heading home."

A pretty brunette and a girl were standing behind James, "Excuse me…"

James smiled, "I'm so sorry. Do you remember Leslie? From your engagement party?"

Marco nodded, "I knew you looked familiar. Hi, I'm Marco and this is Dylan."

Leslie nodded, "I remember. It's good to see you again."

James smiled and put his arm around the little girl, "This is my niece, Cristin. Cristin, these are two of my students…Dylan and Marco."

Cristin smiled shyly but shook their hands.

Marco crouched down to her level, "How old are you, sweetie?"

Cristin ducked her head, "I'm nine."

Marco smiled, "I have a cousin around your age. It's a good age to be."

Cristin blushed lightly. It seemed that she was developing a small schoolgirl crush on Marco.

James laughed lightly as she situated herself next to him on the ride.

Marco and Dylan went around with them for a while learning more about Cristin. She had just passed the fourth grade and her birthday was in two weeks. She was scared of fifth grade but knew she'd be okay. It was really rather endearing to see the grown men fawning over such a tiny blonde girl.

They met up with the other two couples a few hours later. Each regaling the others with their adventures.

Marco and Dylan returned to Boston, Paige and Chad returned to Degrassi to pack, and Scott and William finished the summer off in Florida.

Dylan was lounging on Marco's couch while watching Marco playing on the computer.

"I guess I'm going home now. This is rather boring for me."

Marco turned and smiled, "I'm sorry hun. I had to put a deposit on that caterer we liked and then on the reception hall and the tuxes. This is not just a game for me."

Dylan walked up behind him and placed his hands on Marco's chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be snippy but I feel like if I come over here, I should get some attention."

Marco picked Dylan's hands up off his chest and twirled around in the chair to face him, "Aww, don't pout. You know I love paying attention to you but this was for us."

Dylan dropped a kiss on Marco's lips, "I know. I just didn't know what you were doing."

Marco stood up and pushed Dylan back toward the couch. Marco pushed him into a sitting position and straddled his thighs. "You know, I was thinking."

Dylan arched an eyebrow, "Really…about what?"

"You, as usual."

"What about me?"

Marco placed a kiss on Dylan's lips, "I want you to move in with me."

Dylan looked at Marco curiously, "Are you sure you don't want to wait until we're married?"

"I want you here now. I could've let you move in earlier but then I might not have gotten the proposal."

Dylan chuckled lightly, "So you were messing with me."

Marco smirked, "Guilty as charged. So are you moving in?"

"You know for being a borderline genius, you're not very bright. Of course I'll move in."

Please review. As soon as I get 12 reviews I'll update the final chapter. Then, I'll start the new story.