A/N: Okay, I'm a big wuss, and I chickened out of writing the smut! My only lame excuses are that I don't think I can make it seem at all convincing and perhaps it would be better to leave it to the imagination of the reader. Yes, like I said, lame.

Also thanks for the reviews!

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CHAPTER 3 The Morning After.

Ryan woke up early the next morning as the sun began to rise. He turned his body around to face Seth. He allowed himself to gaze at Seth for a few minutes. He was amazed that after all the time he had known Seth, he had never seen him in that state; asleep with a look of pure contentment on his face. Ryan longed to touch Seth's face, but was worried he might wake him up. So instead he carefully got out of bed, put on his clothes and ran back to the pool house before Sandy and Kirsten woke up.

Ryan then quickly took a shower and changed his clothes. He sat on the edge of his bed, a torrent of emotions rushing around inside him. He made the decision not to talk to Seth about it as he didn't want to make the goodbye even more complicated than it already was. He wasn't even sure what he would have said anyway. Ryan walked over to the bags he had packed and fished out the Chrismukkah picture the family had taken the year before. He gazed at the photo for a moment, studying the faces smiling back at him. He had planned to take it with him, but impulsively decided against it. He knew that he would see them all again soon enough. He left the photo on the bedside table before heading back to the house for breakfast.

Ryan walked into the kitchen and grabbed the sugar coated cereal that Seth sometimes ate and a carton of orange juice from the fridge. He sat down at the table near the window and ate the cereal straight from the box, washing it down with the juice. Even though it felt like no one else was in the house he didn't feel lonely. He felt as if his days in Chino were almost a lifetime ago. He then noticed that Seth had left a couple of his comics in the kitchen and so began to read one. A smile formed on his face that only left when his reverie was interrupted by Kirsten walking into the kitchen.

"Ryan!" Kirsten exclaimed.

"Huh, what?" Ryan answered startled.

"Hey, I wanted to make your breakfast for you today. It's a very special day."

"It's okay, really." Ryan said warily.

"Very funny! I can pour juice you know." Kirsten pretended to be annoyed. Ryan simply stood up and handed her his almost empty glass. She grinned as she poured him some more juice.

"So, you'll call us as soon as you get there." She said as she gave him the full glass.

"Yes." Ryan replied.

"You have to promise, Ryan." She said firmly.

"I promise."

"Is your cell phone charged?" Kirsten continued.

"Yes." He answered.

"I feel bad that we can't go with you today."

"It's fine. I'll be fine."

At that moment Ryan wondered how many other kids in the country would go through similar conversations that weekend. However most of them were probably whining about feeling mothered and mollycoddled, while Ryan couldn't be happier that Kirsten cared for him so much. Ryan surprised himself when reached over and gave Kirsten a hug. She hugged him back before saying,

"Well, Sandy is very upset that he can't do his whole 'embarrassing dad' schtick. You know he lives for moments like that."

Ryan laughed as Sandy entered the kitchen.

"Why are my ears burning?" Sandy asked as he kissed his wife good morning.

"Because I was just discussing how loudly you snore." Kirsten joked.

"Nice!" Sandy retorted. "But I do not snore!" He added pointing a knife in their direction before slicing a bagel in half.

A few moments later Seth staggered into the kitchen still rubbing his eyes. He yawned and grinned when his eyes focussed on Ryan who was standing near the table.

"Hey, Ryan!" He called out.

"Seth!" Ryan exclaimed. He blinked at Seth hoping that he would understand the panicked look on his face.

"Seth, You're finally awake." Kirsten said as she walked towards her son.

"Mom…! Seth yelped. He then turned to face his father who was pouring cups of coffee.

…and Dad!" Seth desperately tried to compose himself and for once was glad that his parents often cheerfully accepted his weird moments.

"Coffee, son?" Sandy asked as he poured another cup for Seth. "You don't look very awake to me." Seth took the cup of coffee and walked across the kitchen.

"I am just going to sit over there and drink coffee and be quiet." Seth announced as he stole a glance at Ryan.

Kirsten, Sandy and Ryan joined Seth at the table to finish their breakfast. However each one was trying their best to hide their true feelings about that day.

Kirsten asked Ryan various questions trying her best not to think about what it would feel like once Ryan had left. Sandy seemed more relaxed, but the odd look of worry flashed over his face. Ryan was seemingly his usual, quiet self. And Seth wondered if Sandy and Kirsten could tell how his and Ryan's relationship had changed just by looking at them.

Eventually Sandy said, "The car is being delivered at 10. Ryan, how about you grab your bags from the pool house and we'll meet you at the front of the house?"

"Sure." Ryan said. "Seth, do you want to give me a hand with my other bag?" Ryan added.

Seth looked across at Ryan and finally got the hint. "Yeah, okay." He answered.

They both stood up and walked from the kitchen to the pool house, Ryan leading the way. Ryan knew that it was their last chance to be alone together and he needed to talk to Seth before he left.

Seth closed the door behind him as they walked into the pool house and headed towards the two bags that Ryan had packed. Ryan spun around to face Seth.

"Seth, will you promise me something?" Ryan said with great urgency.

"Yeah, sure." Seth nodded wondering why Ryan was making such a fuss.

"Promise me that you'll make lots of new friends, that you'll enjoy yourself in college. You'll go to all the parties, maybe end up making a drunk, random call to me at 3.30 in the morning."

"What's the big deal Ryan?" Seth said still puzzled at Ryan's outburst.

"I don't want you to miss out on having fun that's all."

"You think because of last night…?" Seth's voice trailed off when he realised that he didn't actually know what Ryan's thoughts on the night before were.

"It's complicated now, I mean even more complicated. Us. Everything is so new and…and… different. We see each other everyday and after today it'll be months before we'll see each other again."

"I don't understand." Seth said unused to hearing Ryan be so vague.

Seth, I don't want to stop you…you might meet someone else." Ryan finally said.

"Is that what you want?" Seth asked.

"No! no!" Ryan exclaimed and suddenly took a step forward and passionately kissed Seth. They staggered away from the bags, their bodies intertwined, only stopping when Seth hit the wall behind him.

"This is what I want." Ryan whispered when they pulled apart from each other. "But we don't know what's going to happen in the future, so I'll understand if anything does happen." He added.

"I thought I was the one that normally didn't make much sense!" Seth joked.

"Seth!" Ryan exclaimed. He usually liked Seth's funny comments, but he desperately wanted Seth to understand how important this was to him. "Be serious."

"It's cool, I get it. I know what you're doing." Seth nodded his head before gazing into Ryan's eyes. Ryan couldn't help himself. He just wanted one more kiss, a kiss that would be enough to last him until he saw Seth again. They kissed again, hidden in the corner of the pool house, both of them savouring each second.

"Hey, I have to go." Ryan said reluctantly as he looked down at his watch. It said 10 am. The car would be there, ready for him to drive off to his new life.

Sandy and Kirsten stood at the top of the driveway next to Ryan's car. They waited there for a few minutes before Ryan and Seth turned up with the bags.

"So what do you think?" Sandy asked eagerly. The car was quite old and had clearly seen better days, but Ryan was glad that it wasn't a brand new, shiny car. They had picked the perfect car for him.

"It's great." Ryan said as he walked around the car and Kirsten and Sandy could see that he genuinely liked it.

Ryan took the car key from his pocket and opened the trunk to put the bags inside it.

"So I guess this is it." Ryan said quietly.

"Yes, I guess so." Kirsten replied already tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't cry Kirsten." Ryan said as they hugged.

"I promised Sandy I wouldn't, but I can't help it!" She managed to say.

"Maybe we can visit you in a couple of weeks?" Sandy suggested.

"I'd like that." Ryan answered. Sandy then hugged Ryan goodbye.

Ryan then walked over to where Seth was standing, staring at his shoes. He could see that Seth was trying to avoid his gaze. Ryan awkwardly held out his hand, knowing that they were well past that point, but Seth took his hand before saying. "I'll keep my promise, Ryan…"

"Good." Ryan whispered.

"…but only if you keep it too." Seth finished.

Ryan had never thought about it from Seth's perspective. He realised that maybe Seth was also worried about how moving so far away from each other, living such different lives would affect their newly transformed relationship.

"Okay." Ryan eventually.

"Good." Seth echoed. He hugged Ryan before adding. "Hurry up and leave will you? I'm a busy guy, you know. Things to see, people to do. No, wait, that doesn't sound right."

Ryan smiled glad that he could always rely on Seth to lift the mood.

"Okay, okay I'm going!"

Ryan then walked back around the car and got into the driver's seat. He started the engine and called out his goodbyes as Sandy, Kirsten and Seth waved from the steps of the house. It was only when Ryan disappeared from view that Sandy and Kirsten headed back into the house. Seth contemplated dealing with all the packing he still had to do, but quickly decided against it and walked around the house instead, towards the pool.