Oh, he was dead! That's all there was to it. At least I knew we were headed to the island of Sifnos now, and I looked back at Mason as he huffed and puffed from the walk to the Port of Pireaus in Athens from the place where the cab had deposited us. It was a good thing the plane had landed in the wee hours of morning before the day had really gotten started because we had to take a ferryboat to Sifnos following the exact instructions the ladyat information had given us. Thank the gods of these ancient isles for tourist hospitality. So, the man wanted to play games with me huh? I grinned. God, how my blood boiled right now!

"Damn, Athens has a lot of hills." Mason complained as we came up to the window that sold tickets to the different destinations. We had gotten here just in time. The third boat to the island was about to depart in fifteen minutes. Tom had probably caught the first. Damn him! "Just you wait, big boy." I mumbled as the man behind the window looked up at me quizzically. I grinned.

" I need two tickets to Sifnos, please." I asked sweetly as the man nodded before smiling and helping me figure out how much money it would take for the stubs.

"It is beautiful island. You two will enjoy greatly." The man babbled in broken English as I nodded—trying to hurry up the process without being rude as I stared at the dock that held our ferry. Ohhhhh! I was going to get him. So, he wanted a scavenger hunt? Damn, if I could just think of a way to get back at him. It made it hard when he was two steps ahead. The tickets were finally handed through the window and I snatched them greedily while thanking the man hurriedly.

"Let's go!" I cried out to Mason as he groaned.

"Okay, this is where I unload all of the bags on you and see how you feel." Mason declared as I smiled over at him. I wonder if it would be a bad time to admit that I was having a wonderful time with this—like I was part of a group participating in that show 'The Amazing Race.' I was anticipating the prize that Tommy had in store for me as we loaded the ferry, and I leaned against the railing as Mason settled in next to me.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" I asked softly as I stared out onto the blue water, the hills of Athens, the ruins that bordered it, and at the sea gulls that circled above our heads. Mason sighed as he scooted close enough our arms touched. He was literally my best friend.

"I have to admit, Harrison, that I am having a hell of a good time and that I would gladly do the whole Instant Star contest over again just so that I could ensure that we would meet." Mason admitted as I leaned over and brushed a strand of hair out of his face. He needed a hair cut.

"Nah, you'd just have withdrawals if you couldn't borrow my fingernail polish." I joked as he laughed before looking at his unpainted fingernails critically.

"Admit it Jude. The Coral Pink looked much better on me than it ever did on you." He stated simply as I chuckled. Yeah, he was one of a kind. The boat began to move and the wind assaulted us as people milled around the deck talking and enjoying the view. I felt like a mortal being played with by one of the mischievous gods on top of Mount Olympus. Tom a god, huh? How he would cherish that thought.

"Have you told him you loved him?" Mason asked suddenly as I looked over at the small currents caused by the movement of the boat in the water. Had I? I thought back to the moment we had finally come together in an ending that fitted the arguments we had had.

XXX

I wasn't going to say it first.

"About things unsaid?" I asked him quietly as he pulled my shirt swiftly over my head. The breeze cooled my heated skin as Tommy did the same before lying down next to me—working on the rest of our clothes as he closed his eyes briefly.

"I love you, Jude Harrison." He finally said as I laughed at his resigned tone. Defeated by a woman. How poetic.

"You sound surprised." I remarked on a small laugh as he moved over me. He raised a brow up at me in question.

"Surprised?" He asked simply. I just nodded.

"Surprised that I'm so much woman." I replied confidently as Tommy laughed. I just grinned. Crickets sang along with Tom's radio.

"Be honest." I quipped as his hands roamed places claimed by no other. He chuckled.

"Are you waiting for me to say you were right?" He asked as I shook my head in happy consent.

"No, I'm waiting for you to take me on." I stated simply as Tommy grinned at me wickedly before moving—entering that hallowed domain that now belonged to him. I gasped.

XXX

Now that I thought back on it, I hadn't told him. Mason watched me.

"Are you telling me that you two have…you know…and you still aren't really together—aren't a couple and all that other such nonsense?" Mason asked incredulously as I shrugged sheepishly. He slapped himself on the forehead.

"Oh, this ought to be interesting!" Mason exclaimed as I smiled a small half smile. Tommy had said he loved me. He did, right? I mean, not love as in the way we had been the past two and a half years. I meant the kind that mingled passion with lust, need, completion of the other. I shivered. Was this what this was about? Were we now using this trip, this news about his father, to discover the real depths of our love? If it existed the way I hoped it did? I smiled. Oh, master. I'm willing to let us find out. So very willing.