A/N: hiding behind the filing cabinet I'm so sorry it's taken me over two months to update. I am a horrible authoress. What can I say? Reality got in the way of the writing. Lame excuse I know but that happens occasionally. I'd promise to be better but I hate to break promises, so I'll try to be better with the updates. I do hope ya'll are still with me on this.

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi, the characters…except my originals, and I don't mean any harm with this story or any others. I'm merely using the poor characters to fit my twisted world, and then I'll return them, unharmed but slightly warped.

Chapter Fourteen

Heart Breaks and Healing Spirits

Dylan and Marco were seeing each other on a regular basis for the last month and a half. They had dinner, went to movies and of course Marco attended hockey games.

One night, Dylan and Marco were leaving Marco's apartment to grab dinner before Marco went to the bar when his cell phone rang. Marco glanced at the number before breaking into a mild panic.

"Papa, what's wrong?" asked Marco hurriedly.

Dylan watched as Marco's expression went from panic to disbelief. He didn't know what his father was saying but it definitely wasn't good. He heard Marco click the phone shut before realizing he'd seen it happen. "Is something wrong?"

Marco took a deep breath, "Mama's in the hospital. They say it's over. She won't last through the night. I've got to get to her, Dyl."

Dylan nodded, "I'll take you. Come on."

Dylan led Marco to his car and drove him to the hospital. On their way in the doors, Dylan's phone rang, "I'll be there in a minute, it's Nat."

Marco nodded and headed inside.

"Hello?"

"Which hospital?"

"I'm already here. I'll see you in labor and delivery." Dylan exclaimed as he rushed in the doors.

Marco was looking at the floor when Dylan grabbed his shoulders, "Natalie is on her way here. She's in labor."

Marco looked up wide-eyed, "Oh God! You're about to be a father, Dylan. Come get me when you can, I'd love to see your child."

Dylan took in the glassy look and hunched shoulders, "Oh, baby. I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be insensitive about this. Oh God. I can't believe I just did that."

Marco smiled pitifully, "I'm happy for you. Go and find Natalie. I'm not going anywhere until Mama's gone. I'll be fine."

Marco went to sit by his mother's bed and Dylan headed for maternity. Each knowing the other needed him but not knowing how to solve their problem.

Dylan came to find Marco at three thirty the next morning. It had been a long night for Natalie but she finally had their daughter. He found Marco holding his mother's hand and crying. Dylan stepped further into the room and reached out for Marco.

Marco went easily into Dylan's arms. "She's gone. She passed at 3:18 this morning."

Dylan rocked him gently, "Shh. It's going to be okay. Marcella was born at 3:19. What are the odds?"

Marco sat back, "Marcella? That was mama's middle name."

Dylan smiled, "Natalie chose it as soon as Marcella was in her arms. I don't think I had a choice in the matter. Would you like to see her?"

Marco shook his head, "Not right now. I want to stay here for a few more minutes. Will you stay with me and then we'll go?"

Dylan just nodded and sat down with Marco still in his arms. He let Marco cry it out until he stopped shaking.

Dylan led Marco to Natalie's room. He pushed open the door gently and walked inside. Natalie was asleep, as was the baby girl in the bassinet.

Marco peered down at the sleeping face and smiled. He turned to Dylan and wrapped his arms around the taller man, "She's beautiful." He whispered looking up at Dylan.

Dylan couldn't let the moment pass, he leaned down and placed the sweetest, most gentle kiss on Marco's lips. "Let's get you home."

Marco nodded as he looked down at the sleeping infant once more. It filled him with an odd sense of peace just looking at her.

Marco opened his front door and turned to Dylan. He looked dead on his feet, "Stay with me tonight, please. You look tired and I know I'm tired. I just think I'll feel better knowing you're here."

Dylan was tired and he would feel better knowing that Marco had slept. "Okay."

Marco led the way to his bedroom without turning on any lights. He didn't want to have to worry about turning anything off that morning. He just wanted to sleep.

Dylan followed and watched as Marco stripped down to his boxer briefs. Doing the same a few seconds later, he followed Marco into the bed. "Good night, love."

Marco smiled against Dylan's chest, "I've missed that and this."

Dylan simply wrapped his arm around Marco and listened as Marco's breathing became deeper and even. He fell asleep a few minutes later.

Marco woke up to something bouncing his mattress up and down. He groaned and realized that he was pressed into a male chest. He cracked an eye open and saw blonde curls and a muscular chest. His other eye opened and he spotted his best friend shaking his mattress. "Ellie, go away."

Ellie shook her head and pointed at Dylan. Marco grudgingly obliged her, disentangled himself from his bedmate and followed Ellie into the kitchen.

"What in the hell is that in there? I thought you were taking it slow this time?" she fairly yelled at a loud whisper.

Marco sat at the table and put his hands in his head, "Nothing happened last night. We only slept. Mama died this morning, El. Natalie had the baby a minute later. It's been a really long night and I'd love nothing more than a few more hours of sleep."

Ellie went to say something but Marco held up his hand, "Don't apologize for Mama giving up. I don't want to hear it. I've got a lot of arrangements to make and I really want some more sleep before I have to face this. So can we continue this later?"

Ellie just reached over and hugged her friend, "Of course. Call if you need me. I'll go to the bar and fill everyone in."

Marco nodded his thanks as he headed back for his room. He found Dylan awake and watching the door.

"Did El wake you?"

Dylan shook his head, "No, I noticed when you left and woke up."

"Let's not do this now, Dyl. I need sleep before I face the arrangements." Marco said wearily.

Dylan just nodded and opened his arms for the smaller Italian man to climb back into them. Which Marco did with much gratitude.

The funeral was a few days later after Marco arranged it all. His father proved to be useless. He wouldn't stop drinking and crying.

At the funeral, Marco was talking to the mourners while trying to keep a firm grip on reality. He was beginning to feel as though his world was spinning out of control. On the verge of another panic attack, the fourth in as many days, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Dylan standing behind him with a glass of scotch.

Dylan handed over the glass he'd been holding, waiting for the moment to arrive, "You look like you need this."

Marco smiled faintly, "I do but I also need you. Stay by me please, keep me anchored in this nightmare."

Dylan reached down and held Marco's unoccupied hand squeezing it gently, "I'm not going anywhere. Here let me have the drink. Someone wants to shake your hand."

Marco passed his drink over to Dylan as another wave of people came up to pay their respects. Dylan stood there, holding his hand, waiting patiently and passing the drink back whenever Marco asked for it. Which brought a new question for Marco.

"How does that keep getting filled if you never leave me?"

Ellie came up and hugged her friend after hearing the question, "I'm getting friendly with the bartender. He's really cute by the way."

Marco smiled his gratitude before having to turn to talk to more people again. By the time the evening was over, Marco was ready for a hot shower and a warm bed. The latter preferably not alone.

Dylan drove Marco home from the funeral home and walked him to the door. He went to bestow a kiss on him but was stopped when Marco turned his head. He arched an eyebrow when Marco unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Marco didn't say anything, he unlocked the door and stepped through it. He just hoped Dylan followed.

Dylan followed indeed. He was curious why Marco turned away from his kiss. Had he done something in the last hour that he'd forgotten? Did he upset him in some way? Things were going far too well between them to screw up now, again.

Marco turned as Dylan entered the apartment and shut the door behind him. "Thank you for everything, Dyl."

Dylan ran a hand over Marco's shoulder down to his wrist, "Don't think anything of it. I'm glad I could help even if it was to keep supplying you with scotch."

Marco stepped closer to the one man he loved more than life itself and wrapped his arms around the trim waist. He set his head against one pec and sighed, "You did so much more. Stay tonight please. I need you right now."

Dylan pulled back so he could stare into Marco's deep brown eyes, "Are you sure? Are you sure you wouldn't rather have El here to comfort you?"

Marco reached up and kissed Dylan lightly, "I need more than comfort tonight, love. Ellie just doesn't have what I want. I need you…not El, not Erik, not some guy I could meet in a bar. I need the one man I've loved for as long as I can remember."

Dylan wrapped his arms tighter around Marco and sighed, "Of course, I just wanted you to be sure."

Marco led the way to his bedroom and began undressing. Dylan stopped him with a gentle shake of his head. Marco watched Dylan come closer to him. He blushed shyly, which was odd considering this man had been his lover for more years than he'd be willing to admit.

Dylan took over where Marco had left off with his undressing. Dylan soon had Marco naked and leading him over to the bed. He gently pushed him down onto the bed and kissed him gently before standing again.

Marco watched as Dylan slowly removed his clothing. He was enjoying watching that hard body being revealed slowly before his eyes. His mind was reeling, body tightening and mouth watering by the time Dylan rejoined him on the bed. He didn't hear Dylan's question when he saw the lips move.

"Huh?"

"Are you sure you want this?"

"Yes."

That was all Dylan needed to initiate the next kiss.

Marco enjoyed the attention his lover was bestowing on him. The kisses were gentle and comforting. His lover's hands roaming over his body were stroking a fire that burned so hot Marco was beginning to believe he'd combust.

Dylan moved his way down Marco's body and took immense pleasure in eliciting a gasp as he engulfed his hardness in the confines of his mouth. He kept up his ministrations until he felt Marco stiffen and shoot his load down his willing throat.

Marco relaxed into the mattress as he felt his lover slide up over his satiated body. "Wow…that…"

Dylan smiled slightly, "Shh. I know." He leaned down to kiss his lover gently.

Marco returned the kiss eagerly. His smaller hand reaching down to encompass Dylan's rigid length. Marco broke the kiss and pulled back, "Make love to me."

Dylan wasn't one to argue when a gorgeous man was lying willingly underneath him begging for him. Dylan was about to ask for some assistance in locating a lubrication aid when one was thrust into his hand. "Mind reader."

Marco smiled as he pulled Dylan down for another kiss. He felt as Dylan's fingers probed him. The feeling of being stretched and readied for something larger was comforting in a way.

Dylan removed his fingers when he felt Marco was prepared enough to take him. He laughed softly as Marco whimpered at the loss of pleasure. He quickly remedied that by replacing it with something different.

Marco sighed as he felt Dylan probing his entrance. He managed to stay relaxed enough to take Dylan in one stroke.

The only sounds heard through the room were groans, moans and gasps of two lovers finally coming back together again.

Both men were spent an hour later and cuddled together, coming back to reality.

Marco shifted and placed his head on Dylan's shoulder, kissing the hollow next this collarbone. "That was wonderful."
Dylan chuckled, "Yes some of my best work, I believe. I hate to spoil the moment but what is this now?"

Marco sighed, "I've been meaning to talk to you, I want to be us again. I don't know what you want."

Dylan gathered Marco closer to him, if that was possible, and laughed, "I've wanted us back since Vegas. I realized that week that I'm not me without you. You, for lack of anything better, are my better half."

Marco chuckled at the corny sentiment, "You're a goof."

The pair fell asleep that night content with the knowledge that things were going to be okay.

Please read and review. Let me know that even after my prolonged absence you're still with me!