The Space Between

This is a story of the lost conversations and development of Marco and Dylan's relationship after TEOTH (spoilers for TEOTH). There was too much left unseen to resist filling in the spaces.

This is my first fanfiction. It obviously contains slash (where on earth did that word come from, anyways? What I mean is this story is about a gay relationship so obviously has gay content). Also, I don't own Degrassi or its characters. I don't actually think there is any threat of being sued, but I'll say it anyways. Please review.

"You were such a jerk…."

As the words came out of Marco's mouth, a surge of hurt and desire overtook him. He grabbed Dylan and pressed his lips hard against his mouth. As the kiss softened, their mouths opened, the taste was so familiar and like the first taste all over again. Despite his resolve, Marco felt his heart creaking open again, as they sat on Dylan's car in front of the school.

"I wasn't expecting that." Dylan smiled.

Marco smiled back, looked down and blushed, "What? You spend the last two weeks stalking me, sending me cute little e-mails, tempting me into a game of half naked poker, and you think that when you start getting to me, that I'm not going to kiss you the first chance I get?"

"Getting to you, eh? Well, I'm not complaining…" Dylan paused and looked around sheepishly, "But there are a lot of people around…"

"Oh yeah?" Marco looked into Dylan's eyes, "I hadn't really noticed."

Dylan felt his heart skip as Marco leaned in, softly this time, and slowly slid his tongue into Dylan's mouth as the kiss started all over again. By this point, the students hanging out outside the school had begun to notice that the class valedictorian, former school president, was definitely making out with Paige's older hockey star brother, Dylan. Didn't they date a couple of years ago? "I think so", was the general sentiment, but nothing like this had ever happened.

When the two boys reluctantly broke apart, Marco sighed, as he took Dylan's hand. "You really hurt me, Dylan-"

"I know. And I want to make it up to you." Dylan interrupted.

"I know you know. But we still have lots to talk about. My trust is going take some time to build up." The boys held hands in silence for a few minutes.

"Dot? Me, you, coffee, talk?" Dylan proposed, standing up and pulling Marco with him.

"Okay."

Marco and Dylan made their way to the corner table they used to frequent at the gentle beginning of their relationship two years earlier. There was enough privacy at the table to have a real conversation when they were still too shy (in Marco's case) or too nervous that Marco wasn't ready (in Dylan's case) to admit that they wanted to be alone.

They sat down at the table, as Spinner, who was working, walked up to them smiling amusedly at Marco when he noticed his company. "Dylan, my man, what's up? It's been a long time."

"Hey Spinner. Yeah, I was at McGill this year. I considered staying in Montreal for the summer, but somehow, …I don't know, something made me want to come back to Toronto," Dylan moved his eyes from Spinner to look at Marco. Spinner was amused at Dylan's unabashed flirting, and gave Marco an interested smile.

Marco blushed, "Yeah, so Spin, we'd both love a coffee." Marco feebly attempted to get rid of Spinner.

"Comin' right up. It's on the house for making my friend look like that again," Spinner offered to Dylan.

Dylan and Marco smiled as Spinner walked away.

"So I guess the whole making out in front of the school was no big deal after your Shakespearean coming out performance to your dad? …Paige told me." Dylan broached one of the many facets of Marco's life he had missed and been missing over the past year.

Marco laughed, "Yeah, that whole thing was pretty crazy. It was time, Dylan. I couldn't hide anymore. And my dad wasn't catching on. What do they say, desperation is the mother invention?"

Dylan smiled knowingly. He leaned in, listening.

"Actually, Tim was my inspiration. He helped me realize that it was time. When I heard those guys call him a fag, I was so there and ready to stand up and fight. I wanted to help, to be his friend and I don't know…mentor. I was him 2 years before and I was ready to be out and proud and show him how awesome it can be to be gay. And I really believe that, and feel that, ya know." Dylan noticed Marco's infectious enthusiasm and confidence.

"Then he showed up at my house – after his dad kicked him out for coming out to him. He realized that I had made it seem so easy but that I wasn't out to my dad. He called me on it. And…well, he was right. And I was ready."

"And…so…what happened with your dad?" Dylan asked with concern. This was the dad, as Dylan remembered from their first date, who thought Marco listened to Brittany Spears to attract girls, and who would make fun of Marco for failing to score. 'Little did he know', Dylan mused.

"Well, my dad loves me… and he's sad and doesn't really get it. He doesn't want to know about that part of me, whatever that's supposed to mean. But he will,.. because now he knows, and I won't hide anymore."

"Wow." Dylan nodded his head in understanding and admiration.

"Well, Dylan, what about your year? How's Eric?" Marco shot scathingly at him, resentment in his voice.

Dylan looked down, and then right into Marco's eyes. "Marco, I stopped seeing Eric the day you broke up with me. Everything about him reminded me that he wasn't you and of what I had lost. I've dated other guys, I'm definitely not into lying this time, but nothing lasted more than a month and I haven't been with anyone in the last six months. Well, until that kiss of a few minutes ago," Dylan blushed.

"Well, I'm glad it was memorable," Marco flirted.

"And what about Tim?" Dylan asked.

"Ahhh…not a good topic. But yes, I broke up with him before starting this, whatever this is, with you, if that's what you're asking. I still have some apologizing and fixing to do on that front," Marco acknowledged.

The boys sat talking for a little while until Marco realized his parents were expecting him for dinner. "So Marco, tomorrow's Friday night. Do you want to do something?" Dylan said hopefully.

"Sorry babe. Prom tomorrow. Paige, Alex, Ellie, Hazel, and I are all meeting up beforehand for dinner and kind of just going together. But Saturday night, when I'm tired and bleary eyed, I'm all yours."

"It's a date." Dylan agreed, "Prom night, eh?...should be fun". The wheels in Dylan's head began turning.

Dylan drove Marco home. When Marco got out of the car, Dylan jumped out after him and wrapped his arms around him. Marco looked up at Dylan, feeling their bodies against each other again, and sighed in disbelief.

'And we begin again…,' thought Marco as their lips, teeth and tongues danced with the pent up energy of a year of lost time.