Ennis had walked out to the porch in front of the house, a glass of the whiskey that Dale had brought held to his chest and appreciated for the fine liquor that it was.

He thought to himself that in his whole life there had never been a day for him happier than this one. Given his character and his tendency to stay within himself, pushing the rest of the world away, it was a major event for him to allow these feelings to surface.

J.D. and Dale had come by for Christmas Eve dinner...Dale being a completely unexpected addition to the evening. Jack had been…well, Jack…laughing and joking with Dale and J.D., on fire with his excitement. He had wanted to hear all about how J.D. had met Dale and no amount of embarrassment on their part had kept him from prying.

At one point as Ennis had stepped into the living room from the kitchen, he saw that Dale and J.D. were talking to each other with Jack standing near. Ennis stopped at the doorway and looked towards Jack who happened, at the same time, to look up at Ennis. Both froze seeing the other look up.

As Jack looked across the room, his eyes met Ennis' and his broad, toothy smile became more relaxed and one of quiet happiness. Jack's vision narrowed until only Ennis could be seen. Dale and J.D.'s conversation faded. He forgot for a moment where he was. His world had collapsed until there was just him and Ennis…just him and the man that he loved more than anything in the world. He saw Ennis take a step.

He could see in Ennis' eyes, behind the surface he showed the world, the love that Ennis had for him, the need and desire, all rolled up into one tight, bright point of light. In that brief moment, Jack knew that there was no more distance between them as there had been in the past. Jack felt as if his soul would explode from his body in a burst of joy.

Ennis had looked up at Jack, shyly, just to take in the sight of him. He would have been content with the view of Jack so happy. But then Jack looked up. Ennis caught himself taking a step. The look in Jack's eyes and on his face was…Ennis couldn't find the words. He had never seen Jack so…joyful. He saw the instant when Jack's world narrowed to just the two of them. Ennis felt a chill run through him at this moment of true connection and was unable to turn away or break their glance.

Then Ennis saw Jack's eyes mist over and watched as Jack dropped his head for a moment, turned it to the side and brought his hand lightly to his mouth. He could see the drink in Jack's hand trembling. He watched as Jack straightened up and looked back towards him, once again smiling, his eyes radiating a quiet, soulful light that showed the depth of Jack's love for him.

Ennis was trapped by the look in Jack's eyes, but Jack was unable to hold the contact any longer so turned away once again. Ennis had slipped and let show all that he felt for Jack. It was too much for Jack to see the depth of what Ennis hid from the world and often from him as well.

Jack was close to the front door and with an "excuse me" turned and walked out…the drink he still held forgotten. Ennis stood for a moment longer, frozen still by the unexpected exchange with Jack. Like Jack, he was trembling at the intensity of it all.

When the world had returned to him, he looked towards J.D. and Dale who were trying not to let him know they were looking. He smiled quickly at them then turned to the door. It took him a moment before he could start walking.

Ennis stopped and looked out to where Jack was leaning with both hands on the railing, one booted foot ahead of the other, his head down. Ennis could feel the part of his brain that was devoted to looking at Jack in all his poses and movements kick in…the part that saw Jack's hair, black and wavy, the curve of Jack's back that led to the tight jeans and that ass…that ass that Ennis wanted to grab and take right now as he stood there.

It took a couple of tries before he could reach down and open the screen door to step onto the porch. Jack heard the door open and Ennis saw the slight turn of Jack's head towards the sound. He walked over and stopped a couple of feet away.

"Hey." Jack stayed leaning on the rail but turned his head a little away from Ennis.

Ennis looked down at his drink. All of a sudden Jack stood up, hands on his hips, one foot still in front of the other. He still didn't look at Ennis.

"My daddy told me all my life that I wouldn't amount to nothing. That I wouldn't ever be anything, never be someone." Jack turned towards Ennis who could see the conflict in Jack's eyes.

"But I did amount to something and, when I'm with you, I am somebody…I am someone. Without you, Ennis, I'd be…," here he stopped for a moment looking away, "well, let's just say…," and he couldn't speak any longer.

Ennis took a step towards him, Jack's breath hitched. Ennis put his drink down and closed the gap grabbing Jack in a tight embrace.

"I ain't never in my life felt so lucky, Ennis, never felt like someone cared as much as you do." Jack was crying now. "I don't ever wanna leave ya, Ennis, don't ever wanna be anywhere you ain't." Ennis wasn't able to hold in check the feelings that had been stirred up inside him.

"Jack...," Ennis stuttered out, "rodeo, you ain't going nowhere. I ain't ever letting you leave, ya hear that?" Ennis said rather gruffly. "There ain't nothing left for me in the world if you go…if you ain't here."

"I love you, rodeo. Don't you ever forget that," Ennis said softly in Jack's ear. Jack wanted to respond but he couldn't find his voice. Ennis pulled away and placed his hands on each side of Jack's face. He placed a soft kiss on Jack's lips letting the contact hold for longer than a moment. When he broke the kiss, he leaned in and placed his forehead to Jack's and very quietly said, "I love you," again. Jack smiled a little smile.

"Now, you go on and get inside. I'm sure J.D. and Dale are wondering why the hell they're sitting by themselves. Go on." Jack looked up once, nodded, and went on inside.

So, there was Ennis, standing at the rail and looking off into the distance. The doors to his heart flung open…the knowledge, the certainty residing there that Jack would be with him forever, that he would never be alone. He hadn't had his father beating on him his whole life to tear him down, but he had simply known that, like Jack, he would never amount to anything or ever be someone. But he knew now that Jack saw him as someone, someone important, someone wanted and desired…and that was all Ennis needed to know.

He drank the last of the whiskey in his glass then placed it on the rail. As he looked down, he saw the ring of condensation left by Jack's glass. He reached out with a finger and spread the water out in little side-to-side movements…a quiet, simple action but it reminded him that Jack had stood there a moment before…it connected him to Jack in a small, but at that moment, profound way.

He looked out over the land and fields near their house, offered up a silent, "thank you," then turned to go back inside.

The End