Will lets go of my hand when we get to Abbi's house. Even in front of his aunt, he puts on a disguise. She doesn't know what happened at the sea, how he almost got lost in the darkness. But she welcomes him and his difference at least, just like she did when I came out to her, all those years ago.

Abby is more persistent. I see the lines on her face, tracing a mask of worry "You look really shaken, Will. How badly did your parents react when you told them?" Will looks at me, then back at Abby "Can I have some time before I tell you more, cuz' ? I promise I will, just not tonight." She opens her stubborn mouth but she sees my eyes. I am still his rampart against the world, I will be until he doesn't need it anymore. I wonder if he'll want to keep me around, after that. My mouth feels like ashes at the thought.

It's been two days in Salem already. I'll be back in college soon. Sonny is reading the flier with all the classes he can take. I have to ask him but I don't know how.

He looks up and grins. I feel lighter, ready to take over the world somehow.

"Sonny?" "Yeah?" His voice is a blanket that wraps me up in softness. "Do you think I should change major, now that I am... out?" He laughs, then brushes my chin "Not unless you want to, Will. And I'll never tell you what you should too. You can be anyone you want, you'll always be amazing." My heart is slowing down. He asks "What do you want to do, by the way?" "I want to become a sound engineer. Or maybe work with musicians as a technician. That way, I'd hear music every day."

I'll take accounting and learn how to start a business. Then one day, I'll start a majestic coffee-house and patrons will flood it. It's still a myth for now, but I'm confident. I'll put lilies on the counter because Will's eyes shine when he sees those flowers and then he will bloom too.

The future is ours.

We're standing on the cliff, looking down at the transparent water that was never a threat. I think about those sailors who disappeared into nowhere, mourned by their families, so long ago. I did sail over the sea of my hatred and fear but I didn't drown, I pulled through.

His hand is warm in mind. I do an inventory of what I feel in this hold. There's tenderness, sensuality, comfort, but also concern and traces of worry. I look at him, standing too stiff, his eyes in the vague, one hidden behind his hair. It's too long now and I take the measure of how time has passed since that day, when I was in a deadly dalliance with fear and despair. The light of April caresses our forehead, dispelling the sad memories, freeing us.

I had kept this place in my head, when I saw him, when my life changed. I didn't bail, I took my little broken bird in with me and here he stands, tall and proud, facing the sea that once compelled him to jump.

We are spending one night in Marlena's house, before starting a road trip for spring break. I want to put a memorial on this beach, something to show that life won against despair. We take the same path leading to the sand and I start collecting branches and shells. I beckon to him and we build a little shrine, like the cage he was in, before he broke out of it.

His phone rings just as we've finished. It's Tyler, or maybe Dylan. They both duel over being his best friend. Both came unto him but he said he was with me so they didn't have a chance. I'm happy he has pals, to talk about computer stuff that I don't understand. When Will spends time with me, I know it's because he wants to.

In front of the fire, we build a cushion fort, to snuggle inside. I nest in his warmth, my hand on his chest. I feel at peace. The future is clear and bright, full of promises, full of Sonny. Dad calls him my guardian angel but it's not true. He's more than an angel, solid and warm under my hands. His eyes talk to mine when we're with others. I can guess some of his thoughts. He's what my soul needed. Mom still thinks it won't last but I'll prove her wrong.

We kiss until we're out of oxygen, until we disappear into the other. We make love like that first night, like every night. We always will.

The End

A.N. : This story has come to its conclusion. I want to thank everyone who's taken the time to review it. I love reading every word! I plan on still writing the Bird fic, Noteworthy (waiting for 1984winston to write Sonny's POV right now), Forgotten Boy, Together. The others are on hiatus, depending if I get inspired again or not.