AN: Here we are, the last chapter x It's a long one, but oh well :P x

Martin's eyes opened slowly. No light filtered in to blind him immediately though. It was dark, but the click that had woken him up was followed by light, the bright, hall light kind, which came in as a bright shaft, which filtered into the right of his vision. He squinted, turning his head towards it.

Wait… his head was on something soft… A pillow? The last thing he remembered was… Leaving the restaurant, coming upstairs… Then, nothing. He blushed madly as Douglas entered. Martin could just about make out the dejected look on his face; another attempt at pulling women then…

Martin sighed inwardly, closing his eyes, and allowing his head to roll back onto the pillow. He listened to Douglas' footsteps, heard the door click shut. It was comforting to hear him moving around. It kept Martin aware of the world. He knew Douglas would never… could never reciprocate his feelings… But he didn't need that. Of course, it hurt when Douglas made a joke about his status as a bachelor; he often got close to cracking and screaming "yeah, well the man I love doesn't feel the same!"… But he never did.

He struggled to keep his face neutral as he felt the bed shift a little. Douglas was sitting on the edge of the bed…? The he noticed the slightly scratchy covers were rubbing against his bare skin… He was topless. He couldn't stop himself blushing at the thought of Douglas removing his shirt… But that though becamse the last thing on his mind as he felt a warm hand on his cheek. His breath hitched, but he kept up the façade. The back of Douglas' hand lightly brushed down his face, and he heard Douglas whisper something, but it was so quiet, he couldn't make it out…

Okay, he couldn't do it anymore… He opened his eyes.

Douglas jumped about a foot into the air, snatching his hand away as if it had been burnt. He was staring at Martin fearfully, like he was some kind of monster.

"Douglas?" Martin croaked.

"Ho-how long have you been a-awake!?" Douglas exclaimed. Martin decided the truth would be best, given the unexpected stammer in Douglas' voice.

"Since you opened the door…" his voice was groggy. The look of horror that crossed Douglas' face quickly melted into a forced calm.

"Oh…"

"Douglas, what were you doing?"

"Hm? Oh, I was in the bar…" he muttered, as he moved away from Martin's bed. Martin sighed lightly.

"I meant just now…" he said. Douglas' face twisted in panic, as did his stomach.

"I was…uh… Checking your temperature!" he exclaimed in a hurry. Martin gave him a look, and for once Douglas looked away in embarrassment.

"Douglas?" Martin asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position. Douglas looked at him for a moment, then he sighed, and slumped onto his own bed, resolving that the truth was definitely the best way.

"Okay… I wasn't checking your temperature…" he murmured.

"Then why-?"

"I just… Okay, you'll probably use this against… But…" he paused to gather his thoughts. "I like you." God, he sounded like a teenager finally talking to the 'girl next door'… "I like you more than I probably should, okay? There, I said ir." He explained.

"You… you what?" Martin stammered quietly.

"I-I'm not repeating it!" Douglas exclaimed. "You know what I said." He moved towards the door. Martin clambered hurriedly out of the bed and ran towards him, as he opened the door.

"Douglas, wait!" he cried. Douglas paused, deciding whether to turn and face to inevitable mockery, or flee and leave it for later… Eventually, he turned. Martin was stood right in front of him. "You really mean that?"

"Of course… I didn't sound sarcastic, did I?" Douglas asked, confused. Martin shook his head. "Good… Go on then. Get it over with."

"Get what over with?"

"Mock me. Go on… I know you want to. You never have anything against me. Now you do. The pilot past his prime that fell for the dashing young Captain…"

"I wasn't- You're not past your prime, Douglas…" Martin muttered,

"I haven't pulled in two days!" Douglas exclaimed exasperatedly.

"True… But even you have bad days. You can't base it on two days of bad luck." Martin assured him.

"How would you know?" Douglas said bitterly. Martin flinched. "Sorry… I just… I don't often have these sorts of moments" he sighed. Martin frowned in confusion. "I just revealed possibly my deepest secret to you. I didn't even know until a few trips ago! I usually know… And I know… I know you don't feel the same, but now you know you can use it against me all you like…" Martin looked down, but didn't say anything. "Didn't you hear me? I said you can use it all you like."

"Why would I!?" Martin exclaimed. Douglas stared at him, frowning. Martin's face was filling with red like a syringe… Douglas was about to ask if he was okay, but Martin cried out first: "I like you too!" The silence that followed was deafening… Douglas stared incredulously at the Captain. "Why would I laugh at you when… When I like you that way…?" Martin whispered. He prayed this wasn't one of the first officer's dirty tricks to humiliate him, but what did he have to lsoe? Not a lot… so why not? Why not risk his heart? If he broke it, at least it would be broken along with everything else. But if not… Perhaps it could be the start of a new life, a new dawn… A chance to pick up the pieces.

After what felt like hours of just standing there (though it was actually more minutes), Douglas moved. Before he could react, Martin was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. At first, his eyes were wide in shock, but then he let his arms fold around Douglas, and he sank into the warmth. He didn't know how long it had been since anyone (even Arthur) had hugged him. He'd been so deprived of affection in recent years, that the simple gesture of a hug (no matter the reason) was an amazing feeling. A warmth he hadn't felt for years began to burn in his heart. A tiny, glowy little flame had ignited in him. He just prayed that Douglas wasn't going to extinguish it, and give him a heart attack…

All Martin could do was revel in the closeness, hoping it wouldn't end soon, but knowing it might. God, Arthur had been right…

"How long?" Douglas' soft voice broke into his thoughts.

"Hm?" he muttered back, too content for anything more substantial.

"How long have you… Felt that way?" Douglas elaborated. Martin pushed away in order to look a him, regretting it as he lost the contact.

"Um… I don't know how long exactly…. But I think I realised when we delivered that piano to Devon…" he explained reservedly.

"Oh, fell for my piano skills, did you?" Douglas joked. Martin chuckled. That was the Douglas he knew and… yes… loved.

"They helped, but no. I realised because as soon as you offered to help… I didn't want Arthur to help." He muttered, and Douglas' turned from his sarcastic joking expression, to his rare sincere, understanding one. He smiled. "You… you really meant it then?" Martin inquired nervously. "About you… liking me?"

"Yes. I already said I meant every word! Why would I lie?" he asked, incredulous again.

"To… humiliate me?" Martin said, as though it were an obvious alternative, and Douglas' heart twisted as he realised that it was actually quite like him to do that.

"No… I wouldn't do that. Not with something like this…" he muttered. Martin smiled a little, as Douglas tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. For a moment, they just stared into each other's eyes. Martin saw a sincerity that was unnatural in Douglas Richardson. Douglas saw the trust building behind the fear of rejection that always plagued Martin. "I love you." He whispered, like a wisp of smoke, that wrapped itself around Martin, and spread the most goofy, and adorable grin on his face.

Douglas smiled, leaning down, his right hand cupping the face of the young Captain, and he locked their lips together silently. Well, almost silently, but for the small squeak of shocked pleasure that escaped from Martin before he relaxed into the kis, wrapping his rams around Douglas' neck and pulling himself up a little in order to deepen it. Douglas couldn't stop himself smiling into it. As they pulled apart, Douglas saw that Martin's eyes were a little glazed over. "Not been kissed in a while then?" Douglas asked, a little smug.

"Not for years…" Martin said, with a sheepish smile.

"Out of curiosity…" Douglas started a moment later. Martin looked up at him expectantly. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Well… I never thought- never dreamed that- that you could ever feel the same, I suppose… It was enough for me, just to be n-near you, even if it was painful that it couldn't be… more…" he explained quietly.

"Well, now it can be more, can't it?" Douglas said with a smile and Martin couldn't help but smile back. "Martin…"

"Yeah?"

"How about you move in with me?"

"Huh!? Isn't that a bit… sudden?" Martin asked, stunned.

"Well… I won't charge you rent… And you've been struggling lately. I wanted to ask you before, but the time never really seemed… right." Douglas explained.

"Oh…" Martin said quietly. "Well, I… I'd love to." He muttered. Douglas grinned.

"As Arthur would say… brilliant!" he said, and they both chuckled. "We'll sort it out when we get back." He added. Martin nodded, as Douglas pulled him in for another kiss.

AN - That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed it x