Last chapter for now, a little sappy but hey it's needed for now :p

Enjoy!

S

Simon had cherished that, so proud of himself, proud of Alvin – just in complete contentment.

He enjoyed being able to spend time with Alvin and not worry about harsh words, not trying to figure him out so much. He made sure to visit Alvin's room every day for a chat, lightly teasing him about his feelings, but otherwise just… being his brother, for once.

It had just never felt so right before.

Even his composition, working on it with Theodore was easy and the song was near completion, ready to be presented to Alvin for final judgement, for the lyricist to finalise the creation. Simon couldn't wait to see Alvin's reaction.

Since discovering that Alvin listened in on his playing piano, Simon made sure only to work on the song when Alvin was away, either on sporting events or with his friends. The eldest never seemed to let his controversial feelings get in the way of his usual life, but Simon understood that. Alvin wanted to be normal, so would pretend to be for as long as possible.

Which was why talking to him alone every day was nice, because then he had the chance to vent how he really felt, so that it wasn't pent up in the back of his mind, so that when he did try and act normal, there was nothing pressing on his brain.

The ninth of October was approaching quickly, too: the anniversary of Alvin's first love coming into existence.

Simon wasn't sure how Alvin felt about it, but he personally thought it deserved some sort of celebration. He wanted to do something special, something bordering on romantic.

You have to understand – this was the first time Simon had ever known someone was the least bit attracted to him. He felt he had to allow some sort of happiness for Alvin, too.

So, he told himself he would finish his song before the ninth, and present it to Alvin that day. It was a beautiful composition (he could say that without modesty, as he wasn't the only one who'd worked on it), and was hoping Alvin would take it as a sort of gift.

When it became two days until the ninth, Simon started to plan the evening.

Luckily, Alvin had been asked to perform to the junior school one of his songs from Music class right after school, so Simon had time to set things up.

Dave would once again be out on business, and Simon had encouraged Theodore to have a sleepover at Michael's house, as it was Friday. At first he hadn't minded it if Theodore was there – it wasn't as if this was going to be too romantic – but he decided that Alvin would rather have peace of mind, not worrying about anyone's reaction to anything.

So there Simon was, alone on Friday afternoon, placing candles anywhere he could in Alvin's room. He nestled a stereo on Alvin's nightstand with the song ready to be played, and when he knew Alvin would be home soon, Simon started to light each candle carefully.

He stood back for a moment to admire the work, before he crossed the room to the curtains, drawing them shut so the room was dark.

Going through it once more, Simon reminded himself that Alvin had never verbally told him that his feelings started on the ninth. He could get around that, of course, as Alvin had told him about the day, told him it was almost a year ago, and if Simon hadn't known before, he could have probably guessed it to be around the ninth.

The last thing he wanted was the peace to be disrupted by Alvin finding out about his younger brother's deception those weeks ago.

Simon snapped out of the thought when he heard the front door close.

He grinned to himself and sat down casually on Alvin's bed. This wasn't some seductive reveal, he was just helping Alvin celebrate an important event, so he placed his hands on his lap, clasped, and sat up in attention, nerves growing as he heard steps fall up the stairs.

How he hoped Alvin would like this.

The door opened, and Simon saw Alvin was taken aback, his eyes trying to adjust to the sudden darkness. He looked around, clearly seeing the candles first.

'What the..?' His bag shifted off his arm and to the floor. Soon enough, he caught Simon's outline and took in a quick breath. 'Hey, who –' he frowned. 'Simon?'

'Close the door, Alvin, your eyes will adjust better.' Simon instructed.

The eldest did as he was told curiously. 'Um… obvious question: what's with all the candles?'

Simon stood with an excited smile, and when Alvin turned back he blinked at Simon in the way he usually did: in awe. Simon took Alvin's hands, lacing their fingers together. 'Happy anniversary.' He said softly.

Alvin's cheeks descended to a dark crimson. 'H-how did you know i-it was –?'

'I figured it out.' Simon explained. 'Turns out I do remember the day you winded me.' He chuckled, and bit his lip. 'Do you like it?'

'Well…' Alvin looked around once more. 'Yeah, of course… it's really nice of you to… to do this…' he frowned up at Simon. 'But why would you?'

Simon shrugged and turned, leading Alvin further into the room. 'It was a big event in your life.' He explained. 'I felt obliged to help you acknowledge it.' He turned back to Alvin. 'And like I said: you should be praised for the way you handled your feelings.'

Alvin pursed his lips. 'I never really thought of it as something to celebrate…' he insisted. 'It's more like a day I wish never happened.'

'I see.' Simon smiled. 'But it did happen,' he shrugged. 'And here we are, and I'd like to prove to you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me, whether consciously or not.' He let go of Alvin and moved to the CD player.

'W-what a-are we doing..?' Alvin mused nervously. 'Why candles? Why my bedroom?'

Simon found a blush spilling over his cheeks. He hadn't really thought about the bedroom part. He turned to Alvin. 'I just wanted us to be alone for a while.' He explained. 'And for you to have peace of mind. I wanted to give you a little piece of something you're longing for with all your heart.'

Alvin shook his head. 'I-I can't let you do a-anything to me – with me – o-out of pity or sympathy –'

'Alvin,' Simon halted. 'I don't want that, either.' He agreed. 'I mean it, this is just the simplest and most innocent thing I could think of that would still give you part of what you want.'

'But…' Alvin's eyes were shimmering. 'What c-can we do..?'

Simon smiled fondly. 'Don't you trust me, Alvin..?' He said softly. 'I would never hurt either of us the way you're afraid of doing.' He tapped a finger against the stereo. 'I…' he blushed, now. 'I-I wanted to show you this for a while now… it's a-a song I… I would be eternally grateful… if you were to sing it…'

Alvin started to smile fondly. 'It's about time you showed me your songs…' he chuckled. 'I hear you composing all the time.'

'Yes, well…' Simon smiled, too. 'This one's brand-new. Theodore helped me make it into a real, complete work, and…' he pressed play finally. 'And I knew I wanted to show it to you today.' He held out his hand. 'And have the first dance.'

It was both the most amusing and most perfect sight Alvin could have imagined. Simon standing there in his casual clothes amongst the romantic flickering candle lights, he looked both out of place and exactly where he belonged.

Alvin slowly took his brother's hand, and Simon brought them in to a close embrace.

The drums opened the song, light taps against the snare at well-placed intervals. Once the piano tune flowed through the room, Alvin stared at Simon in awe. He certainly hadn't heard this piece.

'This is beautiful,' he complimented breathlessly, turning to the player in shock. 'Oh, man, Simon, I don't have to be in love with you to know this has to be on our album –' he grinned at Simon. 'I would be absolutely honoured to give this lyrics.' He said in a posh voice.

Simon smiled contentedly. 'You don't know how good it is to hear you say that…' he said shyly.

Alvin bit his lip to hide his elated smile. 'After all your acceptance of me? A compliment is the least I can give.' He shook his head and glanced at the stereo again. 'You're an absolute genius…' he insisted. 'Give me all of your songs…'

They continued to spin lazily, Simon not quite knowing how to return a compliment from Alvin, but enjoying the praise nonetheless. He eventually spoke up. 'I'd like to do this every year you have feelings for me…' He admitted. 'A few hours to know that you're completely accepted…'

'I'll never get over you if you keep doing this…' Alvin accused in gentle fondness. 'This… because this is really all I could ever want…' he continued. 'I don't need physical affection from you… I don't need your kisses, not even your touch…' he blushed and spoke softly and embarrassedly. 'I just want to spend the rest of my life with you…'

Simon felt himself shiver in flattery and slight fear. He looked at Alvin, who's eyes were closed in shame and a slight flinch, and he looked to the side worriedly, not sure how to take the confession.

He was right now giving Alvin the only thing he wanted. Was this cruel? Or was it something he should do more often? Would that make it seem like they were a couple? Just staying in the same house would make Alvin stay happy like this…

'Alvin…' Simon began softly, seeing the older boy start to cower. 'Don't ever stop defining love that way…' he encouraged. 'It's beautiful…'

Alvin looked up at Simon, tears building. 'A-aren't you disgusted in me at all?'

Simon shook his head, bravely lifting a hand to cup Alvin's cheek. 'There are far more disgusting things out there… than the way you just described true love. How could I ever compare the way you feel about me to the real horrors out there? Are you seriously going to let people compare you to a murderer? A rapist? A life sentence for incest abuse… the law sees you that way, but I never will.' He brushed a tear away with his thumb. 'A-and I'll stay with you until I find someone that I can love with as much passion as you do…'

'Y-you'll… stay… with me..?' Alvin repeated.

'Oh,' Simon dropped his hand and shook his head in sympathy. 'I-I don't mean… as a… as a couple, just… I wouldn't be able to stand knowing you were living alone with the torment you feel…' He insisted. 'When we have to move out of here, we're going together. You're stuck with me.'

'How can you risk that?' Alvin questioned in confusion. 'All I want is to be with you, and that's what you're doing. Knowing you're with me, I'll be even more tempted to kiss you…'

Simon tilted his head in consideration. 'Are you really that tempted?'

Alvin blinked and nodded. 'I've been so close to doing it…' he admitted in shame. 'At the most bizarre moments, or at intimate moments like this… when you first told me you loved me – a-as a brother, I know, but it made me feel dizzy and I felt the urge…' he shook his head. 'Then when you were annoying me about the secret, when you asked if you were attractive, when you confronted me about being gay – and especially when I admitted my feelings. I was so close to just kissing you.' He blushed. 'And now… this afternoon… I almost did it three times already…' He tried a smile. 'Including right now…'

'Okay…' Simon began decisively. 'I want to make you a deal, Alvin.'

'W-what's that..?' Alvin asked nervously.

Simon smoothed a hand up and down Alvin's back as he thought. 'I want you to try and get over me… but… but if in three months, you still have these feelings…' he blushed and looked down shyly. 'Then I'll let you kiss me…'

Alvin's heart leaped, he caught his breath and felt his body start to hum in the thought. 'You would do that?' He checked hopefully. 'Simon, I'd be your first –'

'I know.' Simon met Alvin's gaze. 'And I don't care – no one deserves it more than you do. No crush who I've dated for a week – a month – a year.' He chuckled softly. 'I'd let you do it right now if I wasn't so unprepared…'

'Right now..?' Alvin repeated, fascinated. 'B-but you don't feel the same way I do.'

Simon shook his head. 'I suppose not…' he agreed. 'But I just… I've never felt this before…' he tried explaining. 'The care I feel towards you, the flattery, the way you care about me… how I feel fascinated with knowing why you feel how you do.' He shrugged. 'I feel like I'm in this odd zone between brotherly love and romance…'

Alvin tried to stop feeling so hopeful. 'D-do you think you could ever feel for me what I feel for you..?' He had to ask, at least once.

'I think…' Simon pursed his lips in calculation. 'I think my morals might get in the way too much… they'd stop it before it got to love.'

'Yeah…' Alvin murmured. 'Your morals were always better than mine…' he agreed.

Simon stopped their dance slowly, the song finishing. 'There's something between us, Alvin.' He promised. 'It's not one-sided. There is something… it's what made me accept you, I think. It's what's willing me to do this for you.'

Alvin looked around at the candles again, before meeting Simon's gaze. 'Three months and you'll let me kiss you…' his lips tugged into a hopeful smile. 'Is that meant to be a punishment for not getting over you..? Cause it makes no sense.'

'It's a reward for containing yourself for another three months.' Simon corrected. 'We'll repeat this three-month incentive until something changes.'

'I like those odds…' Alvin nodded, and brought Simon into a tight embrace. 'I love the song, Simon. And thank you for everything you've done for me, and especially for this afternoon.'

Simon chuckled. 'You're assuming that I only planned for five minutes?' He chided.

Alvin pulled back. 'There can't be more –'

'See, I accidentally walked into the video store when a certain scary movie appeared in my hands and suddenly I was walking home with it,' he smirked at Alvin's grin. 'Weirdest thing, isn't it? I mean: I hate scary movies…' he met Alvin's gaze pointedly. 'Of course it needs to be watched, it was paid for… but I think I'll need someone to cling to…'

'I think I know a guy.' Alvin chuckled. 'You're the best.'

Simon smiled proudly. 'I'm the best?' He repeated. 'And you…?'

Alvin raised a brow. 'And I love you?' He offered.

'That's it.' Simon grinned. 'Can you help me blow out the candles?' He added.

'Geeze, I'm not the one who raided the wax museum...' Alvin joked, but both got to work on plunging the room into darkness.

I know it's really cheesy but I love it anyway :3

So FOR NOW that's all I've got, but it will be updated in the near future. Bare with me, I'm pretty busy. Thanks for reading and reviewing and all that good stuff - see you soon!