Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Dead Poets Society... I am just inspired by it.

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I quickly lose myself in the kiss, tasting the lingering sweetness of the root beer float on his lips. After a while, Todd pulls back, looking at me with eyes that seem glazed in the moonlit room. "Richard, I..."

"Shh," I tell him. "We need to get more comfortable, I think." I lift him to his feet, then slowly draw down his pajama bottoms and undershorts. It's not the first time I've seen him naked, we've been in the showers together with the rest of our section after PE at school. But it is the first time I've been able to look at him, to admire his slim musculature and finely sculpted flesh. "You're so beautiful," I tell him.

Even in the dimness of the room, I can see the blush staining his cheeks. "You're biased," he murmurs. "And I want to see you now." He tugs me up, then hooks his fingers into the waistbands of my pants and shorts, dropping them to the floor. Now it's my turn to blush, embarrassed by my fishbelly white redhead's complexion as he looks at me. "You're gorgeous," he breathes, lifting a hand to caress my chest and shoulder. "Like a marble statue of some ancient god, only warm flesh rather than cold stone."

I can feel my blush deepening at his words. "You definitely have the silver tongue of a poet," I tell him as I pull him close. I step carefully out of the fabric trap around my ankles and lift him up, carrying him the two steps to the bed and laying him down gently before I join him there.

We hold each other, kissing and caressing, reveling in the sensation of each other's touch after being apart. After a while, Todd breaks a kiss to murmur huskily into my ear. "Richard... I love you..."

"I love you, too," I whisper, sliding around to concentrate on offering him pleasure. He whimpers as I take him in my mouth. He curls around to return the favor as we lose ourselves in the pleasure of each other. Afterwards, we snuggle together to go to sleep.

In the morning, we hastily rumple the second bed for Mother's benefit before we get dressed and join the family for breakfast. Mother suggests that I show Todd around the Oak Bluff area today since she'll need us to go berry picking tomorrow. AJ tells Todd that he's welcome to use his bicycle, since he'll be attempting to beat Mother at tennis. Mother grins at that, and Father tells AJ not to put any money down on that. Todd just looks from one to another as they talk. It's painfully obvious to me that he's never seen what I consider to be normal family interaction.

We ride off after breakfast, and I show him around the stores, the beach, the park, and the harbor. On the way back, we decide to stop off for cokes and drink them in the park. "Is your family always like that?" Todd asks me suddenly.

"As long as things are going well, yes," I tell him. "About the only time things were different was when Mother was so sick that year. And if either AJ or I got into trouble or brought home bad grades."

Todd can't help but chuckle. "You, Richard, get into trouble? I have a hard time picturing that."

I grin a little sheepishly. "Well, I only did once, back in first grade. I socked a kid in my class for making fun of my hair. AJ did a few times, though. For some reason, it never seemed to bother him much, how... disappointed... Father was whenever it happened. Me, I hated it... Father would get so cold. After that one time, I always tried my best to avoid trouble, so that Father would be proud of me."

"And yet... you know it's going to be a disappointment when... if... he finds out about... about us." Todd gives me a searching look as he speaks.

"I know. But you're worth it to me, Todd," I say, meeting his gaze squarely. "You've seen the worst of me and you still gave me a chance. For you, I'll face any trouble that comes. Just as long as we're together in the end, that's all that matters to me."

Todd reddens, looking both pleased and humble. "You're incredible, Richard, you really are."

I want to kiss him, but we're in the park, with a few little kids and their mothers at the swings and a few other teens lounging around. I drink the last of my coke instead, and scramble to my feet. "Let's get some lunch and then go fishing down at the pier," I suggest.

He grins, jumping up as well. "Race you back to the cottage," he hollers as he hops on AJ's bike and takes off. I laugh and pedal hard to catch up.