Author's note: So here's the last chapter. Don't worry, there's an epilogue and I might do a one-shot or two later on. I have no immediate ideas, but smut is an option... Epilogue will be posted soon. Please review and let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Chapter Seven

Sebastian went straight home after he dropped Dave off. He was starting to cool down. And he was starting to realize that maybe he wasn't alone. He didn't want to have a heart-to-heart with anyone or apologize to his father, but he could at least try to meet his father part of the way.

Laird walked out the front door as Sebastian walked up. His face was full of relief. He unexpectedly pulled his son into his arms.

It took the young man by surprise. His father was never affectionate. He couldn't remember the last time his father had voluntarily embraced him. His arms came up to wrap around his father and took a deep breath of his shirt the way he'd done as a little boy. His father still smelled of cigars and sandalwood.

"I was so worried, Sebastian." Laird sighed. "I heard there was a wreck and you weren't answering your phone." He stopped suddenly and took a few steps back, as though he remembered where he was. He looked around to see that no one was watching.

"Well, I'm fine." Sebastian snapped, trying to walk around his father.

Laird shot out his hand and caught his son's arm.

He looked down and then back up into his father's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sebastian." He said softly. "Let's go in and talk."

"About what? How I killed my mother?"

The man's eyes were hurt, "I'm sorry if that's what you believe, but that's not what I think. It never was."

He jerked his arm out of his father's grasp. "You said it more than once." He stomped into the house.

Laird followed. "Sebastian, I want to talk." His voice was desperate. "I can't lose you, too."

Sebastian stopped on the stairs. His shoulders slumped. His father really loved him? He didn't blame him for his mother's death?

"I know I've said a lot of awful things to you. I won't lie about that. I'm hurting, still all these years later." His voice broke. "I loved your mother. I love your mother. It's why I never remarried. No one could ever match her. Except maybe you. You're everything she was. And everything I'm not."

He turned and looked down into the pleading face of his father. He looked so much older.

"I want to work on our family. Because you're all I have." He said softly.

"I don't want to just sit and talk with you."

"Therapy. I know of a lot of good people. We could try them all. Money is no option. It never has been with you."

"So we sit in some stuffy office talking about our feelings?"

"I know I've never been one for that, but if it gets me my son…" He looked away. "Please, Sebastian. Do this for me."

"I'll do it. But it won't be for you. It'll be for Mom." He turned and walked up the stairs. "Just set up the appointment. I'll let you know if I can be there."

"When is your competition?" Laird called, bounding up the stairs after him.

He paused at his bedroom door. "A week from this Saturday."

"Would you mind if I came?" his father asked awkwardly.

"You never wanted to before."

"Your mother was the one who liked music. I never understood it. But if you like it and it's what you want to do, I want to make an effort. For you. For your mother."

Sebastian nodded. He stepped into his room and closed the door without another look at his father.

He stretched out across his bed. He was suddenly very tired. His father had said so much. They'd never talked like that. He looked over to his computer sitting closed on his desk. He wondered…

After letting it boot up, he opened his browser and typed in Facebook. After a little surfing, he found Dave Karofsky. He added him as a friend. Then he opened up another tab and started surfing. He checked back periodically, but Dave hadn't accepted the request.

Just when he was going to give up and go to bed, he got an e-mail. His friend request had been accepted. Then another, saying he had a message.

"'Wow, it's you. Didn't think I'd ever hear from you. Sorry if I scared you…'"

He wrote back, "'Not really scared. A lot is going on. My dad asked if we could start going to family counseling. And he hugged me.'"

He waited around for the response and was oddly giddy when the reply came. "'Wow. That's nice, I guess.'"

"'Yeah, nice… Can I call you?'" Even as he sent the response, he feared he'd gone just a step too far. But he hadn't been the one to initiate the hand-holding.

"'Any time!'" Dave responded and attached his number.

Sebastian's hand shook as he picked up his phone and started dialing the number. He checked it five times before pressing the call button.

"Hi." His voice wobbled. "Dave?"

"Should I feel honored to be talking to the Sebastian Smythe?" Dave teased, his voice just as uncertain.

"Yeah, I think you should." He laughed.

There was an awkward silence on the line.

Dave said, "So, you're going to family therapy?"

Sebastian laughed, "Yeah, I guess." He paused. "I just can't get over…I can't get over the way he acted."

"The way he acted?"

"He apologized for how he treated me. He said he was still in love with my mom. And that I'm a lot like her. He never told me that." He wiped at an unexpected tear. "He sounded so real."

"Well, this is a good start for you."

"Yeah. I just hope it lasts. I hope I last."

"I hope you do, too."

There was another silence.

After a few seconds, Dave said, "Do you want to go out some time? I mean, it doesn't have to be a date, we can just hang out—"

Sebastian laughed. "Dave, stop." He paused. "I'd love to go out with you. Just to hang out. Or to do more." The last was a little uncertain.

"I've never actually dated a guy." Dave admitted.

"I never have either, actually. Just fucked a lot. Got knocked around a lot."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I am. But I used and abused them right back." He sighed and lay back on the bed. "Maybe… Maybe you want to change your mind."

"I just want to get to know you. I want to get to know the real you."

Sebastian smiled into the phone and sniffed. His throat was tight when he said, "I want that, too."

"When and where?"

"Want to meet me at Scandals after I win Regionals?"

Dave laughed. "And what if you don't win?"

"Meet me there anyway." He demanded.

"Okay, I will."

"And if you want me to give you a ride home from work…"

"I don't want you to suddenly be this sweet guy. I like a little edge. It's hot."

Sebastian chuckled. "Good because I've been the bad boy for so long, I really don't know how to be sweet."

"One step at a time, I guess." He said softly.

"Yeah, one step at a time."

"Look, I love that we're talking, but I still got a ton of homework."

"That's fine. I got an e-mail about my own assignment for my suspension. If I'm going to be the good guy…" He paused. "Thank you."

"Call me whenever you need anything. Anything at all."

"I will. Thanks again."

After he hung up, he put the phone on his chest. What was going to happen next? He wasn't ready for these changes.