Last chapter everyone I hope you enjoy it.
Ch. 17 Endless Love
(CLARE)
"Just remember that you can't ask him to take off his hood or his gloves or why he wears them or…"
"Clare relax Honey we've been over this, we know all the rules you've been telling us for a week," Mom reminds me.
Fitz is coming to dinner tonight and I got my bandages off today. You can still see the suturing and the incision until they fully heal but thankfully we're on winter break and by the time we're back at school they'll hardly be visible.
"Sorry I'm just really nervous about him coming to dinner."
"We know he's important to you and that he's done a lot for you," Dad assures me and I smile. My smile gets a little bigger when I feel Fitz nearby.
"He's here I'll be right back," I tell my parents. I go downstairs just as Fitz comes in through the sliding glass door. I put my arms around his neck and capture his lips for a quick kiss. He grins taking down his hood for a brief moment in the dark room and kisses my sutures very softly. "Are you ready for this? Everyone is upstairs," I tell him.
"Not sure I'm ready for this but I'll do it for you," he replies and I grin with happy appreciation. He puts his hood back up and we go upstairs. When I open the kitchen door and Fitz sees all the light in the dining room he pulls his hood down a little more to hide his face as much as possible.
"Hey Fitz," Owen greets him.
"Hi Owen, hey Bianca, Drew, Adam," Fitz nods.
"These are my parents Audra and Omar," I introduce him to my adoptive parents.
"It's very nice to meet you Fitz," Mom says shaking his hand.
"It's nice to meet you both, thanks for having me for dinner," he smiles shaking their hands.
"It's our pleasure anyone so important to Clare is important to us," Dad replies.
"Dinner is ready why doesn't everyone sit down," Mom insists. We all sit at the table, Mom and Dad at each end, Adam Fitz and I on one side and Owen, Bianca and Drew on the other. "So Fitz how did you and Clare meet? That is on the approved list of questions isn't it?" Mom asks.
"Yes that's fine to ask," I smile.
"Clare was walking home through the ravine and two guys started to attack her. She was fighting them off pretty well on her own until she got knocked back and hit her head. I stopped them and took her back to my place because she'd been knocked out, Doc looked at her and said she was okay so I just waited with her until she was awake and made sure she felt alright before taking her home," Fitz tells them.
"That was the first day of school," I inform my parents, of course they weren't my parents at the time.
"I'm glad you were there then, and very glad Clare is alright," Mom smiles.
"It wasn't an accident I was watching Owen at practice from under the bleachers. I saw Clare walking through the ravine and instinct told me to follow her. Since that day we've had this kind of connection," Fitz tells them.
"So tell us about yourself Fitz, as much as you're comfortable telling us," Dad comments.
"I'll be seventeen in a couple of months. I read a lot; I spend a lot of time with the kids where I live, reading to them and teaching them. I watch Clare, Owen, Drew, Adam and Bianca at school and away from it. I don't mean for that to sound creepy I look out for them, protect them."
"That's very noble of you," Dad remarks.
"I guess so I just don't want my friends to get hurt," Fitz shrugs.
"Yeah but we didn't know he was doing it until we realized he was still alive," Owen comments. Mom and Dad exchange a look probably wondering when Fitz was dead or presumed dead anyway, but they have the good sense not to ask.
"So Fitz you said you read a lot what's your favorite book?" Mom asks.
"It's so hard to pick just one I love so many books for so many different reasons. Each one takes you to a different time and place with fascinating characters," Fitz says and I remember reading together in his room, the memory makes me smile.
"What about your education?" Dad inquires.
"Well up until grade nine I was going to school and then well…" Fitz pauses and I take his hand under the table.
"That's alright son you don't need to tell us anything you're not comfortable with," Dad tells him and I smile at Dad.
"Anyway now Doc teaches me whatever I don't read in books and some things are self-taught. I love reading, writing is okay I guess, science can be interesting at least some parts of it but I hate math," Fitz replies.
"I hate math too," Drew nods.
Mom and Dad ask him a few more questions, general small talk questions like his favorite food, sport, and other interests. They do stay away from anything I asked them not to ask but still find enough to ask, with other people commenting, to take up all of the dinner conversation.
"What are your plans for Christmas?" Mom asks Fitz as she sets out dessert.
"We have a celebration Christmas Eve, the whole community does. Actually I was hoping Clare could come?" Fitz requests taking my hand with his gloved hand and setting them together on the table so my parents can see. They both smile, although I'm sure they could already see how much we care about each other.
"It's alright with us as long as she's home by curfew. Since she's joining you for Christmas Eve perhaps you would like to join us for Christmas day? That is if you don't have other plans with the people you live with?" Mom asks.
"Yeah sure I'd love too, our big celebration is Christmas Eve so I'm sure it will be fine," Fitz replies. Even though his face is hidden in shadow we all hear the grateful smile on his lips.
"Good," Mom grins.
"Can we watch TV downstairs for a while?" I request when were done with dessert and Mom nods. "Thanks for coming tonight, I know it wasn't easy for you," I smile at Fitz disappearing into his hood to kiss him when we're on the sofa.
"I was happy to come, your parents are nice," he grins.
"At least now you don't always have to hide when you're at my house," I smile.
We watch TV for a while and Fitz pretends to go home when Bianca and Owen do. As soon as my parents are in bed he comes back to the sofa to watch TV with us until my brothers go to bed. Then Fitz and I get ready for bed and get in bed, he always sleeps shirtless now so that I can lie against his skin. He still leaves at dawn, kissing me gently before he disappears. I wake up a couple of hours later when I smell Mom making breakfast. I get dressed and go up to the kitchen. We spend the whole day together as a family, after breakfast we go for a walk and play in the snow. We return home for lunch and spend the afternoon playing board games. I'm meeting Fitz at eight so I have Christmas Eve dinner with my family and Bianca who is staying for Christmas Eve, and probably Christmas day since her Auntie is off somewhere with some guy.
"Fitz is here I'll be back by midnight," I tell my parents.
"Have fun," Mom smiles as I grab my coat and go outside to meet Fitz.
He puts his arm around me and we walk together to his home. I greet everyone at the ceremony and wish them a merry Christmas. I've met all of them now even if it was briefly although some of them are still rather skittish around me. Even though they have mostly shunned the world above their Christmas Eve is similar to most peoples, they sing carols, eat desserts and exchange gifts. Watching the little kids receive their gifts and their exquisite smiles is probably the best part. None of the gifts are store bought there are handmade clothes and blankets, ornaments, some people wrote poems, other people made toys for the kids, Fitz made a revolving bookshelf for Doc and a lot of toys for the kids.
"This is for you, I wasn't sure if I should give it to you now or tomorrow," Fitz says handing me a small wrapped parcel. I smile sweetly and unwrap it, my smile widens when I find a beautifully carved wooden box in the shape of a heart. "I thought you could keep your mother's ring in it, when you're not wearing it."
"It's gorgeous I love it thank you," I smile leaning in to give him a soft kiss.
"Merry Christmas Clare."
At 11:30 Fitz and I leave to go back to my house, Fitz brings me in and says Merry Christmas to my parents. Mom tells Fitz to come over at eight for breakfast, of course he'll be staying the night but they don't know that. Fitz says goodnight and leaves but he's only going around to the back and my room. Mom asks if I had a good time and I tell her I did and a little about it without revealing anything. Then I go downstairs where my brothers and Bianca are watching movies and Fitz is on the sofa with them. We watch the rest of the movie with them before they say goodnight and Merry Christmas and go up to bed, Bianca goes into the washroom to get ready for bed since she's sleeping on the sofa down here. Fitz and I get ready for bed and go to bed; he takes off his hoodie and shirt so I can sleep against his skin.
"You always sleep in your jeans I think you should take them off tonight. That can't be comfortable," I comment when he gets in bed.
(FITZ)
"I'll be practically naked without them," I reply as Clare tugs at my belt loop after requesting I sleep without my jeans tonight.
"I sleep in a thin t-shirt and pants pajama set, I'm always sleeping practically naked," Clare comments.
"Yes I know and I enjoy holding you all night long but I'm a teenage guy it creates other problems," I comment. Clare just smiles impishly as her hand rubs over my crotch.
"I'm in love with you, I want to be with you and make love to you. You can't still be worried about your scars you know I think they're beautiful. I think you're beautiful," she says running her fingers over the scars on my chest.
"I would love nothing more than to make love to you and if you are truly ready we will. But not here and not tonight I want to make it perfect for you," I tell her and she smiles looking up and kissing me softly.
"I love you Mark," she grins.
"I love you Clare," I whisper.
We fall asleep together as I stroke her back gently. We wake up Christmas morning when we hear someone opening the basement door.
"Merry Christmas kids, you guys should come up and we can pretend that Fitz just got here," Adam says knocking on Clare's door.
"Merry Christmas Clare," I grin and kiss her.
She says Merry Christmas and we get up and get dressed before going upstairs and pretending I arrived a few moments ago. Audra made pancakes and we eat together before the family opens Christmas presents.
"This is for you," Clare says handing me a box. I open it to find a picture frame that folds open. On one side is a picture of just Clare, she looks beautiful with a big happy smile and her eyes sparkling. On the other side is a picture of Clare, Adam, Drew, Owen and Bianca all together. "I thought you could put it in your room, that way when you're not watching us we're still with you."
"I love it thank you," I grin and kiss her softly.
Drew, Clare and Adam all get clothes and gift cards, Clare got some earrings, Adam some music and Drew some sports stuff. Drew gives Bianca a ring and his parents got her some clothes as well. Audra got some kitchen stuff and jewelry and Omar got clothes. After opening presents we eat a little and then play board games before Audra makes dinner or finishes making dinner I suppose as the ham was roasting for a while. Omar helps Audra but the five of us are downstairs watching a movie when Owen comes in.
"Merry Christmas gang," Owen says.
"Merry Christmas, did you get some good stuff?" I question.
"Yeah I did but you know what I'd really like for Christmas?" Owen asks sitting down next to me.
"What?" I inquire.
"To see your face again Buddy," Owen replies.
"Yeah me too," Bianca nods.
"You don't want to see that," I shake my head.
"Yeah we do," Owen says firmly.
"Mark they're your friends they care about you. You should show them, let them see your face. Remember they aren't scars they're a story," Clare encourages.
"Okay fine just remember I warned you," I sigh reaching up and slowly pulling back my hood.
"Fuck," Owen exhales.
"Oh Fitz, I wish we'd been there," Bianca says and her voice cracks slightly with pain.
"Shit," Drew exclaims.
"Whoa, gotta admit you do look pretty beastly," Adam says, "but the way you look isn't who you are. I should know.
"Damn that's bad. What are the other scars across your face?" Owen questions. Deciding they've all seen my face for long enough I put my hood back up.
"Cuts from my stepdad and Steve. I told you it was bad," I remark.
"It is bad but it's still you, thanks for showing us Fitz," Owen smiles.
I nod and put my arms around Clare again, Owen stays for about an hour before he has to get home. Audra calls us all up to dinner not long after that. We eat together and it's very nice, I never had this kind of thing with my mom and stepfamily and I never knew my dad. The first time I ever had this kind of togetherness or closeness with people was after I was burned and Doc took me in.
"Thanks for having me I had a great time," I say to Clare's parents at the end of the night.
"We were happy to have you and very glad you could come Fitz," Audra smiles.
"Goodnight Drew, goodnight Adam, Merry Christmas Bianca," I wave to them even though I'll see them downstairs in a few minutes. They of course know this and say goodnight to me. I kiss Clare tenderly and leave through the front door going around to the back and through the basement door. Bianca, Drew, Adam and Clare all come down just a couple minutes later, I watch TV with them until Drew and Adam go to bed at which time Clare and I also go to bed and Bianca starts making her bed on the sofa.
"I had a wonderful Christmas," I smile at Clare when we're ready for bed and in her room. "But the very best part," I say sitting on the edge of her bed and pulling her into my lap, "was feeling like I was part of your family."
Clare's lovely cherub lips curl up into an incredibly lovely and happy smile, the kind of smile that makes her entire face light up and her eyes sparkle. She links her arms around my neck and lovingly places her lips on mine. Her lips pull mine into a passionately loving kiss, soft and sensual she pulls away after a moment.
"You are a part of my family Mark, you are extremely important to me and my brothers, Owen and Bianca. My parents know that and it makes me very happy that you feel like part of my family."
I smile and pick her up laying her on the bed and we get under the blankets. I start to turn off the light but pause to look at her beautiful face. Her reconstructive surgery went well you can't even tell she was in an accident. There's a scar above her eye that goes into her eyebrow a little but the scar is so faint you can hardly see it. She's also got a thicker more visible scar but it's behind her ear and jawline so it's only visible if you're very close to her and looking. I kiss the scar above her eye, then the tip of her nose, then her lips before I finally turn off the light to go to bed. I take her in my arms and hold her close drifting to sleep and dreaming of Clare all night.
(CLARE)
"You sure you don't want to go to the party with everyone?" Fitz asks me. It's New Year's Eve and Owen, Bianca and Fitz have been hanging at our house most of the day. All of them will be going to a party at Julian's tonight but Fitz and I are going to a New Year's Eve party at his place. His community calls it The Night of New Beginnings which I think is wonderful.
"I would rather be with you," I reply turning my head up to kiss him.
"You could always come to the party with us," Owen comments.
"No way too many people. Someone will wonder why I'm hiding under a hood and they'll pull it down and people will be shocked at my appearance."
"Hey it's not that bad I don't even notice anymore, it's just you," Bianca comments.
"You guys have known me forever and you've been looking at me without my hood for a week now," Fitz reminds them. Since showing them his face at Christmas he's kept his hood down when we were all hanging out in the basement, of course he pulled it back up if Mom or Dad came downstairs. Adam was probably the least shocked but I had told Adam a little about Fitz's appearance and Adam has been working on the Dark Hood comic. For Owen and Bianca I think they were just happy to have their friend back no matter how he looked. I also think they just didn't see the scars sometimes, they knew what he looked like before and I believe that's how they saw him most of the time. Drew was used to it and all he cared about was that Fitz was good to me and a good friend. I would on occasion catch Drew grimacing slightly at Fitz's appearance but I think it had less to do with how Fitz looks and more about what Fitz was put through to get the scars.
"You guys go to the party; Fitz and I are going to our own party. Don't forget I'm staying at Fitz's tonight and tell Mom and Dad I'm at Alli's," I remind my brothers.
"We know, we've got you covered," Adam grins and then his phone rings. He furrows his brow at the number so he must not recognize it. "Hello?" He answers cautiously and then he grins and we listen to his side of the conversation, "Yeah that's great…awesome…yeah I'll bring one of my parents…great see you Wednesday."
"Who was that?" Drew asks.
"ARC Comics they want to turn my Dark Hood comic into a graphic novel. I submitted it a couple weeks ago and didn't think anything would happen but they loved it. Is it okay with you guys? I mean you're all in it," Adam remarks.
"I think it's great Adam," I grin.
"Yeah and you never use my name I say go for it," Fitz says with a smile.
"It's awesome little bro you should do it," Drew says.
"Yeah that's sweet Dude you'll be published," Owen nods.
Bianca agrees that it's awesome and Adam goes upstairs to tell Mom and Dad. He's up there for a while probably talking to Mom and Dad about it. We hang out for a couple of hours before we all leave for the parties, Mom and Dad are going to their own. I have a bag with me because I'm staying the night with Fitz. We walk to his community entering through the park; I know where most of the entrances are now, at least the ones in Riverdale. We stop at his room to drop off my bag and join the rest of his community in the great hall. There's food and music, people are dancing and talking. Fitz and I dance a little and eat a lot and talk to people. A couple adults stay with the younger kids who have fallen asleep, the rest of us walk through the tunnels to a spot where we can watch the fireworks from underground. We hear everyone counting down to midnight and the fireworks begin just as Fitz and I kiss.
"Are you still sure about tonight being the night?" Fitz asks when we return to his room.
"Yes I'm very sure," I nod with a smile. I didn't tell Owen or Drew that I was going to lose my virginity to Fitz tonight. I did tell Adam and Bianca who both made sure we were prepared with condoms and spermicide and a few other things.
"In that case we aren't sleeping here come with me," Fitz says taking my hand and my bag.
We walk down a set of stairs and a long hallway, past the great hall, across a bridge and around a corner and my breath is taken away. The room we come too isn't very large but there's a waterfall at the back of the room, candles are everywhere and a queen size bed in the middle of the room looks fit for a princess.
"Mark this is amazing, this room is beautiful," I grin.
"It's a honeymoon suite of sorts," Fitz tells me.
"It's wonderful," I smile looping my arms around his neck and abducting his lips for a fiery kiss.
Our lips break apart and I grip his hoodie pulling it over his head. I take off his t-shirt next and his bare chest is exposed. I softly brush my fingers over his scarring and trail open mouth kisses along his chest. Fitz unbuttons my blouse and takes it off and then my bra, he smiles when my breasts fall free and cups them in his hands. We sit on the bed and take off our shoes and socks before divesting ourselves of the rest of our clothing. When we're totally naked we look over the other's body, Fitz smiles a little when he sees mine but shrinks back a little when I look over his. The burning is extensive and it's the first time I've seen the totality of his scarring. Not just the burns but every other scar he has. I suppose it is grotesque but not to me, to me it's beautiful because it's a part of Fitz. It makes him unique, it makes him who he is, everything he's been through brought him to the person he is, a person that I love.
I smile at him and kiss his chest pulling him to the bed. Before I get onto the bed I grab a condom from my purse to be sure it's nearby. We lie on our sides and Fitz smiles at me, my stomach is filled with butterflies, I'm nervous but excited and happy. I'm nervous but not afraid this feels right, this moment right now with Fitz and the private waterfall room lit entirely by candles was meant to be. Our fingers run over the other's skin as our lips attach in a passionate kiss. For a while we just explore the other's body, our hands roving over each other's skin while we stay locked in a kiss. The more we touch each other the more our bodies get excited and Fitz moves me to my back. He smiles and kisses along my body while his fingers rub softly at my slit to get my juices dripping. When I'm wet and moaning in endless chains, eager for Fitz to fill me he rubs himself to get completely hard and puts on the condom. He smiles at me and opens my pussy lips gently, slowly penetrating into me but he stops when I whimper.
"I'm okay just go slowly," I tell him.
He smiles and stays still while his lips connect with mine. A deep passionate kiss relaxes me and Fitz begins to move again. Anytime I whimper he stops for a moment until my body relaxes and the pain diminishes. It seems like it takes a long time before the pain vanishes away all together but it finally does and I become enraptured with pleasure. My eyes open locking with Fitz and I smile gripping the back of his neck and gently scratching my nails along his back. Fitz begins thrusting a little faster, he begins breathing deeply and moaning a little himself. I continue moaning in endless chains while Fitz's first name drops from my lips with every bawdy baited breath. There are so many sensations coursing through my body it's like an explosion. Every single nerve in my body is tingling and awake, I grip Fitz tightly and wrap my body around him trying to meld my body with his. All the sensations seem to build to a point where I feel such a need for release that I think I might pop if I don't release soon. Just when I feel like I can't take anymore my body erupts in explosive orgasm. Fitz releases at the same time, we both moan and cry out the other's name, our bodies shaking and trembling wildly. Fitz slows down before pulling out of me; he takes off the condom and lies next to me.
"I love you Clare," Fitz says putting his arms around me.
"I love you Mark, I hope it stays like this forever," I grin nuzzling into him but I feel Fitz tense up slightly. "What's the matter?" I question looking up at him.
"I love you and I'd like for it to stay like this forever too but I doubt it can, we've taken a few steps into each other's world but I can't live in yours and you can't live in mine."
"I don't know what the future holds but I know that I love you, I know I feel safe with you, I know you make me happy. I know that the unspoken connection we have is stronger than friendship or love and that we can make it work. I'm welcome in your world now and you're welcome in at least a part of mine. You don't even hide your face around Owen, Bianca and my brothers now. I'm sure at some point you'll be comfortable enough to be without your hood even around my parents. Even if you never do I know that I want to be with you no matter what that takes."
"You are an incredible woman Clare Torres and I love you more than anything. I love how you love me and everything you've done for me and I know that I want to be with you no matter what it takes."
I smile linking my arms around Fitz's neck and our lips interlock in a deeply loving and tender kiss of endless love.
Well it's been a great ride and this almost had enough chapters to be a long story. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Replacing this will be Lost in the Dark All You Need is a Spark which premieres Sunday, March 13th.