A/N: A bit of a sickly fluffy one, apologies but I like writing fluff!
Johnny woke as the sun streamed in through the crack in his curtains and rolled over smiling at the warm body he found in the bed next to him. Johnny snuggled down under the covers and just enjoyed watching his boyfriend sleeping peacefully beside to him. Johnny's eyes swept down over Danny's face, soft and crumpled with sleep, his hair sticking up messily and his mouth slightly open. Danny looked so much younger asleep and for a moment Johnny could pretend they were the same age and not eight years apart. Would it make it easier for his parents to accept, if Danny were his age? Not that it mattered to Johnny of course.
He was pretty sure his mum wouldn't like any guy he dated whatever their age, that was just the way she was. She had calmed down recently and had even started treating Johnny better but any mention of his sexuality set her on edge and Johnny was reminded of how she really felt. When it came to his father Johnny wasn't sure what he'd think of Danny, Mick Carter had always been protective and he'd never liked any of Nancy's boyfriends but was that because she was his daughter? Did that make a difference or would he be like that with him too? Johnny wondered.
Johnny sighed slightly, it really was a mess and a headache to even think about so that's why he and Danny had kept their blossoming romance a secret. The only people who knew were Nancy and Shirley; Nancy had walked in on them when they were making out in the cellar whilst Johnny was supposed to be changing a barrel and Shirley had seen that first kiss between them and had guessed ever since that more was going on. Tina didn't even know despite her being supportive and Johnny was glad because she was such a blabber mouth, he was sure she'd accidentally let something slip one day.
"You're thinking too much." Danny mumbled, his eyes opening a crack. "Stop, I can hear your brain ticking." he said wrapping his arms around Johnny and pulling him close.
Johnny smiled. "Can't help it." he replied sinking into Danny's reassuring arms. "I just wish we could tell people we're together, I'd love to see everyone's jealous faces when they find out your my guy." he chuckled. "Most of all I just wish we could go on a proper date like a normal couple."
"We don't have to keep this a secret if you don't want to?" Danny whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple.
Johnny sighed. "We have to ..." he mumbled sadly. "They'd never accept it, they'd keep me from seeing you and I'd rather have this than not have you at all." he said resting his chin on Danny's chest and gazing up at him.
Danny nodded in agreement, not having Johnny in his life simply wasn't an option anymore. "Whatever happens we're going to be together okay, I won't let them keep us apart." he told him. "So when you're ready to let them know I'll be right there with you okay?"
Johnny drew back and smiled. "You mean that?" he asked.
Danny nodded. "It's you and me kid."
Johnny wrapped his arms around his neck and cuddled him close. "I love you." he said pressing a kiss to the base of his neck. "Ever since I first laid eyes on you I've loved you."
Danny chuckled. "I thought you were more interested in Whitney's knickers." he teased earning a pout of annoyance from Johnny. Danny stroked the pad of his thumb over Johnny's lips, turning them into a smile. "Love you too." he told him. "I should tell you more often but it's hard for me." he sighed. "I'm not used feeling this way about anyone. Ever since my parents kicked me out at 16 I've had to fend for myself, I've spent so long using people to get where I need to be and never letting myself get attached out of fear of getting hurt but when I met you I realised I don't want to do that anymore."
"So what do you want?" Johnny asked.
Danny stroked his hands down Johnny's spine. "Just you." he replied simply.
Johnny smiled. "Well that's good because I'm not going anywhere." he told him.
"Maybe you're not but I should." Danny said glancing at the clock on the bedside table. "Everyone will be up soon." he said thinking about the whole Carter clan that were asleep upstairs in the pub; pretty soon it would be spaghetti junction up there and he'd never be able to sneak away.
"You can't tell me you love me and then just leave." Johnny protested. "Just stay a few more minutes." he said laying his head down and closing his eyes. It was moments like these that he cherished because most of the time they couldn't say or do what they wanted because someone was bound to see and suspect and then their secret would be out. Most of the time they avoided meeting each other in public, Danny had even started staying away from the Vic - it was easier that way because pretending to not care about someone you loved was too hard. Every time Johnny got into an argument with one of the local lads in the pub, Danny had to hold himself back for diving in to protect him, relying on Mick to step in. Every time he heard Linda make a remark regarding Johnny's sexuality he had to bite his tongue but the more he fell for Johnny the harder it became.
Danny pressed a kiss to his temple. "Okay I'll stay, but we mustn't drift off." he replied.
"Yeah of course." Johnny whispered, already half asleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Johnny woke up with a start when he heard a knock at his bedroom door. "Are you awake sausage?" his mother called through the door. "I need you behind the bar, I've got a lot to do for this engagement party and your dad and Nancy have gone to the football, left it all me as usual."
Johnny elbowed Danny awake and put his finger to his lip to warn him to keep quiet. "Yeah I'm up, give me a few minutes." he called back trying to hide the panic in his voice - he couldn't believe he'd let himself fall back to sleep! Thank God his mother hadn't come in the room!
"Okay I'll get you some breakfast." Linda called.
Johnny climbed out of bed and listened at the door, sure enough he could hear her footsteps heading for the kitchen. He turned to look at Danny who was pulling on his clothes. "What are we going to do?" he asked suppressing a giggle.
"Go and distract your mum in the kitchen, I'll sneak downstairs." Danny replied buttoning up his shirt hurriedly.
Johnny nodded; he opened the door a crack and peered out. "Looks like the coast is clear, the spare key to the back door is under the phone." he told him.
Danny nodded and slipped out of Johnny's room; they snuck down the corridor together and Johnny could hear his mother singing along to the radio in the kitchen. "Thank God everyone else is out." he said pausing at the top of the stairs. "Will I see you later?" he asked.
"It's Ian's engagement party tonight, I'm not sure I should show my face." Danny replied - after breaking up with Lucy, Danny wasn't exactly popular with the Beale's right now.
"Okay fair enough." Johnny replied. "I'll see if I can sneak away and meet you at yours?" he suggested.
"Sure." Danny grinned pressing a kiss to his lips. Johnny melted, kissing him back and wrapping his arms around him. He was sorely tempted to drag him back to his bedroom but he knew he couldn't, kissing his secret boyfriend on the stairs was dangerous enough with his mother only in the next room.
"Go." Johnny said having to pull himself away from Danny.
Danny just grinned before turning and skipping down the stairs. Johnny headed into the kitchen with his heart soaring with happiness. "Morning mum." he said sitting down at the table feeling pretty pleased with himself.
"Morning sausage." Linda said setting down a plate of toast in front of him and a cup of tea.
Johnny was just about to tuck in when he heard the hammering of footsteps heading up the stairs; he turned and looked over at the door with a frown - his heart sank when he saw Mick, Nancy and Danny appear in the doorway. "Is someone going to explain why I found this one sneaking out of here?" Mick said holding Danny firmly by the shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Linda asked glaring at Danny. "Why aren't you at the football?" she asked her husband and daughter.
"We decided we should help out with the engagement party." Mick replied. "And aren't we lucky we did?" he said forcing Danny into sitting at the kitchen table.
Nancy quickly disappeared - wanting to keep well out of it. Johnny wished he could disappear too.
"Now someone needs to start talking." Mick said in a dangerously low voice. "Or have I got this wrong? Perhaps he wasn't sneaking out hmmm? Perhaps he was robbing the place, should I be calling the police?" he asked.
"No dad." Johnny whispered. "You don't need to do that."
"So talk." Mick said crossing his arms and glaring at his son. Linda just stared at Danny and Johnny horror struck at the idea of the two of them together.
Johnny glanced at Danny and knew the exact same thought was running through both their heads - they either lied or told the truth.
Danny reached out and grabbed Johnny's hand, stroking his thumb over the back of his fingers. "It's okay." he whispered reassuringly.
Johnny took a deep breath - time to tell the truth then. "Danny stayed here last night, with me." he told his parents. "We're together."
Linda glanced at Danny and Johnny's entwined hands and sucked in a deep breath. "Oh Johnny ... no ..." she sighed shaking her head wishing this all to be some silly prank and not reality.
Mick just stared at him in disbelieve and Johnny knew that he was more angry and upset that he had lied to him rather than the fact it was Danny he was seeing. This instantly made Johnny feel a little more hopeful but when he turned to look at his mother all hope died - she looked like she wanted to murder Danny on the spot.
Johnny felt himself grow hot with anger; the truth was out now and he was determined to defend his and Danny's relationship with everything he had. He would not let his parents get between them. He would not let them keep them apart. Johnny glanced at Danny and saw the same determined expression on his face. His words from earlier echoed through his head: "Whatever happens we're going to be together. I won't let them keep us apart."
Johnny gripped Danny's hand tightly, squeezing it three times in quick succession. "I love you, I'm not letting you go." he said without needing to speak.
Danny just nodded in agreement.