A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter, and after this, there will be one more chapter and the epilogue. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story :)

Warning: Okay, there's a fair few warnings for this chapter. First, slight language warning, depending on how you view the words 'hell' and 'damn', but there is literally two uses of the former and one of the latter, so it's not that severe. Secondly, I apologise for the things that Nick's father will be saying in this chapter, it is necessary to the plot line, but that does not mean that they are particularly nice things. Also, while what he says is not directly homophobic, it could be classed in that way, and therefore I want to say that even though I have written his character this way, I do not agree with him in any way at all! Thirdly, there's a violence warnign as well because of Nick's father.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

"Nicholas! What is going on here?"

The sound of Nick's father's voice immediately broke the two boys apart, panic and fear evident on both their faces when they saw how the older man's expression was contorted with anger.

Before either boy could react, Nick's father had crossed over to the bed, and seized Jeff by the collar of his tunic. The force of his actions threw Nick to the floor, while he slammed Jeff into the nearest wall, knocking the air from him. Before Jeff had a chance to breath again, he found himself choking slightly as the older man's arm was pressed into his throat.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to my son?" Nick's father thundered, his eyes narrowing and his breathing becoming highly irregular as he worked himself into a dangerous rage. "I saw you two together just then, what have you done to him? Answer me, boy, what lies have you been feeding him to make him act like that?"

Jeff couldn't speak, in his panic, his throat had gone dry and he'd lost the ability to move or comprehend anything but the hateful words that were coming from the man in front of him.

"Leave him alone!" Nick shouted, throwing himself at his father, and attempting to wrestle his arms away from Jeff.

"Get off me, boy!" his father yelled angrily, catching Nick across the cheek with the back of his hand. The impact caused Nick to fall to the ground with a thud, clutching the side of his face. Nick moved to look at his hand, and was horrified to discover blood covering his fingers. He raised his hand to his cheek again, and realised that his father's ring had cut him from below his eye to just beside his mouth.

At the sight of the blood, Jeff let out a strangled scream of Nick's name and attempted to free himself so that he could rush to the other boy's aid, but Nick's father just threw him back against the wall again.

"I knew we should never have bought you," the older man continued, "I knew you were a waste of money the moment I set my eyes on you, but I bought you because my son wanted you, and look how you've repaid my kindness. I don't know what tricks you've been using on my family, I don't know how you've cursed all of us, but I do know that I won't be letting you do it again."

"Don't touch him," Nick was back on his feet, and he caught his father's hand as he went to slap Jeff.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Nick's father said viciously, knocking Nick flying again, so that he landed in an unmoving heap against the opposite wall.

"Nick!" Jeff screamed again, suddenly finding the will inside himself again to move, "Don't you dare touch him again!" He directed his anger at Nick's father, reaching out and punching the man square in the nose, before attempting to run to see if Nick was hurt.

"Get away from my son," Nick's father had recovered from the blow quickly, and had grabbed Jeff again, "I don't want you anywhere near him ever again! You are not to see him; you're not to speak to him; you're not even to think about him."

"You can't make me do that," Jeff said bravely, "You can't force me to do anything!"

"I think you're forgetting how powerful I am," Nick's father hissed menacingly, "I can do a lot more damage than you can. I'm going to fix this problem you've caused, and I'm going to start by getting rid of you."

"Father," Nick cried, from where he was still crumpled on the floor, "You can't do this, I love Jeff!"

"No, you don't," Nick's father sneered, "He's making you think that, he's lying to you Nicholas, he doesn't love you and you certainly don't love him. Once he's gone, you'll forget about him, and you can live your life normally."

"I don't want to live my life without Jeff," Nick pleaded, "I love him, Father, I love him more than I love anyone else in this world. I love him more than I love you and Mother."

Nick's father's eyes blazed with anger.

"You always were ungrateful," he said, releasing Jeff for a second so that he could approach his son. He aimed a harsh kick at Nick's stomach, and looked satisfied when his son groaned in pain. "You never did show any thanks for the way we raised you. We raised you to be a man, Nicholas, and you're not that at all, are you? You're weak, Nicholas, you can't even take a beating, then get up and face me again." He kicked Nick again, and the small brunette whimpered, curling in on himself as tears started to fall. Nick's father laughed. "Don't cry," he taunted, "Crying is a sign of weakness, Nicholas, you know that."

"Leave him alone!" Jeff yelled, shoving the older man away from Nick and into the nearest wall. Nick's father connected with the wall with a satisfying thud, but within seconds, had overpowered Jeff again.

"What the hell is this?" Nick's father tone had become even more menacing, which neither boy had thought possible, as he pulled out the chain from underneath Jeff's tunic. "Where did you get this boy? Did you steal it?" He turned the ring over roughly in his hands.

"He didn't steal it," Nick yelled, "I gave it to him, Father, because I love him. And you know what, I'm just going to tell you, because it can't get any worse than this, but Jeff and I are going to get married soon, because I love him and he loves me."

Nick's father let out a cold, hollow laugh.

"You're not getting married," he said, "Because I forbid you to see each other ever again, there's no way for you to get married now. Anyway, I would never have given you my permission."

"I don't need your permission!" Nick practically screamed, "I've never needed it and I've never wanted it! The only things I ever wanted from you were some love and attention, but you never gave it to me."

"See," Jeff hissed, "I love Nick, I actually care about him. You don't give a damn what happens to him, as long as it sits well with your own political agenda or your idea of his future. You don't deserve someone like Nick as your son, you never have and you never will; he's too good for you!"

"Watch your tongue, boy!" Nick's father snapped, "You have no right to be telling me how to manage my own family."

"You can't tell me what to do," Jeff said, "I'm not a slave anymore, the Emperor saw to that. I'm a citizen, I have rights."

Nick's father laughed his awful laugh again.

"Again, you're forgetting how much power I have," he said, "If I say that you'll never see my son again, I mean it." He sneered as he ripped the chain from around Jeff's neck and threw it onto the floor at Nick's feet. "You're going to get out of here, and you're never going to come back."

"You can't make me," Jeff said stubbornly.

"Father, don't do this," Nick pleaded, trying to get to his feet, but receiving another blow to the side from his father's foot.

"You can't tell me what I can and can't do, neither of you can," Nick's father said, aiming a solid punch at Jeff's stomach, so that the blonde doubled over in pain. "Guards!" he yelled loudly for the soldiers that he knew would be passing by.

Nick felt tears falling as he sobbed from his position on the floor. This was really happening, his father was really sending Jeff away. They were going to be separated from each other, and Nick's didn't think he could live with that. From the look on Jeff's face, it appeared that he was having the same thoughts.

At the sound of the heavy footsteps of the approaching guards, Nick found one last ounce of strength to throw himself at Jeff and kiss him one last time, before he was flung away by his father.

"Take this boy and throw him as far away from the palace as possible," Nick's father ordered to the two soldiers, "If he ever shows his face here again, do not hesitate to arrest him."

"Very good, sir," one of the soldiers spoke, as he cast a glance at Nick, and then took Jeff's arm.

Nick thanked whichever gods were listening that the guard in front of him was Hunter.

"Nick, I love you!" Jeff called, as he was dragged away down the corridor.

"I love you too, Jeff!" Nick yelled back hoarsely, earning himself another slap from his father.

"Are you deliberately trying to ruin this family and everything I've worked for?" his father asked furiously, "You've always tried to oppose me, haven't you?"

"Only because I don't agree with any of the decisions you make for me," Nick said bitterly, "They should be my decisions, such as who I marry, or what job I take, but you always control me. I don't want you controlling my life anymore; I don't want you to be my father anymore either." Hot tears rolled down his cheeks in his utter anger at his father's actions.

"I make these decisions for you because you're not responsible enough to make them yourself," his father replied, "I think your foolish associations with that boy are proof enough of that."

"I love Jeff, Father, when are you going to see the truth of it?"

"There is no truth in it, Nicholas, you know that," his father sneered, "I'm sure a stint in the army will make you forget about him completely."

Nick paled in horror. The army was the one place he'd never wanted to end up. His father had always threatened to make him join, but every time he'd assumed that he'd have the choice between a political or military career. Clearly that was now no longer the case, and he had no choice in the matter. Maybe his father would draft him in as a tribune, so that he'd be out in a few years, and onto politics.

"And I'm not talking about some fancy officer's rank either," his father continued, as though he could read his son's mind, "I'm talking a regular soldier. You'll be serving a minimum of twenty five years like every other man in the Roman Empire. I doubt your boy'll even recognise you once you come back." He laughed that cruel laugh again. "If you come back, that is."

Nick clenched his hands into fists.

"You wouldn't dare," he said in a low voice, his eyes blazing angrily, "You'd need me to sign anyway, and I'll never do that."

His father smirked.

"My signature will be enough," he said, "And if it's not, yours wouldn't be hard to fake."

"You know what?" Nick suddenly exploded, "I'm actually ashamed to have to call you my father, you're an utter disgrace to the empire, and you're a disgrace to me. Have you ever considered that maybe I already know what I want to do with my life? I want to marry Jeff, and I want to become a poet. Yes, a poet! I don't want to be in the army. Do you think that sort of lifestyle appeals to me? Because it doesn't. I want to be a poet, that's my decision, and it's final."

"A poet? You think poetry is a fit way to spend your time?" Nick's father laughed again, "You're not going to be a poet, my boy. I've had your military sign-up papers in my rooms for weeks now; I was considering when to offer you the choice between the army and politics. I guess that choice has been forfeited today, I'll be signing those papers as soon as possible now."

He got up to leave, and headed for the door. He paused and looked back at his son.

"You can't do this!" Nick screamed one last time.

His father just gave him a cruel smile.

"I can and I will, Nicholas, just you wait." And then he was gone, his cold footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Nick curled up on his bed and cried; Jeff's ring and chain clutched in his fist by his heart. He raised the ring to his mouth and kissed it lightly. For the moment, it was the only thing that he had left of Jeff.

A while later, Hunter appeared in the doorway, he didn't even have to knock, because Nick's door was still flung wide open and the boy himself was still lying on his bed crying.

"Nick," Hunter said softly, closing the door behind him and sitting down on one of the chairs. "Jeff's gone to Wes' place. I told Sebastian what happened briefly, and he's taken Jeff there so that you can still go and see him. He's pretty shaken up with it all, but he was more concerned about leaving you with your father. He said you were pretty badly beaten up; Jeff's got a few bruises himself, but he said you were worse. Are you okay?"

Nick lifted his head so that Hunter could see the long cut down one side of his face, and then lifted his tunic to show the bruising across his stomach.

"Nick, you can't stay here any longer," Hunter said urgently, the concern written clearly across his face, "It isn't safe here for you." He got up suddenly. "Wait here, I'm going to run and get you a bowl of water, and a cloth to wash that cut."

"I don't plan to go anywhere," Nick said sadly, rolling over again on his bed and letting the other boy leave.

Hunter returned in barely any time at all, and he made Nick sit up so that he could carefully wash the dried blood away from the wound.

"It's not too deep," he remarked, "It should heal reasonably quickly, and is unlikely to scar."

"Thank you," Nick whispered, still clutching the ring tightly to his chest.

"It's no problem," Hunter replied, "You're a friend, Nick, and I take injustices to my friends very personally."

Nick tried to give the other boy a weak smile, but it failed.

"Hunter," he said suddenly, "My father is forcing me to join the army. I know that you're okay with that lifestyle but I'm definitely not, and I can't see any way out of it." He looked at his friend for help.

"Has your father signed the papers yet?" Hunter asked.

Nick shook his head.

"I don't know, he hadn't when he came in here," he said, "But he said that he was going to do it immediately. He said he'll forge my signature if he has to, is that legal?"

Hunter gave him a sympathetic look.

"Technically it's illegal," he said, "But if you report it, who are the military officials going to believe, you, or your father, who's had years of military experience, and now occupies a senior position within the Senate."

Nick's face fell.

"I can't get out of it," he whispered, "He's promised me that he'll make sure I have to serve twenty five years as a minimum. He's promised me that I'll never see Jeff again. How am I supposed to survive twenty five years without Jeff? I can't even live without seeing him for a few hours."

Hunter thought for a moment. Nick was in a difficult position, he could not escape the military service if his father signed him up, and it was a criminal offence if he did not show up for training once the papers were signed. In fact, the only way to get Nick out of his current situation appeared to either get him to somewhere that wasn't under Rome's jurisdiction, or where no one would recognise him.

It was this thought that gave Hunter the only viable option that he could suggest.

"Nick, I think the only way for you and Jeff to be together, is for to you leave the country," he said, "Go somewhere, like Greece, where you won't be so subjected to Rome's laws, and where you won't be recognised."

"Leave the country?" Nick choked out, "I can't just leave, this is my home."

"Nick, I know this is a difficult decision to make," Hunter said gently, "But how much do you love Jeff?"

"He's my everything," Nick replied without hesitation, "I'd do anything for him."

"Exactly," Hunter said understandingly, "So if you want to keep him safe, and keep yourself safe, you have to leave, Nick. You have to get out of here before it's too late for both of you."

"What about The Warblers?"

"Nick, don't worry about that," Hunter said, "The truth is, I'm not sure how much longer we can keep meeting in secret; Sebastian's father discovered where we were meeting before, and it shan't be long before he discovers the new place."

Nick's face fell.

"It feels like I'm running away," he said, "It feels cowardly."

"The need for survival is not cowardly," Hunter said, "It's completely natural, and it's what you have to do if you want to stay with Jeff."

Nick let his head fall into his hands, and he sighed heavily.

"Alright," he said eventually, "I'll do it; Jeff and I will leave tonight."

Hunter nodded slowly.

"Pack your stuff up quickly, take everything that you'll need," he instructed, "I'll get Sebastian to collect you when we're ready for you to leave. Sebastian will take you to Wes' place, where you and Jeff will be given further instructions."

"Thank you," Nick said gratefully, giving Hunter a weak smile, as the other boy got up and patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"I'm sorry that it had to come to this," he said, "But it's for the best."

A/N: So, no cliffhanger this time around, but I'm sorry about Nick's father, he's evil and even though I created his character, I want to reiterate that I do not agree with him in any way!

Historical Points:

1. A tribune is the Roman equivalent of an officer's rank in the army. Tribunes were chosen from 24 young men who had senatorial ambitions, and so they only served a few years, before graduating to a place in the Senate. However, Nick is actually too young to be considered for a tribune, as usually the men would be in their late twenties, and probably would have had previous military training.

2. Twenty five years was the minimum time that a Roman legionary soldier would be expected to serve in the army before they could retire on a pension, although obviously not all men completed twenty five years, and others extended their service in the hope of a promotion.

3. Greece is technically a part of the Roman Empire in the time that this story is set, however, unlike other countries, it was excluded from some of the Roman laws, and had its own laws as well. I'm unsure of whether the Roman laws on military service were actually included in Greek laws, but for the purpose of this story, let's pretend that they are.

Thank you for reading, and please leave a review to tell me what you thought. Or to ask a question about the story or the history behind it.