SEPTEMBER

The month of September was by far the worst month of them all.

The weeks following the dance were more horrible then the last. Nero started fading, deteriorating, right before all of our eyes. He was slowly but surely wasting away into nothing. His face was covered in black splotches and his eyes looked sickeningly drawn out and clouded. Nero didn't eat much either, he was constantly puking and coughing up blood.

The doctors had said that he simply wasn't excepting the treatment anymore, that his body was just too worn out. I'd stay by his side everyday of course, occasionally Dante and Credo would be next to me as well and I'd continue to read Passion Island over and over.

I think Nero appreciated it, even if he was asleep ninety percent of the time. Occasionally he'd twitch and mutter my name which I took as a sign of gratitude.

On the second week of September I finally got the chance to meet Nero's family, including his infamous father.

On any other occasion I would have been ecstatic but something in my gut was screaming that this whole situation was…wrong.

See, Nero had once told me that his family just didn't get along with each other. They were the type that only came together during holidays and disasters.

His mom's family bickered constantly and his dad's family was quiet and distant.

A part of me kept whispering: today is not a holiday.

"You must be the infamous Virgil." A large burly woman stood in front of me, she looked like the strong type, a woman that could take a blow to the face and give one in return. I merely nodded in response and offered a sad smile. "I'm Nero's aunt Shelly. I've heard an awful lot about you, you're all my nephew talks about. Virgil this, Virgil that, couldn't get the kid to tell me a single thing about himself."

"Tell me about it," A woman with red hair chimed in. "He talks about his boyfriend like he's some kind of god."

"Must be good in the sack." Yet another woman added.

"Uh…"

So, this was me being thrown to the sharks…

Ouch.

"Would you ladies please stop talking about my son's sex while he, and I, are still present in the room?" Kyrie said a bit disgruntled

"I hope I didn't just hear you're talking about Nero's sex life… really, do you three not have any manners, or at least something better to do?"

And there he was.

Mr. Alboeques.

I could tell immediately by his faded sliver hair and vibrant blue eyes.

He was clad in a business suit and dress shoes, not that I expected anything different.

He was also quite a bit taller then me and certainly much more buff, I'd even go as far as to say this guy could probably kill me and make it look like an accident. "You must be Virgil."

I didn't know whether to say yes or ask if that was a bad thing.

"Yes…sir." That'll do.

Mr. Alboeques let a wide grin spread across his burly face. "I've heard so much about you."

"We all have." The redhead chimed.

"Melissa, you're ruining my first impression moment. Can't you be quiet for three seconds?"

The redhead, Melissa, 'humphed' and slump back in her chair.

"Anyways, it's really nice to meet you. I wasn't sure what exactly I was walking into and I must apologize if I sound a bit ignorant."

"It's alright sir, I'm used to trying to break free from stereotypes and what not."

Everyone expected me to float around and talk all girly and be ultra feminine but I just…wasn't. I was the total opposite actually.

"I can't even imagine… It must be hard sometimes, I know Nero had a hard time at first. Poor kid was convinced me and Kyrie would disown him. I wish he would have a little more faith in us. We're his parents."

"I know right! Sometimes he's always so quick to think I'll take the easy way out…I'm just not like that."

Mr. Alboeques grinned once more, reaching out and shaking my hand properly. "That's quite a handshake you got there boy. I think Nero's lucky to have you."

I smiled. "No sir, I'm lucky to have him."

At that moment Nero finally woke up, laughing and joking that he knew we were talking about him.

We ended up ordering pizza and playing the game of LIFE. Again I didn't miss the fact that Nero had paired up two blue characters.

And this time…I did the same.

My stomach erupted in butterflies when they got married.

Maybe that'd be us one day.

I ended up meeting Nero's grandparents on both sides, a bountiful of aunts and uncles, and even Nero's half brother from his dad's first marriage.

They all welcomed me and patted me on the back as if I was already apart of their family. None of them looked at me weird for being gay or expected me to be something I wasn't.

Like Nero, they liked me for who I was.

Just Virgil.

I was grateful for that, it made the whole thing less nerve wracking.

Even if in the back of my mind…I still knew something was wrong.

Once seven o'clock rolled around, nurse stick-up-her-ass had to come and rain on our parade.

Visiting hours were over and regrettably the family members had to leave one by one, giving me hugs and farewells until it was just me and Nero's parents standing in the lone hospital hallway.

I realized a few things at that moment. The entire hallway smelled like old 409, I hadn't seen bitch secretary in awhile (pray she got fired) and Kyrie's expression said I was in for very bad news.

"Virgil," She choked out ever so slowly. "The treatment just isn't working anymore. We don't know what else to do, his body isn't responding."

"N-No…"

"Yes hun. I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could stand here and reassure you…"

"Don't tell me Nero's stopped fighting! He hasn't! You know he hasn't! He's the strongest person I know, he wouldn't just…give…up…"

"He's not," Mr. Alboeques choked out. "The Leukemia's just…winning."

I refused to hear anymore of this.

How could they stamp an expiration date on their on goddam son?

No.

They're lying.

"They're lying." I hissed, crawling under the love of my life's bed when nobody was looking.

For the two hours I had to stay hidden, I thought about our make believe future. I thought about our little blue house with a white picket fence and our adoptive children.

Nero was my whole future at that point, he was everything to me.

I suppose there was a outcome worse then James cheating on Ingrid, death has a way of out shining anything. If he had ultimately died in the end would the love still be unrequited or…would it be gone?

Maybe you just can't love something that was never here in the first place.

Once lights out rolled around, I slowly crept into Nero's bed, just like all those times before.

Nero's beautiful blue eyes fluttered open as if he was the male version of sleeping beauty.

His poor small body was so entirely frailed at this point that he literally looked like skin and bones. Nero was nothing more then a whisper that was slowly fading away.

"Hey." He whispered, snuggling into the crook of my neck.

"Hey, you can go back to sleep, I just wanted to see you."

"S'alright. I wanted to see you too. It was a big night huh?"

"Yeah. Don't get offended but your family's nuts."

He laughed, causing his whole body to spasm painfully. "Who do you think I take after?"

"Your mom. But your eyes…they're your dad's for sure."

"So everybody says." Another painful laugh that made me flinch.

"Nero I…oh god…I love you so much…"

"I love you too Virg, forever and always."

I was crying now, just full out silent tears that burned my face with every passing second.

"Please Nero…please keep fighting…I can't lose you…I cant! P-Please don't die Nero, I love you so goddam much." The words just kept spilling out and spilling out until I could stop them even if I wanted to.

"Hey," He reached up and wiped a lone tear away. "Hey, look at me Virgil. I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I'll keep fighting, I swear."

"Please." I gasped. I needed to know for sure it was true.

"Have a little faith in me." He whispered.

And so I did.

I clung to him, clung to the hope that he'd be okay, everything would be alright. I clung to his optimistic nature and upbeat qualities. I needed him and he needed me.

"I think it was fate we met at that skate rink; did I ever tell you that?" I shook my head curiously, still half crying. "Why else would we have met? Besides you trying to be noble and heroic. No, I think it was fate. Fate chose us in particular. I think you were always meant to be my guardian angel…"

I looked at Nero, swiftly kissing his cheek before doing the most impulsive thing in my entire existence.

"Marry me." I whispered.

"W-What?"

"Nero Alboeques, I live my life in your lungs, in your every breath of air. Your voice carries lullabies that can comfort and sooth me. Every time you kiss me, it's like the first time, gentle and full of love. I don't think about the leukemia. I don't dare to think it into existence. We love one another and in a crazy messed up world like this one, it's all you can really ask for."

It seemed that a quote from Passion Island was fitting, I knew just by the way Nero's eyes lit up.

"Did you…did you just quote Passion Island?"

"Yes. So would you just give me an answer here? I'm dying."

"Yes!" Nero yelled a bit too loudly. "Yes, yes, yes!"

He closed the few inches and kissed me wildly and sloppily. I smiled, feeling like the happiest man on earth.

"You'd really marry a guy like me?"

"Virgil, you don't give yourself enough credit."

"Fine, fine. Just get some sleep and we'll tell your folks the good news in the morning."

Nero pecked me on the lips once more.

"I love you so fuckin much Virgil Sparda."

"Oh my! Did I just hear you say the 'F' word?"

"Yes, now get over it and go to sleep, make sure to wake me up in the morning, bitchy nurse be dammed."

"Alright baby, I love you."

"Forever and always." Nero whispered.

I never did get to wake Nero up. Since I wasn't blood related, none of the nurses let me in the room. Mourning rights went to family members first and foremost after all.