Thanks for the reviews:

ben4kevin: No not Snow but good guess :) Actually Snow might pop up in a flashback type thingy.
madapocket: Yes Hope is being overly stubborn but he has his reasons.
simply anonymous: Wow that's a lot of guesses but its not future Noel. I think he would get jealous of himself though. Lol. Maybe someone should write that story ;)
Roxprincess741: Good guess but it's not Yuel. As for the two sharing a bed I am a sucker for cuddling.
OMFGhehehe: Noel just does want to help and that's partly what Hope has a problem with. As for why you'll have to wait to find out why but not long.
Rizuvel: Thanks for reading this story even though you were unsure about it. I hope I don't disappoint.

AN: I was going to wait to put this chapter up and make it longer but I thought you would rather have a short chapter than have to wait a week or more to read something. Luckily I have one project done and now I need to work on the other. Chapter 7 and 8 are so far the hardest chapters I have had to write for this story. Lots of emotions going on. Chapter 8 will probably be up next Wednesday or Thursday. Please leave a review I do love reading them!

AN2: Question do you mind short chapters and quicker updates or would you rather longer chapters with a longer wait?

Chapter: 7 Home Again

Hope felt a sense of relief when they finally arrived back at Noel's home. He couldn't remember the last time that he had been this sore or exhausted. It didn't help that he hardly got any sleep the night before. Sleeping next to Noel had been a new experience for him and a confusing one. He usually didn't like being that close to someone but it was different with Noel.

"What's that?" Noel asked sounding surprised. Hope looked at where Noel was pointing and shook his head. He thought it was very obvious

"That the behemoth," Hope told him.

"You said it was small!" Noel yelled clearly upset.

"No I said it was young," Hope countered.

"It could have…" Noel said his voice trailing off.

"But it didn't," Hope told him. He knew it didn't do any good to think that way. Noel looked between him and the animal a few more times before he sighed.

"Why don't you go and use the shower first." "Noel as he unhitched the chocobos from the wagon.

"But what about unloading the wagon?" Hope asked.

"There's not much you can do with one arm Hope. Now go and shower," Noel told him once again with a parental tone. "And be careful with those scratches."

"I will," Hope said as he gave in with a sigh. It never did any good to argue with the other man. Especially with the mood he was in.

Once inside the bathroom Hope stripped off his muddy wet clothes; he had never been so dirty in his entire life. He put on the shower as hot as it would go. The hot water stung the scratches on his back but it felt good on his sore and stiff muscles.

With the use of only one arm it took him it was extremely difficult to get his hair clean and the fact that it was caked with mud didn't help matters any. He had just about finished when he heard the door open.

"Hope you okay in here?" Noel asked.

"I'm fine. Sorry I didn't mean to take this long," Hope told him as he looked around the curtain the other man. To him it looked as if Noel was nervous. Very nervous.

"Don't worry about it," Noel said. "Um…I got you some new clothes. I'll leave them on the sink. Leave your shirt off so I can rewrap you."

"I can manage," Hope told him.

"I know but it will be easier if I do it," Noel said.

"No offense Noel but you're still covered in mud and you'll just get the bandages dirty," Hope thought that he would point out.

"I guess you're right," Noel said with a sigh and then left.

Hope quickly finished his shower not wanting to make Noel wait longer. He then saw that the clothes Noel had picked out for him and was surprised. Hope thought that they would be bright and colorful like Noel's but they weren't. It was the opposite. The pants where an off-white color, the shirt was a very pale blue and there was a jacket that was the same color as the pants. Hope put on the pants and grabbed the shirt and jacket before heading back into the main room. Noel was setting out the first aid stuff on the table.

"Shower's free," Hope said. Noel looked up from his task and his face turned a bright red. "You feeling alright?"

"Fine," Noel said quickly. "I…ah…I'm going to take that…ah….shower. Everything you need for your back is on the table." Noel then quickly headed into the bathroom without looking at him.

Hope watched him go feeling a bit confused. Noel was acting awfully jittery. He hoped that the other man wasn't getting sick. After all of that traveling though it wouldn't surprise Hope if he had come down with something. Deciding that he would check on Noel after he got out of his shower Hope started on rewrapping his back. It was difficult but he managed. He tried putting on his new shirt after but he couldn't fit his broken arm through it so he ended up wearing only the jacket. Noel finished his shower shortly after that. He came out full dressed and his long brown hair was in braid.

"How was your shower?" Hope asked.

"It…I…don't you like your shirt?" Noel asked his face still a bright red.

"My arm didn't fit through the sleeve," Hope said as he frowned at the other man. "Noel are you feeling alright?"

"Fine," Noel said with a shake of his head.

"You don't look fine. Maybe you caught a cold or something," Hope said as he put his hand on Noel's forehead. "You actually feel a bit warm."

"I think I'm just tired," Noel said as he abruptly pulled away.

"Why don't you go and lay down. I'll make us something to eat," Hope suggested and Noel gave him a skeptical look. "I can cook with one arm. Now go and get some descent sleep." Hope then shoved the other man towards the bedroom.

"I know when I'm not wanted," Noel said as he put his hands up in surrender.

Hope shook his head as he began to get things ready for their meal. He had never pictured his life turning out this way. Even after all of the stuff that they had been through; Hope always believed that they would be together again one day but it looked as if it wasn't going to happen. He felt tears come to his eyes but he pushed them back. Him crying wouldn't do anyone any good.

"Hope?" Noel said as he came up behind which made him jump.

"I thought you were resting," Hope said as he tried to calm himself. If he saw Noel now he didn't know if he could hold back the tears.

"I just came to get a book. Are you alright?" Noel asked sounding concerned.

"I'm fine. Lunch should be ready soon," Hope told him wanting the other man to go back to the bedroom. He didn't want to cry by himself and he definitely didn't want to cry in front of Noel.

"You don't sound fine," Noel pressed. Hope was once again going to tell him that he was fine but a sob came out instead. He quickly covered his mouth wanting to keep the next one in and hoping that Noel hadn't heard the first.

"Why won't you look at me?" Noel asked softly. Hope shook his head. He did not want to do this now. He didn't have a choice though as Noel gently spun him around by the shoulder. "Talk to me Hope, please."

That was all it took for all the emotions that he had been trying so hard to hold in to break free. First one tear fell and then another. Before Hope knew it he was sobbing.

"Hope what's wrong? Are you in pain?" Noel asked worry shinning in his eyes.

"No…yes…" Hope said trying to explain how he was feeling. "It's just…"

"It'll be alright," Noel said as he pulled him into a hug. At first Hope was tempted to pull away but he couldn't remember the last time someone held him like that. It felt nice. It made him feel safe.

"I miss them," Hope sobbed into the man's shoulder.

"I know," Noel said as he tightened his hug, "but I'm here for you."