Nicks arms were tightly wrapped around his boyfriend as though he was the most precious thing in the world, and his face was pressed tight into the crook of Charlie's neck where Nick's tears were currently soaking into the collar of Charlie's shirt.

'Do you… do that now?' Nick asked in a shaky breath, realising that things could have been so different, if something had happened to Charlie that took him away for good. He forced that thought away, and locked it up. That was not a thought for now.

'No.' Charlie said, a little too quickly for Nicks liking, and he moved back slightly to make eye contact with Charlie, searching for the truth within the powder blue irises that held so much feeling. 'I mean. Hardly ever, only when things are really bad, and not since we started to… I'm sorry'

Nick quickly shook his head and quickly gathered Charlie back to his chest. 'There's that S word again. Please, promise me if you feel like that again you'll tell me. Please. I'm your boyfriend, and I really l… care about you'

There was a silence that seemed to drag on for a beat too long when Charlie whispered 'Yeah. Ok' in Nicks ear.

Feeling a modicum of relief, Nick loosened his hold on Charlie, and sat back, looking at the face of the boy who now pretty much owned his soul, and he couldn't understand why anybody would look at Charlie and see anything other than pure starlight.

Nick entwined his fingers in Charlie's hair, and his gaze flitted over all of Charlie, noticing all the details that made him so perfect for Nick.

- Those thick Spanish curls that were completely untameable, they took him back to the day Charlie had gone to Nicks house for the first time, and he'd cut his hair. It was the first time Nick had noticed another boy changing his hair, and it was just a trim but it made him wonder why he had noticed.

- Those blue eyes, framed by thick long black eyelashes, and strong eyebrows that always seemed to show whatever emotion or question Charlie was feeling, or trying to ask. Those eyes made it so easy for them to understand each other in the early days of them finding themselves in each other.

- Charlie's lips, which were always so soft, he would always remember looking at them for what felt like hours before kissing him for the first time, knowing that there was something different about the way this kiss made him feel when compared to other kisses he'd shared in the past.

- Peeking out from his shirt, Charlie's collarbones. Since playing rugby they were less pronounced, but Nick loved the feel of how his chin seemed to rest perfectly there, whenever he needed to recharge or feel Charlie's warmth. Sometimes it was so good it didn't feel real, and holding Charlie tight with his chin pressed to Charlie's neck, pressing soft kisses there grounded him to the moment, it was real. All of it.

Charlie was starting to shift uncomfortably, and said he had to leave or he'd be in trouble, but Nick needed to say one more thing. The last thing he wanted was for Charlie to think Nick was looking at him with anything but sheer awe in this moment, and he knew Charlie would be tearing himself to pieces under nicks gaze.

'I love your hair' Nick stated, in a strong and loving steady tone.

'Oh' Charlie stuttered, as if this was news to him.

'I'm not finished Char - I love your eyes, I love your body, I love your lips, I love…'

The air in the room was suddenly dry, and a heat had pricked up the back of nick's neck, it was now. This was the right time, and he licked his lip, taking a full deep breath in. 'I love you. I love you so much, and you don't need to say it back. I just want you to know. You're my favourite person Charlie, and I'd do anything for you.' His gaze now fixed on Charlie's eyes, his declaration was solid, and true, and couldn't be disputed. He felt like there was a string around his heart that was directly connected to Charlie, and Charlie's reply would make or break him. Nick let out a shaky breath alongside a chuckle with a lopsided grin when he found that tears were starting to roll down his cheeks.

'Nick… you love… me?', Charlie's eyes were wide and innocent.

'Yeah I do. I think I have since that day in the snow, Char. You've made me and my life so much better just be being in it. It's daft to say, I know we're young but I think you're it for me. Don't - feel pressured to say it back, or anything. I swear ok, I…?'

'Nick, shut up for a second', Charlie kissed him quickly and firmly, which promptly stopped the ramble of words falling out of Nicks mouth. 'I love you too, Nick. I have probably loved you since that first time I saw you in form.. I just can't believe that you love me. You're… you and I'm just Charlie'

'Just Charlie? There is no just Charlie. You have no idea how amazing and special you are, not just to me. Come here' Nick pulled Charlie to his chest, pressed a soft kiss just above Charlie's ear, and rolled back so there wasn't a millimetre of space between them m. Nick spent the rest of his time that night stroking Charlie's hair while they shared a quiet moment of peace just existing with each other.

So much love and happiness was surrounding them that they barely heard the door click as Sarah returned from her night out with friends. 'Nicky I'm home!'

Charlie reluctantly stood up, pulling Nick to his feet and said he had to leave or he'd definitely be in trouble, so Nick walked him to the front door. They shared another slow and soft kiss, that was full of feeling and love that both boys chest felt warm and full when they looked at each other afterwards. A few whispered 'I love you's with foreheads pressed together, and Charlie started off home, with Nick watching until he turned the corner.

Nick softly closed the door and leaned against it with his eyes closed and a soft smile, they hadn't noticed that Sarah had unintentionally watched this interaction and there were tears in her eyes now at how pure and genuine her son's relationship was. 'Oh Nicky I love you, Charlie's the one for you, isn't he?'

'Yeah mum, I know I'm only 17 but I think he is - I can't believe he loves me back' Nick smiled as he uttered words he never thought he'd say looking back to last year.

'Well I can sweetheart, you're made for each other. And age is nothing, ok? Many people find their soulmates when they're young, you're one of the lucky ones. Just look after each other, and you'll be alright.'

Nick headed upstairs to change into his joggers, and posted an instagram photo of him and Charlie wrapped up in a blanket together, taken as the party had wound down, with the caption 'This boy is mine, and I'm his. #BestDayOfMyLife'

Almost instantly Charlie commented with three hearts, and a smile played on Nick's lips until he fell asleep, images of Charlie swimming in his mind.