The ride home was quiet, unusually quiet. Jon had been happy with the way things had been going. He was happy with Correy and happy with the theater and happy the family finally seemed to be accepting that he and Correy were a couple. But then there were worries about Kaylee. He'd overheard the talk about her letting someone drink from her and that worried him. And there was Riley, though he didn't really care what she thought of him anymore. And Chase. Something was bugging him about Chase, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Not to mention worries about Anubis and whether he'd try to make more trouble for the family. Worries about his sister's safety. They hadn't been on the best of terms lately. All of this had made him unusually quiet, not wanting to worry Correy, and yet, he knew life went on.

Correy flicked the ashes out of the window, then brought the cigarette back to his mouth for another inhale. He wanted to get to the bottom of Jon's introvertness this evening, but didn't push for him to talk. He kept glancing over, giving as much support and caring as he could without actually voicing the words. He reached over and gently put his hand on Jon's thigh and gave a gentle squeeze.

Jon laid a hand against Correy's, acknowledging the show of affection, knowing Correy was probably worried about him. He knew he was going to have to tell him something, some explanation and he didn't want to keep things from him.

Correy smiled and turned his hand over to curl his fingers between Jon's. "Love you," was whispered as he offered another caring and concerned smile.

Jon returned the smile, though it was a little strained, and linked his fingers with Correy, letting go only to pull the car into the rented garage. "I love you, too." They were only words, but they meant so much more.

The cigarette got tossed out of the window as they pulled up, then Correy turned to look at Jon. "Baby, talk to me. We used to talk about everything. It's scaring me that you seem so....distant." He didn't want to push, he really didn't and he felt ashamed for asking. But on the same token, he was afraid of losing the only person he ever felt remotely loyal to when it came to matters of the heart.

He wanted to talk to Correy. He wanted to tell him everything. Correy was the one and maybe only person he'd really been able to open up to, the one person he really truly trusted. But he felt conflicted, not wanting to hurt him or worry him. He chewed the corner of his mouth for a moment before answering, starting slow. "You remember our first day together?"

"Like yesterday," Correy nodded with a smile. His hand found Jon's once again and he linked their fingers. He gave a gentle squeeze then and brought Jon's hand up to his mouth and gave a soft kiss.

Jon shut the car off and turned toward Correy, touched by the tender show of affection, the obvious love. He smiled a little at the memory. "I wanted you for so long. I was just afraid to admit it."

"I know, we laughed about how we were both the same in that," Correy wanted to get to the heart of it, but was patient and encouraged Jon to continue.

"At first, I thought maybe it was just a physical thing, but the truth is you're the only person who's ever really known me, understood me."

Correy nodded, not knowing what to say to that. Again, he lifted Jon's hand to his mouth to deliver a tender kiss.

"I used to think Helena did, maybe Caroline or Gigi, but they don't. Not really. How can they ever understand what?s going on between us?"

"It's not for them to understand," Correy whispered.

"We're all so broken, Corr. Every last one of us."

"But we're healing..."

"I love you so much, I can't even put it into words."

"You don't have to." Correy was really getting worried, his brow furrowing. "You show me."

"I don't ever want to hurt you."

"I don't think you could."

He frowned and turned away, looking out the front window at the brick garage wall in front of him. "We should go upstairs."

Correy withdrew his hand and opened the car door. "Don't forget your keys." There was more than a tiny hurt expression on his face and in his voice as he spoke.

Jon sensed the hurt in Correy's voice and felt a pang of guilt. He didn't want to hurt him; that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Correy closed the car door, then leaned on the Bentley as he waited for Jon. "I'm ready to listen when you're ready to talk."

Jon simply rounded the Bentley and wrapped his arms around Correy's shoulders, pulling him against him, just needing to hold him close a moment.

Correy lifted his chin and set it on Jon's shoulders and his arms went around to hold him close. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I won't do it again, I promise. Please don't be mad at me, don't leave. Please."

Jon arched a brow and pulled back, lifting Correy's chin to face him. "Stop it, Corr. It's not you. It's never you. I'm not leaving you. Christ, I love you."

Correy's hands went to Jon's cheeks and he gazed into Jon's eyes. "Then what?s wrong" You've been so distant since the Gala. Was it because I won Luke" I'm not going to date him, I promised I wouldn't and I won't."

"No, it's....it's not Luke. Do you....Why did you buy him anyway?"

"Because it was for charity. When I didn't win the bid on you, I bid on someone else to keep with the theme of the night and to give some cash where it was needed." He blinked slowly and gently caressed Jon's cheek with his thumb. "And the thought of freaking Luke out seemed pretty funny."

Jon's hand dropped from Correy's chin. "You....don't want him, then?"

"No, baby. I want you. That's all I've ever wanted. Right here, to be with you." His eyes shone sincere and he leaned a bit to gently kiss him. "I love you, Jon. Nobody else."

Jon felt that pang of guilt again, knowing his mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of Chase. He'd tried to push them away, but they just seemed to be getting stronger. He didn't want to think about Chase. He wanted to think about Correy. He returned the kiss, gentle and undemanding. "I love you, too. We should go inside."

Correy's eyes closed during the kiss and remained closed afterwards. He nodded, but didn't move until Jon did. Slowly his dark blue eyes opened and he looked up at Jon. "Why do you look like you're guilty of something?"

He lingered in that kiss a moment and it almost chased away thoughts of the woman, but once the kiss was broken and Correy asked the pointed question, he looked as guilty as sin, though he hadn't done anything wrong. "Corr, I..."

"What've you done?" Correy frowned and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I haven't done anything!"

"Let's go inside. It's cold." He scoot under Jon's arm and began heading to the apartment, his hands in his pockets.

Jon furrowed his brows, one arm draped around Correy's shoulders as he started toward the apartment, shoving his free hand into a coat pocket.

"I'm not sure what?s going on in your head, but you should tell me. I'm getting worried that you've found somebody else that's tickling your fancy and you're just too afraid to tell me."

"I haven't found someone else..." Jon said quickly, almost sounding a little too defensive. "I don't....I love you."

"Then what?s the problem' You keep saying you love me, that there's nobody else, but you look guilty when I look into your eyes. It's like you're keeping some kind of secret from me."

Jon bit his lip and exhaled a sigh. He didn't want any secrets between them, no matter how difficult the truth might be. "It's that woman....Chase."

"Oh," Correy thought about it for a few minutes, and then turned his face upwards. "I know you're bi-sexual, and sometimes a guy just isn't as soft as a woman. So, if you're wanting to have sex with her, I understand. Just take a shower before you come home, ok?"

He arched a brow, surprised at Correy's reaction and not really comforted or relieved by it. In fact, it only made him feel worse. "I don't want to....It's not that....I....Is that how things are going to be? We're going to have an open relationship" You're fine with me having sex with someone else, so long as it's not another guy' Because I'm not so sure I'm fine with that."

"No," he shook his head and sighed heavily. "I just know that I can't do the things a woman can. And if you wanted to do that, it'd hurt, but I'd understand."

"Jesus Christ," Jon muttered and pulled away, digging the keys out of his pocket and starting up the stairs.

"What' Do you want me to be jealous" Do you want me to throw a fit and cry and scream' I won't do that. I can't do that. I just have to trust that you'll come back to me if you do that." He followed Jon up the stairs. "Because that'll be denying who you are. And if I only love one part of you, then that's not loving you at all."

He rounded on Correy then, looking and feeling a little hurt by his willingness to share. "I don't want anyone else! I want you!"

Correy took a step back, intimidated by Jon's sudden movements and yelling. "I....um....I'm sorry. Maybe I should go."

He was just the opposite of Nikki, who'd do exactly that - scream and cry. He wasn't sure which was worse. He wasn't yelling, but he had lifted his voice a little. He reached out and snagged Correy by the arm. "No!" He took a breath to calm himself and steady his voice. "Don't go."

Correy frowned, looking down at his arm, then up at Jon. "Then tell me what?s going on in your head."

Jon frowned, sorry that he'd raised his voice to Correy, but he didn't want him giving up and letting go so easily. Not after all they'd been through together. He searched Correy's eyes, his head starting to ache with all the confused and conflicting thoughts and feelings, trying to fight the thoughts of Chase that kept intruding on his brain, as hard as he tried to push them away. He groaned and sat down on the stoop, holding his head in his hands.

When Jon went down, Correy sighed and he put his hand upon Jon's head. "Babe, it's warmer inside. Please, can we do this in there?"

"I can't get her out of my head, Corr. I keep trying," he sounded miserable. "I don't love her. I don't even know her. But I can't get her out of my fucking head."

"If you're that nervous about the date, offer to pay the fee for her and call it off?" Correy sighed and began to massage Jon's head. "You're just too nervous and scared of hurting me. Lighten up. It'll be alright. And maybe you'll make a friend."

"A friend?" Jon lifted his head to look up at Correy. "Did you see the way she looked at me" The way she touched me" She doesn't want to be friends, Correy."

"She put her number on your hand," Correy hadn't seen the full exchange.

He'd tried to explain before, but he wasn't really sure what had happened. "Something happened when she touched me. It was like....I don't know."

"Maybe she's the one?" Correy spoke in a soft voice as he gazed down at Jon. "Maybe she's the one that you're meant to have a family with, make babies with."

"I dreamed about her last night. She was....God..." He turned away and swallowed hard, shaking his head. "No....I want to be with you. I love you," he said quietly, holding his head between his hands.

Correy's hand dropped from Jon's head and hung limply at his side. "But your subconscious doesn't."

"I can't stand it. I feel like I'm losing my mind." He shoved his fingers through his hair, head starting to ache.

"Then you have to go with her," Correy looked down at the top of Jon's head. "Just to see whether or not she is the one."

Jon rocked slowly back and forth, as if somehow he could comfort himself by doing so. He shook his head slowly, digging deep to try and fight whatever it was that was going on inside his head.

Correy reached down and offered his hand. "Come on, let's go inside."

Jon stilled, pulling his hands away from his face and looking up at Correy, a look on his face and in his eyes that Correy might have never seen before. Fear. "Corr, I'm scared."

Correy frowned and dropped to a crouch, one knee to the ground. He gazed into Jon's eyes and realized just how tormented Jon had become. "What are you so afraid of? I told you I'd understand. We can work something out. The three of us, if necessary."

His cheeks were flushed from the cold, his hands turning to ice. He searched Correy's eyes, needing to understand. He thought they were meant for each other, that it would be just the two of them, together forever and now this. He couldn't deny that he wanted her, but it was more lust than anything else. What he felt for Correy was love. Sweet, true, deep honest to goodness love. "Would you be so willing to share if it were Nikki?"

Correy jerked back as if stung by a wasp. He fell onto his behind and stared at Jon in a very uncomprehending way. "Is that what this is about' Not some chick that you don't know but the Ice Bitch' No, I wouldn't be so willing because I've seen what she does to you, Jon. She tears your heart out and eats it for lunch with chocolate pudding. Fuck that, no it wouldn't be and if that's what you want, tell me now and I won't bother you, ever again."

"Then why are you so willing with her" How do you know it wouldn't be more of the same" Christ, Corr. I don't want to share! I don't want to be with anyone, but you. It's like....it's like she's raping my mind or something. I don't know. I can't explain it."

"Then why are you doing this" If that's the case, why are you so scared of going on a fun date" It's nothing. Two people going to watch a fucking show! If it's nothing why are you so fucking worried?"

"It's not a fun date. It's not going to be a fun date. She wants me, Correy. I can see it, I can feel it, and....She touched me and my blood was boiling. Don't you get it' I can't get her out of my head. I want her, but I don't love her. I love you, and it's driving me insane." He got to his feet and shoved a hand through his hair, face flushed with cold and with exasperation, confusion.

"Then fuck her and get it out of your system." Correy pulled the keys from Jon's hand then stood up and unlocked the door. "Get your wick dipped and then come home to me once your oats have been sowed." He opened the door then and went inside.

"I don't understand why this is happening!" He called at Correy's back, feeling miserable again.

"Just come inside," Correy held the door open with his foot. "I'll fix you some tea and maybe a bubble bath. You look like you could use one."

Jon seemed torn. Part of him wanted to go inside and let Correy ease his pain, tell him everything would be fine. The other part of him was riddled with guilt, afraid of what was happening, afraid he was going to screw it all up again and lose everything they'd fought so hard for. He debated a moment and then remained where he was. "I need some air. Just a little air. I'll....I'll be up soon."

"Fine," Correy stepped inside and let the door close behind him. He walked over to the couch and flopped down on it, hugging the pillow to his chest.

Jon looked up at the third floor, knowing Correy was in there, probably crying or at the very least, feeling miserable. He knew he should go up there and console him, lie to him if he had to, but he didn't want there to be any lies between them. Only the truth. He hesitated a moment, as if debating again, and then he stepped off the stoop. Just a short walk, that's all it would be. A short walk to clear his head.

Correy paid the woman and she left just as quickly as she came. Correy closed the door behind her and then went to kneel by Jon's side. "Come on then, up you go. We'll get you into bed with a nice hot toddy."

Correy got Jon undressed and settled in bed, his face still a little pale, still a little weak, but nothing a good night's sleep wouldn't heal. "I'm sorry I'm such an idiot," he told him more than once.

Once Jon was in bed with a mountain of pillows behind him, Correy went to the kitchen and began to make the toddys. Soon enough, he was carrying the steaming mugs into the bedroom and he smiled. "We'd established that, long ago." His smile was warm, his gaze loving as he held out a mug for Jon. "This will help you sleep."

"Are you mad?" Jon asked as he reached for the mug, settled in a lean against the pile of pillows.

"No, baby," Correy curled one leg under himself as he lowered onto the bed. The mug was held between his hands and he continued to smile. "I'm just glad you're alright. Gave me quite the scare." He lowered his gaze to his mug and he took a sip.

"Serves me right for wandering around alone at night, I guess." He wrapped both hands around the mug and lifted it to his lips for a sip. "I shouldn't have gone off alone."

"You weren't in the right frame of mind," He blinked his gaze upwards, then back down to his mug. "I'm sorry I shouted at you."

He took another sip from the mug and then reached for Correy's hand.

Correy took Jon's hand and he squeezed it tightly. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head at Correy, not wanting his apology. He had nothing to apologize for. "I'm sorry."

"No, it wasn't your fault." He scoot closer and he put the mug down onto the nightstand. "I was stupid and jealous and I shouted at you when you were already upset. I'm just a selfish brat."

Jon took another sip from the mug and handed it to Correy to set aside. He frowned as Correy berated himself. "Don't say that. You're not selfish."

Correy took the mug and sat it beside his own. Then he shifted around until he was laying beside Jon, head upon his stomach. "I love you," He looked up with big blue eyes. "And I'm so glad you're ok."

Jon shoved a hand through Correy's hair, lovingly twisting it around his fingers, blue eyes meeting blue eyes, his expression rapt with adoration. "I love you."

"Noticed you didn't say I wasn't a brat," A slow smile curved his lips as he tried to lighten the mood.

Jon smiled, eyes dancing with amusement. "You are sometimes, but that's one of the things I love about you."

"Yeah, well I love your smile," he reached up and gently touched Jon's bruised lip. "It lights up the entire room."

He reached for the hand that was touching his lip and kissed it gently. He might still feel a little awkward about public displays of affection, but when they were alone, it was another story. "Yours lights up my heart."

"You say the sweetest things," Correy echoed Jon's words from the night of the Gala.

He looked down at Correy, his heart on fire with love and affection. "Kiss me?"

"Never thought you'd ask," Correy grinned and crawled up over Jon to press a kiss to his lips. His hands supported his weight as they sank into the pillows on either side of Jon's head.

Jon's hand slid around the back of Correy's neck, fingers splayed and tangled in his hair, bruised lips pressed tenderly against his lover's.

Correy's eyes closed in a soft sigh and he arched his back to press his chest to Jon's. There was a contentment and happiness in that sigh.

Correy's kiss seemed to banish all thoughts of Chase, at least for the time being, his love for him stronger than any spell.

Later that night, when they both lay exhausted in each other's arms, there was a peace that only existed between them. The rest of the world be damned; Correy and Jon rested peacefully in the knowledge that nothing would ever come between them. Or so they hoped.