Only fools rush in

Take my hand


His hand lay only an inch away from his own, John could feel the warmth radiating from it and as the idea flew through his mind he was washed over by an unbelievable rush, a tingling spreading throughout his entire body, from the mere thought of reaching out the small distance to feel the soft skin. Along with a nervous flutter, that was, causing him to tremble slightly despite his attempts to hide his insecurity, as he tried to decide whether he dared or not.

When he felt Paul's hand stir almost imperceptibly beside and he suddenly realized he was already entwining his own fingers with Paul's, however, he found that the answer to his question was that he had no reason to doubt. John didn't look up to meet his eyes but he could feel them burning, felt the smile on the younger man's lips as he grasped John's hand tightly, sending shivers and waves of joy across him. Oh, what a simple thing such as holding hands could do to a man. Although after all it wasn't that strange, given whose hand he was holding.


Take my whole life, too


Without ever really deciding to do so, John had been hiding away the things about himself he would now soon be told were what made him into who he was. The things he hated most about himself were the things Paul loved the most, and he never failed to tell him so. At first John couldn't understand it at all, he even got angry at Paul for it at times, but slowly he began to realize how incredibly happy he was that he had let Paul in. It wasn't an easy process, not at all - it was lucky the one he had decided to reveal himself piece by piece to was so gratefully patient. He knew oh so well how difficult he could get and he hated that, too, hated what he sometimes put Paul through. Anyone else would surely have left him somewhere in the middle of it, but then again, Paul was not, could never be, just anyone. And John would never have found the courage which he often deeply suspected wasn't his own but Paul's, to do it for anyone else.

And yes, slowly he did it, and he gave himself completely, and was rewarded a thousand times and more. Far more than he ever deserved, really, but the look in Paul's eyes told him otherwise. Only he could make John feel like he actually was as special as the words he spoke proclaimed him to be.


For I can't help falling in love with you


That a simple kiss could make you lose your entire composure and your world fall over backwards - in the good way, the way that makes one touch from those lips worth everything and everything once again, no matter how many times you felt it. John could never describe what it meant every time they touched in any way, every time their eyes locked with each other, every time they were just in the same room. He would never be able to tell Paul just how much his heart ached of love for him, yet somehow he was sure that no words where needed to express what words could not.

It was all there, and after all, it was so very easy. Falling in love with Paul had been the easiest thing he had ever done. At some points down the road to where they were standing now he had experienced harder, more frustrating things than ever before, but it all came down to this; nothing could ever be more right.

A protective arm twisted around his waist from behind, a warm belly was pressed gently against his back and he shivered where he lay and searched Paul's hand with his own as so many times before, the lovely thrill of happiness rushing over him. Words were whispered into his ear and John answered them, smiling and floating away together with the one who held his heart and who gave him his in return.