Midnight Whispers
QAF Brian and Justin Fanfiction
Author's Chapter Notes:

Fin appears in public for the first time as Governor.  Brian and Justin find a way to satisfy their own hunger at the dinner (wink, wink).  Mixed emotions swirl as the night continues.

 

 

 

They found themselves standing just inside the door in a wide, carpeted hallway, with several other doors leading off into various banquet rooms, although Don Meyers had been assured that Fin's celebration was the only event occurring tonight in the convention center; for security reasons, it was a longstanding tradition that the governor's ball was an exclusive event in whatever venue it was held, and tonight that tradition was being continued. 

 

They could hear music drifting down the hallway, which gave them a clear indication of where the celebration was being held, but they soon found they did not have to navigate to where it was on their own; as soon as Fin entered the rear of the building, two other security men dressed in tuxedos (to hide their true function for the night) walked over to the group and politely advised Fin to follow them after discreetly flashing him official badges. 

 

Tony glanced over at his partner; he knew him so well by now that he could virtually read his mind, and he knew Fin wasn't happy about having to take such drastic precautions as the new governor. But it was expected now, and after the near miss both he and Brian had experienced before at the hands of Adam Stewart, Tony was relieved Fin's men were being so careful.  At least when they were back later in their private living quarters at the governor's mansion, Fin had reassured him that what they did would remain just that: private.  Security personnel would be stationed at the two staircases leading up to the second floor at all times, day and night, and no one would be permitted access to the second floor unless they were first given express permission from either him or Fin, no matter who they were.  That did reassure him somewhat that their privacy would be respected there.

 

"Okay, this is it," Fin stated a little nervously, taking a deep breath to calm himself as they reached the open double doors of the main ballroom; the closer they got, the louder the music became, and the more raucous the crowd sounded.  From their vantage point just beyond the room, they could see the place was a hive of activity, and there was an excited electricity filling the air.  Fin was told to wait a few moments to allow the master of ceremonies to announce his arrival, and to give the band enough time to strike up an appropriate tune before he entered, causing Fin to restlessly brush his hand through his hair and Tony to reach over and briefly squeeze his hand in response. Most people who observed his partner at that moment would think he was cool, calm, and collected like he normally appeared, but Tony knew Fin was feeling anxious at the moment; it was obvious from the focused expression on his face, and the sigh that had almost imperceptibly escaped his lips without him realizing it.

 

"You're going to knock them dead," Tony whispered encouragingly in his ear as he smoothed down a few errant strands of Fin's hair.

 

At least that earned a half-smile from Fin.  "I'm not sure I'm crazy about that particular expression, Tony."  His partner chuckled as Fin added ruefully, "So much for an inconspicuous entrance."

 

"Did you really think you would be able to just sneak in?" Brian asked in amusement as the others silently concurred.

 

Fin shook his head.  "No," he admitted.  "But I was still hoping somehow that there was a secret entrance some place where I could just slip in unnoticed," he joked, knowing how impossible that was going to be, now and in the future. His life was going to be under a constant microscope, now that he was governor.

 

Just then, the master of ceremonies tapped his mike to make sure it was live, and he struggled to be heard above the din of the crowd inside, which had to number in the low hundreds by now.

 

"Can I have your attention?  Attention, everyone!  Would you please take your seats?  Attention!"  The man - a sort of ‘town crier' for the governor who was responsible for announcing him at public events - waited several seconds to ensure that most of the crowd followed his instructions, and the noise had died down to a manageable level, before he spoke again in a clear, authoritative voice.  The crowd quieted down even more then, sensing that something important was about to be announced. "Honored guests, it is with tremendous pride and great pleasure that I now present to you for the first time - Pennsylvania's newest governor - Fintan O'Connor!" 

 

The band immediately struck up a familiar, triumphant tune - one that had been played several times during Fin's campaign - as the crowd rose from their seats, roaring and applauding as their newly-elected governor began to enter the room.  The crescendo of noise grew louder and louder as he slowly threaded his way through the crowd, stopping occasionally to shake hands or receive a kiss on the cheek from well-wishers while the rest of his group following closely behind him. 

 

Afraid that his son would somehow be jarred loose from his control, Brian reached down and hoisted Gus onto his shoulders as his son squealed with happiness over being on the top of the world (at least from his perspective), thoroughly enjoying all the excitement, especially when dozens of balloons were unexpectedly released from some netting above to drop down gently upon the people in the room.  Gus managed to bat a couple of them away playfully with one hand while holding onto his father's hand with the other for balance, loving his view of all the excitement as he jiggled up and down on Brian's shoulders.  It was similar to when his father had taken him last year to the circus - it was loud, it was colorful, and they had music. The only things missing were the animals and the clowns, although Gus thought a few people in the room were dressed like them.  It was amazing, and he loved all of it.

 

Tony turned to face his partner as the group finally reached their table several minutes later, his bright blue eyes reflecting off the huge, crystal chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling, and his skin aglow from the table's lamp as he smiled proudly over at his lover.  Fin smiled back at him, thinking his partner had never looked more beautiful than he did right now, and he was so thankful that he was by his side to share in his success and his happiness tonight.  It had been a long year - a tumultuous year - but throughout it all Tony had stood by him.  He considered himself a very lucky bastard as a result.

 

"Wow, this is incredible!" Tony had to shout in his partner's ear to be heard as the music continued to play, and people remained standing in tribute, clapping and shouting their congratulations.  "I'm so proud of you, Fin!" he echoed his partner's thoughts as he impulsively leaned over to give him a quick kiss.  The two men gazed into each other's eyes - temporarily ignoring everyone in the room, even Fin's personal photographer, who quickly took a shot of the tender moment, knowing his boss would want a photo of the occasion - before Fin squeezed Tony's hand briefly and then turned to greet his supporters with a smile and a wave.  Finally, the music stopped, signaling for the crowd to take their seats, and the noise level diminished as everyone sat back down as the wait staff began to deliver their first course of the night - a spinach raspberry salad with candied pecans and dried cranberries. 

 

Before Fin and the others could sit down, Fin turned to observe a familiar, petite, middle-aged woman walking over to him. Fin smiled warmly at the woman in recognition, trying to appear reassuring as he noticed how uncomfortable she seemed.  "Regina," he acknowledged her, as he reached out to gently clasp her hand in his.  "I'm so happy you could be here tonight to celebrate with us."

 

Regina nodded as she bit her lip, her emotions a chaotic combination of awkwardness and apprecation.  "I'm grateful that you would want me here - as well as honored." 

 

"Of course!" Fin assured her with a sincere smile.  "I wouldn't have had it any other way.  You've worked too long for me not to have included you. Would you like to join us? I can have another place setting prepared." 

 

She shook her head immediately.  "No...no, I couldn't.  Really.  I'm just happy you included me at all in light of, well...you know..."  She lowered her eyes in embarrassment. 

 

Fin nodded as he motioned with his hand for everyone else to take their seats at the table that held a total of twelve.  "How is your son?" he asked her quietly.  Thankfully he wasn't the type to have nightmares after something traumatic or stressful happened to him, but it still had been a very harrowing experience for him, his son, and their respective partners.  He had never once blamed Regina, however; he had known her far too long and too well to know she would have never condoned what her son had done - or had any prior knowledge of it. 

 

Regina's eyes watered as she informed him, "Not too...He...he's not well, Fin.  I guess I don't have to tell you that he's mentally unbalanced.  The court-ordered tests the doctors gave him verified that he has schizophrenia, and they are administering him some medication to try and combat it and make him fit for trial. But so far, it's not been very effective, and it leaves him very lethargic."  She swallowed hard.  "I know he really wasn't in his right mind when he did what he did, but I will never be able to adequately express how sorry I am for what he did to you and your son.  I hope one day you can forgive him."

 

Fin reached out to embrace her, patting her on the back lightly a couple of times before pulling back.  "I already have," he told her to her surprise.  He smiled.  "Despite everything that happened, I do hope he gets the medical attention that he so desperately needs."  He gently squeezed her hand before letting it go. "Now go enjoy yourself with a clear conscience; okay? Do you have someone with you tonight?"

 

She nodded.  "Yes, a dear friend of mine."  She indicated a slender woman about her age, sitting at a nearby table.

 

Fin nodded back at her.  "Well, I appreciate you coming, Regina.  And when you are ready to come back from your leave, I will have a job waiting for you."

 

A couple of tears did run down her cheeks then as she whispered, "Thank you, Fin.  From the bottom of my heart."  Fin nodded again and smiled as she nodded back at him before turning and heading back to sit next to her friend.

 

Fin finally pulled out his chair and sat down next to Tony, who smiled at him.  "What?"

 

Tony reached over to clasp Fin's hand in his as he leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.  "You really are something, Fintan O'Connor," he murmured, his breath ghosting over his partner's skin. 

 

"Uh, oh; it always worries me when you call me by my full name," he teased the blond.  "What did I do now?"

 

Tony shook his head.  "Nothing that I wouldn't have expected otherwise. Inviting Regina to your celebration, offering her a job when she comes back from her indefinite leave, and forgiving her son for almost killing you. That takes a big man to do what you just did." 

 

"Well, if anyone knows how big I am, it would be you, Counselor," he whispered in his lover's ear, causing Tony to turn red.  "I'll remind you of just how big later in our bedroom. But thank you anyway for the compliment."

 

Tony grinned as the waiters arrived to fill their water glasses and place some warm bread on the table. For the next few minutes the group chatted amiably amongst themselves, Gus at one point persuading Justin to take him over to the ‘app'tizer' table on the far wall to grab a few extra goodies they had missed as a result of coming in later.  Of course, as the new governor's grandson, Gus was pretty much given carte blanche to have the wait staff bring him anything he wanted, but fortunately there were still plenty of chocolate-covered strawberries and fried shrimp left over to appease his healthy appetite for the time being, as Justin piled a couple of plates high with both items before they returned to their seats.

 

"I think it's a tie," Brian commented dryly as he watched Justin place the food in front of Gus's seat; his son quickly sat down and eagerly began to dig into the strawberries along with his husband, who also had a plateful.  He thought he heard a "yum" come from one - or both of them - before Justin turned his head to peer over at him. 

 

"Huh?" he asked, his nose crinkled in puzzlement. "What tie?"

 

Brian grinned.  "Which one of you has the higher metabolism." 

 

Gus frowned.  "Daddy, what's mah-tab-ol-ism?"  He slowly pronounced each syllable as he furrowed his brow. 

 

Brian smiled, knowing that was going to come out of his son's mouth before he said it. Lately, Gus seemed to be in the Daddy, why's the sky blue? stage, where he had to know the answer to everything.  "It means you - and your papa here - can eat and eat and eat, and never gain any weight.  Unlike me, who has to constantly exercise to keep from gaining anything.  Fortunately, your papa knows just what sort of exercise I need in order to keep me at the same weight." 

 

Justin blushed as everyone within earshot grinned.  "Brian..." he warned, knowing how inquisitive Gus was, and fearing what his next question might be.

 

Sure enough, it didn't take long for the child to speak up again in between bites of his strawberry.  "What kind of exercises, Daddy?  I like to swing and ride my bicycle."

 

Brian grinned as he curled his lips under in amusement and Justin struggled for a good explanation.  How did the conversation at Fin's table take this sort of turn all of a sudden?  "Uh...all sorts of things, Gus," he finally responded. 

 

"Like what, Daddy?" his son pressed as he turned to his father for a better explanation.

 

"You tell him, Justin.  Like what?" Brian repeated innocently, as he chewed on his drinking straw, thoroughly enjoying himself; Justin scowled at him for putting him on the spot.

 

Everyone appeared to be concentrating on their food, but suddenly as luck would have it, the band had briefly stopped playing music, and the room had become quiet enough to hear most of the conversations taking place at the table, including this one.  It was obvious they could hear everything at the moment, to Justin's consternation.

 

"Oh, no, you go right ahead...Dad.  I insist," Justin responded, smiling sweetly over at him.

 

Brian grinned; two could play this game. "Well, we do things like pushups, sit ups, and leg raises," he told Gus, who was listening in rapt fascination.  "Your papa is really good at that. Oh, and I almost forgot thrusts; we do a lot of those." 

 

Justin's face turned red as all sorts of images came to mind in his head.  Brian was the consummate ‘thruster,' and just the thought of it was making him hard as he squirmed in his seat.    

 

Gus, however, didn't notice his discomfort as he scrunched up his face.  That sounded too much like work to him.  "I like my exercises better," he decided.

 

"Oh, you might be surprised, Sonny Boy," his father told him as he stared over meaningfully at Justin.  "Those kinds of exercises can be a lot of fun, too."

 

"Brian," Justin hissed under his breath in a stage whisper, his face burning.  "Enough!"  He grunted as his husband reached under the table and gave his right thigh an unexpected squeeze before Justin captured his roaming hand and gripped it tightly to stop any further ‘exploring.' He sighed. Some things never change. He received a brief, half-contrite kiss on the neck as he shook his head and rolled his eyes in resignation, receiving a tongue-in-cheek smile in return.  No matter how old Brian got, he knew he would always be this way: an overaged, mischievous, little boy, much like his son at times. And yet he had to admit that he wouldn't have it any other way.  "You are incorrigible," he muttered as some of their friends snickered.  They were way too familiar with their antics by now to be perturbed - or surprised - by them. 

 


 

Several Minutes Later...

 

There was piped music now filtering throughout the room - the live band was taking a break before the dancing would commence later - while the diners worked on finishing their meals.  Finally, the part that Justin and Gus had most been waiting for - the serving of dessert - arrived. Neither was disappointed when their dessert turned out to be a slice of New York Cheesecake with cherries heaped on top.  Both thoroughly enjoyed their piece, but had much different approaches to eating it.  Gus dived right in, finishing his piece off and licking his lips in appreciation within a few minutes, whereas Justin - in true artist tradition - made sure to pause between each bite to savor the taste and smooth texture.  In fact, his quiet moans of pleasure as he slowly slid the piece from his fork between his lips and into his mouth before swallowing it was doing some crazy things to his husband seated next to him; so much so that he was quite uncomfortable by the time Justin was done. And it wasn't because he was too full, either.

 

Justin had barely polished off the last part when Brian hurriedly scooted back from his chair, unmindful of his ‘condition,' and grabbed his husband's wrist firmly to pull him up beside him.

 

"Brian!" Justin laughed in surprise. "What are you doing?"

 

"What do you think?" he retorted as he began to pull Justin away.  "Nature calls! We'll be back...sometime," he told them as he hurried toward the entrance in search of a bathroom; ANY bathroom, his partner in tow. At that moment, he decided even a broom closet would do.

 


 

Fifteen minutes later, the two men returned, flushed, hair mussed, and breathing ragged. Brian pulled his jacket down over his slim hips to straighten it out as he calmly pulled his chair back to sit down, a Cheshire cat expression on his face.  Justin smiled at the table's occupants sheepishly as he, too, returned to his seat, a glass of Beam in his hand that he had procured from the bar on the way back in for liquid courage.  No one mentioned the fact that his shirt was buttoned up incorrectly as Brian asked innocently, "Did we miss anything?" 

 

"Feeling better now, Brian?" Emmett asked dryly from his place across from him.

 

"I'm feeling fabulous," Brian told him with a smirk as he leered over at Justin, who promptly smacked him on the forearm.  He laughed.  "Justin's feeling fabulous, too." 

 

"Oh, my God," Alex intoned from a few seats down, momentarily covering her face with her hands in embarrassment as she peered over at them.  "That's enough details," she assured Brian.  "I don't want to hear anymore.  TMI."

 

Gus peered at his father curiously.  "Did you have to go to the bathroom, Daddy?" he asked. 

 

Brian nodded with a grin.  "I sure did, Sonny Boy."

 

"Papa had to go, too," Gus observed as Brian nodded with a smile.  The little boy frowned as he stared over at Justin.  Out of the mouths of babes... "Papa?"

 

Justin pasted a smile on his face as he held his breath.  "Yeah, Buddy?"

 

"Why is your shirt on funny?" 

 

"Wha...?" Justin immediately looked down at his chest, and turned beet red.  His collar was off kilter where, in his haste, he had buttoned his shirt up wrong.  "Oh, shit," he murmured in embarrassment as the other guests tittered.  Not wanting to partially undress in front of everyone, he hastened to rise from his chair as Brian chuckled. 

 

"I wouldn't laugh if I were you!" Justin glared at him.  "This is all your fault!"  He huffed out an exasperated breath before managing to add, "Excuse me," and scurrying away back toward the doors leading to the nearest bathroom, still able to hear the laughter filtering from the table. 

 

Fin grinned as he peered over at all his guests to comment, "Well!  It certainly isn't dull at THIS table!"  Just then, the band returned and began to warm up for the after-dinner dancing.  As the strains of a ballad began to play, everyone peered over at Fin's table; as was custom, the first dance was a spotlight for their newest governor, and this was no exception.  Fin smiled congenially and scooted back from his seat, a small spotlight aimed at him from the master of ceremonies' dais.  Graciously accepting that he would be the center of attention this evening, he turned to extend his hand downward to his partner and smiled.  "Shall we show them how it's done, Counselor?" he asked softly, his adoration for Tony clearly evident on his face.

 

Tony flushed as he smiled and pushed back from his chair to grasp Fin's hand.  "I'd be honored," he answered simply as, hand-in-hand, they walked slowly toward the polished dance floor located several feet away, the music just the right tempo for some meaningful slow dancing. The crowd clapped in approval as they found an appropriate spot, and - knowing his every move was being watched - Fin took Tony's left hand in his right and slid his other one around his partner's waist, gazing into Tony's eyes as his partner took his other hand and placed it on his shoulder. For that one moment in time, there was no one else in the room. No one else existed. There were no worries, no anxiety, no concern about what the future would hold.  Just them

 

They slowly began to sway back and forth in time with the music; except for the orchestra playing, only quiet murmurs could be heard as they continued to dance in their own little bubble. They had no desire to look at anything or anyone else except each other.  "I love you, you know," Fin told him as he spoke in his hear to make sure he could be heard, his voice thick with emotion. The whole day had been extremely exhilarating and very exciting; but in a way, this was the best part of all:  being able to dance with the man he loved, away from the glare of outsiders who either didn't understand or wouldn't approve.  He knew he was surrounded at that moment with his friends, family, and colleagues from the Senate who had been his staunchest supporters, and that made him feel very special.  This man made him feel the most special of all. 

 

Tony's eyes glistened as he gifted him with a watery smile.  "I know," he replied softly.  "I love you, too."  They continued to dance, lost in each other, as the soft spotlight continued to shine on them.  Neither of them paid it any mind, however, as they continued to concentrate on each other.

 

From his place at the table, Brian stared over at the scene as another time and place came crashing into his mind; even though it had been years ago, that night was still so vivid to him that it could have occurred last week.  The contrast of brunet and blond hair, the tall figure of his father with the somewhat shorter one of Tony's as they slow danced with eyes only for themselves, reminded him of that other time; the time that only HE could remember.   How he wished Justin could also remember; at least the good part, anyway.  And how he wished he could separate his memory of before the bashing with what happened afterward. But to him, it would always fill him with a combination of happiness and sorrow as he recalled their own dance - and also anger as well as despair over what had happened immediately after they had kissed goodbye. 

 

 

"Brian?" 

 

He turned his head to peer over at his husband and blinked, refocusing his attention back on the present.  But it didn't quite reach his eyes, and his husband immediately picked up on it.  "Yeah, Sunshine?"

 

"What is it?" Justin's blue eyes were full of concern, despite Brian's smile. 

 

Brian shook his head in an effort to reassure him.  "I'm fine," he insisted.   But he knew that wouldn't satisfy a certain blond.  He sighed as Justin gave him that I'm onto you look - the one that said he wasn't going to take any of his bullshit.  It's really nothing," he hedged as Justin arched an eyebrow at him skeptically.  He looked again over at his father and Tony before admitting quietly, "It's just that with them dancing out there, under that spotlight with the music playing..."  He didn't have to finish the sentence; he knew Justin would realize exactly what he was referring to.

 

"Oh," his lover replied softly in understanding as the song began to wind down toward its conclusion. He knew it wouldn't be appropriate at the moment to tell Brian that he still yearned to remember what they had experienced that evening so long ago; at least, on the dance floor anyway.  Daphne had often told him how much love she could see reflected in Brian's eyes that night. He knew that night held a mixture of emotions for his husband.  In a way, the fact that he couldn't remember most of what had happened made him a little more immune to the emotional scars that the man he loved had borne all these years. But that still didn't mean he couldn't grieve for the memory he would never be able to recall.  It didn't do any good, however, to focus on the sad times; besides, he had far too many happy times now with Brian to more than compensate for it, a fact for which he was enormously grateful.  

 

He looked over toward his father-in-law and Tony - noticing how happy they appeared - and how some other couples were now rising from their tables to join them on the dance floor for the next song.  He noticed Carl leading Debbie over toward a clear spot, his arm crooked at the elbow with her hand resting on his forearm, as he guided her over toward the band, the two of them smiling warmly at each other as the musicians struck up another song and they began to move to the music.   He could see them sharing something intimate between them as Carl tilted his head back at whatever Debbie was saying and burst out laughing.  He couldn't help smiling at them, thinking it was so nice to see Debbie this happy, before he pushed back from his own seat. 

 

"Kathy? Sean? Would you mind keeping an eye on Gus and Alex for us?" 

 

"Of course," Kathy told him with an amused smile, wondering if they needed to take another trip to the bathroom.  Alex merely rolled her eyes, thinking the same thing, as Justin peered down at his husband.

 

Brian arched one brow at him in question as Justin softly told him, "Maybe we should replace that memory with something else, then; one that we can BOTH remember."  He held his hand out to Brian a few seconds before he received a smile in reaction; this time, it was a genuine one.  The brunet nodded as he placed his hand in the slightly smaller one and rose to his feet.  As with Fin and Tony, at that moment they only had eyes for each other as, hand-in-hand, they walked over to the dance floor; finding a small, open area of relative privacy near a wall, they melted into each other's arms as they began to move in time with the music.

 

They were both a lot older since that other life-changing night - and a lot wiser and more experienced about a lot of things in general - but the look they shared was reminiscent of that other time as they danced; they gazed into each other's eyes as both shared loving expressions. In a burst of extreme happiness, Justin's smile became blinding a few seconds later as he laughed when Brian dipped him unexpectedly, much like that other night.  Brian found that instead of it dredging up horrible memories of that night, however, instead Justin's laughter filled him with joy as well as gratitude for this amazing man that he was holding tight while the music continued to play. 

 

Tony and Fin, finishing up their dance and choosing to seek out a drink from the nearby bar, paused to observe them, and like everyone else they were entranced by what they saw.  There was just something about Brian and Justin that drew everyone in like a magnet.  It was hard to pinpoint exactly what it was, but it was there.  Perhaps it was the love so evident in the way they looked at each other, the way they touched, or the way they said so much without saying anything at all.  Maybe it was simply the dramatic difference in their appearance - both striking in their own way, but still different enough in physical characteristics that it made heads turn wherever they went. Whatever it was, their magnetism wasn't lost on Tony or Fin as they stood there watching them, oblivious at the moment to the attention being cast upon them that evening.

 

"They are really something," Fin murmured.  He saw the brief glint of his son's wedding band as they moved around the dance floor.  He thought back to what he and his son had discussed at Britin the other day; how Brian had eventually come to the realization that simply having a metal band around his finger didn't mean he had some sort of collar around his neck.  He had only come to know his son briefly before his wedding, but his feelings hadn't seemed to change since he wed Justin, and they definitely were as much - if not more - in love than ever; at least if the radiant looks on their faces were any indication.

 

Tony smiled, nodding in agreement.  "Yes. They're very lucky to have found each other.  I believe they truly are soul mates."  He smiled sheepishly over at his partner as Fin lifted an eyebrow in amusement, realizing how sentimental that sounded. But he couldn't help it; it was the way he felt.

 

Fin turned slightly then to tenderly brush the back of his hand against Tony's cheek as his partner peered into his eyes. 

 

Tony felt the heat rise on his face in reaction to the gesture. Even now - even after all these years - his partner's touch made his body thrum with electricity and his heart thump in his chest like someone on their first date. 

 

"I'm lucky, too," Fin told him earnestly, the look of amusement replaced by something more intense.   For a brief moment, everyone else faded out of sight again in the room as he told his lover, "You're my soul mate, Tony Cassinelli." 

 

Tony's breath caught in his throat as he flushed with pleasure; Fin wasn't the most demonstrative man in public, even though he knew he loved him, so to hear him state his devotion to him in such a forum as this made him ecstatically happy.  "Fin..."

 

Oblivious to the others nearby - and to the attention they were undoubtedly garnering - Fin slid his hand around the back of Tony's neck to pull him closer for a kiss. He knew his resident photographer was probably going to capture this moment for posterity. But he didn't care. And besides, he was to have the last say on which photos were or were not to be published.  He invariably knew, of course, that people here, despite being his supporters, were undoubtedly taking photos of their own with their phones. But it didn't matter to him. This was who he was, he wasn't ashamed of it, nor was he going to hide it. 

 

He pulled back after several seconds to peer into the sky blue eyes.  "Let's go get that drink," he told him with a smile as he tugged on his wrist...only to be interrupted by one of his former colleagues from the senate as he clapped Fin on the shoulder to get his attention.

 

"Congratulations, Fin, you son of a gun!" Clay Moore boomed at him. The man's enthusiasm was as large as his girth.  "I always knew you could do it!"  Clay was an unlikely ally of Fin's - having come from a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania and born into generations of coal miners.  He had been the first male in his family to actually graduate from college, however, and work his way into politics, which had earned Fin's respect when they had first met on the day of their swearing in ceremony.  Due to seniority, they had wound up sitting next to each other in the Senate chambers, and an unlikely bond was formed that existed to this day. 

 

"Thanks, Clay," Fin told him politely with a smile as they shook hands.  "I'm glad you could attend tonight."  He paused before adding, "You remember Tony, my partner?"

 

To the man's credit, he didn't flinch or react to his question; not like some would do.  He nodded as he stretched his hand out to shake Tony's.  "Of course.  Nice to see you again, Tony." 

 

"You, too," Tony responded politely.  "How are you?" 

 

"I feel great!" Clay assured him a little too boisterously.  It was fairly apparent that Fin's former colleague had taken advantage of the drinks freely flowing from the bar; even if the two partners couldn't detect the smell of liquor on his breath, his over-the-top actions made it quite evident.  "Now maybe we can finally get something done in this state!  I have every faith in you, Fin!" 

 

Fin smiled with a nod.  "Thanks. I hope so, too." He glanced over at Tony as he told his friend, "Now if you'll excuse us..."

 

Clay reached out to grip Fin's sleeve as he turned to go.  "Wait! I was hoping to talk to you about something.  Some of the other senators, too."  He cocked his head toward the left, where Fin recognized some other former colleagues of his.

 

He waved at them, receiving a wave back, as he turned back to Clay.  "I'm not sure this is the right time..."

 

"It will only take a few minutes," Clay promised, wobbling slightly on his feet.  If not for Fin helping to brace him, he might have tripped on his own feet.  "It has to do with that mining safety bill you supported last year.  It's coming up for a vote again, and we could really use your help.  I'm not sure we will have the necessary votes to pass it, and having your name behind it could make all the difference." 

 

"Uhh..."  Real glib there, O'Connor, Fin chided himself.  He was torn. He had intended on spending this evening mainly with his friends and family, but Clay was right.  The safety of miners was one of his pet projects, and had been since he had first learned about the hazards miners incurred in their lives, along with the lack of benefits provided them.  The bill - if it were passed - would at least mandate that certain quality standards were upheld underground.  Tony knew that, too, and agreed with him; they had often talked about it.  But he didn't want him to feel like he was being abandoned, either.

 

As if he read his mind, Tony urged him, "Go ahead.  I'll be fine.  I wouldn't mind spending some time with Justin and Brian, anyway, and getting to know their friends a little better." 

 

"Are you sure?" 

 

Tony smiled reassuringly.  "Yes, I'm sure," he told him, hiding his disappointment.  This was Fin's night, and he knew that there would be occasions such as these where he would have to share his partner. 

 

Fin nodded then, still not entirely sure Tony was being 100% sincere. But he loved him for it anyway as he told him, "I won't be long."  He gave his partner a quick kiss on the lips before heading over toward the group of senators waiting for him. Tony watched him socializing with them and accepting their congratulations before he walked over to the bar, ordered a scotch and soda, and carried it back to the table where Justin was seated, conversing quietly with Sean and Kathy; most of the table were either out on the dance floor, getting a little fresh air outside, or grabbing another drink.  He noticed Brian seated near the other end of the table, his son in his lap, while Alex, sitting next to them, was currently building what appeared to be a makeshift home out of sugar cubes, some linen napkins, and a couple of straws in front of her. "Hey," he greeted his friend as he sat down next to Justin and took a sip of his drink.

 

"Hey, yourself," Justin replied with a warm smile.  "You and Fin were sure dancing up a storm out there," he told him.  He frowned then when he didn't notice Fin joining them.  "Where IS our newly inaugurated governor?" he asked. 

 

Tony cocked his head toward the right.  "He's over there, speaking to some of his senator friends about a bill they're trying to pass," he informed him.

 

Justin followed his gaze.  "Oh...He's already hard at work, I see," he replied with a smile.  He wasn't surprised in light of how dedicated he knew Brian was with HIS work.  Like father, like son...he couldn't help thinking.   Yet another thing the two of them had in common. 

 

Tony nodded.  "Yeah," he responded quietly.   "He's a veritable workhorse, all right."  In response to his friend's questioning gaze, he added, "His passion for what he believes in is one of the things I've always loved about him." 

 

"You okay?"  Justin studied him, hearing a slight sense of sarcasm in Tony's response. 

 

Tony sighed.  "Yeah, I'm okay.  It's just been a really long day.  And as much as I enjoyed dancing with Fin again - it reminds me of your reception," he told Justin as he nodded in understanding, "I would like nothing more right now than to just head back to our bedroom suite, jump in the Jacuzzi, and then...well, you know..." He blushed.  "It's my favorite way to fall asleep," he admitted.  "He wears me out, even though I'm younger."

 

Justin caught Brian's gaze and smiled, receiving a typical smirk in return. He grinned and rolled his eyes back at him before refocusing his attention back on his friend.  "Yeah, I know.  You don't have to elaborate." He paused.  "In a way, your relationship with Fin is like a glimpse of what the future might hold for Brian and me." 

 

"That's a compliment, right?"

 

Justin laughed.  "Yes, it's a compliment," he verified.

 

Tony was quiet for a few seconds before he responded. "Well, I hope it's a good future for all of us.  He's a good man, Justin; an honorable man. And Brian is, too."

 

Justin smiled softly.  "Yes, they are," he agreed. 

 

Tony looked around him at the scene before them.  "Everything today has been surreal in a way," he admitted, placing his elbow on the table as he threaded his fingers through his blond hair.  "I have to get the idea out of my head that when this day is over, Fin and I will be heading back to our home. At least, the home I had come to know."  Justin eyed him sympathetically.  Tony shook his head as he conceded, "Yeah, it will take some getting used to. But wherever Fin goes, that's my home, too.   Everything else is just walls and pieces of furniture and objects that can be replaced.  Although I did bring some photos and a few other things, though," he admitted.

 

"That's not surprising," Justin told him as he clasped his friend's wrist companionably.  "Those represent memories of good times the two of you have had.  And you'll have a lot more of them in the future."  Tony smiled, grateful that his friend understood. 

 

Justin's lips quirked up as he admitted, "It's been an exciting evening, but I wouldn't mind a little down time alone with my husband, too."

 

At least you HAVE a ‘husband,' Tony couldn't help thinking a little enviously.  He inwardly scolded himself immediately afterward, though. Did it really matter WHAT he called Fin?  Partner, lover, husband...he was still the same passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving man he had met and fallen in love with.  He pasted a smile on his face.  "Well, you and Brian can pretty much leave whenever you want. But I imagine the guest of honor will be here until they turn the lights out...or I'm able to drag him away from whatever discussion he's having right now." 

 

Justin nodded as he glanced over at his father-in-law, deeply immersed in some sort of animated discussion with a group of nattily clad men of all ages and looks.  Fin appeared quite comfortable in his new role from the look on his face, and the men surrounding him were regarding him with rapt attention.  "You may be right about that."  He covered his mouth as he began to yawn, starting to feel a little drained after the evening's events.  "You know, Brian and I could take you back to the governor's mansion when we leave," he offered.  "I'm sure Fin would understand.  Gus and Alex are both going to stay with Sean and Kathy tonight, and they'll be leaving soon to head to the hotel."  Justin was extremely grateful for their offer; since it meant that he and Brian could have some much-needed time alone together.  It was much too good an offer to pass up, so both had accepted readily when they had suggested it.

 

Tony bit his lip in indecision.  He gazed over at his partner, whose commanding presence always attracted others like a bee to honey.  Tonight was no exception; he watched as Fin, who was sitting in one of the banquet room chairs, leaned toward the audience of men who were grouped around him, his hands gesturing as he spoke, a sign that he was passionate about the topic he was discussing.  It was fairly clear to him that his partner would be a lot longer than he had initially anticipated, and he was fucking exhausted.  Still...This was Fin's big night, his moment to shine.  His time.  If the roles were reversed, he knew that Fin would stick by him until it was over. The least he could do was show his partner the same respect.  So finally he shook his head, his mind made up.  "No.  Thanks. But I'm going to stay until he's done...even if we're the last ones here, and they run us out of the place to close it down." 

 

Justin gazed at his friend sympathetically - suspecting that he may, indeed, be there until the wee hours of the night - before he nodded in understanding.  He would probably do the same thing if it were Brian.  "Okay.  So, we'll see you tomorrow morning at breakfast?"

 

Tony nodded.  "Yeah.  Just don't expect us too early," he replied wryly. 

 

Justin grinned. "Don't worry," he told him, glancing at his cell phone down on the table in front of him, and noticing it was approaching midnight; no doubt Sean and Kathy would be leaving soon as well.  "No problem there; I'm sure we'll be doing the same.  It's not every day we get to have some time alone.  I can text you when we're ready to come down to eat."

 

"Sounds good," Tony told him in agreement as Justin pushed back from his chair to stand up. 

 

"I think I'll see if Brian's ready to head back now," Justin told him.  "We'll just take a cab to the governor's residence."  He shook his head.  "I think I'm going to have a hard time for a while calling it ‘your home,' instead of something more formal," he told him with a smile. 

 

Tony grimaced.  "That makes two of us," he confided in him.  "That place is like some fucking palace."  He frowned as that produced a laugh from Justin.  "What?"

 

"I used to call our house that same thing when I found out that Brian had bought it for us," he told him.  "It's still way too big for Brian and me."  His voice softened somewhat as he added, "But now, it's more like home, and we actually like all the extra room for family and friends."  He paused.  "And it will be like that for you and Fin there, too; you'll see."

 

Tony eyed him doubtfully.  "I think the jury's still out on that one," he told him. 

 

Justin nodded. "See you tomorrow."  He gave his shoulder a quick squeeze and a nod before he turned and walked over to Brian and the others.

 

Tony watched wistfully as the small family unit had a brief discussion before Alex slid from her seat - taking a moment to delight in knocking down her makeshift project that she had made - before Brian set Gus gently down onto the ground next to her. He watched as Gus reached over to grab Alex's hand - receiving a momentary rolling of the eyes - before she seemed to accept it as Sean and Kathy bid Brian and Justin goodbye.  Brian gave his son an affectionate ruffling of his hair on top and a peck on the cheek as his son rubbed his eyes sleepily.   Alex scowled at Brian - and Justin laughed - as his husband repeated the hair tousling routine on Alex, chuckling at her response, before the group headed toward the exit doors.

 

Tony watched as Brian stopped momentarily to speak with Don Meyers, probably to inform him that he and Justin were leaving, before - with a hand on Justin's shoulder - the two men also headed toward the exit doors and disappeared.

 

Tony sighed, finding himself alone now that most of the group has either left or were still out on the dance floor.  He stared at the empty-looking table, now cleared of dishes and condiments, trying hard not to feel sorry for himself.  Quit being such a baby, he chided himself as he picked up his drink and downed a shot of it, feeling the burn of the alcohol hitting his throat.  He searched the room for anyone familiar - thinking he could perhaps mingle with them and help pass the time - but to his disappointment he saw no one.

 

"Mind if I join you?"

 

Tony jumped slightly when he heard a deep, rich voice speaking slightly behind him.  In the noise and bustle of the room, he hadn't even heard the man approach.  Turning toward the voice, he glanced up to see a very handsome, tall man standing there with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face.

 

"Do I know you?" Tony asked, wracking his memory to try and come up with a name. Try as he might, though, no one came to mind.  He looked familiar for some reason, but he didn't know why.  He was soon going to found out, however.

 

"Maybe," the man told him mysteriously.  His hair - perfectly coiffed and a little darker than his - framed a strong, angular face and vibrant, green eyes.  He was wearing a perfectly fitted tux that appeared to be tailor made, outlining a toned body, and Tony couldn't help admiring the long-fingered hand that was presently grasping the glass he was holding.

 

"Maybe?" Tony responded, his attorney persona in place, even outside the courtroom.  He was nothing if not inquisitive, no matter what the circumstances.

 

The man's lips crooked upward.  "I was coming back from getting a drink, and saw you sitting here all alone and figured you could use some company."

 

"But..."  Tony shot a look over at Fin, who was oblivious to both him and his current situation. He had to admit he was getting rather lonely, just sitting here waiting for his partner to finish.  So what would be the harm in a little conversation?  "Sure," he found himself saying with a shrug.  "Why not?"

 

The man smiled, pleased, as he took the chair to Tony's immediate left and placed his drink down on top of the table.  "David Barton," he stated by way of introduction as he extended his hand.

 

"Tony. Tony Cassinelli," Tony replied. The moment his hand met the other one, he couldn't help noticing both how firm and how warm it was.  His pulse accelerated over the touch as he pulled his hand back after a few moments, needing to clear his head and refocus.  "Are you one of Fin's backers?" he asked, grateful that the band was taking another brief pause in between sets, making it easier for conversation to be heard without having to shout.  He figured that might be the reason why this man was troubling himself with giving him some attention. He probably wanted some sort of favor from the new governor.  "Look...If you're wanting to speak to Fi...uh, Governor O'Connor...He's in a meeting right now."

 

But the man shook his head.  "No offense to the good, honorable, new governor, but I don't have a need to speak with him. I'm more interested in speaking with you."


Tony flushed at the man's words; it wasn't so much WHAT he was saying as HOW he was saying it.  He was a smart man, and he knew a come on when he heard one, and it was fairly obvious to him that this man was flirting with him.  "I'm flattered, but I already have a partner," he tried to explain, feeling a little awkward that said ‘partner' was nowhere in sight at the moment. It appeared the unscheduled meeting had broken up, because the men who had been grouped around Fin were gone, and so was Fin.  He had promised to return to the table once he was finished. So where the hell had he gone?

 

"Hey, it's just talk," the man was saying as Tony turned his attention back to the stranger. The man smiled.  "Actually, we DO know each other, Counselor; at least in a roundabout way.  Let's just say...we root for different teams."

 

Tony frowned; that normally meant only one thing. Had his instincts been wrong after all?   "Excuse me?"

 

"I'm with Barton, Myerson, and Jacobs," the man revealed as Tony's mouthed opened in an "ohhh" expression.  Barton, Myerson, and Jacobs was one of the premier defense attorney firms in Pennsylvania; they were a large firm, and represented clients throughout the state.  With them being headquartered here in Harrisburg, however, this was their main base of operation, and hence they tended to represent clients from the nearby area.  They occasionally served clients in the Pittsburgh area, however, and it was during those times that Tony now recalled this man leading the defense team. He also recalled that the man was damn good at what he did.

 

"Yes, of course," he told Barton.  "Sorry...I DO remember you now.  I thought you looked familiar for some reason, but I couldn't place why."  He paused.  "I also remember what a pain in the ass you are."

 

The other man laughed at the unexpected insult.  "What?"  He lifted an eyebrow in question.

 

Tony explained, "You've been one of the few attorneys who has managed to come out on the winning side versus me," he explained with a grimace.  "And I fucking HATE to lose."

 

Barton laughed.  "Oh, now I get it!  I know," he told him.

 

"You know what? How bad it feels to lose?"

 

"Well, that's a given, although it's rare for me, too," he stated.  "But what I meant was, I know about you."


Tony couldn't help smiling back at him in amusement.  "And just what do you know about me?"

 

Barton grinned.  "I know your track record.  And after the judge ruled in my favor the last time, I was strutting around the office afterward like some puffed-out peacock.  I milked that victory as much as I could, trust me."

 

Tony had to laugh at that.  "Well, even the great ones stumble occasionally," he teased him.  He eyed the other man, who was staring back at him; so intently that Tony felt his face warming at the attention.  No, he hadn't been wrong about the other man. They did play for ‘other teams' in one regard, but not when it came to their sexuality; he could sense it.  This man didn't just come over to be polite and make small talk with him. The thought actually made him feel flattered.  He might have a partner, but he wasn't dead, either, and even though nothing would come out of it - he was firmly committed to Fin - he still found it quite invigorating to know he still was desirable.

 

"Maybe," Barton told him, as he leaned over toward Tony. "But you're the best of the best.  If we could steal you away from your own firm, we would in a heartbeat."

 

"That's very flattering," Tony told him.  "But I like to root for the underdog, and being a prosecuting attorney allows me to do that. I'm happy where I am."

 

Barton sighed.  "I was afraid of such.  Well, you can't blame someone for trying."

 

Tony smiled.  "I imagine I'm as passionate about prosecuting wrongdoers as you are about defending them."

 

"Well, let's not call them wrongdoers. I prefer to call them misguided. They're innocent until proven guilty, remember?"

 

Tony grinned.  "Touché," he conceded.  He took a glance around the room, still seeing no sign of Fin as he asked the other man, "So if you're not a backer of Fin's, may I ask what you are doing here?"

 

Barton shrugged.  "My sister's one, and she didn't have a date lined up, so she managed to persuade her big brother to be her escort.  Then said little sister found some hot guy to hang out with, and here I am!  The forgotten sibling."  Tony smiled with a nod as the other man added more softly, "But my evening just got a lot better."

 

Tony blushed.  "Like I said, I'm flattered and all, Barton, but..."

 

"David."

 

Tony nodded.  "David.  I'm flattered, David, but I'm here with Fin."

 

Barton nodded.  "Yeah, I noticed," he admitted.  "But you're not married or anything? Or engaged?" he asked hopefully.

 

Tony hesitated.  "Uh...no," he conceded.  "But it doesn't matter. We're still partners, and I'm committed to him."

 

"He doesn't seem to be paying you a lot of attention tonight."

 

Tony bristled in response to that statement.  "He was just inaugurated as governor!  It's his first day. Everyone wants his attention. But when he and I leave here - together - I will have his FULL attention, trust me."

 

Barton's face fell slightly; he could tell by the look of conviction on the man's face that he meant what he said.  He finally nodded.  "Well...if you ever change my mind."  He reached inside his inner jacket pocket to produce one of his business cards. When Tony didn't make a move to accept it, he finally laid it down on the table as he picked up his drink and tilted his head back to empty the glass.  Placing it down on the table next to the card, he told Tony, "It's been a pleasure talking with you, Counselor.  I'm sure we'll meet again."  Tony watched as the man pushed back his chair and stood up to leave, only to stop dead in his tracks as he noticed another man standing a few feet away.  He cleared his throat.  "Mr. Governor," he finally found his voice to say as the other man's darkened eyes bored into his.

 

"Counselor," was the quiet reply.

 

"Uhh...if you'll excuse me," Barton replied; with a curt nod at both men, he turned and hurried away toward the other side of the room where the bar was located.

 

Fin had only uttered one word to Barton. But Tony knew there was a lot contained in that one word. It wasn't what Fin had said, it was the deadly calm tone of his voice.  Tony's heart pounded as he realized Fin had been standing close by. How long had he been there, and how much had he heard?  "Fin..."

 

Fin sat down in the seat that Barton had previously occupied as he silently picked up the business card and retrieved his lighter from his jacket pocket without looking at his partner.  Flicking the lighter's mechanism, a flame sprang to life as he held the business card up and placed the lighter directly underneath, watching the card start to blacken and curl as it slowly burned to a crisp.  Just before he would have burned his hand, he reached over and dropped it into a half-empty glass of ice water.

 

"Case closed," he muttered with a scowl, his lips pressed tightly together.  He had just been wrapping up his meeting a few minutes ago when he had glanced over at his table to see a handsome man standing near Tony's chair, talking to him. A few seconds later, he watched as the man sat down next to Tony as if he belonged there and promptly leaned in even closer, a leering smile on his face; at least it appeared that way to him. The man was sitting way too close to his partner for his liking. A few pleasantries exchanged quickly with the other men, and Fin was walking back to his table, stopping within a few feet of his partner and the stranger. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but found that he couldn't help it as he heard the man raving about his partner's legal skills, and even worse, openly flirting with him, even asking about his and Tony's relationship. The fucking nerve of him! And when the man offered his business card to Tony, it was all he could do not to promptly snatch the card away, grab the man by the neck, and hit the fucker in the face. There was NO way he was going to let his partner keep that man's card!  Still upset, Fin's fingers clenched firmly around a hard object in his tuxedo pocket before he finally spoke again.  "Fucking asshole," He growled as he let out a deep, ragged breath.  He looked over at Tony, seeing tension in his face, and his own face softened with regret.  "Tony..." he began, suddenly feeling very foolish.

 

"Fin...we were just talking!  He walked over here to me, and we were just engaged in polite conversation.  That's all!  What was I supposed to do? And you were over there in the middle of that meeting, and I was just sitting here...everyone had left, or was out on the dance floor, and...I was getting bored, so when he..."  The rest of his lengthy explanation was promptly stifled as Fin suddenly grabbed the back of Tony's head and smashed their lips together.

 

Tony gasped against his mouth at the abrupt action before his partner's lips gentled. Slowly caressing his lips then, his tongue stroked his partner's lovingly.  Several seconds later, the two broke off their kiss - realizing this was not the place to let themselves lose control - as Fin grasped Tony's face with his hands. Blue eyes peered into his as his heart warmed at the obvious look of love in them, providing him once more with the certainly that Tony was only interested in him.

 

Tony smiled wryly at his partner over his caveman routine - not that he was objecting to any kiss that Fin wanted to bestow on him.  But he understood now exactly what was going on, and he had to say - he liked it when his partner staked his claim on him.  "Territorial much?" he asked with a satisfied smirk.

 

Fin grunted.  "I don't know what you mean," he told him as he dropped his hands to rest on either side of Tony's neck.   He huffed at the expression on his partner's face.  "And wipe that arrogant smile off your face before I'm tempted to strangle you!"  He pressed his fingers to his partner's sensitive skin at the base of his neck as if to demonstrate, but it was obvious his partner wasn't nervous about it.  He sighed.  The man just knew him way too well.  He knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to Tony; that still didn't prevent the feelings of jealousy from creeping to the surface. After all he wasn't blind. Tony was a very attractive man.  He was bound to receive appreciative looks wherever he went, and he did; it was quite understandable. That didn't mean he had to like it, though.   He was spared having to try and defend himself when his friend and now security chief, Don Meyers, approached their table.

 

"Sorry to interrupt, Fin."

 

Fin shook his head as he dropped his hands from around Tony's neck to reply, "It's okay. What is it?"

 

"Just wanted you to know that your vehicle's ready."

 

Fin nodded his head.  "Good.  Let me just make a quick pass around the room, and then I'll be ready to leave...more than ready."

 

Don nodded.  "I'll be over by the doors, then."

 

Fin nodded as Don turned and walked away, peering back over at his partner who still looked remarkably like the cat that ate the canary.  "You think you're cute, don't you?"

 

Tony's smile became more radiant than before as he replied, "Yeah. Very cute.  Don't you think I'm cute?"

 

Fin snorted.  "Cute is not the word I was thinking of, Counselor.  Are you ready to break out of this joint?"

 

Tony gave him a smart salute.  "Yes, Chief.  Whatever you say, Chief."

 

Fin rolled his eyes.  Standing up from his chair, he slid his arms briefly around Tony's neck from behind as he whispered in his ear, "Wait until we get home, and I'll show you just who you belong to, Tony Cassinelli.  And if I ever hear that Barton will be opposing you in court again, I expect you to promptly turn that case over to a peer. Got it?"

 

Tony grinned. He knew Fin didn't really mean that, but he loved it when he got possessive and all hot and bothered over him.  "I'll take that under consideration, Mr. Governor," he told him dutifully.

 

Fin kissed him briefly on the cheek before sighing. "I guess that's the most I'm going to get."

 

"Don't worry; I'll give you plenty when we get back to the governor's residence."  Tony couldn't quite get to the point where he could call it ‘home' yet.  Perhaps one day. But not now.

 

As Tony remained in his seat, Fin bit his ear playfully before standing back up and seeking out some of his closest friends and biggest supporters to give them one last thanks and to bid them good night.  He was dead on his feet, and couldn't wait to get back to their second floor private suite for a nice, long soak in the Jacuzzi with the man he loved, and a rigorous round of lovemaking to show his partner just how cherished he was.

 

A few minutes later (after Tony had persuaded his partner to stand in front of the sign with his name on it so he could take a photo), the two men entered the chauffeured vehicle, sitting side by side in the backseat as one of Don's men drove them back to the governor's mansion. In a matter of a few minutes, Tony's head fell onto Fin's shoulder, and he was fast asleep, snoring softly against him.

 

Fin smiled at him tenderly before taking his hand in his and closing his own eyes, the drone of the vehicle eventually helping him, too, to fall into a light slumber. 

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