Vince sat on the roof of the hotel, watching the lights of Los Angeles. He remembered four years ago, almost to the day, when he and Stuart stood on the hospital roof the night of little Alfie's birth. It had been three years since he had seen Alfie - three years since he saw England, actually. He and Stuart had been touring America for that long.

Not that he minded. He loved every moment of it, especially since he and Stuart had begun their relationship that night in New York City. That had terrified him at first, but he realized that nothing had really changed between them. Stuart was still wild and reckless - he was just not tricking anymore. And Vince was getting shagged a lot more, but he was also still taking care of and cleaning up after his best friend all the time. Only now they slept together, and shagged, and touched each other all the time.

He missed Manchester, though, and badly. The past several months at least had been very rough on him, even with regular calls to Hazel, Alex and Romey. He didn't want to tell Stuart though. He didn't want to bring Stuart's adventure to an end prematurely, and he didn't want to be separated from his lover for any amount of time, so he decided to stick it out until Stuart decided it was time to go home.

He wondered what Alfie was up to right now. It should only be about 4 pm Manchester time. He would probably still be out with his friends in the park, Romey or Lisa watching over him with the other mommies.

"What are you doing up here?" Stuart asked, surprising Vince by wrapping his arms around his waist. Damn, but that man was as quiet as a panther on the prowl when he wanted to be.

"How did you find me, Stuart?" he asked.

"Sixth sense; I always know where my Vince is," Stuart told him. "And the bellhop told me to bring you down. Seems guests aren't allowed on the rooftop."

Vince turned in Stuart's arms to face his lover. "Does that mean we won't be disturbed, then?" Vince asked, pitching his voice to make his intents obvious. He didn't want to tell Stuart what was on his mind, and what could be a more pleasurable distraction than sex?

"No, I don't think so," Stuart told him.

Vince reached up and kissed Stuart on the lips. He let his hand wander down to unbutton Stuart's jeans and take out his cock. As Stuart's lips began to wander down Vince's neck, causing him to shiver and harden, Vince rubbed Stuart's cock awake.

"You're starting to get kinky, Vince," Stuart said smugly.

"I learn from the best," Vince said before submitting to another loud moan.

Stuart began to nip at the extra- sensitive spot just below Vince's ear as he opened Vince's jeans. "I want to fuck you," he whispered before lowering the jeans just enough to expose Vince's ass.

Vince nodded and looked for a place to lean up against.

"No," Stuart said, turning Vince back around to look over the edge of the building. "I want to fuck you looking out at the lights. Hold on to the wall, I'll hold you up."

Vince put his hands on top of the small three foot wall that surrounded the roof and leaned back into Stuart. He heard the sound of Stuart's ever- present lube being opened, and felt it as Stuart spread it over and in his hole. There was no opening of a condom this time - they had taken their tests almost two years ago, when they were staying in New Orleans. No, now Vince felt the heat of Stuart's naked flesh driving into him as he gazed out over the city. One of Stuart's hands stayed on his hip, and the other came up to wrap around his chest. Before Stuart started to thrust, Vince turned his head and met Stuart's lips in an intense kiss. Then Stuart moved, and Vince couldn't think to do anything but look out into the night and push back against his lover. Stuart's hand, the one that had been on his hip, moved down into his pants to stroke his cock as they fucked.

"God," Vince moaned, closing his eyes and moving with to lover's rhythm.

"We're kings of this city tonight, Vince," Stuart whispered into his ear. "High above everyone else. We're flying; can you feel it? Looking down on all of them. Look out; look down at all of them. They can't touch of us. None of them ever can. Open your eyes and look, Vince."

Vince opened his eyes. It was incredible, looking over all those lights, imagining how many people he was looking down on - most of them would never find anything like what he had with Stuart. Stuart was right; they were kings among men.

"Come for me, Vince," Stuart whispered. "Come for me now."

Vince couldn't handle it any longer. At the sound of Stuart's words, he released, letting his body shudder in orgasm. Stuart came at the same time, exploding within him.

For a moment, all he could do was lean back against Stuart and try to remember how to breath. Even now, after three years shagging at least two or three times a day, he had the most intense orgasms with Stuart. Even now, he couldn't believe it when he felt Stuart inside him, or heard him declaring his love for him. He still wondered when he was going to wake up and realize the drugs Stuart had given him the night before were a bit too strong, making his dreams a bit too real.

"I love you, Vince," Stuart told him when he was still trying to catch his breath. Stuart pulled out of him and pulled both of their pants up and closing them. Vince still wondered at the little way Stuart took care of him, those little things he would have never done for his tricks.

"Love you, too," Vince said when he could finally breathe again.

"Let's get you downstairs and cleaned up," Stuart said, pulling him toward the door to the stairwell. One bad thing about losing the protection was the mess. Once the novelty of being bare wore off, they began to use condoms again half the time, just because it was easier.

Vince nodded and allowed Stuart to lead him back to their suite.


***


"So," Stuart asked, "what were you thinking of up there on the rooftop?"

Vince leaned back into Stuart, causing eddies in the water all around them. They were in the huge suite bathtub, relaxing in candlelight (Stuart put up with it occasionally for Vince's sake), the scent of one of Stuart's favorite oil thick in the air around them.

Vince hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should tell Stuart the truth or not. He tried not to lie anymore these days, especially to Stuart, who could always tell anyway, but there were always some exceptions.

"And no lying, Vince," Stuart warned him. "Or no sex for a week."

"Like you would ever go through with that," Vince said with a laugh.

Stuart just tightened his hold on Vince's chest. "I'm serious, Vince. What were you thinking about up there? You were upset."

Vince sighed. "I was thinking about the night Alfie was born, on the hospital rooftop. You remember?"

"Course I remember," Stuart said with his trademark attitude. "He's my son!"

"Yeah," Vince agreed softly. "Wonder what he's doing now. He'll be four the end of this week, you know."

"I know," Stuart said. "We'll be flying to our next destination two days before his birthday."

"Where are we going this time?" Vince asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. Stuart never told him where they were going ahead of time; he said it ruined his fun when he couldn't see a surprised and excited Vince whenever he found out where they were. Still, he had to ask.

"Not telling. Just make sure you're packed for Wednesday," Stuart said.

"Well, at least this time we're flying. I'll find out when we board the plane," Vince said, grateful for just that small victory.

"Nope," Stuart said smugly. "I have a client who charters private planes. He's letting us use one of his."

Although Vince was glad that Stuart was doing freelance PR here in the states and collecting some international clients for when he opened his own agency in England, he was getting rather pissed at all the favors Stuart called in, just to keep him in the dark. Not that he didn't love the surprises. He was like a child, Stuart told him, always more excited about opening wrapping paper than playing with gifts. He was just too curious to be constantly in the dark.

Stuart must have noticed the beginning of a pout, because he began to nuzzle into Vince's neck. "C'mon," he said. "Let's get in bed and I'll make sure you forget all about your curiosity."

That didn't sound like a bad idea at all to Vince.


***


Four days later, Vince found himself being woken up by Stuart's gentle hand running through his hair. He didn't know how long he had been asleep on the plane, but he didn't want to wake up yet. It was comfortable here, in Stuart's arms, leaning back into him. They were arranged so that Stuart was half propped up against the wall with a pillow behind his head and his legs spread over three seats. Vince was lying almost on top of him, with his head and back leaning on Stuart's chest and stomach, with Stuart's arm around him.

"Wake up, Vincie," Stuart said in a soft voice before leaning down to kiss the top of Vince's head. "We're almost there. You want to freshen up before we arrive, don't you?"

"No, I think I'll stay here," Vince said, keeping his eyes closed. "More comfy."

"No can do," Stuart told him. "Time to wake up." He lifted Vince's head and kissed him full on the lips with such intensity that Vince couldn't even pretend to be asleep any longer.

"Well, if you insist," Vince said when the broke apart. Although he now had his eyes open, he didn't get up.

"Change into that new outfit I bought you yesterday," Stuart told him, giving him a gentle shove off him, "the chocolate leather pants and the blue jumper."

"Where?" Vince asked. Even on the private charter, the bathrooms were much too small to change in.

"Right here," Stuart told him. "I told the steward not to disturb us until touchdown. Besides, you didn't much mind exhibitionism on the roof the other night."

"Well, that was sex," Vince said with perfect logic. "This is different."

Stuart chuckled. "And you say I'm irrational."

"When was the last time I said that?" Vince asked as he began to change.

"You didn't say it. You think it all the time though."

Vince laughed and watched Stuart strip off his kit. Eagerly, he began to reach for his best friend.

"None of that," Stuart said, pushing him away and denying him sex for the first time in three years. Before Vince could feel put off, though, he explained, "We'll be there in ten minutes, and I don't want to smell of sex. Trust me."

And Vince did trust Stuart with all his heart, so he nodded and pulled on his pants. "Who are we supposed to impress then? A potential client?"

Stuart smiled as he buttoned up his black shirt with the blood- red buttons. He was wearing it with black dress pants tailored to show off all of his best assets. Vince loved the outfit on him, which was probably why he picked it out. "Now, Vince, that would ruin the surprise."

"Please? Just a hint," Vince persisted.

"Here's your hint," Stuart said before planting a firm kiss on his lips. "You'll love it. That's all you need to know. Now come sit with me."

Vince sat down, letting Stuart sit on his lap this time as they made out like teenagers. Vince was almost disappointed when the plane stopped and the steward told them it was time to leave.

Stuart insisted on holding a hand over Vince's eyes as they walked into the terminal. "Where are we?" he asked when they came to a stop, presumably in the building.

Stuart kissed his ear and said, "Welcome home," before lowering his hand.

There, in front of them, stood Hazel, Alex, and Bernie. "Oh. My. God," Vince said before running over to embrace his mother.

It was an exciting reunion, full of hugs and kisses and screams. Even Stuart wasn't safe from both Hazel and Alex's arms and lips.

"Where's Alfie? And Romey and Lisa?" Vince asked when everyone had calmed down.

"We're going to see them tomorrow," Stuart said. "We're Alfie's birthday present."

Vince couldn't help himself. He practically jumped into Stuart's arms and kissed him long and deep.

"You know, I didn't quite believe him when he told me about him and Chocolate," Vince heard Alex tell Hazel, "but I guess that's proof enough."

"My boys together at last," Hazel said. She waited until they had parted before saying, "Now, you're about three years overdue for tea with your mother, so let's get you boys in the car. You're staying with me until you get a place of your own."

Vince smiled and following his mother out to the car, Stuart in tow.


***


Vince could feel nothing but Stuart's hard thrusts pressing into him. His loud moan was cut off by Stuart's mouth over his. "Hush. Your mother is in the next room, remember?" Stuart said when they broke apart.

"Don't care," Vince said, unable to make more than fragmented sentences. "Just need you. Harder. Please."

Stuart smiled, happy to oblige. He kissed him again as he took his cock in his hands, wanking him double time to his thrusts. It only took another moment for Vince to come, followed closely by Stuart.

Stuart collapsed on him after disposing of the condom and quickly wiping off his chest and stomach with a flannel. Vince was glad that Stuart always had the energy to do those things after a shag, because Vince almost never did, at least for a few minutes.

Vince ran his hands through Stuart's curls. Stuart had teasingly told him once or twice that he thought his hair was a magnet for Vince's hands since they always seemed to end up there, but Vince didn't care. He loved those curls, and he knew Stuart loved to be pet like the cat he was.

The last time he had slept in this room, the room he had grown up in, he had dreamed about being here with Stuart, being shagged by him. He had never thought it would happen. He had thought he would always be the sad bastard who watched Stuart go off with his tricks while he stayed at the bar alone. Never in his life had he been so happy to be wrong.

"How did you know I wanted to come home?" Vince asked softly once he regained his breath.

Stuart propped his chin on his hands over Vince's chest to look up at him. "I may be a selfish prick sometimes, but I'm not blind," he told his lover. "You've been looking at your photos from home all the time when you think I'm not looking, and sometimes when you know I am. And you've been talking about Hazel and Alfie and Alex all the time. Even when I took you to that science fiction convention, all you could talk about was what you thought Alfie would like."

Vince could feel himself blushing. "I was that obvious?"

"You always are, you twat," Stuart smiled to soften the blow.

Vince shook his head and smiled. By now he knew Stuart didn't mean it when he insulted him, and it almost never bothered him anymore.

"So what are we going to do now?" Vince asked. "Europe next? We've seen most of America."

Stuart shook his head slowly. "I was thinking maybe we should stay here for a bit. I've an advertising firm to run, and you - well, you can do whatever you want: go back to school, find a new job, manage my firm - anything, really. That's up to you. But you're going to have to help me pick out a house and decorate it in your spare time."

Vince was sure his eyes were the size of saucers. "Really?"

"Really," Stuart said. "I've had enough adventure for now. It's time we settled down. Besides, I can't imagine the kind of 'masculine' influence Alex and Bernie have been on Alfie. That Lisa's probably the closest to a father figure he's had since we've left. We're going to have to work twice as hard undoing whatever they've done to brainwash the boy."

"Thank you," Vince said, ignoring Stuart's jibes at his friends for once. He ran his finger's down Stuart's arms before pulling him up so they could see eye to eye. Putting one hand on the back of Stuart's neck, he pulled him down to kiss him long and deep. This was what heaven felt like - lying here with the only man he could ever love, having his family and friends given back to him, and knowing he was about to live out his own dreams.

"Thank you," he repeated when they broke away. He hoped Stuart knew all the meanings he put into those words.