Looking up at their son, they both saw nothing. Raising their eyes up to Lord Joseph's, James asked for the both of them, "M'lord? What are we to see other than our...our..."

Joseph looked at Lance again, but his body was still. Maybe he had imagined what he saw, he thought as he gazed at his precious angel. "It's not fa...fair, my love," he whispered tears spilling down his face. "I did not have long enough with you. I wi...James! James, look...there it is again!! Look at his eyelids; they are fluttering.

James looked down at Lance, but again, he saw nothing. Perhaps the stress of saying good bye was getting to much for him to take, James thought. "M'lord," he spoke softly. "Perhaps it would be best if -- "

"James!!! Look!!! Just look closely at him!!!" Joseph cried again, pointing a trembling hand to Lance.

James looked once more. But this time, it was different. "Reb...Rebecca," he whispered, his voice full of shock. "Hi...his eyes..."

Rebecca looked and let out a scream when she saw the ever so slight movement. "Ja...Jam...James...our...our ba...baby...he..." \

"He is going to be just fine," James whispered, his voice choked again. When Lance opened his eyes further, James squeezed Rebecca's shoulder. "He is going to be just fine."

The doctor smiled at James and Rebecca. "This is nothing short of a miracle," he replied happily. "But we have to be guarded. He is not out of the woods yet."

"But he will get better will he not?" James asked quietly, looking down as Lance's eyes fluttered ever so slightly again.

"I do not know...I cannot answer that, James," the doctor replied softly. "We will just have to take one day at a time." Nodding, James stiffled a yawn. He did not want to leave, not now. Not when he knew his son would be opening his eyes to the world again, any time soon.

Lance's eyelids fluttered again and then all was still. "Angel?" Jospeh whispered. "Angel please wake up...please come back to me...I love you so much." Lance's eyes stayed shut, but somehow, he found the strength to move his hand slightly. Bending and flexing his fingers under Joseph's hand, he moaned quietly, then became silent again.

Christopher said a silent prayer of thanks as Lance moaned again, as the young lord slowly clasped his fingers with Joseph's.

Watching his love intently, Joseph began crying again as he watched Lance lace their fingers together. "An...Angel..." he sobbed. "Thank you...thank you."

"Oh James," Rebecca sobbed with relief. "Our baby...he is...he is alive."

Angel," Joseph whispered. "Angel, if you can hear us, move your hand so that we may feel it. Please Angel." Lance again tightened slightly his grip in Joseph's hands. The slight movement was enough for Joseph. Running his hand lighlty over Lance's hair, Joseph leaned forward and dropped a light kiss on his forehead. "Angel, wake up. Please? Let us all see those gorgeous green eyes of yours."

Lance's eyelids fluttered again. Joseph's heart was overjoyed as Lance slowly opened his eyes.

"My Angel," Joseph whispered, his voice shaky. "My wonderful, sweet, Angel. You have come back to us." Leaning forward, the strong lord gently took his husband in his arms, hugging him lightly, yet very protectively.

Opening his eyes all the way, Lance blinked as he tried to focus on the voice he heard. "J...J...Jo...Jos," Lance whispered as he tried to form the word to respond to Joseph.

"Shh Angel," Joseph replied, nuzzling his hair lightly as he held him. "I am right here. So is your mother and father and the doctor." Dropping a kiss on Lance's head, Joseph wiped away the tears before Lance could see.

"M...Ma...Mama," Lance whispered, his voice very unsteady.

"I am right here Lansten," Rebecca answered, taking hold of her son's hand. Running a finger lightly down Lance's cheek, she repeated, "I am right here."

"Pa...Papa."

Having no other hands to hold, James gently sat next to his son. "I am here too Lansten."

Lance's eyes closed, his body exhausted from the effort of trying to communicate with his family. In a few minutes, he was again asleep.

Christopher smiled down at his young husband-to-be. "Yes, my love," he replied, kissing Blake's cheek. "Lance will be just fine."

Smiling at the touch, Blake looked up into Christopher's eyes when he could. "I...I am glad he will not be leaving us."

Embracing the young lord-to-be, Christopher nodded. "I am too, my love. I am too." Looking back towards the door, then out the window, Blake noted that the time was late. Moving out of Christopher's embrace, the ex-servant went about setting out their night clothes. Chrsistopher came up behind him and gently took his hand. "My love you do not have to do this anymore."

Blushing, Blake pulled away slightly. "But I am just so used to laying out the nightware." Instantly becoming worried, he whispered, "I am sorry if I...I upset you by doing so."

Smiling at his young love, Christopher gently cradled him in his arms. "You could never upset me, my love," the kind lord replied. "It is all right." Melting into Christopher's arms, Blake looked at the silk shirt he had just laid out, then over his shoulder at the man who he would be spending his days and nights with very shortly. Turning around in Christopher's embrace, Blake bit his lip and gently fingered the small buttons of the tunic Christopher wore. "What are you thinking, my love?" Christopher whispered, watching Blake.

Not looking up into Christopher's eyes, Blake replied, his voice also that of a whisper, "Hel...helping you...prepare for bed...M'lord..." Touched at the gesture, Christopher leaned down and gently kissed his young husband-to-be. Closing his eyes and pulling back a little, Blake blushed and looked down. He was still not used to being with someone who loved him as much as Christopher did. Starting to undo the buttons, Blake concentrated on what he was doing, and did not look up at Christopher.

Reaching down, Christopher took Blake's hands in his. Looking into his blue eyes, Christopher smiled. "I love you, Blake...so very very much."

Falling into the bottomless chasms that were Christopher's brown eyes, Blake whispered, "I...I lo...love you too..."

Chrisptopher leaned over and gently kissed Blake, wrapping him in his strong arms. "I promise you, Blake...you will never need or want for anything."

"Wi...will we be able to visit Herfordshire?" Blake asked quietly. He wanted to be able to stay in touch with his friends at the castle, and with Lord Lance. He had very little friends, so those he was fortunate enough to make, he held very dear to his heart. "Please, can we...may we come and visit?"

"Of course we will, my love," Christopher replied. "I promise you that...we will come to visit Lance and your friends you have made here."

Smiling broadly, Blake finished with the last of the buttons and slipped the shirt down over Christopher's shoulders. Biting his lip, he chanced a look. He saw that Christopher was very defined in the chest area, with strong arms that held him close and shoulders to cry upon. Slipping his hands down to the leather belt that encircled Christopher's waist, Blake looked up once more.

His eyes full of love for Blake, Christopher smiled. He was extremely touched by Blake's gestures. "My love, you are the most precious thing in my life," he whispered. "and I love you so very much."

Unsure if he was allowed to continue undressing Christopher, Blake held his hands still. "I...I...thank you," he whispered. "For...for..." His mind went blank. There were so many things he wanted to thank Christopher for, and yet he could not think of one.

Tenderly touching Blake's cheek, Christopher slowly removed the shirt Blake wore and gently scooped him up in his arms. Walking over to the bed, Christopher set Blake down. Looking up at him, Blake waited to see what Christopher would do next. He had already decided in his mind that if Christopher wished to bed him before the ceremony, then Blake would not try and stop him. In the eyes of most, he was already soiled and unfit for marriage, but that aspect of it all did not seem to bother Christopher any.

To Blake's surprise, Christopher lay down next to him and held him. "I want nothing more than to be with you, my love," Chritopher whispered.

Looking up at Christopher, then lowering his eyes, Blake moved closer to him, snuggling as close as he could get. "I...I just want to please you M'lord," Blake whispered in reply, momentarily slipping back into his servant role as a light breeze wafted through the room.

"You have already made me happy," Christopher whispered, kissing Blake. "More than you will ever know."

Closing his eyes, feeling safe within Christopher's arms, Blake found himself falling fast asleep very quickly. He was almost about to cross over the bridge between being somewhat awake and deeply asleep when Joshua's harsh voice shouted his name through the halls.

Instantly angered, Christopher's embrace tightened around Blake. "Ignore him, my love," Christopher replied. "He cannot hurt you anymore."

Obviously shaking from Joshua's shouting, Blake closed his eyes, silent tears slipping down his cheek. He knew Christopher had not signed the papers yet, deeming himself a noble. When again Joshua's shout resounded off the walls, closer to Christopher's bedchamber this time, Blake did all he could to not bolt from his love's embrace to run and hide from Joshua.

"Do not cry, my love," Christopher spoke gently, trying to calm the frightened Blake. "Joshua cannot harm you any more. You belong to me now; Joshua cannot touch you."

"Blake!" Joshua shouted, sounding as if he were outside the door. "IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU, YOU WILL SHOW YOURSELF...NOW!"

"Ignore him, Blake...he cannot harm you anymore," Christopher whispered.

Closing his eyes tighter, Blake began crying openly. Curling into as small a ball as he could against Christopher, he clung to him with a death-grip.

Christohper's anger increased as Joshua bellowed for Blake again. Taking all he could, Christopher got up and stormed to his chamber door. Opening it, he glared at Joshua. "Go away and leave Blake alone, Joshua," Christopher hissed.

Ignoring Christopher, Joshua pushed his way into the chambers and dragged Blake off the bed. "He is still my servant, Christopher. You have done nothing to change that." Looking down at Blake, Joshua added, "He knows this fact too and yet he decides to ignore me when I call for him."

"Christopher!!! Help me!!" Blake shouted as Joshua dragged him down the long hall, Christopher at his heels. Using his free hand, Joshua sent it flying across Blake's face, which almost at once silenced him, and sent Christopher into even more of a frenzy.

"Let him go!!!!" Christopher shouted as he grabbed Blake's arm and tried to pull him from Joshua.

Slapping Christopher's hand away, Joshua shoved Blake into his bedchambers and slammed the door shut before turning back to Christopher. "You forget your place here at Herfordshire," he began. "Blake is my servant and you are but a guest here. I do not have to listen to what you say but Blake on the other hand, must adhere to what I say." Stepping closer for a moment, Joshua pronounced his last words very clearly. "Leave myself and my servant alone."

"What is going on here??!!" a strong voice demanded. Everyone turned to see Jospeh standing in the doorway.

Smiling smugly, Joshua answered, "Simply teaching my servant his place, like you wanted me to do, Joseph."

"He has Blake locked in his chamber, Joseph," Christopher explained. "He will not release him." The sound of Blake's tears tugged at Christopher's heart. He could not wait for the day when he would wed Blake so no one could harm him again.

"Do not worry, my friend," Joseph replied as he turned the doorknob and freed Blake, who fell into Christopher's arms. Joshua was enraged.

Raising his voice to his husband, Joshua demanded to know what Joseph thought he was doing. "You gave Blake to me, to train and serve! Now you are taking him away because I was simply doing as you ordered?!"

His brown eyes narrowed, Joseph glared at Joshua. "You are not training Blake, Joshua," Joseph hissed. "You have overstepped your boundaries and I will not tolerate this kind of behavior within my household."

"How have I overstepped them, Joseph?" Joshua wanted to know. "I called for him and he did not come at once, like the servants are suppose to do. I was about to train him when Christopher interfered."

"I have heard how you have trained Blake" Joseph hissed. "You have not trained him, Joshua...you have behaved maliciously toward him. Training a servant to the ways of the household is one thing, but it is clear to me that you have done more than just that. Therefore, I shall do something about it."

"How else am I to train him Joseph?" Joshua hissed, stepping forward. "Take him by the hand and do everything for him?!"

His anger kindled at Joshua's insolence and disrespect, Joseph reached back and slapped Joshua hard across the face. "How dare you speak to me in that manner and tone of voice!!!" Joshua was instantly frightened by the look in his husband's eye and realized that he had gone too far.

Clutching his cheek, Joshua turned slightly, looking at Joseph from the side. When his eyes connected with the fire behind his husband's eyes, he turned and glared momentarily at Blake; who was continuing to cry in Christopher's arms. "How dare you treat a servant better than your first husband," Joshua mumbled, his eyes lowering to the ground.

Joseph's anger grew at Joshua's insolence. "Very well. I am putting an end to this situation," the dark-haired lord replied. "As of right now, Joshua...Blake is no longer your servant."

His eyes shooting up once again, Joshua felt his jaw drop. "You...you cannot do that!" he shouted de```spite himself. "He is mine!"

"Yes, Joshua, I can and I did," Joseph replied. "Blake is no longer your servant. In fact, as of this moment, Blake is no longer a servant in this estate at all."

It was Blake's turn to look at Joseph and let his jaw drop. "M...M'lord," he cried. "Pl...ple...you are sen...sending me awa...away?"

Nodding his head, Jospeh looked at Blake. "Yes Blake, I am sending you away...I am sending you to Williamsport." Staring at Joseph for a moment, Blake had to let what he said sink it. He had finally heard it from Joseph himself. He was no longer a servant within the house. But, as soon as his smile formed, it faded to worry again.

As if sensing what Blake was thinking, Joseph smiled. "Do not worry, Blake. I intend to make it official." Reaching in his pocket, Joseph pulled out a long envelope and removed the document inside. Reaching for a pen, Joseph dipped it in the inkwell and signed the bottom. Handing it to Christopher, Joseph's smile widened. Joshua looked from Blake to Christopher to his husband, confusion on his face.

Craning his neck to look at the document Christopher held, Blake tried to make head or tails of it. But seeing as to how he could not read or write, it did not make even that. "Wh...what is this M'lord?" he asked quietly, looking up at Joseph.

"This, my dear Blake is your ticket to a wonderful life full of love and happiness," Joseph whispered, a huge smile on his face. "I have officially released you from your duties here...but more importantly I have given my official consent for you to be wed to Lord Christopher. You have my blessing."

Having watched his servant being taken from him, and then having Joseph tell him that Blake was now officially off limits to him, Joshua glared harshly at Blake and Christopher. When he noticed Blake looking back at him, he hissed, "Damn your union, and damn you both." Turning and walking into his chambers, he slammed the door shut and locked it from within.

Looking at Christopher, Blake's eyes shone with the love he had in his heart for Christopher. "Doe...does this mean that...that..."

Smiling and pulling Blake close to him, Christopher confirmed what he was thinking. "Yes my love," he whispered. "You are to be a nobel, and my husband. You will never have to worry about anything again, my precious, precious Blake."

The enormity of what had just taken place overwhelmed the young lord-to be. "Oh Christopher," Blaked cried, burying his head on Christopher's chest. "I...I cannot believe it."

"Nor can I Blake," Christopher whispered again, tears forming in his brown eyes. Looking up at Joseph, Christopher extended a hand out to him. "Thank you so much Joseph for your blessing. Thank you."

"You are more than welcome, my friend," Joseph whispered, hugging first Blake, then Christopher. "I wish you both much happiness."

"Thank you M'lord," Blake whispered, once the hugs were broken. Looking warily towards the door they were standing in front of, Blake back stepped into Christopher's arm. "Might we...we go somewhere else? I...I am still afraid I have upset Lord Joshua."

"Do not worry about Joshua," Joseph replied, smiling at the young Blake. "He will just have to get over himself. In the meantime, you and Christopher are free to use my chambers."

"Thank you M'lord," Blake whispered, linking his hand lightly with Christopher's as they walked towards the chambers, to begin planning their new lives together.