"Two weeks," Jonny announced to himself while he looked at the mirror. "I survived two weeks!"

Somehow, it wasn't so bad. Wait...who was he trying to kid? It was worse than hell! He, Jessie and Hadji rarely spoke. And if they did, it was usually while they were eating like, "Pass the bread". And Hadji had started to eat outside the compound, preferring, he said, the night air.

Jonny sighed. He missed their friendship back. He missed laughing with them...talking like...

And Hadji...

Jonny closed his eyes. He didn't have to try hard enough to conjure up a memory of Hadji's face. Hadji smiling, laughing, pulling him close...

He shivered unconsciously, then shook away the memory. "I can't live like this," he moaned, punching on the air.

Finally, after a few deep breaths, he was ready to leave the room for another horrible day outside. He gripped the doorknob and pulled it open...

Just as another door opened in the hallway.

Jonny and Hadji froze as their eyes met and held. Immediately, they broke away. "Good morning, Jonny," Hadji said softly, looking down at his shoes.

Jonny blinked. "Uh--'morning, Hadj." He practically ran downstairs, missing Hadji fighting the disappointed look on his face.

Hadji had reached a decision. He was determined to keep it. "Follow your heart," his mother had always told him.

And he is going to.

If Jonny is not willing to cooperate, then it will not be his fault.

Still...

Not for the first time, Hadji wondered if he was ready to give up everything for the sake of following his heart. After all, this can ruin his name, his family, his friends...

His heart.

He clenched his fist. "No point into keeping this any longer," he muttered. "Hadji, you have a full day to think it over."

He walked straight to the kitchen, where he can hear Jonny and Jessie playing with Bandit.

Bandit immediately heard the footsteps and began to bark happily at the kitchen door, wagging his tail. Jonny slowly straightened, and Jessie gave a slight gasp.

It was the first time the three of them had been together alone in one place.

Hadji patted Bandit, then turned to the other two. "Good morning," he said, taking a deep breath.

"Hi, Hadj," Jessie replied willingly. Jonny mumbled a reply.

Hadji looked straight at Jonny. "We have to talk."

Jessie immediately took a step back. "I--"

"If you may kindly leave us, Jessie," Hadji went on, still staring at Jonny.

Jessie was off running.

Jonny closed the door behind her and sat on the kitchen table. "So..."

Hadji cleared his throat. "You know how this--thing--has been bothering us for a while."

Jonny nodded, not meeting his eyes. "Uh-huh."

Hadji sighed. "Jonny, I need a straight answer from you. No sidelines, no nothing. Just a straight answer." He took another deep breath. "Did you...WANT it...to happen?"

Silence.

Bandit barked once, then shuffled his feet.

Jonny could feel his heart pounding. Why is he asking me this? he thought to himself. Is he torturing me?

But another voice answered him. It's because he cares about what you think. Then it went on. And no matter what YOU think, Jonathan Quest, you care for him, too.

Hadji's voice pierced through. "Because I don't blame you if you don't--it's understandable, of course--"

"Yes."

"--and it's perfectly normal--WHAT?!"

"I said yes." Jonny looked up at him, finally able to look at him straight into the eye. For the first time since it happened, he was feeling light-headed and...unburdened. "Yes, I wanted it to happen."

He waited for the disgusted look to come into Hadji's face, but he found only happiness.

"What--" Before Jonny knew it, Hadji has enveloped him into a hug.

"Thank you my friend," Hadji whispered.

Jonny stiffened, but eventually relaxed in the hold. He rested his head on the curve of Hadji's neck and whispered, "Hadji...even if they say it isn't right...even if to some...it's not right...it FEELS right. Being with you."

"Because it IS right, Jonny," Hadji replied huskily. "I love you."

Jonny couldn't believe he was saying it to another man, but he knew he meant it with all his heart. "I love you too, Hadji."

Hadji pulled back and kissed him on the lips.

This time, there was no regrets.