FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This story contains scenes of MxM homosexual acts. If you're not into MxM, gay, or furry, don't read. If you are under 18 (21 in some states) or your locality prohibits looking at subjects of a pornographic nature, don't read. Otherwise, please enjoy.

Characters and story by SpikeFoxx

[email protected]

________________________________________

His breathing was ragged when he came to. Josh looked about himself; four slate-grey walls, a drain in middle of the room, and a table of torture implements on his left. He was back in the prison camp. He struggled as hard as he could, but his arms were firmly tied to the chair, as were his legs to the chair legs. He grunted, whimpering a little, because this time he knew what was coming.

And when Arkan walked into the room, it was all coming true. There was no sound; Arkan's muzzle was moving, but no sound came out. He picked up some of the knives and other paraphernalia. Then he turned, and Josh could tell he was making an order. The door opened again, and two guards brought in a chair with a figure tied to it, but they were all facing away from the kangaroo, and he could not see who it was until the guards dropped the chair; and Josh gasped when he saw it was Ty. The leopard was slightly groggy, like he was just beat up. He was looking at Josh with such pleading eyes, as Quentin had that day.

"Where were you, Josh?" asked the leopard, apparently the only one able to make noise.

Josh choked a bit, trying to explain he was taken prisoner, and just wanted to come home; but the words wouldn't come.

"You never came back to me, like you promised," accused Ty, harshly. "I waited as long as I could; the otter takes care of me. Better than you ever did. This is all your fault." And with that, Arkan pulled his gun and shot Ty in the side of the head; the lack of any noise, any bark of the gun, was disturbing when Ty's head jerked to the side, and he was gone.

The kangaroo ground his claws into the chair, trying to scream, but still not being able to. Arkan turned the gun on him, and this time there was no jolt of an air raid, no second chance; the shepherd depressed the trigger, and there was just a bang.

***

Screaming, Josh sat straight up in bed. He couldn't stop, now letting out everything he couldn't in the dream. It didn't even feel like he was screaming, that he was hearing someone else. But he realized it was himself, and he took a deep breath, calming himself before someone was at the door with security.

It was so real, so vivid. And watching Ty die had been infinitely worse than seeing Quentin die. The nightmares were coming more and more frequently. No matter how much he told himself he was okay, months later he was still feeling the effects of it. He absently rubbed his missing finger on his paw, feeling warm tears gently run off of his face.

Getting out of bed, in boxers and a black shirt, he stood at the window. It was only just before ten at night, he himself having gone to bed early for the night. Lance and Race had gone out for the evening to celebrate getting back together; Josh assumed they were at their new place breaking in the sheets, so to speak. He sighed, still rubbing the stumpy spot where his finger had once been. The doctors had run ideas past him; killing the nerves so he wouldn't have those 'phantom' feelings, or putting a prosthetic in there that may not necessarily be functioning, but at least make him look normal.

He snorted; 'normal.' What was normal anymore? His entire life had been dumped upside down; he was back to being alone again. No one here aside from Lance and Race knew him, and no one cared. Once Lance was gone, what was he going to do?; stay here? Go home? Get his own apartment and start a menial, minimum-wage, go-nowhere job? None of those ideas really appealed to him. He wanted to go home; home with Ty.

Biting his bottom lip to keep himself from crying, he sat down on the edge of the bed. Eventually, he let it all out; he did have the entire place to himself now, afterall.

***

Cody couldn't make himself move. He could not believe what he was hearing, but knew it was true. The blue furs, the eyes; everything about this husky looked just like Cody.

"Cody? Are you okay?" asked DJ, from the bed. The otter was slowly getting up, not quite sure what to do.

Cody just looked over his shoulder, nodding. He turned back to the husky claiming to be his father, taking a deep breath. "Did you want to come in?"

The elder husky nodded. "I would like to."

Cody stepped aside, letting him inside, and closed the door. DJ was still on edge, nervous of what could happen.

"Cody," started the husky, "my name is Richard, and--"

"Why are you here?" asked Cody, abruptly, cutting him off.

Richard frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean why...are...you...here?" repeated Cody, slowly, as if Richard just actually hadn't understood the question.

"I...I can to see you," replied Richard. "Your mother called." As if that explained everything.

"Mom said she never talks to you anymore," retorted Cody, like Richard was lying about it.

"She...she said she wasn't getting through to you, and that your step-dad wasn't making things any better," explained Richard.

"Until a few months ago, I thought he WAS my dad," said Cody, coldly. "I don't know why you would just show up out of nowhere after nearly two decades."

Richard looked away, looking at DJ for a moment, then away from him as well. "I...I just thought maybe you'd like to meet me, with...what's going on."

"I've been fine for eighteen years," murmured Cody.

"I guess I should go for now," muttered Richard, moving to the door. "I...I'll be in town for a little while." He held out a card for Cody. "That's my number."

Cody was immobile for a moment, then stirred an arm only enough to take the card.

"Bye," said Richard, and went through the door, gone.

DJ stood up off the bed slowly. "Cody....hun...?"

"I'm okay," assured Cody, taking a deep breath. "He...I just don't know WHY he'd show up NOW. It's been YEARS, why would he suddenly expect me to care now!?"

The otter came and put his arms around Cody. "Maybe because he wants to get to know you, too. Your mom was the one keeping you two apart, and now it seems like she's realized that it was wrong."

Cody sniffled, not wanting to cry. "But..." He just could not go, burying his face in DJ's chest and sobbing.

DJ stroked the back of his head. "It's okay," whispered the otter. Cody just continued to sob.

***

TY lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was just about six in the morning. The late October days saw the light leaving earlier and coming back later every day. But it did not matter that much; he had been awake all night.

The phone call from Lance had been like a bomb being dropped on his life. His mate, the male he had been with for years, was alive...and had never even told him. How many long, lonely nights had he had by himself, crying over the loss of his love?

The leopard sat up in the darkness, looking over at Matt as he slept, snoring softly. It was like fate was playing some twisted game with him. His love since high school was gone, and the first male he ever loved comes back and wants to with him, and then Josh is still alive. Could Ty really make himself go and see the kangaroo? What would they even say to each other? And would Ty leave Matt for Josh?

He sighed. There were so many things going on, and none of them were good. Just once he wanted things to go smoothly; he was just getting over Josh, and now all the scars on his heart had been torn open. Did Josh still even love him? Maybe the roo had gotten on with his life as well. He could only imagine the kangaroo had felt when he had seen Ty with Matt after all the months he was gone. But Ty had really thought that Josh was dead; it wasn't fair to guilt himself for taking something good when it came into his life.

Matt rolled over, stirring in his sleep. "Hun..."

"Yeah, sweetie," replied Ty, running a paw over the otter's arm.

"Mmm...why are you awake?" asked Matt, groggily.

"Just can't sleep; go back to sleep," replied Ty, gently.

"O...kay...," whispered Matt, dropping back to unconsciousness.

Ty sighed again. He couldn't throw this life away; he really did love Matt now...just the way he had loved Josh. But he did want to see Josh...to see his smile, his eyes, hear his laugh again.

Getting out of bed, he walked into the living room naked, laying down on the couch and flipping on the TV. At this hour, all that was on were infomercials, but Ty wasn't paying attention anyway, so it didn't matter; all he could think about was Josh.

***

It had been several days since Cody's dad had come to see him. October was leaving, and it was now into November, already the fifth. The semester was going by quickly. Cody could hardly believe they would already be starting winter break in another month; it seemed like summer had just ended.

He had not gone to see his father yet; he would only be in town for another day. Cody just didn't know what to do. The husky was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. There were so many things he wanted to ask his father, and the same time he didn't. Like why did he have Cody if he knew he was gay? Why didn't he ever try to make contact over the years? No letters, emails, visits, nothing. Cody rolled over, facing the window. He knew he may never get another chance to go and ask these things he wanted to know, that he had wanted to know for so long.

The dorm room door and DJ slipped in. "Hey, sweetie."

"Hi," mumbled Cody.

DJ set his books down, frowning. "What's wrong?"

The husky sighed. "I...I just don't know what to do..."

"About your dad?"

Cody nodded.

DJ sat down next to Cody, putting his paw on the husky's hip. "I think you should go talk to him."

Cody looked at DJ. "Really?"

DJ nodded. "You need to get this out of you. If you don't go, you're always going to regret it."

The husky nodded. "Yeah...I know."

"So go," prodded DJ.

"I...I will," agreed Cody, getting to his feet. He bent down and kissed DJ on the cheek. "Thanks, hun."

DJ kissed him on the muzzle, and Cody was gone out the door. DJ watched him go, taking a deep breath and letting it go slowly.

***

Cody stood at the entrance to the Holiday Inn, the place his dad had given him the address to. He laughed a little inside; 'his dad.' One fur he called dad spurned his very existence, the other he didn't even know.

Going through the front doors, he walked past the front door and to the elevator, stepping on and hitting the button for floor five. The elevator thrummed gently as it rode upwards, the doors opening with a gentle ding upon reaching its destination. Cody took one tentative step off the elevator, standing there while the doors slowly closed. There was no one in the hallway, and he felt completely alone. Air conditioning brushed gently over his face from a vent above, carrying the subtle smell of freon with it.

He made his way down the left of the hallway, heading to room 510. His legs felt like concrete was slowly being poured over them as he walked on, his heart beating rapidly, breathing in shallow gasps. But he made himself walk inexorably to that door, lift his paw, and knock gently.

The chain on the door was undone, and the door opened, Richard standing there. "Hi...," he said, a little surprised.

Cody looked down. "Hello."

Richard stood aside. "Come on in."

The young husky padded inside, Richard closing the door behind them. He motioned to a chair for Cody, the husky taking the seat. Richard poured himself a glass of water. "Want anything?" he asked Cody. Cody just shook his head.

Richard sighed, taking a sip of water. "I was almost afraid you were never going to come. I have to leave tomorrow."

"I don't know why I came, to be honest," replied Cody. "I guess I didn't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I came."

Richard smiled weakly. "I guess there could've been worse reasons for coming here. I'm sure you've got a lot of questions."

Cody shrugged. "Why now? Why not before?"

The elder husky sighed. "I wanted to, son, I really did. But your mom...when it all happened, she said she never wanted to see me again. And by the time I knew she was pregnant, she already had a restraining order for herself and you. I tried to call, almost ended up in jail one night for violating the restraining order. She didn't even file for child support; I sent checks she never cashed, I tried to send you letters and things on your birthday, and I don't think she ever gave them to you."

Cody shook his head slowly.

"And I...well, I went on with life," continued Richard. "It was sort of new to me. I went out with a few males before settling in with my current boyfriend; we've been together for ten years. I'd sort of like you to meet him sometime."

Cody didn't say anything for a moment. "Why did you even have me in the first place if you were gay?"

"You...Cody, it's not that I wouldn't have to get to know you, but you weren't intended. I had been gone for months before I even knew your mom was pregnant, and by then, like I said, she hated me. We weren't trying, and if I had known she was pregnant before I was leaving...I would have stayed."

Cody just stared at him for a moment. "But you're gay."

Richard nodded. "Yeah, I am. But I would've at least tried if I'd known I'd get a chance to raise a cub as special as you."

Cody looked away again. "She went and married that Jesus-freak."

"I know," replied Richard. "That was one of the reasons she got the restraining order. He helped talk her into it. You're probably too young to remember the wedding. He was there before you were born, and she never told you about me to try and keep you away from...well, being gay."

The irony was not lost on Cody. His mother had told him she had married his step-father because she hated gays, and he was excessively anti-gay. Putting both sides of the puzzle together, everything made a little more sense.

"When your mother actually called me, and told me what was going on," resumed Richard, "that you were gay, and hadn't even come home over summer, I thought maybe you could use someone who was family that wasn't telling you it was all wrong."

Cody nodded. "My step dad was an asshole about it. He yelled at me and DJ, my boyfriend, and got my mom to cut off my school payment. She sent it later on anyway."

"She still loves you, Cody," assured Richard. "Someone with a cross can't make that go away. She might be confused and surprised, but that doesn't mean she would never want to see you again."

Cody nodded again. "I know...I guess." He fidgeted with his paws, still feeling awkward with someone who, for all intents and purposes, was a complete stranger who was his father. Somehow, he was feeling more at ease now, but it was still so surreal.

"Where do you live now?" asked Cody, finally.

"A few states from here," answered Richard. "Had to fly in. My boyfriend was a little surprised to learn I had a son; I had never really told him."

"Why?"

Richard took a deep breath, thinking for a moment. "Because just like straight couples, having kids can be considered 'baggage,' and even more so for gays sometimes, because a lot of them don't want children, but a lot do as well. He didn't seem as stricken when I explained you were eighteen and in college."

Cody smirked a little. "I just...I don't even know you. I don't know your boyfriend. It's so...odd."

"In all fairness, I don't know your boyfriend, other than his name is DJ," replied Richard.

"We met here at college," said Cody. "We've been seeing each other for awhile now. I guess mom told you I stayed with him and his parents for the summer; it was a lot fun, and his parents were really nice."

"Good," approved Richard. "I suppose it was a better alternative to going home at the time."

"Yeah," agreed Cody. "He's really nice, and funny, and would never do anything to hurt me."

"You're just seeing each other? I mean, it's...serious?" asked Richard.

"Mmhmm," answered Cody. "We're not...having sex with anyone else, anyway."

Richard put his water glass down. "Is there anything else you wanted to go do, or something while I'm here? Lunch on me?"

Cody shook his head. "No, I'm not really hungry...I think it's because I was so nervous before I got here."

Richard laughed. "I was nervous the last few days!"

Now Cody laughed. "I just didn't know what to do. It was all so sudden."

Richard nodded. "I know, I'm sorry." He sat down on the bed across from Cody. "So, what's been going with you lately? I want to know everything."

Cody told him about college, meeting DJ, Jaime and his death, the summer he spent with DJ, and his mistake of joining a frat. He also talked about the girl he had briefly been seeing at the beginning of the school year before getting with DJ.

"Hard at first, isn't it?" asked Richard.

"It was," agreed Cody. "I just...it was so ingrained in me to find a nice husky girl, that when I was attracted to DJ, I just wanted to run. I felt ashamed, both for what I was doing and for denying myself."

"I first knew six months after seeing your mother," started Richard. "I thought getting with a female and just suppressing it would make it go away. But I never had any REAL feeling about her, and it was just going down the drain. She thought I was getting bored with her, and that wasn't the case; I just knew I couldn't be with her."

Cody didn't know what to say to all that.

"You don't need to say anything," assured Richard, as though he were reading Cody's mind. "That's just how it was." The older husky looked down at his watch. "Wow, it's been quite some time we've been wasting here."

Cody also now just noticed the time, and realized he was now getting a little hungry.

"Any good places around to eat?" asked Richard.

"I know a couple spots," replied Cody.

"Then how about we get some food, on me?" suggested Richard.

Cody got his feet. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

"Great!" exclaimed Richard, grabbing his keys, opening the door for Cody and the two of them went down the hallway back towards the elevator. And for once, Cody felt like things were as close to normal as he could ever get them. At least for now, he had a father figure that wasn't trying to get him into a religious school, or tell him he was wrong about the way he was living his life, and the only thing he regretted was that he did not have this sooner.

***

DJ was lying on the bed reading a book when the door opened, his husky stepping into the room. "Hi," said Cody, quietly, as he came in.

"How'd it go?" asked DJ, sitting up and putting down his book. "You've been gone all day, so it must have at least been okay."

"It was," agreed Cody. He took off his jacket, setting on the back of the chair at the desk, sitting next to DJ on the bed. The otter put his arms around the husky he loved, while a part of his mind told him he didn't deserve any of this. "Richard...dad...told me if I want to stay with him and his boyfriend for Christmas, or at least part of it, I can."

DJ nuzzled him. "Do you want to?"

"I kinda wanted to go home with you again," admitted Cody, kissing DJ on the nose. "But he seemed like he really wanted me to come over. I dunno...I have a few weeks to think about it."

"Well, it's up to you, hun," said DJ. "But...before you make your decision about where you're going...I think there's something I should tell you."

Cody looked at DJ, perking his ears. "Sounds sort of serious. What's wrong?"

"Hun, I...you remember when Lance and I went out that one night?" started DJ.

"Yeah...," Cody remarked.

"Well, I...I did something really stupid, something I'll regret the rest of my life," stammered DJ, falling over his own words. Part of him was telling him to shut up, the other part chastising him for not just getting it out; this was mate, Cody deserved to know he was unfaithful. "I...I..." The otter looked into Cody's eyes, into those deep, kind, warm eyes. Eyes he never wanted to lose, eyes he could not lie to, but he could not break the heart behind those eyes, either. "I lost....my...watch that night. My really expensive one mom and dad gave me."

Cody raised an eyebrow. "That's what the big deal was?"

"Well, it WAS an expensive watch," muttered DJ, smacking himself inwardly for being such a coward and the worst mate in the world. "I just feel really bad about it, I guess."

"It's just a watch," assured Cody, putting his arms around DJ. "You can always get another one."

"I can't get another one of you," murmured DJ, hugging Cody tightly.

"What?" asked Cody, quizzically.

"Nothing," replied DJ, quickly, breaking the embrace and sitting down on the bed again. "I've got an English test in the morning, I guess I should be getting some sleep."

Cody smiled, looking at DJ weirdly. "You're very strange sometimes," remarked the husky, stripping off his clothes and throwing them on the floor.

As DJ watched his mate undress, he knew he could never tell Cody. It would devastate the husky; this would be his burden to carry, not his mate's. There would always be that gnawing of guilt on his heart, for the rest of his life. But he could bear it, as long as he could keep Cody.

***

Race set the last of the boxes with Lance's things in them on the floor in the bedroom. He could not believe how much stuff the fox had. The vulpine came in right behind him, looking around. They were in the apartment, technically a duplex, the two of them would be sharing. It was fairly simple; ground floor was a living room, dining nook, barthroom, and kitchen, second floor was two bedrooms and a bathroom attached to the master bedroom. Lance had loved it the minute he saw it. Afternoon sunlight filtered into the bedroom, dappling their sheets and lighting up the room.

"It's perfect," breathed Lance. "I love it." He took Race's paw in his.

"I'm glad," replied Race. He took Lance to the bed, the two of them sitting on the edge. Lance reached up and straightened Race's glasses for him. The collie was wearing a pair of bifocals now, to compensate for his worsening eyesight. He had explained to Lance that was why he had not come back immediately. Lance was just happy his mate was home; but he still felt bad for leaving Josh by himself. He had called Ty to tell him Josh was alive, in the hopes the two of them would talk and if nothing else, get a little closure for the two of them.

"When is your next class?" asked Race, leaning up against Lance.

"In a few hours, but I can skip it," replied Lance, nuzzling into Race.

Race smiled, scritching Lance's belly. "Maybe just this one time," he agreed, laughing while the fox giggled as his belly was being tickled.

"I'm really glad you're back," said Lance when Race stopped tickling him. "I really...missed you." He just wished Race had come back one day earlier; just one day would have avoided the whole night he waned to go back and do differently. He had just been so lonely. And technically, they had not been together at the time, but it still felt like he had cheated.

"I'll never leave again, I promise," assured Race, squeezing Lance's paw gently. Lance kissed Race on the muzzle, thrilled at just having that touch again. He felt like his life was back in track again. His mate that he loved was back, and they were living together in this great apartment.

The fox was peripherally aware that Race's paw was rubbing the inside of his thigh, getting closer and closer to his crotch. Lance closed his eyes and simpered, feeling a now-familiar bulge in his pants as Race's paw got closer. They had yiffed almost every night since Race had been home, and Lance had not minded in the slightest; it wasn't just the orgasm he enjoyed, but getting to be close his mate again. And as Race's gently caressed the front of Lance's pants, Lance was just happy to have that closeness back.

"I really love you," whispered Race, his paw going higher to Lance's button, undoing it deftly with one paw and slowly, tantalizingly pulling the zipper down.

Lance murred softly. Since Race had come back, he had been much more warm and emotional. Lance didn't know what happened while he was gone, but whatever it was, it seemed to be good for him. "I love you, too, babe. I don't ever want to be apart again."

"We won't," said Race, gently, "I promise." He parted Lance's jeans, seeing the already obvious bulge in the fox's underwear. Lance blushed at the sight of his pink cock pushing at the inside of his boxers, plainly visible through the thin fabric. It was like learning to be intimate all over again after so many months of not being naked in front of anyone else. Lance lifted his butt enough to let Race get the fox's pants and boxers off, dropping them over the edge of the bed. Lance's swollen sheath was all that was left, his fox cock protruding from the slit. Race smiled, leaning in and giving Lance a kiss on the cheek. Lance smiled as well, taking Race's paw and placing it over his sheath. Race rubbed tenderly at Lance's cock, coaxing the rest of it from the warm recesses of Lance's sheath.

"Wait," said Lance, reaching over and taking off Race's glasses for him, and setting them gently on the floor next to the bed. He smiled at Race. "I love being able to see your eyes."

"I forgot how cute you really are," murmured Race. Lance murred in reply, and they kissed on the muzzle again. "Actually, that's not true," continued Race, "I could never forgot how cute you are," he finished, looking into Lance's eyes. Lance felt himself getting warm under his eyes, and was wondering if Race could see his blush.

The two of them slid back on the bed, laying down now, face to face. Race could feel Lance's erect maleness pressing into his leg, and giggled when the fox realized he was poking the collie with it. Race reached down between them, taking Lance's cock in his paw, and rubbing up and down. Lance took a deep breath and closed his eyes, just enjoying that feeling once again. Lance escaped his reverie long enough just to slip his shirt over his head, lying there completely nude, vulnerable, before the one male he loved above all others. Lance put his paws on Race's chest while the collie stroked him off, rubbing at Race, murring and gasping in pleasure. Race smiled at his mate, and felt his own member starting to stiffen inside it's own denim prison. He released his paw on Lance's cock so he could undo his own pants, gliding them off of his hips and legs, and letting them fall with Lance's. The fox gazed down at his mate's sheath now, watching as Race's cock slowly emerged from its furred enclosure. Lance wanted to wrap his lips around that large canine cock, feel it throb in his muzzle, and let Race cum right down the back of his throat. But he was more content just to lie here next to Race; the collie was downright sexy with his pants off but shirt still on, it was always a secret turn-on of Lance's.

"Like what you see?" asked Race, seductively.

"Very much so," replied Lance, putting his thumb on Race's cockslit and gently rubbing there. Race huffed, enjoying that just as much as Lance had a few moments ago. He leaned his hips in closer, rubbing his cock against Lance's. They wrapped their arms around one another, Race hooking his leg over Lance, the two of them entwined in one another now, their throbbing maleness between them pressed together as the two of them were. Lance could feel the intense warmth of Race's cock, the throbbing of the canine's penis against his own, their balls brushing against each other's now and then, creating whole new sensations. Race was gently moving his cock up and down, touching their heads and the sensitive patch of skin below together, sparking delight for each of them. Lance leaned his muzzle up and latched onto Race's ear, gently biting down as his body was coursed by ecstasy. Race looked down between them, and could see clear ropes of precum gathering between their cocks as he rubbed their maleness.

"Roll over on your back," he whispered in Lance's ear.

Lance complied, rolling over, and Race straddled the fox, putting his cock above Lance's muzzle, and having Lance's cock in front of his own muzzle. He took the fox's cock in his muzzle hungrily, sucking on the soft organ. Lance gasped out, and as he did Race slowly lowered his rear end into reaching distance for Lance's muzzle, the fox letting Race's penis into his maw. He closed his eyes and contentedly blew the collie, letting Race gently hump into his muzzle. Lance could not help but buck his own hips slightly as they sixty-nined.

As he bobbed his head up and down the fox's length, Race pressed his tongue against the tip of Lance's cock; he knew it drove the fox wild. And he was almost instantly rewarded with a hard contraction in Lance's cock and a stifled groan. Race then supported himself up on one paw and used his free one to fondle Lance's testicles, rolling them gently around in his fingers. Lance erfed and whined as his balls were played with, going slack, and letting Race do all the work, pushing and pulling his cock in and out of Lance's muzzle. Race had to try and keep his focus on Lance's cock, as his own throbbed with want of release inside of Lance's mouth. Entwined in one another, it was like a complete circle as they had one another's cock in the other's mouth, and neither wanted to be any other place right now. Race was managing to push his cock into the back of Lance's throat, and the fox wasn't complaining, Lance's head just spinning the attention to his cock. He thrust his hips up every time Race his tongue from the back of Lance's shaft to the front, which was often; it was like an explosion of bliss every time.

Race was getting worked up, thrusting harder and faster. He could taste precum on his tongue, and he tell the fox was approaching orgasm as his body was completely tensing up. Race had pushed almost all of his cock into Lance's muzzle now, his cockhead feeling the warmth of the back of Lance's throat. Lance wanted to moan, but his entire muzzle was filled with Race's malehood, but he didn't care, he wanted to feel all of Race's seed being emptied down the back of his throat while his came into Race's muzzle.

And it was at that point now, where Lance just couldn't take the amazing stimulation anymore, and felt his cock going numb as his fluids traveled up his shaft to his head, releasing in a fantastic spurt, hitting the back of Race's throat, and the collie drinking it all down. It frenzied the canine, and as Lance's orgasm was pumping against the back of his throat, Race made one last thrust into Lance's muzzle and emptied the contents of his balls, his semen working up out of his cock in an orgasm that made him light headed. Lance braced his paws against Race, and let all that warm, lovely, silken fluid just dribble down his throat. The pumps and twinges of the collie's orgasm against his throat felt a little odd, but he managed. Race slowly withdrew himself from Lance's muzzle, the two of them laying against one another, panting and gasping. Eventually, Race climbed off of Lance and lay next to him, putting his arm over Lance's chest.

"Love you, hun," said the collie, quietly.

Lance stroked his mate's headfur, smiling gently. "Love you, too, sweetheart." To Lance, this was just absolutely perfect, and he never wanted to leave this place, or be with anyone else in the world.

"So, going to that class?" asked Race, teasingly.

Lance laughed. "Hell, no."

With all the boxes strewn about, waiting to be unpacked, the two of them just stayed in bed, wasting away the afternoon and watching the day dip into night.

***

Lucas pressed his paws on top of Jack's shoulders, the malamute whimpering in pleasure and suspense, waiting for Lucas to slip his large wolf cock inside his ass.

"Good little bitch," whispered Lucas, stimulating himself to get his cock as stiff as he could, his pink flash glinting gently in the light of the room. He pushed his cockhead to Jack's tailhole, the malamute lifting his tail as high as he could.

"Mmmm...good boy," murmured Lucas, putting his cock inside Jack, moaning quietly as the warmth encased his cock.

Just as he was hilted, there was a quiet knock at the door.

"Go away, I'm busy!" yelled Lucas.

"Lucas...it's Kale," came a sullen voice.

Lucas frowned; what did he want? They hadn't seen each other in months, since the lynx had launched that crap on him about 'being more.' He pulled out of Jack roughly, the dog yelping. The malamute rolled over, frowning a little, pulling the sheets over his exposed regions.

The wolf opened the door, Kale standing on the other side; he looked as if he had not slept in quite some time. "What's so important?"

"I...," started Kale, and trailed off when he saw Jack on the bed, covering himself and glowering at Kale. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were THAT sort of busy. I needed to...talk to you."

Lucas sighed and turned to Jack. "Why don't you come back in an hour and we'll finish up?"

"Okay," replied Jack, obviously annoyed. He got out of the bed, still fully erect, and put his pants on, grabbing his shirt and shoving past Lucas.

"This better be good to interrupt sex," chided Lucas, turning from the door.

Kale came in behind him, closing the door gently. "I told you I could have come back."

Lucas laughed derisively. "Too late now. So what is it you need to talk about?"

The lynx fidgeted with his paws, trying to figure out where to begin. "Lucas, I...I did some dtupid things after you passed on me last semester."

"Yeah, I know, you were talk of the campus for awhile; the guy that would so anything for ten bucks," sneered Lucas. "I mean, I knew you were a whore, but didn't think you'd go THAT far."

Kale frowned. "I went that far because I let myself believe that if you thought I wasn't good enough, maybe I really wasn't. But then someone else came along, and I realized that was crap."

"So...you want an apology, or what?" asked Lucas, obviously having no intention of doing any such thing.

"No, because I know I'll never get one," retorted Kale. "You're self-centered, egotistical, and selfish, and all you ever wanted from me was sex."

Lucas shrugged. "I thought you were okay with that."

Kale paced across the small room, back and forth. "It was, but then...I dunno, maybe I started having feelings for you. I always liked JUST the sex, but I thought maybe we could go beyond that."

Lucas sat down on the bed. "Well, you were wrong. There will always be another guy like you; eager to please, and ready to bottom."

Kale looked away for a second, not wanting to give Lucas the satisfaction he wanted to cry. He turned back, his resolve renewed. "Lucas, we bare-backed a few times."

"Yeah, and?" was Lucas' only reply.

"Lucas...I...I have AIDS and I think you gave it to me," blurted out Kale.

Lucas frowned, getting to his feet. "You...what?"

"I went for a test when I was going out with someone, and it was positive," Kale continued, "and the time frame they said I probably got it in lines up with when you and I were having our little flings."

"You slut," spat Lucas. "Is this your little way to get back at me!?"

"Wha...I...Lucas, no, I came to tell you because I think you should get tested before infecting someone else!"

Lucas shook his head. "First that little otter bastard takes the swim team from me, and now you're trying to convince me I have AIDS. Fuck you."

"This isn't some petty revenge, this is serious!" yelled Kale.

"Get out, you gutter slut!" ordered Lucas. "And don't come back, ever."

"Lucas, this--"

"OUT!"

Kale recoiled a little when Lucas yelled, but at length, he opened the door and left, closing the door behind him. Lucas sat down on the bed again once Kale was gone, taking deep breath. Kale was just trying to get back at him, to ruin his life by making him think he could really have AIDS. He just hoped the little skank didn't go and tell everyone his idea.

He lay on his back, looking at the ceiling. He didn't feel sick. And he had only ever really bottomed once for anyone; that was the only way to get it, right? His stomach was tying itself in knots now. He was pretty sure he was AIDS-free, but what if there had been one time he had been with some that had HIV?

The wolf sat back up, and reached under the desk, grabbing a phone books, and opened to the page marked 'clinics.'

***

Josh lie on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and counting the seconds as they went by. He sighed, wishing he had someone to go and hang out with. He had not even been going to the swim meets lately. Lance really was the one saving grace of sanity he had left, and now that even he was gone, everything just seemed empty. He didn't want to be fifth wheel, so to speak, between Lance and Race; wouldn't help matters much that, years ago, they had all been involved in that little affair that happened in high school.

And thinking of that, all he could think of was the one good thing that had come of all that; Ty. And that was gone now, too. All he wanted now was one more chance, one more moment with the leopard that he had loved.

Sitting up, he realized it was already after dark. All the days just seemed to bleed into one another for him now, and none of it really mattered anyway. He opened his bedside drawer, taking out a bottle of lithium the doctor had prescribed. He had gone to see a therapist a few days ago, and the doctor told him he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and that his sleeplessness was being caused by that. Josh had been too embarrassed to bring it up, but he was also suffering from erectile dysfunction; he hadn't masturbated in weeks. The doctor told him depression would be a normal condition to slip in to, and if he found himself having thoughts of suicide, come back immediately.

Josh rattled the pills around in the bottle. He wondered idly if being curious what would happen if he took the whole bottle at once counted as thoughts of suicide. He threw the bottle back in the drawer. He had taken one or two pills so far, and they had helped a little, but only to knock him out; nothing could take away that emptiness in his chest.

Reaching back into the drawer, he took out the last thing he had of he and Ty; a picture Ty had sent him in the mail, one of the last letters Ty had sent right before Josh's mission where he had been captured. It hadn't arrived on time, and they gave it to him when he got back. He had never read the letter; he didn't want to experience that kind of pain. But the picture had fallen out as soon as he had opened the letter. It was he and Ty, snuggled up on the couch in their apartment; his and Matt's apartment now. They had used a camera timer, since they hadn't really had any friends. And that had been okay; Josh liked it just being the two of them. He had never felt alone with Ty; just complete.

Wiping away a few errant tears, he set the picture on top of the desk, just looking down at the floor. He hated this feeling; and knowing it would never go away. Drugs couldn't make it go away, no one could make it go away; only Ty could.

There was a soft knock at the door. Josh looked up, wondering who would be here now; it was already after nine. Maybe it was Lance, giving him a pity visit. He got on his feet, groaning at the idea of moving, pulling on a shirt that had probably needed washing two days ago, but he didn't care. Crossing the room, he opened the door and found the last person he ever expected to see.

"...Ty," he breathed.

The snow leopard didn't say anything; he didn't know what TO say. He played with the end of his tail, looking sort of shy. "Hi, Josh."

Josh was in absolute shock. "Wh...what're you doing here?"

"Lance called and told me you were alive," replied Ty, quietly. "Could I...come in?"

Josh nodded, stepping aside for the leopard. Ty came in past Josh, and Josh could smell vanilla, probably Ty's shampoo, and it made him wish he had showered himself. The kangaroo reached over and flipped on the light, wincing at the absolute disaster area the room had become. Unwashed clothes everywhere, pizza boxes scattered here and there, the bed unmade.

"Sorry about the mess," mumbled Josh, quickly gathering up as much clothing as he could and tossing it in the corner. "It's been a few...days since I cleaned."

Ty nodded. "It's okay. How are you d--" started Ty, but cut himself off. "Sorry, stupid question."

"I've been better, that's for sure," replied Josh. "I'm sort of surprised to find you here."

"Imagine my surprise to find you were alive," murmured Ty.

"Ty, I...I did that for you, really I did," started Josh. "I came back, and saw you two together, and I knew...you had moved on."

Ty turned away from Josh, wiping some tears from his eyes.

"What's his name?" asked Josh.

Ty shook his head. "Does it matter?"

"Does it matter to tell me?"

Ty was silent for a moment. "Matt."

"He's pretty cute; I can see why you'd pick him," said Josh, flatly.

"Josh, please, don't. You don't...you don't understand," pleaded Ty.

"I understand," assured Josh. "I guess I was just that easily replaced."

"You know damn well that's not true," whispered Ty. "Matt and I knew each other when we were younger, and we met by chance at the college. We started to hang out, and then I...I found out you were dead, and I couldn't take being by myself." He turned back around to meet Josh's eyes. "I fought through every day you were gone, to hope you'd come through that door, and knowing it was for our own good, but I hated it! I hated that you were gone, just so we would have money. I...I gave up a lot..."

Josh held up his hand, the one with the finger missing. "Every time you think YOU gave up a lot, think of this," breathed Josh. "And think of me watching someone die right in front of me, his head blown off, to try and make me talk. Whatever you gave up, it doesn't even compare."

Ty looked down at the floor. "I...I gave up you. Did you think I'd really just sit around and lament your death until the day I died?"

Josh huffed, and sat down on the bed, bracing his elbows on his knees. "I don't know what I expected; just didn't think you'd move on that fast..."

"I needed help with the rent; I couldn't go to school and keep up paying on that place. I would've been on the streets in weeks. And Matt was so sweet and..." Ty trailed off, kicking himself.

Josh looked up. "He sounds like a great guy; perfect for you."

"Josh, please...don't do that...to me and yourself," said Ty, feeling more guilty by the second. "I moved on; I had to. He was...he was there, and he took care of me. And, at the time, I thought you were dead."

"I...I still love you, you know," whispered Josh. "I always will."

"Josh...don't...please...," pleaded Ty, closing his eyes.

Josh stood up, going to Ty and taking the leopard's paw. "I'm back now, I'm not dead. We can...start over. We can be together like we're meant to. Even if he's taken care of you, there must still be a part of you that knows WE are right for each other, and no one can change that."

Ty nodded, not saying anything, sobbing a little. "Josh...I...what would I tell Matt?"

"The truth; your true love came back," assured Josh, putting his other paw on Ty's arm. "You and I...we can pick up where we left off, and I'll never leave again. I promise." He brought his and Ty's paws up, and he kissed the back of Ty's. "I never should have left in the first place. I wanted to be with you forever." He looked over his shoulder, at the desk. "Hang on."

Opening the drawer, Josh reached in and took out a small, wrapped box. "I almost threw this away the day I saw you with Matt, but I took it out of the garbage." He held it out for Ty, and the leopard took it tentatively. "Open it," encouraged Josh.

Ty pulled at the string holding it shut, and undid the wrapping paper slowly. It was a small box, with velvet on the exterior; a jewelry box. Ty felt his heart jump into his throat as he opened it, and saw what Josh had always promised him he would get the leopard when he had the money; a platinum band. Ty was breathless, literally feeling as though he could not breathe.

"Oh...my God...," Ty whispered. "It's..."

Josh reached over and took the ring out of the box, holding it gently, as though it were glass, and got down on his right knee. Ty could feel tears flowing freely, and could see Josh had some as well.

"Ty, I wanted to be with you forever; I still do," said Josh, holding the ring up to Ty's finger. "I know we've been through a lot, but I know that we can get through this. You've been the one for me forever, ever since we got together in high school, and I never want us to be apart ever again. I want us to be one. I want you to marry me."

"Josh...I...I don't know what to say," breathed Ty.

Josh smiled up at the leopard. "Just say...yes." He held Ty's paw in his and he went to slip the ring onto Ty's finger. "Just...say yes."

"Josh, I...," started Ty, flinching his finger away when he felt the metal touch him. "...I can't. I loved you, and I always will, but...I...I'm sorry." He turned and sprang towards the door, opening it.

"Ty, wait!" called Josh, getting up.

Ty stopped at the door, turning a bit to look at Josh, crying and sobbing.

"I...l love you!" proclaimed Josh, almost begging. "I can't imagine my life without you in it...please..."

Ty shook his head. "I'm sorry, Josh. I do love you as well, but...we can't have that back anymore. I'm so...so sorry I came. Good-bye."

Before Josh could say anything else, the leopard closed the door and was gone. Josh was absolutely stunned; he had no idea what to do. A part of him wanted to cry, and part of him wanted to scream.

He dashed across the room, to the window, and could see Ty running from the front doors and across the quad, towards the parking lot. Josh clenched his fists, determined not to cry. He did not want to cry.

Falling to the floor on his knees, he reached up for the picture on the desk, gazing at it once more. The only evidence left in his life he had once been happy. He realized his other hand still had the ring in it. At length, he just let it out, falling onto the floor bawling, holding the picture in one paw, and the ring in the other, both clutched preciously to his chest.

***

It was nearing the end of the month. There were only two weeks left in the semester, and Cody and DJ were already starting to pack some of their things up so they weren't having to rush at the last second.

"What time is Lance and Race's party?" asked Cody from over a small box he was putting things into.

"Um, seven, I think," replied DJ. "We should get going soon."

"Yeah, good idea," agreed Cody, standing up. "Oh, hey, look," he remarked, pointing out of the window.

Snow was starting to fall; gentle, white flakes gliding out of the sky and falling softly and silently to the ground. They hadn't even noticed that it had started, they had been so busy; there was already a thin dusting on the grass.

"I guess we'd better take jackets tonight," observed DJ.

Cody laughed. "I guess we'd better." He kissed DJ on the cheek as he passed the otter.

There was a gently knock at the door. Cody opened it up as he was grabbing his jacket, and there was a small, geeky-looking collie. "Is there a Cody here?" he asked.

"Yeah, that's me," answered the husky.

"Phone call for you," was all the canine said, and disappeared.

Cody's stomach clenched. These were never good. "I'll be right back," he said to DJ. The husky went into the hallway, taking a deep breath and walking downstairs to where the phone was. He did not want to pick that receiver, but knew he had to.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Cody."

"Hello...Mom."

"H...how are you?" she asked, slowly.

"I'm okay," he answered, wishing he had not been so right about not wanting to answer the damned phone. "I was just about to leave, so--"

"Your step-father and I are getting a divorce," she blurted out.

It took a moment for Cody to process that. "A...divorce."

"Yes...," she said, quietly.

"Because of...me...?"

"Oh, sweetie, no! This was a long time coming," she assured him. "It's just everything recently was sort of the last nails in the coffin."

Cody's stomach twisted tighter. "Is that what you called to tell me?"

"That and...I'd like you home for Christmas," she murmured. "I know you probably want to go be with your boyfriend again, but..."

Cody sighed. "I'll think about it, as long he won't be there..."

"He won't," she said, quickly.

"Okay," replied Cody. "I'll call you and let you know, okay?"

"O...Okay," agreed his mom. "I...love you."

"Love you, too, Mom." And with that, he hung up. Cody put his face in his paws. He wasn't sure if this was fantastic or horrible. He took a deep breath and went back upstairs, putting on a smile that he was sure DJ would see right through.

His otter looked up. "Everything okay?"

Cody shrugged. "Looking for the wrong Cody, I guess. Come on, I don't want to be late!" He would be damned if he was going to let someone else ruin yet another night for the two of them.

DJ pulled his leather jacket on, handing Cody his jacket, and the two of them went outside, paw in paw. Snow was still gently falling on them, the moon obscured above them by the clouds. Autumn had scarcely seemed like a lingering ghost before being replaced by the frozen world that would be winter. Furs were cleaning off their cars, and slinging snowballs at one another. For Cody, it almost became hard to imagine there were billions of lives being lived, all over, and sometimes it felt like he was really alone. But the warmth of his mate's paw in his made him remember the world wasn't always a cold place.

Walking across the quad and leaving the campus, it was only a two block walk down to Lance and Race's place. They had stayed within proximity of the college for Lance to keep attending classes and not have to make a massive commute. As far as Cody knew, it would be a small get-together; themselves, Race and Lance, and Cody had asked if he could invite Vincent. The jackal had been happy to accept, but had seemed a little down, but Cody had not pried. And Cody was pretty sure Lance was inviting his friend, Josh.

Going up the steps, Cody knocked gently on the door. Lance opened the door and smiled when he saw Cody. "Hey! C'mon in!" He opened the door and the two of them stepped past the fox. Cody noticed that DJ and Lance seemed rather awkward with one another, not saying a word to or even looking at each other. Cody frowned, but dismissed it.

"Where's Race?" asked Cody, looking around the apartment.

"Lying down; he'll be down in a second," replied Lance.

"His headaches still bothering him?" asked Cody.

Lance nodded, and didn't say anything else. "Food and drinks are in the kitchen; no alcohol, I'm afraid."

"That's cool, and totally fine by us," muttered DJ, going to the kitchen.

"Are you two...okay?" asked Cody, watching his mate leave the room.

"Yeah...," murmured Lance, slowly. "I dunno when the others are gonna be here. I haven't heard from Josh lately. I'm sort of...worried about him."

Lance sat down in the living room, in the love seat that was positioned perpendicular to a couch. It seemed they hadn't had time to decorate yet, as the walls and tables were bare. "He hasn't been at swim practice in a few weeks, DJ said. DJ dropped by his dorm room, and didn't get much out of him, just that his ex visited."

Lance's stomach clenched. "Ty?"

"That him," confirmed Cody. "Guess they had a talk. DJ said the roo looked awful. He had gone to tell him he was off the team, and the guy didn't even seem to care. Just said 'okay,' and closed the door again."

"When was that?" asked Lance.

"Couple days ago," answered Cody.

Lance grabbed his jacket, starting to pull it on.

"Where're you going?" asked Cody, getting up.

Lance zipped up his jacket. "To Josh. I'm worried about him." He opened the door. "Race should be down any second now; tell him where I went, he'll understand." With that, the fox was out the door.

DJ came in from the kitchen, munching on a pawful of pretzels. "What's going on?"

"To be honest," started Cody, "I have no idea."

***

He balled his paws up at his sides, taking a deep breath. He didn't know what he was doing here, but he knew he needed to try. He raised a paw and knocked three times. His chest tightened after a bit when there was no answer, afraid his knocking would go unanswered. He knew that the male was inside.

As he was about to knock again, the door parted, and the lynx appeared. He looked horrible; fur matted, eyes bloodshot, dressed in nothing but boxers.

"...Hi," whispered Vincent.

Kale nodded. "Hi."

"Could I...come in?" asked the jackal.

"I suppose," responded Kale, letting Vincent inside. Vincent stepped over a few cardboard pizza boxes strewn in front of the door. The room was a disaster area. The bed had been stripped bare, the blankets and sheets balled on the floor in a nest, where Vincent could tell Kale had been sleeping. Dirty and clean clothes were everywhere, laundry obviously not having been done for awhile. There were glass shards on the floor, some of them bloodied; Vincent did not want to know why.

"It's been awhile...," started Vincent, and didn't know where else to go with that sentence.

"Yeah," said Kale, dully.

"How are...uh...things?" asked Vincent.

"Probably failing all my classes," replied Kale, sitting on the bed. "I dunno if I'm coming back next semester."

"Kale, I..."

"Don't," whispered Kale. "Please...I don't want to be pitied."

"I didn't come here to pity you," assured Vincent, stepping towards the lynx and putting his paw out. "I came here to be with you again."

"You were there...I've got HIV, Vincent, I can't be with ANYone!" hissed the lynx. "It's my...my punishment, for just wanting sex all the time." He looked up at Vincent. "I found out what it meant to realty be WITH someone, not just coupled to them, a little too late."

"It's never too late," said Vincent, sitting next to Kale and putting a paw on his arm. "Being HIV-positive doesn't make you a leper or an outcast. When I said I wanted to be with you, I didn't just mean the good times; I meant through anything." He took the lynx's paw in his, squeezing gently.

Kale sniffled a bit, wiping his nose with his free paw. "Vincent, I...I want to be with you. But, if I gave this to you, too, I'd never...I'd never forgive myself."

"You don't have to be alone for this," whispered Vincent, leaning in. Kale could smell the jackal's cologne. It was pleasant to him; he really did not want to never feel another male's touch. "All it means is we'd have to be extra careful; you don't like to top, anyway," stated Vincent, smiling a little. The corners of Kale's muzzle tugged at a grin, despite himself.

"There's a good chance I won't live past fifty," said Kale, matter-of-factly.

"Then we'll make the best of the time we have," assured Vincent. He leaned in and kissed Kale on the muzzle. "We can still do that, and not have to worry. And I can paw you off, and top you as long as I wear a condom." The jackal reached up and wiped away the leopard's tears. "There's no need to cry; everything will be okay."

"It's just so overwhelming," mumbled Kale, miserably.

"I know, sweetie," Vincent said, lowly. He let Kale lean into him, the cat burying his face into Vincent's chest and crying, sobbing. Vincent stroked the back of Kale's head. "It's okay." He looked outside, at the pure white falling from the sky. It made everything look so fresh, like the world was getting a clean slate. As he pet Kale's headfur, he felt everyone should get a second chance, no matter how they lived their life. "It's okay, sweetie."

***

Lance walked down the hall, the silence in the dorms cloying against him. Almost everyone was out at parties, or digging their car out of the snow that had already fallen. He prayed Josh wasn't doing anything stupid.

As he reached the dorm door, he noticed it was slightly ajar. Hallway light spilled inside, making a thin splinter of illumination across the floor. Lance gently pushed the door inward, as he called, "Josh?"

The fox fumbled along the wall for the light switch, when a low voice said, "Leave it off." Lance stopped and stepped all the way inside, leaving the light off. He closed the door gently. He noticed Josh was sitting on the bed, holding something between his legs. The roo was looking out the window, not even glancing at Lance.

"Josh? Are you...okay?" asked Lance, stepping towards the kangaroo.

Josh shook his head silently.

"Want to talk?"

Another shake of the head.

"What are you holding, Josh?" inquired Lance, as he walked around the bed.

"Nothing important," answered Josh. Once getting a better vantage point, Lance could see it was a revolver.

"Josh, why do you have a gun?"

The roo looked at Lance. It was apparent he had not slept in some time. He was nude except for boxer shorts. "You don't want to be here right now."

"Josh, I'm not leaving," assured Lance, wary of the gun in Josh's hand. The fox was a little more than curious where it had come from. "I want you to give me the gun, before someone gets hurt."

"I won't hurt anyone except myself," responded Josh, as if that made everything better. "There's nothing left for me. My lover is gone, you left, I have no job, no prospects. What's the point?"

Lance swallowed hard. He was serious. "Josh, you'll meet someone else. And you'll get a job, and take some classes. It's not all over."

"My mate of five years left me for someone else," muttered Josh. "I'll never love anyone like him ever again. At least your's came back."

Taking a couple tentative steps towards Josh, Lance kept talking. "Yes, Race came back. Maybe someday Ty will, too."

Josh shook his head. "No, he won't. He's happy, and he's better off. I left, I've got no one to blame but myself." He looked up at Lance. "Why does every moment have to be so hard?"

Lance wished he had an answer, but he could not think of anything to say. "Josh, why don't you give me the gun, and we'll go talk to someone, okay? I promise, it'll be okay."

Josh cocked the hammer of the revolver, raising it to his temple. "No, it won't. Nothing can ever be okay again."

"Josh!" shouted Lance.

The roo started to pull the trigger, the barrel of the gun twisting to deliver the bullet. But halfway, he stopped. Tears were streaming down Josh's face, his chest heaving with sobs. "I can't...I can't..." He lowered the gun. Lance stepped forward, taking the revolver away, tossing it across the room. Josh leaned forward, leaning into Lance, crying loudly. Lance didn't know what to do. He just let the roo get out whatever he needed to.

***

The door opened, Lance stepping inside, winter wind pushing against the door. Josh was right behind him. Race, Cody, and DJ looked up from where they were sitting, surprised to see the two of them coming in.

"Why don't you go lie down?" suggested Lance to Josh. "Bedroom is upstairs, on the right." Josh nodded silently, going upstairs, not looking at anyone.

"What's going on?" asked Race, getting up and pushing his glasses back onto the bridge of his muzzle.

Lance scritched his mate's belly. "We'll talk about it later, okay?"

Race raised an eyebrow. "Okay. I had been wondering where you went."

"Just to take care of something," assured Lance. "What have you guys been up to while I was gone?"

"Just idle chit-chat," answered Cody. He noticed yet again that DJ had gone silent since Lance had walked in.

"I, uh...need a drink," proclaimed Lance, and disappeared into the kitchen. Cody and Race watched him go.

"I think I could use one, too," muttered DJ, and followed the fox.

DJ passed into the kitchen, the fox bent over in the refrigerator; DJ couldn't help but remember what he looked like naked, and what it had been like to lift that tail. Lance pulled his head out of the fridge, noticing DJ. "Hi."

DJ put his paws in his pockets awkwardly. "Hey."

Lance opened the can of soda he had pulled out. "Have you told...him?"

DJ looked over his shoulder, seeing Race and Cody sitting down again and talking. "Have you?"

The vulpine shook his head.

"I don't think I ever can," said DJ.

"I don't think I can either," agreed Lance. "Why...why did we do that?"

DJ sighed, shrugging. "Maybe we were lonely, maybe we were horny, I don't know." He raised an eyebrow. "You don't...y'know...have feelings for me or anything...?"

"No," replied Lance quickly. "I mean...you're cute and whatnot, but still...no."

The otter nodded. "Okay. Because I don't have any for...you." They both looked away from each other, just feeling weird. "Will it always be like this when we're in the same room?"

"Maybe not always," replied Lance. "But for a little while, yeah, I guess. It's not that I never want to see you again. I mean, our boyfriends get along pretty well."

"Yeah," agreed DJ. "It's just the guilt..."

Lance nodded, not saying anything.

"I guess we shouldn't talk about it too much...," stated DJ, rhetorically.

"Yeah, I guess...," agreed Lance.

Neither one said anything for a few moments; but they both were remembering what it was like in that dormroom that night.

"Let's um...let's go back in the living room," murmured Lance, brushing past DJ.

"Yeah," mumbled DJ, to no one but himself.

The four of them sat around, talking and carrying on, two of them holding a secret they would never divulge to anyone but themselves. Above them, Josh lie on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Far away, Kale and Vincent lie in the bed next to each other, Kale nuzzling into Vincent. And all around them, snow fell silently in the evening.

***

DJ brought their bags down to the sidewalk, setting them on a dry spot he could find. Cars were lining up to pick up sons and daughters and take them home for the holiday season. DJ and Cody had packed all their things up, ready to go.

"You're sure about this?" asked DJ. "I mean..."

"It's okay," assured Cody. "I'll be at the airport in three weeks; half with mom, half with you." Cody had not been able to decide between going home and going with DJ, so his mother had suggested splitting the time. It had made Cody happy because it let him do both, and showed she as supporting his choice to be with DJ.

"If it gets weird or something, just call me, I'll come and get you myself. Okay?" said DJ.

"Okay, okay," laughed Cody. "It's just three weeks, hun." He leaned over and kissed DJ on the cheek.

DJ smiled. "I don't deserve you." He kissed Cody on the muzzle. "I love you."

"I love you, too," replied Cody, smiling wide. He heard a quick car horn, and saw his mother coming over towards the sidewalk. "I guess it's...time to go."

The otter wrapped his arms around the husky, squeezing hard. "I'm gonna miss you so much."

"Me, too, sweetheart," whispered Cody. "Just a few weeks, okay?" He saw his mother getting out of the car. "Come on, you can meet her before we go."

And when his mother met his boyfriend, and she hugged the otter, Cody knew that, despite everything that had happened, everything would work out, just like it always did. That he had a long, happy life ahead of him, and the perfect male to spend it with.

***

Epilogue

10 Years Later

Lance looked up when he heard a glass break in the kitchen. He set his book down and went into the next room, seeing Race feeling around for a rag to clean the spill up.

"It's okay, hun, I got it," assured Lance.

"You heard the doctors; I have to learn to do things for myself," retorted Race. "I'm not totally helpless." Lance watched as the collie felt around for the dishtowel, and the fox quietly nudged it into Race's paw's path. "There, see?"

Lance set about picking up the glass pieces as Race cleaned the spill up as best he could. Lance just didn't want Race to hurt himself. Despite being blind, he had not lost an ounce of his want for independence. Lance indirectly helped here and there; like offering to take showers more often together, which Lance didn't mind anyway, or putting things in his path when the collie was looking for them. It was sometimes very trying, but Lance loved him more than anything. Every day was worth having Race around.

Race set the towel in the sink, washing his paws off. They had bought a spacious house, so that Race would have plenty of room to move around in. And for Josh to have a room. The kangaroo had never left once moving in with them in college, and Lance had never really had a problem, since it was nice to have someone else chipping in on payments. With his military background, he had gotten a job as a police officer. Currently, he was off at work.

"See, I can do stuff for myself; I've been getting by just fine all these years," crowed Race, pushing a set of sunglasses up on his muzzle, to hide his grey eyes. Lance missed that sometimes; being able to look into Race's eyes. But nothing had suffered when Race had gone blind. It was a bit of an adjustment, for both of them, but in time, everything had been fine.

Lance just smiled wide, reaching up into the cabinet to get a glass for Race. "Here, hun, I'll get you another gl--" Before he could finish the sentence, he heard another glass shatter as Race pulled one from the dish strainer.

"I got it!" yelled Race. Lance sighed and laughed.

***

Kale opened the medicine cabinet, getting his bottle of pills. He popped two, praying these would work the ways the doctors said. If they did, he could be cured of AIDS in a few months. It was an experimental AIDS medication. He was in the beta group. It was a free dose of the medication, which meant a potential cure. However, he had not said a word to Vincent; he didn't want to get his mate's hopes up.

"Hun?" called Vincent, walking through the door with groceries.

"Up here!" yelled Kale, going to the top of the stairs. They were living in a duplex in the richer part of town. Vincent working as a cosmetic surgeon and Kale employed as an engineer, they made a fairly decent income.

Vincent appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "There you are. Ready to go to lunch?"

"Just gotta put my shoes on," replied Kale, smiling. He bounded down the steps and into his mate's arms, kissing the jackal on the muzzle. "Where're going?"

"Thought we'd try the new steakhouse downtown," suggested Vincent. He hugged the lynx from behind, gently rubbing the cat's crotch. "What do you think of that?"

Kale giggled and purred. "The food or the sudden crotch-grab?"

Vincent laughed. "Both?"

"Both are good," answered Kale, turning around and nuzzling into the jackal. "But one will have to wait until after the other."

"Awww," feigned Vincent. "Then let's eat quick."

Both of them laughed. "Deal," said Kale.

***

The redolent smell of pancakes caught Ty's nose. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. He could hear the sizzle of bacon, and the radio was going. Walking from the bedroom nude, he went through the living room and into the kitchen. Matt was busily making breakfast, singing along loudly with the radio. He looked over his shoulder and caught the naked leopard, smiling. He came over and kissed Ty on the cheek. "Morning."

Ty giggled and blushed; even after all these years, Matt still got to him. "Hi."

"Ready for breakfast? I made a ton of it," stated Matt, flipping the flap-jacks.

"Good thing, I'm starving," retorted Ty.

"Well, go put pants on, then," instructed Matt, "so I can take them off again after breakfast."

Ty shook his ass and lifted his tail as he walked out of the kitchen. "Hmmm...guess that would be fun."

"You're lucky I'm cooking, kitty!" yelled Matt, playfully, after him.

Ty laughed as he got back to the bedroom, pulling on shorts. He was about to go back out when something tugged at him. He stopped and went back to the bed, kneeling down. Reaching under the bed, he pulled a lock box out, undoing the combination lock and opening it. There was only one thing inside; the same picture that he had sent to Josh ten years ago. He and Josh, happy together. No matter how much he tried, he could not forget the roo. He still nagged himself about if he had made the right decision. But in his heart, he knew Matt had been the one for him; and still was.

"Come on, it's getting cold!" called Matt.

Ty quickly put the picture away and slid the lockbox away, getting up and walking towards the kitchen. "Coming!"

***

Cody opened the back sliding door, stepping onto the deck in the backyard. DJ was sitting on a lawn chair. DJ handed him a glass of lemonade. "Thanks, sweetheart," said DJ.

The husky sat next to him. "How are they?"

DJ looked over at their cubs, playing together. "Just playing." They had adopted a black lab and a husky, which, unlike his 'father,' had silver fur. "Just being cubs."

Cody smiled. He and DJ had been married the year before. It was just before DJ's parents had been killed in a plane crash. The two of them had been broken up over it; Cody had always been treated like family by DJ's parents. Their life insurance had been what paid for the house, and they put half of the inheritance into a bank account, the other half into a trust for the kids' college.

The husky reached over and took the otter's paw. "They're great kids."

DJ smiled. "The best." He looked over at Cody. "Just like you." The two of them kissed, their cubs oblivious to the alternative lifestyles their dads lead.

"Dad, come play with us!" called the husky.

"I think he means you," DJ said to Cody.

"Hard to tell sometimes," replied Cody, and they laughed. They kissed again, and both went over to see what the younger husky wanted. They had talked at length about adopting; how it would influence their lives, and their cubs'. They would have a hard life of ridicule and persecution for being 'the kids with two dads.' But it was worth every moment to Cody, with his mate and two cubs. And anyone that dared threaten that life would pay dearly. As DJ helped the young husky build a sandcastle, Cody looked up, through the trees, and at the sunlight filtering down on them. They could fly high, as high as they all wanted, right into the sun.

FIN

______________

It's been a while since you last saw me

One breaks down and the other ones fade

These eyes can see the days break

Too late for the other's mistakes

Sit down laugh thinking what have we done

Let me inside

Is it all over before it's begun

Please give me some time

Cause we are running into the sun

Getting close to something into the sun

You know that we're falling

We're falling back into the sun

I never meant to let you go

Why did I leave maybe we'll never know

But I'm a man now broken on the ground

I'm in need and I think that it shows

All this time we're going nowhere and we know it

I was so blind

All the lights are leading to where you're going

I'm not far behind

And now we're running into the sun

Getting close to something into the sun

You know that we're falling

We're falling back into the sun

Into the sun

Into the sun

Into the sun

You know that we're running into the sun

Getting close to something into the sun

You know that we're falling

We're falling back into the sun

Into the sun

"Into the Sun"~ Lifehouse

________________________________

The end of Into the Sun. Hope you all enjoyed it. Big thanks to all of you who have faved, left comments, and read the entire thing =3 It's taken a long time to finish this, but it has been worth every hour spent, every word typed. I'll have more projects coming. Up next will be a short story entitled "X&Y." Not gonna give any hints on what it's about, but I'm going to be putting a lot of work into it; it's a very important idea to me, so it's going to be an important story to me. Anyway, that will be up next. Comments are always welcome =3 Or can use my AIM, or email, [email protected]