Fic: Not Completely Cast Away, Epilogue

Title: Not Completely Cast Away

Rating: PG-13 (this chapter)

Word Count of entire fic: 53,000

Synopsis: Nick has been missing presumed dead since September 2010, this is the story of what happens when he turns up alive and well five years later.

Author's note: And it's finally done. Hurrah!

Disclaimer: Not mine. Didn't really happen and is unlikely to.

Epilogue, (or, the scene that never made it)

Warm and comfortable, completely covered by duvet and with Nick wrapped around him, David blinked awake at some time around eight-thirty in the morning. He
yawned, turning his head outward, his cheek brushing against the soft cotton of the duvet cover, and then gave a contented hum as he shifted his weight on
the bed so he could hug Nick closer.

Nick did not stir, and David kissed him lightly on the cheek, smiling to himself as he closed his eyes and lay in silence.

A short while later, David felt Nick wiggle his foot, his instep moving back and forth across David's leg, toes curling as if to hug the skin there.

‘Good morning,’ David whispered as Nick opened his eyes.

‘Good morning,’ Nick sighed happily.

‘Did you sleep well?’ David asked, pressing lazy kisses to Nick's mouth. Nick nodded, moaning low in his throat, his fingers
stroking the small of David's back. ‘Would you like breakfast?’

‘Mm,’ Nick hummed. ‘Breakfast sounds perfect. What would we have?’

‘Anything you want,’ David said. ‘Though I quite fancy a bacon sandwich.’

‘Oh, bacon,’ Nick said longingly. David laughed.

‘Haven't you had bacon since you got back?’

‘No.’

‘Well, clearly this is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.’ David wiggled a little, running his hand down Nick's side and kissing him again.
‘Would you like anything with your bacon? Tea? Coffee? Orange juice?’

‘You,’ Nick breathed against his mouth.

‘I'm not sure I'm on the menu,’ David said teasingly.

‘You did say anything I wanted,’ Nick replied.

David did not answer. He brushed his lips lightly over Nick's, curling his hand at the back of Nick's neck. The phone on the bedside table rang, and David
groaned unhappily, sticking his hand out from under the duvet and grabbing hold of the receiver.

‘Hello?’ David answered, trying to ignore Nick's hand as it made its way across his stomach.

‘David,’ George's voice said. He started to say something else but David interrupted.

‘I'm taking the weekend off, George. Call Simon.’

‘I hear Nick spent the night,’ George replied.

‘So?’

‘I'm not the only one who heard.’ George sounded annoyed.

‘What's your point?’ David asked, only half paying attention. He suppressed an involuntary noise as Nick kissed his neck.

‘Don't you think you should deal with this?’

‘I'm hanging up now, George. If there's anything urgent that needs to be dealt with, call Simon.’

David pressed the disconnect button while George was mid-reply. He looked at the phone for a few seconds and then sat up, folding the duvet away from his
face. Smiling, David launched the phone through the open bedroom door and out into the hallway, where it clattered to the floor and slid off toward the
living room.

‘Problem?’ Nick asked as David lay down and pulled the duvet back over them.

‘Our secret is out,’ David answered.

‘Oh.’ Nick looked at David thoughtfully. ‘I can go if–’

‘Don't you bloody dare,’ David muttered, pulling Nick into a hug. ‘I'm not going to let some backward thinking idiots–’ He stopped, looking at Nick
apologetically, and then said honestly, ‘I can't lose you again. I don't care what they say.’

Nick smiled at him and stroked his face.

‘You won't lose me.’

Smiling back, David took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Then he said, ‘It's not like they can make much of a fuss. Gay marriage is legal now.’

‘That an offer?’ Nick snorted jokingly.

‘Is that a yes?’ David asked without thinking.

Then, realising what he had said, he quickly looked at Nick, swallowing hard. Nick was staring at him, expression faintly terrified and mouth open in
shock.

‘Right, well,’ David babbled, attempting to make light of his question. ‘That would be–’

‘Absurd,’ Nick supplied, nodding. ‘Completely, completely absurd.’

‘Absolutely mad,’ David agreed, unconsciously mirroring Nick's movements. He met Nick's eyes with his own and found himself suddenly whispering, ‘Say yes.’

‘Yes,’ Nick whispered back almost immediately, with a sharp intake of breath.

‘I don't have a ring,’ David said, gulping as the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

‘I don't need one,’ Nick responded.

‘Right.’ David smiled nervously. He leaned forward and kissed Nick lightly on the lips. ‘So, that's, uh– Are there any other life changing decisions we'll
be making today?’

Nick kissed him again, laughing and resting his forehead against David's. ‘Let's just have breakfast,’ he mumbled. ‘I believe someone promised me bacon.’