"Me and Shane are in love," Kian was surprised at how easy those words escaped his lips. Well, maybe that was because they were true.

"WHAT?!" Kian’s dad stood up, a bewildered look on his face.

"Dad-"

"Not another word! How could you?"

"Dad, I, we…"

"Cut the 'we' Kian. You’re not in love with… him!" he pointed a shaking finger towards Shane.

"Mr Egan-"

"Don’t you dare, you, you… faggot! Fucking hell I did expect it of you, always said your parents were too easy on you and you were bound to sin…"

"It’s not a sin, it’s how God made us." Shane received a cold glare.

"Hell He did! I can’t believe you got Kian into this, you fucking son of a bitch!" Kian’s dad was pacing the floor. He abruptly turned to face Shane again. "My son is not a fucking faggot."

"No, he’s gay."

Kian’s dad was raging. "Don’t you get smart with me," he turned to Kian. "You do not love this, this… man," he grimaced.

"Yes I do, dad." Kian stood his ground. His dad aimed a fist for him but Shane blocked it.

"He’s your son."

"Get out of my house! Kian, see him out." Kian rose to follow Shane to the door.

Shane stopped by the door and put a hand on Kian’s shoulder. "I’m sorry…"

Kian smiled glumly, "It’s not your fault."

Shane pulled him a little closer, making sure his dad was nowhere to be seen. "Be brave, babe. I love you, ok?" Kian nodded and Shane kissed his forehead. And he was gone. Forever?

"Kian?" Kian sighed and went back into the living room. "You still think you are…"

"Dad, I don’t think, I know."

"There is much you know son, but this you are imagining. Now, let’s go to church and hope that God has mercy on you." Kian nodded quietly, his tears were stubborn and he was choking on them.

The church was empty apart from a Priest. Kian’s dad pushed him into the church, "Why are you crying, kid? Now, you have to beg for forgiveness." Kian knelt at the altar and mumbled something that wasn’t audible.

The Priest watched the scene. "What’s wrong?"

"Priest, he thinks he is…"

"Ah."

"Can you cure him?" The Priest looked at Kian, who was sitting at the altar with his head down, doubting that the young man was praying for forgiveness. He hesitated, then nodded.

"Just let me get ready."

"Thank you."

After a few minutes he had everything arranged. "Sir, I want you to leave 5 minutes into the ceremony. Otherwise it won’t work."

"Ok," he resumed to one of the church benches.

The Priest handed a glass of something to Kian and told him to drink it. It didn’t taste nice, rather vile. He then started to ramble something in Latin. Kian was still crying, feeling scared and humiliated… he wished he was in Shane’s arms.

After a while he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and was surprised to be looking into the Priests face. He smiled, a warm smile. "Your father is gone." He pulled Kian into a hug.

"But I…" Kian had stopped crying, feeling confused, "I can’t "cure" you, nothing can. I know it, my boyfriend knows it, and lots of people know it. Some people just don’t understand."

"Your… boyfriend?!"

"Yes, my boyfriend."

"But you are a Priest."

"‘What people don’t know never hurts them. I guess if it came out I would have to move and change occupation, but so what? Love conquers everything. Now, you run to whoever is waiting to love you and don’t listen to any crap. Follow your heart."

Kian nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Sir."

"No problem, and call me Daniel."

Kian smiled, "I’m Kian, see you Daniel."

Daniel smiled and placed a kiss on Kian’s cheek. "Good luck Kian." He watched the young man run out of the church, hoping everything would work out for him.

Kian ran all the way to where Shane lived and was out of breath when he reached his house. He knocked hardly on the door.

Shane’s mum opened. "Kian," she opened wider to let him in, "Shane’s in his room."

"Thank you." Kian ran to Shane’s room.

He found Shane on the bed, crying. He went in, closed the door and sat down beside him. "Shane…"

Shane turned around and looked at him. Unable to speak he reached his arms out and pulled Kian down on top of him. Kian smiled and kissed him.

"I love you," he mumbled and buried his face in Shane’s chest, breathing in the familiar scent. "I love you."

Shane stroke his hair. "I didn’t think you would come back."

Kian looked up, "but I love you."

"Yes but…" Shane sighed, "my ex got scared off by his homophobic parents. He never spoke to me again."

Kian smiled and placed a light kiss on Shane’s lips. "The Priest… Dad asked him to cure me… but… he was gay too Shane!"

"The Priest was gay?!" Kian laughed softly at Shane’s reaction.

"Yes. He told me to follow my heart…"

Shane smiled and pulled Kian closer. "What about your dad?"

"Stuff him," Kian laughed then turned serious. "I have you…"

Shane nodded, "You always will. I love you."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. They both sat up.

"Come in," Shane called. It was his mum and… Kian’s mum. Kian had a feeling she knew and held Shane's hand tightly. Shane’s mum left and it was just the three of them.

Kian’s mum looked at the pair. "Kian…" she reached his arms for him and relief flowed through his body as he fell into her embrace. Both mother and son had tears in their eyes.

"Don’t mind your father Ki, he’ll come around." Kian nodded and smiled as she continued. "I spoke to Shane’s mam. You’ll stay here until he’s calmed down."

"With Shane?"

She smiled, "Yes, with Shane." She stood up and let her soon back to his boyfriend.

"Take care of him, Shane."

"Oh, I will Mrs Egan," he said with a smile. She smiled and kissed Kian’s forehead.

"Don’t do anything stupid. Act responsibly."

Kian smiled, "We do use protection if that’s what you mean, mam."

Shane blushed. Kian’s mum laughed and ruffled her son’s hair. "Good on you. Your bags are in the hall. I will call and see how you are, ok?"

Kian nodded, "Thanx mam."

"You’re my son Kian. No matter what."

Kian hugged Shane as she left. "I love you."

"I love you more."

Kian shook his head, "Never."

Shane kissed him, "I do." Kian snuggled up to him and smiled to himself. He had Shane. Everything else would work itself out in time.