Darren sat next to Daniel, thinking deeply. He supposed he should be tired. They hadn�t gotten *any* sleep last night. Darren smiled softly at those memories. A light snore, followed by a slight shifting, brought Darren�s thoughts back to the here and now, and he looked at Daniel.

The guitarist was frowning slightly.� Darren was glad he�d decided on first class.� Let the record company bitch.� Daniel needed the extra legroom and back support. And the cushioned, high-back seat was better for his neck. Darren�s smile widened as Daniel�s grip on his hand tightened reflexively. The singer ran his thumb gently alongside the hand in his. Not hard enough to wake his husband, just enough to reassure him. He watched as Daniel�s features relaxed and the younger man sighed in his sleep.

Darren leaned his head back on his seat, thinking back over the last six months, back to when he�d first met up with Daniel while doing promotional work for his solo album. The first three days he�d gone to see Daniel, Daniel had slammed the door in his face each time.

Some people might think �three strikes and you�re out�, but it just made Darren more determined. Not being able to explain to Daniel, he�d gone to visit the Joneses before leaving for a promotion in England�����������

�So good to see you, Darren. We heard you were here promoting your new album.� Chris Jones smiled as soon as she opened the door.

Darren studied her expression. She seemed truly happy to see him. He certainly hoped that was the case after his lack of success in talking with Daniel. He returned her smile whole-heartedly, stepping into her welcoming hug.

�It�s wonderful to see you, too. Is John home?�

�No, did you need to see him? Why don�t you come in and have some coffee? I think perhaps we need to talk?�

Darren took another sip of his coffee. �So, that�s where I stand. I�d really like to apologize but frankly, I�m *afraid* to put my foot in the door.�

�Well, I hate to say it, but the way it all came out really hurt Daniel more than he let on. He put on a good face for all the reporters and he was still protective of you, but there was hurt in his eyes when he tried to convince me it was all okay.�

�I� I could tell when I talked to him on the phone, the last time he talked to me� I *really* want to apologize� I feel so bad� I�I was still hurt by Daniel not wanting to perform��

�Darren, he was exhausted and you *know* that! You saw how thin he�d become! He needed a long break. And you *know* Sony wasn�t going to give it to you.�

Darren nodded guiltily. That had been one big argument. One of many, at the end.

�And he�s *still* thin, Darren. I�m more than a bit worried, but he won�t talk to me, or John, *or* his brothers.�

�Well, I�d still like to talk to him, but I need to leave early in the morning for England. I�ll be gone for three days and then I�ll be back, come hell or high water,� he smiled sadly. �Could� would you give him a note for me? Please?�

Chris nodded. �Of course, Darren,� she smiled understandingly.

He pushed a folded piece of paper across the table. �It�s not everything I wanted to say, but I�m hoping it will be enough that he will at least listen when I get back. Do you�do you think you could be sure he reads it? I hate to ask, but�� Darren shrugged, gingerly wiping at the tears that had begun to fall.

�I�ll do my best, Darren.� Chris replied kindly.

He nodded again, his lips pressed together in a frown, and stood up.� She followed suit, then gave him another hug.

�He�ll come around, Darren. I truly believe that. I *know* he misses you terribly. Please don�t give up on him.�

�I won�t, Chris. I treasure his friendship too much.�

She walked Darren to the door.

�Be sure to stop by when you get back. Let me know how it goes?�

�I will,� he nodded. �Thanks, Chris. I appreciate it.�

Darren put on his public face in London.� If Leonie had been there, she would have known immediately something was wrong with him, but Sharon, while being an excellent assistant and personal trainer, didn�t know him well enough. By the end of his third day in England, there were dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. Sharon told him he needed to see a doctor. He gave his worst performance ever at a live radio broadcast, just thankful no one could see his face during the performance. His assistant insisted they cut the after-broadcast interview short, intending to take him to see a doctor.

�No, Sharon. I don�t need a doctor. I�m going back to Australia. I just need some rest. I haven�t been sleeping well.�

�Well, if you insist. I wish you would have told me. Let me book��

�Already done. Round trip ticket. I want you to go back to San Francisco and tell Leonie to cancel all my appearances and to *not* make any new ones, until I tell her otherwise.�

�But, Darren��

�I mean it, Sharon. I�m exhausted. I�m going home to rest.� And I want privacy� I�ll see you whenever I get back to Frisco.�

Sharon frowned, then acquiesced. He smiled inwardly as they got back to the hotel.� Leonie would have grilled him. Of course, she probably would have guessed, or come close to guessing what was going on. Thank goodness for slow learners.

He packed as soon as he got back to his room, called a cab, and in a couple of hours was winging his way back to Daniel.

The singer was exhausted when he embarked.� He tried to eat the salad he�d requested for the flight, but his nerve twisted stomach had threatened to revolt, so he gave it up as a bad job.� He�d hoped the tediousness of the flight back to Brisbane would be enough to quiet his sleep-deprived mind, but he worried the whole flight back.� Had Chris given Daniel his note? Had he read it? What did he think? Would he listen? Nothing stopped the thoughts and nothing distracted him enough to keep them away.

He sighed with relief when he finally landed in Brisbane.� Realizing he was too tired to drive, he caught a taxi and gave them Daniel�s address rather than his parent�s. He was feeling more than a bit lightheaded when the taxi pulled into Daniel�s driveway.

�Can you wait, please?� Darren asked quietly, remembering all too well the reception he had received a few days earlier.

The taxi driver nodded and Darren got out. He walked a bit unsteadily to Daniel�s door.� Three days of near sleeplessness and worry were beginning to take their toll.� He knocked on the door and waited.� He heard the slight sound of footsteps and then the door was opening.

�Darren?�

�Hello, Daniel.� Darren�s voice was coarse, barely more than a whisper. His energy was draining fast.

�Are you all right, Darren? You look terrible.�

�No� I�m not� I�m not all right, Danny. I�I��

A wave of nausea roared over him moments before blackness engulfed him.

When Darren�s eyes fluttered open, the first thing his blue eyes focused on were the worried emerald orbs of Daniel Jones.� The guitarist was placing a damp cloth on his forehead, concern darkening the younger man�s features.

�Why, Darren?� The doctor said you�ve exhausted yourself. How did you get this way?�

Darren�s eyes widened as he quickly looked around himself.� Not a hospital room.� So he must still be at Daniel�s.

�You know I�d never take you to a hospital unless it was an emergency.� I footed the bill for a house call.�

The singer studied his former partner, and one-time lover.� There was a small smile on the younger man�s face now.

The guitarist leaned forward a bit, wrapped the long fingers of his right hand behind Darren�s neck, and carefully tilted his head, putting a glass to the singer�s lips.

�Chicken broth. You�re supposed to drink it before you go back to sleep,� he explained, smiling at the confusion on Darren�s face. �It�s still warm. I�ve got good timing, I think.�

Darren drank the broth, taking pleasure in the feel of Daniel�s hand on his neck again, the gentle touch and concern of the man he�d feared would turn him away again.� When he�d finished the broth, Daniel gently lowered his head back down onto the pillow.

�Daniel, I��

�Shh�� Daniel put his index finger on the older man�s full lips. �Sleep. You need rest. We can talk after you�ve rested.�

�Promise?� The singer�s plaintive voice was little more than a murmur.

Daniel gifted him with a full smile. �I promise. Now sleep.�

Managing a small smile of his own, Darren closed his eyes and finally was able to sleep. The smell of Daniel filled him with a calm he hadn�t felt in months, while the guitarist�s fingers made gentle, soothing motions on his chest.

When Darren next woke Daniel was asleep beside him, snuggled close. A surge of nostalgia washed over him.� How many times had they awakened like this?� And why was Daniel beside him?� He hadn�t even spoken an intelligent word, as far as he could remember, so what had changed?� If driving himself into the ground had changed Daniel�s mind, then he�d find a way to forego food and sleep permanently. A soft nuzzling of his shoulder and he found himself caught in twinkling green pools. His breath caught and his heart started to race.

�Penny for your thoughts,� Daniel�s low voice smiled as his lips curled in an understanding grin.

�I�uh� not that I�m complaining, you understand� but��

�Why are we in bed together?� Daniel�s grin widened at the cheeky question.

Darren nodded.

Daniel draped himself over Darren�s chest, his face turned toward Darren�s. His gaze was serious. �I had a long talk with my Mum�� he broke his gaze away from the singer�s before he continued. �And I read your letter��

�Oh?� Hope and curiosity were twined around the word as it slipped out.

Emerald eyes captured sapphire again.� Affection was tinged with a bit of uncertainty. �You said you regretted what happened��

Darren nodded slightly. �I do.�

�Even though you�ve said you never regret��

�I was wrong.�

Daniel favored him with a heartfelt smile.� �I�d hoped that was what you meant.�

�So, you�ve forgiven me?�

�I�m working on it.� Daniel said, his fingers playing with the hair of Darren�s chest.� He rose up on one arm, leaning in close to the singer. �Kiss me, Darren��

�Darren� Darren.�

�Hunh? What?�

�We�re landing, Darren.� Daniel�s voice held amusement as the singer struggled to gain comprehension.

�Landing?�

�Yeah. San Francisco. Remember?�

�Oh. Yeah,� his voice grew livelier. �Of course I remember,� he grinned.

Daniel smiled back at him and he sighed. That day had laid the foundation for their renewed friendship and he had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. He had always hoped to win Daniel back, but as close as they�d been, the guitarist had never hinted he might be able to conceive.� Now they were expecting.� The one thing Darren had always wanted, other than Daniel, was to be a father. And to think that just showing Daniel how much he loved him had given him this wonderful gift.

�What?� Daniel asked curiously, a crooked grin on his face.

Darren grinned madly. �I�m just happy, Daniel. Just happy.�� With that, he leaned over and kissed the guitarist passionately.

�tbc�