Return to Me by Jair

Disclaimers: Two guys, (whom, by the way, I don't own in any way, shape or form) together. Snogging and what have you, to boot. Enjoy!

Dedication: You know who you are�

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Two weeks is an eternity when you're nineteen years old and in love. Justin sighed impatiently.

He stared out the window of the flat, twirling a lock of his sun-touched auburn hair idly round his finger. The sun bled its orange light into the sky as it disappeared behind the open fields to the west of town.

He smiled, though inside he was growing more anxious by the moment.

Percy would be home today. Any minute.

He was sure it had been the longest two weeks of his life. He again recalled the day Percy had left. Justin sitting on the bed they shared, twirling his hair much as he did right now, as Percy packed his robes and other travel essentials into a small leather travel bag. Arguing with him, because he hated so much to see him go.

"But! Why can't I come with you Perce? Just like last time, when you went to Belgium?"

Percy stopped folding his Ministry of Magic robes and looked at Justin over top of his horn-rimmed glasses. It always gave Justin a small thrill when he did that, as if something about the glass of the lenses blocked the intensity of his azure gaze. Justin shivered. "Because, this is Ministry business. I�I'll be honest with you. I can't have you distracting me."

Justin's face fell. He felt the tears begin to well up in his eyes, and turned his face away. Percy quickly rushed to his side, however, and put a comforting arm around his shoulders. "No! That's not what I meant. I meant that, well," Justin looked away, fighting back the tears, but Percy placed his fingers on his chin and tipped Justin's face up towards his gently. "What I meant was that I can never think straight around you. It's a good thing, really it is."

"Really? You mean that?"

"Of course I do. But, I really need to be on my toes for this visit. Relations between British and Indian wizards have always been fragile, and it's highly important that we get this deal hammered out."

"I�understand." I don't have to like it, though.

"And besides, you couldn't just leave Ernie to run the shop on such short notice, could you?"

"No." And deep inside, he knew that it just wouldn't be fair to Ernie, leaving him all alone to run the small broomstick shop they'd just opened last year. But� "That still doesn't mean I want you to go."

"And it doesn't mean that I want to go. I'll miss you terribly, you know that."

"And I'll miss you. My gosh�like you don't know, Percy."

"I think," It was Percy's turn to feel like crying. I love you Justin. I love you with all my heart. I've never been happier. I hate leaving you. I hate having this same conversation, every month. I'm�afraid. Afraid that one day you'll grow tired of my absences. That one day�I'll come home, and you won't be here. "I think�I know very well, Justin. Too well. I hate this. I really do. I wish I didn't have to travel so much. Didn't have to spend half the year in strange places, away from you."

"I know�I'm just�" Afraid. Afraid that one of these days you'll meet someone in one of those strange places. Someone who's smarter than me. Or funnier. Cuter. In some way better, and that one of these days you'll fail to come home to me. That's why I miss you so much. I love you. "I love you, Percy."

"I love you too, Justin. With all my heart." He bent his head and engaged Justin in a deep kiss. Reluctantly, he tore his lips away. "Wow. Too much of that, and I'll never make it to India�"

"Would that be a bad thing?" Justin asked, half-serious.

"Do I have to answer that?" No. I could be happy spending the rest of my life in your arms. Yes, I'm trying to prevent a war. No�yes�I don't know.

Justin removed Percy's arm from around his shoulder with great unwillingness. "Go. Pack." He gave him a playful push. "I don't want you to be late."

"All right�"

Later that evening, standing in the kitchen, they said their final goodbyes.

"I love you, Justin," Percy said, kissing him.

"I love you, Percy." Justin said, looking up at him, still slightly breathless from the passion that was in that kiss.

Percy Apparated out of the flat with a small pop.

After he'd gone, Justin whispered the same thing he did every time.

"Return to me."

Justin blinked awake.

The sun had set. Justin yawned and stretched. He thought of getting up to put some tea on, but changed his mind, and instead watched the streetlights come on in the muggle parts of the town below. He looked from the pinpricks of light in the town to the stars in the sky, noting bemusedly that they were awfully similar.

"Where are you, Percy?" He said aloud, thinking that maybe his worst fears had finally come true.

"Right here, Justin," said a voice from the doorway behind him.

Justin fell out of his chair onto the floor. "Percy!" He leapt up and flung himself onto the black-clad figure that stood there in the doorway.

"Miss me?"

"More than you know! Oh! When did you get back?"

"About an hour ago."

"Why didn't you wake me?" Justin felt a bit put out.

"Well," Percy was glad Justin couldn't see him blushing in the dim light. "You looked so peaceful sleeping, and�I just love watching you sleep."

"Percy�I missed you so much! I�so tell me about your trip. How was it?"

"It was nice�"

"Nice? That's all?"

"Well, there is more�but right now�" He bent and kissed Justin briefly, and Justin could feel the mischievous smile on his lips. Percy took his hand and led him towards the bedroom. "Right now�you and I have a different sort of catching up to do."

Justin grinned broadly as he followed him.