A/N: Welcome all to the last, and by far the longest, part of ‘Transitions.’

It had already been over a month since the end of the adventure camp, over a month since Ian and Malik had seen each other but both were at least happy to say that their feelings for each other hadn’t abated, not even in the slightest. If anything the distance made them more vocal of their love for each other, at least on the phone and over emails.

But that isn’t to say that they both found it amazingly difficult to cope with the distance, but they could never really do much about it. So instead they became accustomed to a new routine.

Malik would have to be up and ready for the school bus that went near his house at eight o’clock, so he generally got up between half six and seven, depending on what he needed to do that morning. every time he woke up alone he wished he was back at the camp where he could awaken to the beautiful sight of his boyfriend.

Just as his thoughts began with Ian so they would remain for most of the day, just paying enough attention to what happened around him to avoid trouble with other students and teachers. Before he didn’t really have many friends, more like acquaintances he’d never share intimate details of his life with, and nothing had really changed, but he spent a lot of his class time slyly texting Ian, random sweet messages. Anything more serious was better left to a phone call, or a rant to an email.

When he arrived home there was nothing more he wanted to do then to immediately ring Ian, but where he finished school at three fifteen, his boyfriend didn’t finish until four. He remembered being told that he went to a private school, and Malik couldn’t help but imagine what the goth would look like without his typical clothes and in a posh school uniform. ‘No doubt he’d look sexy,’ the blonde thought with a grin, deciding he’d need to get a photo off of him at some point.

As he waited for six, the time they decided that they’d ring each other, the night depending on who would call who, Malik normally settled down to do his homework, after all it was best to get it out of the way, and it helped pass the time until his mobile rang or he called his wonderful boyfriend.

They always used the mobile phones, because Malik didn’t want his parents to see on the phone bill that he had been repeatedly calling, and being called by, the same number. No doubt they’d have questions about that, especially if it wasn’t a local call and the teen wasn’t going to tell them it was his boyfriend who he loved more than his parents because he never neglected him, never forgot about, and he always seemed to be there to love him. Even if they were apart Malik was happy.

Ian’s daily routine was quite similar to his boyfriend’s. he had to get up and ready for school, only his mum drove him every morning, something the ebony haired youth was thankful for. He hated the thought of having to be on a bus of screaming teens at the best of times let alone first thing in the morning.

Once he arrived at school he lingered around in the library until the warning bell rang, and he went to his form room, except on Monday’s when it was time for the dreaded Year Eleven assembly. Read: pure boredom. First thing on a Monday morning. Which cruel person decided that fate on the eldest students in the school? Somebody needed to have serious words with them.

One thing offered by the tedium was an opportunity to obsess over his boyfriend. Something Ian didn’t mind doing to wile away the assembly, or the rest of his time stuck at school. At least he could text Malik during school and he always looked forward to the phone calls they shared. It helped make the distance bearable, when he heard the loving voice on the other end, telling him that he loved him. It made him happy.

For the most part Malik returned to an empty home. He was accustomed to this and so it had stopped bothering him. So he was suspicious when both of his parents were home and they wanted to speak to him.

That night he rang his boyfriend and attempted to ignore what his parents had told him. However Ian had grown to be very perceptive, at least when it concerned his blonde, so he immediately asked him what was wrong.

“…Nothing.” But the slight hesitation gave him away. Something was clearly wrong and Ian was determined to get to the bottom of it. “Spill it,” he ordered. Over the relationship he had gained more confidence, both of them had. And there were few secrets between them, but Malik knew what would happen if he told his boyfriend what was bothering him.

“I love you,” the blonde said, trying to distract the other long enough to change the topic. Ian wasn’t having any of that. “That’s nice to know, and you know I love you… so why can’t you tell me what’s wrong?” His tone made him sound hurt, and Malik knew right then he was going to give in.

“Fine, fine,” he sighed. “I got home earlier on and my parents were in, which is rare. I just figured they were stopping by before going away again. Well they were telling me about the cruise they’d booked for themselves. Normally I feel a little hurt at being abandoned again, but this time it’d different. Their going for Christmas and New Year…”

“Oh Malik,” Ian longed to just hug his boyfriend but he couldn’t because of the stupid distance. Well he’d just have to try and remedy that. “You should spend the Christmas period here. You can’t be alone on your birthday as well as Christmas!”

The blonde shook his head. It wouldn’t work. His parents would wonder whose house he was going to, and then wonder what was so special about Ian, because their son had gone to so many different camps, and hadn’t made any lasting friendships, and he didn’t really have friends at school. He couldn’t explain it to them. Subject change time. “We’ll talk about it some other time. It’s only October. What are you doing at the weekend?”

Ian knew that his boyfriend didn’t want to talk about it, and there wasn’t much he could do about it at the time, so instead he just went along with what Malik was saying to him. “Nothing if I get my way. My mum wants to drag me out somewhere,” he grimaced, “But I’d prefer to stay home, maybe make some very important phone calls.” He grinned, and the blonde could hear the expression in the other’s voice, and laughed slightly.

They spoke for a while that night. It was Friday and they didn’t need to worry about anything, like homework, or getting everything ready for the next day. It was nice to just talk, although both would prefer some snuggling and the like, but at least they could contact each other easily enough. They’d learnt a lot about each other since they’d left the camp, which was good, but they both wanted chance to learn a lot more.

Eventually they had to hang up, and they wished each other a ‘good night’ and both was met with a sense of lost, but at least they had the reassurance that they’d get opportunity to speak the next day, then the following day etcetera.

Next Day

Ian’s mum had won. She’d managed to drag him to some stupid travelling fair, that he would have avoided if he’d had the chance but as it turned out he really didn’t, after all mother knew best. Yeah, right. He was only doing his because he was really thankful to his mum for making him go to the stupid adventure camp which turned out to not be so stupid.

But this was going too far. His mum knew that he hated to be around large crowds, they just made him feel uncomfortable, and maybe a little paranoid. However there was a hidden agenda to this, and sure enough there hewas. His mum tried to assure him that it was just a work colleague, but he knew that his mum liked him, and from the look the guy was giving her, an adoring puppy dog look, he liked her.

He was happy for his mum. For the longest time she hadn’t wanted to let another man into her life, because she was sure it would make her only son nervous and even more withdrawn, but she knew all about his ‘friend’ from the camp, and she thought that if he was able to lessen his grip on the past that she would be able to as well.

Ian longed to make a joke or something, anything to diminish the slight edge of uncertainty in the air, but he didn’t do well with strangers, even if he had changed in recent months. Some things were too much a part of him. He did, however, smile at his mum’s friend, who turned out to be called Richard.

As they walked about the fair, partly playing at happy families, partly Ian trying his best to wander away from his mum and Richard. He kept his eyes peeled. No matter where he was always looked for people he might recognise from the camp. Even if it was unlikely he couldn’t help it. Maybe some of Malik’s optimism had been caught by the goth, and that wasn’t a bad thing. There were several times when he saw a blonde and his breath caught. He felt so sure that it was his boyfriend, but it was just a foolish dream, but rather foolish dreams then devastating nightmares.

He was loathe to admit it, but maybe it hadn’t been too terrible to stray from his house, and he knew that him meeting, and not hating, Richard meant a lot to his mum. He was glad that she seemed to be happy, just like he was, even if he hardly got to see him. Ian knew that he’d have to be persistent and try to get him to visit during Christmas even if he didn’t stay for the full holiday, as much as the younger boy wanted him to. They had to see each other, he realised, he wanted to give him a present, after all it was his boyfriend’s birthday as well.

Suddenly stopping, he noted that he’d once again strayed from his mum and Richard, then just shrugged. It wasn’t the end of the world. He walked over to one of the stalls where food was being sold, and was wondering what to get. Since Malik had found out about his lack of eating and helped him combat it, he’d been eating more and more. So instead of feeling the disgust at the variety of food, as he would have done a year ago, he actually felt spoilt for choice! He didn’t think that he’d ever see the day.

He settled on some shocking pink candyfloss, a typical fair type food. It was sweet and he smiled thinking about how hyper it would have sent Saffron. He thought that it would have been nice to be at the fair with all of his friends from the camp. Well he’d have plenty of chance to talk about it on the phone later, and he could email the others telling them about it. Well that was his evening planned out. He decided he should try and find his mum and Richard.

As he was walking he saw somebody who looked suspiciously like Malik. No doubt it was his imagination but Ian couldn’t help but follow the blonde, hoping against hope that it was him. The person stopped at a ring toss, and even though they always seemed to be rigged he managed to win one of the cuddly toys. Ian couldn’t see the smile, a strange hybrid of joy and sorrow, as he selected a snow white bear which held in it’s paws a red heart with the stitching, “I love you”.

The person turned around and Ian’s breath hitched as his heart seemed to leap. It was his boyfriend, he was sure of it. He set off to catch up with him, dodging around the unthoughtful people who had it in their minds to get in his way. He threw his arms around his boyfriend, who became understandably tense, and his lips were near the blonde’s ear and he whispered, “I missed you.”

Malik’s emerald eyes widened in shock and disbelief. “Ian?” He turned around to discover that it was indeed his enigma. “What on earth are you doing here?” he asked, not unkindly because he had wanted to see Ian more than anything, but it was unexpected and it needed explaining to him before he could truly believe it.

“Well I told you that my mum was dragging me out somewhere. Obviously I didn’t get our of it, but I’d say that’s a good thing.” He smiled at his boyfriend, who couldn’t help but melt at it. Oh yes, he was definitely in love with this other boy. It was almost enough to tempt him to give in to Ian’s requests to live with him, or at least visit. Almost. “So what are you doing here?”

The blonde shrugged. “I was fed up at home.” He remembered the teddy in his hand. “I won this for you. Not that I knew when I’d give it to you.” He handed the bear over and it was happily accepted. He received another smile, “He’s so cute!” Ian exclaimed, knowing that he’d treasure it because it was from Malik. No doubt about it, he was in love with the other boy.

Now that they were face to face, both of their minds when blank. It was Ian who broke the silence, although it was a comfortable silence, like the ones shared at the camp. “Did you have to travel far?” The drive had taken him and his mother about ten minutes.

“So you live near here?” It was a stupid question, of course he did. Regardless Ian nodded. “I thought you said you lived near nowhere notable. The sea’s pretty notable wouldn’t you say?” He smiled slightly, but inside he was hurting. Had he been lied to? He’d hate that, much more than having to have unnecessarily being apart from the other boy when he needn’t have been.

“I don’t live near the sea. It’d take ages to drive there. And I can’t really imagine having to walk there. Too much exercise for me,” he joked. But everybody had had to walk further than that at camp, with Carla reassuring her group that it really wasn’t far.

Malik was somewhat relieved. He thought that things like this, distances and whether they were far or not, were one of the things that varied from person to person. Both of them felt a little stupid for not being as thorough about their checking about where each of them lived, but they hadn’t exchanged addresses because the blonde couldn’t have anything sent to his house, and neither of them wanted any aspect of their relationship to be one-sided. That’s why they took it in turns to phone each other.

“I’m happy that we ran into each other.” Malik told his boyfriend, who replied, “Me too.” They both wished that they were somewhere more private, that they’d be able to talk a little better, be more couple-y. but in the middle of a crowded fairground wasn’t the best place for two males to show too many expressions of love.

They were talking as best as they could, sat on a bench together, when Ian’s mum found them. She recognised Malik and greeted him warmly. “Ian, love, it’s time to go.” The dark haired youth nodded his understanding, even though he wanted nothing more than to stay with his boyfriend. “Would your friend, Malik right? like to come round for tea?”

Two pairs of sapphire eyes turned on the blonde, who thought for a moment. He didn’t think that his parents would know that he’d been at somebody’s house. Maybe they’d just assume he was still out and about. That’s if they were even home yet and had seen his note. Having decided he nodded shyly. Ian’s mum seemed nice, although this was only the second time they’d met, and the first time was a lot briefer.

The three of them were sat in the car, Richard had arrived at the fair in his own car, and he thought that the two boys should have some time with fewer adults around. He’d been told that Ian had a close male ‘friend,’ and had been warned that if he wasn’t okay with that, then as much as he and Shelia got on it just wouldn’t work. Ian meant a lot to his mother, and at times he was jealous of the bond, but he hoped that he would be a part of it one day.

Although the journey was quite a quiet one it was by no means fully uncomfortable. There was just something likeable and relaxing about Ian’s mum, and she trusted her son’s judgement and therefore didn’t see any problems with Malik.

The home cooked meal was somewhat of a luxury for Malik and he enjoyed every bite, and he had also relaxed considerably since Ian’s mum had first appeared. They spoke for quite a while, Shelia sharing many embarrassing moments from her son’s life, much to his horror and the blonde’s delight. Nobody had realised how late it had gotten until Malik received a phone call. It was his dad.

After the painful conversation he sounded slightly panicked, but was still courteous, after all it was rude to be impolite after Shelia’s hospitality. “I’m sorry to leave so suddenly, but I need to get home.”

“Wait a moment,” Shelia interjected. “Why don’t I ring your parents and tell them we’d love it if you stayed the night. It would be easier,” she decided sensibly. Malik shook his head sadly. “It’s a kind offer, but I should really get home.” The longer he stayed in such a loving household the harder it would be for him to leave. Even though his boyfriend had had a troubled past he envied his present.

“At least let me drive you home.” That he could agree to. He didn’t really know the area and so wasn’t looking forward to attempting to find familiar ground. “I’m coming to then,” Ian decided, smiling at his boyfriend, who didn’t mind too much. It’s not like either of the Brookes’ were going to meet his family, he was going to make sure of it.

The two boys were sat in the back of the car, Ian’s hand rest casually on top of Malik’s, who was giving the occasional direction to his house, but Shelia knew the area fairly well. Unfortunately it didn’t take that long to get to the Stryker household, and the blonde sighed lightly before trying to get out the car. “Just wait a moment dear,” Ian’s mum told him. His heart sunk. She wasn’t going to talk to his parents was she? Shit! That’s exactly what she was doing! He attempted to get out the car, but this time it was the younger Brookes that stopped him with a puppy look. “Don’t I even get one kiss?”

Of course nobody, especially Malik, could resist such an adorably cute pleading look and so he quickly gave in, leaning towards the other, lips parted slightly before brushing against Ian’s, who immediately deepened the kiss. The time had made them both hungry and wanting each other but as the driver’s door opened they quickly put a little distance between them and attempted (but failed) to hide slightly guilty looks. It made Shelia smile, reminding her of when she was younger and caught in the act.

“I’ve arranged it with your parents,” there was a way she said the word ‘parents’ like she was insinuating that the two adults weren’t capable of being such. It’s not like she was wrong. “They agreed to let you stay tonight but you’ll need to go home tomorrow because you have school on Monday. Otherwise you’d be welcome to stay.”

Malik was speechless. What had she said to persuade them to let him stay out? Well he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, or whatever the saying was, so he wouldn’t complain.

That night was the first of many that Malik spent at the Brookes house. At the weekends and during the half term that was in October he was almost living there. It got to the point where he had several sets of clothes there, and on a Friday he was going straight to their house after school, and wouldn’t leave until late Sunday afternoon/early Sunday evening.

All three of them were happy with the arrangement, and Richard thought that it was sweet. ‘Young romance’ he often mused with a dreamy smile, although none so big as when a certain Shelia Brookes was mentioned. ‘Old romance’ as the two boys referred to it, knowing what theirs was referred to it.

“You know,” Shelia began one Saturday whilst Malik was helping prepare tea and Ian was in the living room tidying it. ‘Like a real family,’ the blonde thought wistfully. “I’ve been thinking,” she continued, “And I know that I would love it, and so you can imagine how Ian would feel, if you moved in here.”

She meant it. Malik was a good boy, and it wasn’t right that he didn’t get to experience what it was like to be a part of a happy family. She knew that they had had their dysfunction in the past, but she also knew that most of Ian’s current happiness could be attributed to the blonde haired, emerald eyed, fifteen year old boy in front of her.

Said boy wanted to very much say yes, was sorely tempted in fact, but as much as he did he worried what his parents would say. He still didn’t know how Shelia had persuaded them to let him stay in the first place.

Shelia thought she knew why Malik hesitated to say ‘yes’ even though it was obvious that was what he wanted to do. “I’ll talk to your parents for you.” With that the blonde smiled and nodded.

That was a couple of weeks ago. It was now mid November and both boys were happy with the new living arrangement. They both laughed over the fact that they believed that they were hardly ever going to see each other and now they lived together.

The shadows of the past were diminished, having been illuminated by love. They were together and most of all they were happy.

-END-

A/N: Hopefully that wasn’t too bad (laughs). I want to do two somethings for the holiday season, one for Ian and Malik, the other for Wesley and Travis. Unsure if I’ll have chance. If I do I’m going to put it separate from this, probably called ‘Specials’ or something similar, so that the ending seems more final. I hope that everybody who has read this story has enjoyed it because, as corny as it sounds, I enjoyed writing it.-

Esquirella: Thanks for continually showing your support for the story by reviewing almost every chapter. It was much appreciated!

Monnie-Chan: (laughs) I couldn’t have Ian and Malik unhappy, don’t worry. I hope you liked the ending.

Eagle Seance: I’m glad you found some of it funny, I’m not much of a comedy writer. I personally think I’m a little better with angst. Well you got more… Hope you liked it!