Chapter Twenty Eight: The Final

Take me as I am

“Happy birthday, Babe,” Sam kissed Adrien on the cheek. “How’s it feel to be twenty?” He asks sweetly in Adrien’s ear.

Adrien smiled. It was the tenth, their collective birthday, the one everyone was invited to. A mere five days ago they’d had a small dinner in Sam’s honor, in five more Adrien would have his, but today was the party, the big event. Sam called it present day while Adrien like to call it an occasion.

“Feels great,” Adrien answered. His eyes were still closed, but he knew Sam was smiling too.

“We should get ready, you know,” Sam said. The bed shifted in such a way that Adrien could tell he was getting up.

“Uh-huh,” Adrien replied sleepily.

“Like, today,” Sam said.

A nod from the other man.

“I should rephrase that, I meant now,” He insisted.

“Do I have to?” Adrien whined.

“Adrien, people didn't come here for nothing, now get your butt up.”

Adrien gasped in feigned outrage. “Is that anyway to talk to your lover?”

“When they’re lazy,” Sam laughed. “I’ve already taken a shower and everything, and I can’t go down there without you. Now, come on, it’s not everyday you get to see these people.”

“Isn’t that enough reason to stay in bed?” Adrien asked, getting up all the same. “I could do without all the pats on the back and the it’s-so-good-to-see-you’s.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be going through it too; you know my family is out there too.”

“Why are they even here when we’re still asleep?” Adrien asked, plucking his clothes from the closet before heading to the bathroom.

“They think we’re getting ready,” Sam replied sheepishly. Adrien gave him an incredulous look until he saw Sam wasn’t joking.

“God, who’d we put in charge of guests?”

“Royal and Christine,” Sam replied.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Adrien answered, getting a swift shake of the head from Sam. “Crap,” He said, leaving his clothes on the dresser and darting into the bathroom, hiking his sweatpants down as he turned on the shower. “If you’d wanted to get me moving earlier,” He said from the shower stall. “That is what you should’ve told me.”

Sam smiled as he stood from the bed, straightening his clothes. It really wasn’t anything fancy, just the darkest washed denim he could find, ironed until the crease he’d made in the front of the pants leg was crisp, coupled with a light green stripy dress shirt that wasn’t supposed to be tucked in. His hair? Brushed back on the sides and a small fringe in the front.

Nothing could ruin this day, not even that dull pain in his knee that was starting to grow. He’d told Adrien about it a few days prior and together they went to the doctor and pharmacist to get him an actual prescription for his old knee injury. They said it would always hurt, on and off, for the rest of his life, but the more he exercised the less it’d hurt. Until he got to that point came though, they gave him the pills.

The shower turned off seven minutes later, followed by Adrien’s exit of the now steam-filled bathroom. He was drying his hair with his towel as he walked back into the bedroom.

“Hey, careful there,” Sam warned. “You’re dripping all over the carpet.”

Adrien looked at the small wet spots he’d caused. “They’ll dry,” He shrugged as he sat on the bed, still dripping from the shower.

“College kids,” Sam rolled his eyes jokingly. “It’s always ‘it’ll be fine’ or ‘don’t worry about it.’ Such apathy,” He grinned.

“Oh of course,” Adrien smiled at him, toweling off his abdomen and legs. “Throw me my bottoms, please?” Adrien asked Sam, receiving a lap full of underwear and jeans. “Shirt?” He asked once he had those on. Unlike Sam, Adrien was wearing a well worn pair of blue jeans that smelled—and probably always would smell—slightly of hash. They were baggy on him, hanging around his legs, yet hugging his hind quarters like nobody’s business—the reason Adrien loved them. For a shirt he wore a tight black t-shirt and an open dress shirt that went down to his hips as a sort of jacket. He had a string necklace with a single shell as a pendent. His hair pretty much did it’s own thing, following it’s natural part until Adrien had to tuck it behind his ears so people could see his face.

“Ready?” Sam asked, slipping into a pair of semi-dressy shoes.

“Yeah,” Adrien said, moving away from the vanity.

“Shoes?” Sam reminded.

“What about ‘em?” Adrien countered, making it perfectly clear he wasn’t going to wear any. “It’s just the backyard.”

“Point taken,” Sam said, exiting to the stairs. “Wait,” He said turning around briefly. “Do you have it?”

“Yes, Sam, I have it,” Adrien smiled at his apprehension.

“All right, just checking,” He said, patting his own pocket as they went downstairs.

“Ah, our wonderful couple,” they heard Royal say. “Finally ready to greet your guests?”

Adrien smirked. “Maybe.”

“Now come out here. I’ve told them every single thing I could think of for you to still not be here other than you’re screwing like rabbits.”

“You should’ve,” Adrien told him as they walked to the kitchen to bring out trays of snacks before they exited. “It would’ve been funny.”

“I tested on your mom, and she didn’t take it too well,” He admitted.

“What do you expect? She’s pregnant; she doesn’t take anything too well. Add to that the fact she’s not getting any and talking about someone who is will make her a tad angry.”

“Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she’s not getting any,” Royal pointed out.

“She isn’t,” Adrien said steadfastly as all three of them exited to the back porch where they said hello to everyone reclining there before going pasted the screened in porch to the refreshments table. “Everyone isn’t like you and Christine, you know,” He reminded.

“True,” Royal responded. Christine was over with Helen at the time, both of them talking about, what else, pregnancy matters, Helen almost mentoring to the younger woman. Christine was still in her first trimester.

“Did you guys ever find out if it was a boy or a girl?” Sam asked.

“Well, we were right,” Royal said. “It’s a boy,” He smiled like the proud father he was going to be before going over to someone who’d called him.

“Who are they?” Sam asked.

“His parents,” Adrien informed him and Sam nodded. “Speaking of parents, let’s go say hi to yours,” Adrien said. It was after many mingling sessions with the likes of Mr. and Ms. Anderson, Helen and Daniel, Peter and Dylan, Jennifer, Eric, and Brittany, Mr. and Ms. Samajeste and the new Mr. and Ms. Samajeste (BKA Royal and Christine) that Sam and Adrien finally split up to talk to their own individual friends. Sam went to talk to Daniel and his own college buddy Brian and Rory while Adrien talked to Dani, Steve, Eric, and Jesus—a surprise in itself that the boy accepted the invite. Adrien smiled when he saw him, giving him a hug as well, just as he’d done the others.

“I’m glad you came,” Adrien smiled at the other man.

“I’m glad I came too,” Jesus admitted. “How’ve you been?”

“Surprisingly well,” He said.

“So that’s just how art school has been? Okay?” Steve smirked.

“Well, you know,” Adrien rolled his eyes with a smile. “How about you guys? How’s college been for you all?”

“Fine, since I haven’t started yet,” Eric stated humorously.

“Did you even apply?” Dani asked him.

He smirked. “No.” Jesus as well as Adrien gave him questioning glances. “I studied for a trade; I’m a certified cosmetologist.”

“And the fact that you’ve ever tried to convince me you were straight just got negated once again,” Dani commented, getting a laugh.’

“That’s kind of stereotypical,” Steve defended Eric.

“Maybe if he wasn’t so stereotypical…”

“In my defense, I never tried to convince you of my sexuality,” Eric said.

“Oh of course not, you just pulled that whole, ‘I’ve got a girlfriend, but she’s just a girl whose a friend,’ and then that whole, ‘well, yeah, as a dare,’ escape when I asked you if you’ve ever kissed a guy.”

“Well it was,” Eric responded.

“Yeah, but you didn’t tell me that you’d ever done so of your own free will.”

“Technically they kissed me,” He informed her.

“Oh give me a break,” Dani rolled her eyes.

“I can kind of see where he’s coming from,” Jesus said.

“Only because you pull the same crap all the time,” Dani said.

“As I said, I could relate,” He smirked.

“Well, regardless, I think it’s wonderful. I mean, Jen has been trying to fix Steve’s whole issues for forever. To think, all she had to do was look under her own roof.”

“Wait,” Adrien said in relation to Dani’s last comment. “You guys—you’re together?” He asked Eric and Steve.

They shrugged in unison.

“Not exactly…” Steve said.

“They’ve been talking back and forth and visiting since May,” Dani informed Adrien and Jesus.

“Oh?” The boys said in unison. Steve and Eric just kind of nodded.

“But we’re not really a couple or anything,” Steve said.

“Yeah,” Eric reinforced.

“Of course not,” Dani said. “Because you’re straight,” She rolled her eyes.

“I never said I was, but considering the circumstance…”

“Circumstance?” Jesus asked.

“It’s nothing, really,” Eric brushed the subject away.

“Eh, I guess that’s cool. You guys don’t have to say you’re a couple if you don’t want to. I mean, it’s not like you had sex or anything,” Jesus commented offhandedly. Almost immediately Eric’s eyes widened—kind of amusing seeing as he was half Asian—and Steve’s face went impossibly red.

“Oh my God,” Adrien just stared.

“Well…” Steve said. “On the bright side, I won’t be annoying your sister anymore,” He said of Jennifer.

Eric laughed, half out of nerves the other out of genuine entertainment. “Yeah, she can’t complain anymore.”

“Adrien,” Adrien heard his name whispered precariously close to his ear as hands slipped down his body and arms wrapped around his waist.

“Hmm?” Adrien looked to his right at Sam who was currently nuzzling his neck, eyes closed and a content smile on his face.

“They’re ready for us…”

“Who is?”

“Royal, who else better to do this than his majesty?” Sam joked, pulling away and settling for holding Adrien’s hand. Adrien parted with his group of friends and let Sam lead him away.

“Right,” Adrien smiled. The crowd gathered, all standing; the ceremony wasn’t going to take long.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Royal said, clearing his throat in an authoritative manner. His parents looked as if they were going to die; they’re former pothead deadbeat of a son was going to pastor a wedding.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Sam reminded Adrien as Royal talked.

“I want to,” Adrien said. It was the ultimate compromise; Sam got his ceremony and Adrien made sure the government stayed out of their love affairs—a win-win. “I actually do want to do this,” He whispered to Sam.

“Oh?” Sam asked.

Royal looked at Adrien expectedly, rolling his eyes and that’s how Adrien knew he’d missed his cue.

“Yes?” Adrien asked knowing that Royal would’ve only said his name.

“Will you hold this man’s, Sam Anderson’s, hand in public, even if he looks like a god-awful swamp thing?”

“I will, but I’ll try to at least fix his hair or something first.”

“Will you stick with him, through sickness and in health?”

“I’ll be tried and true,” Adrien answered.

“Will you help him through the hard times?”

“Absolutely.”

“Does he make you weak in the knees?”

Adrien blushed; Royal said he wasn’t going to ask that. “Yes.”

“Is he all that?”

“Duh.”

“Have you ever been heart broken before?”

“Yes,” Adrien affirmed.

“How, then, will you love him, ‘Dri?”

“With all the pieces of my heart.”

Royal smiled, turning to Sam. “Sam?”

“Yes?”

“Will you hold this man’s, Adrien Mitchell’s, hand in public, even if he looks like a crack who—drug addict?” Royal amended at the last moment. The last thing needed at a ceremony was mentions of whores.

“I will, but I’ll try to clean him up first.”

“Will you stick with him through sickness and in health?”

“I have and will continue.”

“Will you help him in the hard times?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Does he make you all twitterpated?”

“Yeah,” Sam smiled shyly.

“Is the bee’s knees?”

“Completely.”

“Have you ever had your heart broken?”

“Multiple times,” Sam admitted.

“How, then, will you love him, Sam?”

“With all the little pieces.”

“Good,” Royal smiled, his job being done. “It’s time for the asking of the hands,” He nodded to Adrien.

Adrien blinked, his throat slowly tightening to a close. “Sam?” He looked into the green eyes of his lover. “In our past basically two years, I have to offer you my honesty, my love, my comfort, my body, in exchange will you, in front of these people, our friends and family, accept me as your friend, lover, and,” Adrien struggled out the last word. “Husband?”

Sam paused impossibly long. “I take your honestly, love, comfort, body, and offer you mine, all I have to offer after almost two years. Do you accept it?”

“I do.”

“Will you, in front of everyone, accept me as you friend lover and husband?” Sam’s eyes were glistening.

“I will,” Adrien whispered.

“With this ring, I give you a token of my offerings,” Sam said, pulling a silver ring with emeralds and diamonds embedded in it from his pocket. He slid it on Adrien’s left hand ring finger. “Will you have it?”

“I will. With this ring,” Adrien said pulling one from his own pocket—a silver one embedded with diamonds and sapphires. “I present you with a token of my offerings.” He slipped it on Sam’s left ring finger. “Will you have?”

“Of course,” Sam said seemingly effortlessly.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Royal said for the second time that day. “I now present to you our newly weds,” He smiled, turning them to face the crowd instead of each other. Everyone was clapping, ecstatic and gleeful expressions on their faces.

“Give us a kiss!” someone shouted—it sounded like Steve, or maybe Jesus, possibly Jennifer—either way, Adrien found that even though his ability at speech was leaving him, his instinct to kiss hadn’t.

Epilogue

Familiar territory

"Five accursed days and we just haven't been left alone," Adrien grumbled as he slammed the phone into its crib.

"You'd think people would at least have the courtesy to call until after we declare our honeymoon over," Sam commented, putting up the dishes of Adrien's birthday dinner.

"Yeah, but they still have to wish me a happy fucking birthday," He growled.

"Aww, someone grumpy?" Sam smirked at him. They hadn't had a moments peace in literally five days. The phone calls had ceased when they unplugged the cord, but then the driveway was constantly full. Even direct inquiries to leave didn't shoo them away. As a result, the visitors left them tired at night and slightly loathsome in the morning for lack of restful sleep.

"That's an understatement," Adrien commented. "I thought people were supposed to have sex on honeymoons."

"Oh, so it's just about getting me in bed?" Sam jested.

"Well...I didn't want to say anything..." Adrien smirked. Sam walked—more like strutted—over to where Adrien was sitting, tugging him to get up by his collar.

"Well, since you want some, come get some," He said, releasing Adrien, going up the stairs, knowing the other man would follow.

"So, that's how it's going to be?" Adrien asked, right behind Sam on the stairwell. He stopped him at the top platform, pulling him close in a needy kiss. Sam fiercely kissed him back, taking the breath right out of him. Adrien pulled back for air. "God, that felt good," He said winded.

He reconnected their lips, gracious for the contact. He backed up, having Sam against him and the wall behind him. He reached up to wear

Sam's hands were above him and moved them down to his waist, under his shirt, down the back of his pants just to show him his lack of underwear.

"Were you planning on this?" Sam looked back at him, red lips parted just so.

"Maybe. Why? You don't like?" Adrien asked as innocently as one could ask with sexed-up hair and make-out swolen lips. "No, no, I like, trust me," Sam said, moving along with the flow as

Adrien was leading them to their bedroom. "Good," Adrien said. "Because I was just thinking, you know, since it's been so long..." Adrien began to unbutton his shirt as he back up to the bed, sitting at the foot. "God, I can't even remember," He said in thought. "Can you?" Adrien asked Sam as he discarded his shirt. "You know," He said, sliding his pants to his ankles and kicking them off.

"The last time we...switched up the roles..."

Sam's expression was positively afire with lust.

"I was thinking," Adrien began, scooting back to the head of the bed, completely exposed to Sam. "Maybe we could for our first time together," He held up his left hand, gesturing to his wedding band.

Sam's shirt was already off when he came to the side of the bed. "Of course," Sam said. "That is, if you want, I mean, if you're okay with that and all," Sam added, a sliver of rationality returning to him. They hadn't done anything of the sort since before the April of Adrien's senior year. Since then it had always been Sam on bottom, and Sam didn't object, not minding one bit. Still, he had wondered when and if the day would come that Adrien would be comfortable with him like that again.

Apparently that time was now. Adrien got out the lube as Sam fumbled with the button and zipper of his pants, really only because he was half concentrating on getting them off and the other half caught on Adrien as he lubed his fingers and slowly placing them to his entrance before he pressed them through. His face registered the pain, but remembered and expected it. Something was missing though, Sam thought as he finally got his pants and underwear down. The pleasure wasn't there, Sam decided as he got on the bed with Adrien, knowing he'd be content to just do it like usual or lie there with him.

Adrien inhaled sharply, causing Sam to stir in alarm. Was he hurt? Was he having a flashback? Maybe it was a bad idea to agree to this. All these thoughts and more swam through Sam's head before he took the time to look, really look, at Adrien face. His mouth was open, eyes closed, and it was obvious he was clenching around his fingers. "God, that feels so good," He whispered to himself. "How could I have forgot that?" He

asked Sam, his eyes opening. He'd found his spot.

Sam grinned. "I don't know," He answered. "But, if you're ready..." Sam

said, his hardness brushing against Adrien.

"I'm still really tight," Adrien said.

"I can fix that," Sam said, picking up the tube of lubrication. “I can fix that in a minute. How do you want it?” Sam asked as he fingered Adrien. “Slow? Nice and easy?”

“Don’t try to reacquaint me,” A shiver ran through Adrien. “I want the real deal; hard, fast, and loud.”

“Oh?” Sam raised an eyebrow, jamming his fingers deep inside of Adrien. He added his third finger to the mix, seeing Adrien wince at the intrusion before letting his eyes flutter close. “You sure? You want all of that?”

Adrien nodded. “Mhmm.”

“How was that you wanted it again? Fast and loud,” He said, making Adrien moan as he moved his fingers. “And hard?”

Adrien, breathing ragged, opened his eyes and answered Sam with, “Use your imagination."

---

A/N: Yeah, so it's finally over, but I still have other stories; check 'em out if you want. But...moving onto the part hardly anyone's going to read (but I feel compelled to put it) acknowledgements: thanks "Bubba" and "Prez" who unknowingly inspired this story (starting with No Education) one day in world history class. Who knew suggestively leaning in a door during a history class would get stories on the internet about people who look and act nothing like you? Amazing, I know, even though you'll never read this (hopefully).

Ta.