A/N And without further ado, I give to you, the final chapter of Golden Eyes. I hope it's everything you ever wished for.

For those of you who also follow Trapped, a new chapter has been added to that as well.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Enjoy.

And Now...Forever.

Lexis and Azure’s separation spread over a couple of weeks, the presentation having come and gone, Azure absent not surprisingly. Lexis had lost weight, though he tried to keep himself in better shape otherwise, and Azure was obviously depressed. Lexis never knew what became of the chocolates he left, and Azure made sure both the sweater and the chocolates were being worshiped.

It was the end of another long day, and Lexis waited until everyone had gone before he left his office. He always left that way, and didn’t really end up leaving his office until close to seven to avoid the people that worked late. Part of it was he didn’t want everyone to see him still scruffy and miserable, but he still had ulterior motives to staying late.

In truth he didn’t leave until close to midnight. When he was sure everyone was gone, and right before the night watch and janitors came through, Lexis found himself in Azure’s cubicle, every night, sometimes crying over his loss, but usually just sitting there, depressed as hell, running his fingers over the keyboard, holding little trinkets that Az kept there to bring life to the dismal little box.

After a while Azure had taken to leaving a sweater in the box, and Lexis took full advantage of it. He felt like a creep sometimes, but after he’d have the soft cardigan in his hands he couldn’t care less, and he’d hold it close and cover his face with it and cry. He’d never been so in love and he didn’t think he could take it anymore.

He’d thought about it more than a couple times since Azure had left him, but every time he got close, with whatever method he’d decided upon, he remembered Azure’s smiling face, those beautiful laughs and twinkling gold eyes, and decided living would be worth it if he could see that Azure just one more time.

Lexis was so wrapped up in his own thoughts again that he didn’t hear the door that opened into their area, the sound of feet in soft soled shoes making their way around towards that particular section of cubicle. When a shadow blocked the moonlight that had been lighting up the room, Lexis’ eyes snapped open and he found himself staring at the man that completely owned his life.

“Azure,” he whispered, almost awed in a way.

Azure gulped and shuffled nervously. “Umm…” he gulped. He’d been thinking to play it cool, to just ignore the fact that Lexis was sitting there, and grab his cell and leave, but this…he couldn’t. He turned around to walk away, but stopped when Lexis grabbed his wrist. He didn’t pull away when the man stood behind him and arms wrapped around him, but he did bite back tears, especially when Lexis buried his face into his neck and sobbed.

“Lexis….” It was still so weird to say that.

“Please…please I’m so sorry. Please don’t make me suffer any more, Azure, I’m begging you, I’ll do anything, gawd I’ll do anything,” Lexis sobbed, hugging Azure just a little bit tighter.

Azure snuffed and shivered at the flood of memories. “Lexis…”

They stood there together like that, both just breathing, relaxed into each other like before, when they’d stand in the yard while Snicker-doodle played, when Lexis would take Azure to the park, or the cliff and they’d just breathe together.

“I love you, Azure…”

The soft whisper broke through to his senses again and Azure sighed, pulling away carefully, wincing when Lexis’ arm tightened and tried to keep him where he was. He managed to make his way out, but took a hand, walking around the man to grab his phone, holding tight as he headed out of the office, Lexis following him without a second thought.

They stopped just outside the office building, just standing there and holding hands, like they had been as they walked through the building, made their way down the elevator, and now here. It was cold out, winter just around the corner, and Azure visibly shivered. Lexis pulled him close again on instinct, but Azure pushed away gently before he could be trapped in that warm embrace.

“Walk me to my car?” he whispered softly. Lexis just nodded and held Azure’s hand tight as they made their way across the parking lot. They walked slowly, close together, their fingers interlaced, both trying to hold back the intense urge to collapse in each other’s arms. They made it to the vehicle, one that Lexis had seen many times, but had never actually paid much attention to since Azure couldn’t drive it. The slighter man released his hand and he stood at a loss as he climbed into the blue sedan. “Get in,” Azure mumbled. Lexis rushed to do so.

They sat silently for a while, the car idling, heat on to warm them. Lexis reached over and took Azure hand in his again, holding it gently, even as he kept his eyes on the dark, dismal scene that made up the empty parking lot.

“I’ve missed you,” Azure finally mumbled through the dark.

Lexis’ heart jumped into his throat and he gulped hard. “I never meant to hurt you Azure. I swear I didn’t do it to hurt you,” he said softly, his voice pleading.

“I know, Lexis…I know. I’m just…confused,” he mumbled.

“I should have told you sooner, Az, I know I screwed up. I mean…I just…you never spoke to me, and I thought you hated me, so when you couldn’t see I took advantage of it and…god, I’m so sorry,” he said, reaching up with his free hand and rubbing at his face.

Azure tsked his tongue softly and sighed. “Alex is your middle name…right?”

Lexis nodded. “Lexis Alexander Barlow,” he mumbled.

“And you work on my floor, right?”

“Yeah?”

Azure sighed and nodded. “Where’s your car?” Lexis pointed towards the far end of the parking lot, closest to the building where the president’s spot was, and Azure tugged the car into gear, driving over and pulling in next to the familiar car.

“So…” Lexis chewed his bottom lip.

“I want to start over. Have a good night,” Azure said, not looking at him. Lexis stared at him a moment, nodded, and moved from the car, going slowly and savoring the final moments of nearness. He shut the door and Azure pulled away, driving from the parking lot and making his way home. Lexis missed that home.

Xxx

Everyone was a little stunned the following morning when Lexis came strolling into work with a soft smile on his face and a little bounce to his step. He’d shaved, cut his hair and brushed it nice, and his suit was pressed and almost new. In his hand was a special coffee, a combination that he knew by heart, and he wandered around the office until he came to the cubicle he wanted.

It was like the first time all over again, the nerves, the tension, and pure agony of the situation. He tapped lightly on the board and Azure looked up, startled to see him.

Lexis held out the coffee. “Hey…I heard you like coffee. I got this you see, and it’s not my thing. Would you like it?” he asked softly.

Azure pushed away from his desk and reached out, taking the warm coffee. “Yeah, I do like coffee…thanks,” he mumbled, bringing it down and sipping it carefully. It was his favorite.

Lexis smiled and moved in a little closer, leaning in a bit to try and avoid everyone in the suddenly silent office from overhearing them. “I was wondering…. Would you like to go out to dinner sometime? There’s this great little restaurant I know and I think you’d really enjoy it. What do you say?”

Azure stared at him a moment, and grinned. “I think it’d be great.” Lexis smiled.

Xxx

Dinner was only mildly uncomfortable. They went to the restaurant Lexis had first taken Azure to, and Azure spent the night looking over everything he hadn’t been able to see. It brought back a few of those painful memories and reminded him of how depressed he’d been, so Lexis quickly moved on from there and they went elsewhere, silently enjoying their time together.

Their night began to come to a close and Azure looked up at the man walking beside him as they headed back for their respective vehicles. He looked happy, if not a little stressed, and Azure nibbled his lower lip softly. “Thank you for dinner…It was nice,” he said.

Lexis smiled a little. “I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t sure I’d ever bring you to that restaurant again. You were so unhappy the first time.” Azure shrugged and Lexis nodded.

They wandered back to the parking lot of the particular park they’d decided to visit, and Lexis walked Azure to his car.

“Well…good night,” he said. He didn’t really want the night to be over.

“Good night,” Azure mumbled. They stared at each other for a moment before Lexis finally turned and started to slowly walk away. Azure chewed his lip and called out. “Wait, Lexis….Do…do you wanna…spend the night again?” he mumbled.

Lexis turned and looked back at him, his cheeks tinting a light red despite the dark. “If you don’t mind,” he said.

“I’m asking, aren’t I?” said Azure, no fight in his voice at all.

Lexis nodded. “Yeah…yeah I’ll stay,” he said.

Azure nodded and got into his car, Lexis doing the same, and they went home together, somewhat awkwardly. Showers that night were separate, much to Azure’s disappointment. He’d been looking forward to one of their baths, but couldn’t bring himself to request it considering everything. Lexis played with Snick a bit while Azure was bathing and they switched places when he was done, Azure going to feed the pup and smiling a bit to see that he’d already been fed.

“I’ll um…I’ll sleep on the couch, I guess,” said Lexis.

Azure looked over at him and shyly mumbled, “Why?”

Lexis blushed a bit. “Well…unless you’re all right with me uh…sleeping in here with you,” he said.

Azure shrugged. “I don’t mind,” he said and he walked in, pulling off his robe to slide into bed in nothing but his sweats. Lexis sighed and followed suit, both of them staying on their own sides of the bed.

It was a rather uncomfortable night. Neither of them could get to sleep and it was frazzling for both of them. When Azure’s alarm clock buzzed midnight they both sighed and shifted uncomfortably. After a few more minutes it was a silent approval and both men slowly and quietly scooted together, wrapping their arms around each other and immediately relaxing at that familiar, much wanted warmth.

“I love you,” Lexis whispered into Azure’s hair.

“I love you, too,” Azure mumbled back.

“I’ll give you the world, Azure,” Lexis said.

Azure smiled. “I know.”

--

Three days later Lexis was officially moved in and his apartment cleared out. He himself decided that as a gift he’d buy Azure a bigger house and he kept his promise, hiring a company to move things for them when he bought a nice house two weeks from his initial statement, close to his favorite bluff. Azure didn’t have a problem with it. The view was so incredible.

About a month after that and both of them falling for each other even more than they had before Lexis threw a giant party for Azure for no apparent reason at all and after the initial hellos and making sure food was set, he whisked the man away to the bluff where he properly proposed with the ring he’d purchased months ago. Azure promptly agreed and they camped out at the bluff for the night.

Azure sighed as he stared up at the stars, nestled against Lexis’ chest with arms wrapped around him warmly. “So it’s us forever then? No one else, just you and me and Snicker-doodle?” he asked, smiling.

Lexis nodded. “If forever’s what you want, baby, then forever’s what you’ll get. My beautiful, blond god is too good for everything and therefore he shall have whatever his heart desires,” he said, earning giggles as he snuggled down and pressed kisses to Azure’s neck.

“Good!” he said firmly. Lexis chuckled. “This is so much more than everything I’ve ever wanted. The house is amazing…I can’t believe it,” he said.

“Believe it. I do. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me,” Lexis mumbled, starting to drift off a bit.

Azure smiled. “That puts a lot on my shoulders you know.” He looked up at the man he was lying on and smiled, kissing him softly. “Good night,” he whispered.

Lexis smiled and held him close. “Good night.”