2minsforslashing | An update...finally (Reply)

Title: You Are My Signal Fire (Part 39)
Characters: Andrew Raycroft / Ian White
Rating: PG-13ish
Setting: Steinbach, Manitoba
Disclaimer: I don’t own these players, nor do I know their sexual preferences. The whole thing is a work of my imagination. The title is part of the lyrics from snow patrol’s song ‘Signal Fire’.

Ian's POV

We woke up a little while before my parents got home from their outtings, which was good because I don't think I would have been able to take another fight. We were sitting downstairs watching TV when my dad came home, he paused at the sight of us and was about to walk away when I called out to him.

"Dad wait!"

"Let's not talk about this now. I'm tired. I'm hungry. And I just got home from work."

"Then when are we going to talk about it? You can't just avoid me for the rest of my trip here, and you're overreacting anyways."

"Overreacting?!" his voice started to rise and his gaze landed on Andrew, who shrank back slightly. "Would you mind giving me and my son a minute to talk...alone?"

Andrew was in the process of getting up when I grabbed his arm and pulled him back on to the couch, "No! He's going to hear about it anyways. So you might as well save us both some time and let him stay as oppose to making me retell it later."

"Fine."

"Fine. Now can I start by saying that this morning isn't what you thought it was."

"You can try, but I know what I saw."

"No dad, you only saw what you wanted to see..."

"Then what were you doing?"

"I'd lost a sock under the covers and I was trying to get it. Before that we were just sleeping...you know...people do that sometimes..."

"Don't be a smartass. I just...don't see why you couldn't just sleep in separate rooms. You know the house rules...it wouldn't be any different if you had brought home a girl."

I burst out laughing at the last comment, "That is such bullshit! If it were a girl we wouldn't even be having this conversation. You guys would already be asking me when the wedding is and how long until we give you guys grandchildren."

"Uh...wedding?" Andrew asked nervously in the background.

I ignored the comment and pressed on with my rant, "Besides dad we sleep in the same bed every night. You'll have to get used to that. Because..." I took a deep breath, "We live together."

...Silence...

Andrew shook his head putting his head in his hands, "Oh...no."

I rounded on him next, "What?! What are you hiding for? Are you embarassed? Because if I'm the only one in this...please let me know. I mean I wouldn't want to put my parents through all this for nothing!" I hadn't meant to take it out on him, but the comment had completely caught me off-guard. I thought we were in this together. That he was going to be there for me. He knew what this was a huge step for me and I needed to know he would be right behind me.

"Of course you're not alone," he grabbed my hand and squeezed it, instantly forcing a smile to form on my lips despite my anger.

"You live together? ...exactly how long has this been going on?" For a moment I had completely forgotten that my dad was even in the room.

"Oh...well a couple months now I guess."

"And how long have you known...about...you know..."

"I think I've always known...I just didn't feel comfortable admitting it to anyone but myself until I was about 17."

My dad sighed and sat down beside me, "I think I always knew too. I just hoped it was a phase."

"Well it's not."

"Evidently."

"I didn't intend to dump all this on you guys all at once and especially not while on vacation...but due to unforseen circumstances..."

"I'm not even upset about your life choices Ian! I'm upset that you lied to me...to your mother. You could have told us! We would have understood. I'm mad that you've been lying to us for the last 7 years."

I felt my head hang lower in shame...it really did sound bad. I hadn't meant to deceive them for so long, "I'm sorry, I was..."

"What? You were what Ian?" my dad prompted.

"I was scared okay?" Andrew squeezed my hand again. My dad sat down on the other side of me and squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "Why would you ever be scared to tell me anything?"

"Because I know how people react. I know people whose parents didn't react well to hearing their son's "sexual preference" and now they don't talk anymore. I just didn't want to take the chance that you guys wouldn't speak to me. I didn't want to lose you guys."

"We're still here kiddo. We'll always be here. No matter what." He pulled me into a half-hug, similar to the one I had received at the airport and I felt the last of the knots in my stomach loosen and disappear. He cleared his throat as we separated, "I think from the smell in the kitchen that dinner's about ready."

My dad got up and left and when he was gone into the kitchen Andrew turned to me and pulled me into a hug, "Aww, that was so cute. I think I threw up a little in my mouth from the cheesiness."

I grinned, always the cynic, "I guess that means you don't want dinner...so sad...oh well, more for me."

"Your mom's cooking?" he jumped over the couch and we raced to the kitchen, "Just hold me back!:"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After we were both stuffed with steak, potatoes and good conversation we retreated to the guest room and welcomed the feel of the queen size mattress beneath us.

We got into our pyjamas and crawled into bed, I cuddled up next to andrew feeling totally comfortable for the first time in my home. Andrew ran a ahnd through my hair as the other one traced lightly up and down my arm and I found myself quickly drifting off to sleep. The last thing I remember hearing was Andrew's voice, a low grumble in my ear, barely audible...like he didn't want me to hear it. "I'm proud of you." I felt his warm lips make contact with my forehead, "I love you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I blinked my bleary eyes a few times before noting that the bed beside me was empty...no wonder I was cold. Sitting up I looked around to see Andrew sitting on the windowsill bench and looking out at the sky. It must have been early in the morning because it was still dark out and the sky still speckled with stars. He glanced over at me as the sheets rustled together, "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

"Come back to bed." I craned my neck to look out the window but I couldn't see so I reluctantly got out of bed. Abandoning the warm covers and making my way over to the other warm body in the room, "What are you looking at anyways?"

"The stars. Can't see them in Toronto...too much smog. The sky is a lot clearer out here. It's really nice."

I sat down on the bench in front of him, positioning myself between his legs and leaning back into his chest, his warm arms wrapping casually around me. "I guess I've been too stressed out lately to stop and notice them."

"Yeah. You've got to relax babe," he chuckled softly in my ear, rubbing my arms to warm me up.

"I think I can now...finally. It's you that's been doing the stressing. Is that why you can't sleep?"

"Part of it," he murmured, not wanting to talk about it as usual.

"You'll be just fine you know. You won the Calder for a reason. They saw potential. You can see it even now. You have soooo much talent, you just have to relax and forget about the politics. Just play."

"Easy for you to say..."

"You don't think I worry about being sent down to the minors every time I play poorly? My spot on the roster isn't permanent."

"I guess so..."

"Come on, cheer up! I'm right behind you."

"Actually you're in front of me."

"That was a terrible joke."

"I know. I'm tired. Let's go to bed."

"Agreed."