Fic: Better Days, 1/1, Rated NC-17
Title: Better Days
Author: courts
Disclaimer: I don't own them. But, they kind of own me. Doesn't seem fair, does it? Ah well, no money being made, it's all made up, blah, blah, blah.
Rated: NC-17
Summary: Picks up after Wonderland; with Cook's help, David finally begins to move forward and feel better.
Notes: It's been forever, I know. I'm hoping that everyone hasn't given up on this series and forgotten about it. It's still my baby, so I am still working on it. My muse is just moving in slow motion lately. Sorry for the delay and I hope this is, at least partially, worth the wait.
Thanks: I owe an undying amount of gratitude to nightingale_12 for beta reading and general hand holding. I was all ready to scrap this and start over and she pulled me off the ledge, so thanks much bb! Also, thank you to everyone who has sent me messages lately asking about when I would be writing more. It makes me so happy to know that someone else gives a crap if I continue and you've all motivated me to keep going. :)
-=-=-=-=-
Previous Stories:
Gathered Together
The Long Way Home
Forever Yours
Miles To Go Before I Sleep
Wonderland
-=-=-=-=-
"I'm home!" David Archuleta called as he walked through the front door of the house he shared with his boyfriend, David Cook. He tossed his wallet and keys onto the table in the foyer, then made his way into the living room, all the while listening out for Cook. When he didn't hear anything, David called, "Babe? You home?" Still no response, so David moved further into the house, padding through the rooms downstairs, then heading upstairs to check the second floor.
Cook was no where to be found and David was perplexed. He'd spoken to his boyfriend on his way home from his meeting and Cook had said he'd be there when David returned. In fact, he insisted on it. It had become kind of their thing, actually.
Several weeks earlier, David and Cook had gone together to the Restoration church in LA, which was a Mormon church that had been formed by gay and lesbian members who'd been exiled from the traditional LDS faith. David had mostly gone for Cook, because he knew that the older man was worried about him. David began to worry that things between him and Cook might suffer from the strain as well and, he knew he couldn't allow that to happen. Cook was the only thing he felt sure of anymore and David was determined to protect that bond at all costs.
So, he'd gone to the meeting, with Cook by his side, and he'd actually been pleasantly surprised. There were a lot of elements of this church that were like the one he'd grown up in, actually. The difference was that here he didn't feel constantly like he needed to suppress who he really was in order to be accepted. In this church, he was free to be himself and that was actually a really refreshing change.
Cook had enjoyed the service as well, especially the change that it had brought to David. He later told the younger man that he knew this was no quick fix and that he wasn't expecting some miraculous change, but just seeing David's smile again was enough for him to know that it was helping. David had to agree.
He'd spoken with several members of the church that day, including a man named Jim who ran a support group for those who had recently come out and been forced out of the traditional LDS church. David had gotten some information from him and, a few days later had found himself at one of their meetings. Cook had said he'd be more than happy to accompany David, but the younger man had decided that this was something that he should do on his own. That evening, when he'd returned home, Cook was waiting at the door. He'd pulled David onto the couch and wrapped his arms around him, sitting back to listen as David recounted how the meeting had gone. It was nice, just knowing that the man he loved was there to listen.
It had been that way every meeting since. Today had been his fifth meeting in three weeks and David had come home expecting to find Cook waiting to talk, as usual. So, he was more than surprised to walk through the entire house and find no sign of his boyfriend.
Feeling a little disappointed, David walked into the kitchen and saw a piece of paper sitting on the counter. He picked it up and read in Cook's messy scrawl: Meet me on the roof, love DC. David smiled. He hadn't even thought of looking on the roof. He set the note aside and made his way back upstairs.
The house that he and Cook shared in the Hollywood Hills wasn't exactly enormous, but it was definitely larger than average. Cook had chosen it primarily for its secluded location and terrific view. And, that view didn't get much better than from the small rooftop patio. The only access to it was from the balcony beyond the French doors of their bedroom and David made his way over to them anxiously. He bounded up the wrought iron stairway and emerged on the roof, where he found who he'd been looking for.
"Hey baby," Cook said with a grin as he rose from a blanket he had spread out on the ground. There were candles scattered about and a basket that David assumed held food. Soft jazz played in the background and tiny white lights had been strung through the branches of several trees that hung close to the roof.
"Wow," David said as Cook reached him and wrapped his arms around David's waist, bending to place a soft kiss on his lips. "What's the occasion?"
Cook shrugged and said, "No occasion, just felt like we needed a special night together."
David smiled at that, reaching up to seal his lips to Cook's in a longer, deeper kiss. "This is really nice, thank you."
Cook returned the smile and cupped David's cheek in his palm as he replied, "Anything for you, babe." He pulled away slightly to take David's hand in his and led him over to sit down on the blanket.
The ground was softer than he'd expected and he lifted the edge of the blanket to look beneath. "Are these yoga mats?" he asked with a smirk.
Cook chuckled and nodded. "I never was much for yoga, so I figured we should get some use out of them. Besides, I'm getting too old to sit down without some padding." He winked at David as he reached over to pull a chilled wine bottle from a bucket next to him.
"You're not old," David said with a roll of his eyes. The man was only 30, but he was always saying how dating a 22-year-old made him feel ancient. David usually laughed and told him that you'd never guess that by the way that Cook behaved.
"You keep me young," Cook said, although the reverse was probably more often true. David didn't comment as he watched Cook pour the light amber liquid into two wine glasses. Cook offered him one and said, "Grape juice."
David looked at him skeptically and asked, "Seriously?" Instead of a reply, Cook turned the bottle so that David could read the label. Sure enough, it was non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice. He had to smile at that, but said, "You didn't have to do that. You could have bought real wine."
"You wouldn't have drank it," Cook said. He knew that David didn't drink, but he never really seemed bothered by it, just as David wasn't bothered by the fact that Cook occasionally did drink.
"No, but you could," David told him.
"This is about us," Cook told him. "Besides, I certainly don't need wine to get me in the mood to ravage you." He fixed David with a leering grin that made the younger man blush and giggle.
"Are we eating?" David asked as he sipped the grape juice, then set his glass aside.
Cook nodded and replied, "I got cold roast chicken and crudité from Whole Foods."
"Crudité, huh?" David said with a smirk.
"Raw vegetables," Cook clarified.
"Oh, I know what it is," David said. "I'm just surprised that you do."
Cook smirked at his boyfriend and said, "I've been watching reruns of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy."
David laughed. "Do I need to remind you that you are not a straight guy?" Cook winked at him and leaned closer, pressing his mouth to David's neck and sucking the skin there as David threaded his fingers through Cook's hair and groaned. "No," he gasped, "I guess I don't."
Cook shifted his position until his thighs were straddling David's hips and the two eased backwards until they were lying down, Cook hovering over his boyfriend, still sucking and licking at his neck. He finally raised his head enough to meet David's slightly glazed eyes and asked, "How was your meeting?"
"Mmm, fine, good," David replied, though the meeting was really the furthest thing from his mind right about then. He just wanted Cook to get back to sucking bruises into his skin. He didn't even mind if Michael teased him endlessly for the hickeys. It felt too good for David to let himself care.
"You wanna talk about it?" Cook asked as he raised his hand to sift David's hair through his splayed fingers. His fingertips rubbed gently at David's scalp and the younger man made a contented sound and arched into the touch.
"Not really . . . later," he said as he curled one foot around Cook's thigh and pressed their bodies together.
Cook stifled a groan at the contact and said, "Later works for me." Then, he swooped back down and captured David's lips in a searing kiss.
Fingers fumbled with buttons and zippers and hands tugged at fabric until both men were divested of their clothing and David lay prone against the blanket with Cook hovering over him. Miles Davis played softly around them, the sharp sound of the trumpet and the gentle undertone of the piano creating the perfect soundtrack as Cook's lips and tongue mapped David's body thoroughly. David arched up when those lips surrounded his nipples and gasped breathlessly as that tongue made a slow path down his chest.
Cook bit playfully at his hipbone, then ran his tongue over the faint marks left behind. He continued down David's body, lifting one leg and placing biting kisses against the sensitive skin on the underside of David's thigh. His tongue dipped into the crease behind David's knee and the younger man curled his fingers into the blanket beneath him as a moan escaped his lips.
His other leg received a similar treatment and David was biting his bottom lip, mewling softly and feeling the anticipation building within him as Cook began to retrace his route upwards. Cook's tongue ran a line along the crease where David's thigh met his groin and the younger man couldn't help but reach down to thread his fingers through his boyfriend's hair, murmuring, "Please," in a strangled, desperate voice.
His eyes met Cook's and he saw the older man grin wickedly and David knew that he was going to get what he'd been pleading for. He felt Cook's warm mouth engulf him and David released a long groan of pleasure. Cook's lips and tongue brought him quickly to the brink and, soon, David was tugging at Cook's hair, keening as he lost control.
When he was finally spent, Cook released him and moved back up to gather David into his arms and peppered his face with tender kisses. "Love you, baby," he whispered.
"Love you, too," David whispered back as he snuggled closer to the older man, burying his face in Cook's warm neck. He lay there for a few minutes, just breathing in Cook's scent and feeling his hands running up and down David's bare back.
Eventually, David pulled away and asked if Cook had brought any 'stuff', which was David's standard euphemism for lube. Cook had given him a look that clearly said, 'Duh,' and produced a small bottle from somewhere within his discarded clothing.
David could only grin as he took the bottle in one hand and Cook's upturned hand in the other, squeezing out a sufficient amount of the slick liquid unto Cook's fingers. Then, recapping the bottle, he rolled to his back and pulled Cook's hand down slowly, watching carefully as he brought Cook's fingers to rest between his own legs.
Giving him a feral look that made David's blood run hot, Cook eased a finger into his lover, keeping his eyes glued to David's the entire time. He moved at an excruciatingly slow pace, stroking and stretching David from within, adding another finger, then another, all while whispering slightly filthy things that made David's skin prickle in anticipation.
By the time that Cook entered him, David was beyond turned on again. He arched his back and pushed down with each of Cook's thrusts, their hips meeting and pulling them both closer to the inevitable end. David found his legs thrown over Cook's arms, his eyes trying to focus on the man above him in the dwindling twilight.
The tiny strung lights and flickering candles provided a warm glow around them and David could just make out the way that Cook's teeth sank into his bottom lip, the way that the muscles in his neck tensed with each thrust.
Cook's hands were gripping his hips, turning them up until he found the right spot, knowing he'd found it when David cried out sharply and his eyelids fluttered. He pushed forward again and again, whispering to David, urging him to fall. And so, he fell. Without Cook even touching him, David was spilling against his own stomach as Cook made one last, deep thrust and stilled against him, his body taut with his own release. They collapsed together afterwards, neither mindful of the mess between them, only caring about touching whatever part of each other they could reach.
David wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, but it felt like forever. He was almost asleep when the CD finally ended, pulling them both out of their semi-conscious state. They'd used Cook's shirt to wipe up their mess as best they could, then had dinner together in their boxer shorts, sitting on their roof with the trees shrouding them from prying eyes. David had leaned back against Cook's chest with Cook's hands warm against his thighs and thought that for all the ups and downs he'd faced recently, his life was still pretty darned good.
-=-=-=-=-
They eventually made it back inside, David only summoning the strength to move when Cook whispered something in his ear about a long, hot bath and a full body massage. The younger man tossed their soiled clothing into the hamper as Cook went in to start the water for the bath. By the time that David joined him, Cook was stepping out of his boxer shorts and the room was filling with steam.
He walked over to David and placed his hands against his boyfriend's hip, saying, "Let me help you, babe," as his hands moved down and under the elastic band of David's shorts. David stepped out of the garment as it pooled around his feet, and allowed Cook to take his hand and lead him over to the half-filled tub.
He stepped into the warm water, scooting forward in the large tub to allow Cook to slip in behind him. Cook's arms instantly came around him and David was pulled back against the solid warmth of Cook's chest. His eyes closed as he allowed himself to sink into the feeling of comfort and safety that being held by Cook always brought him.
They laid together in silence for a while and, for the second time that night, David nearly fell asleep in Cook's embrace. But then, he felt Cook shifting slightly and opened his eyes to see his boyfriend grabbing a washcloth and a bottle of body wash. He watched as Cook rubbed the cloth in his hands, then let his eyes slip closed again as Cook began to run the soapy cloth over David's arms and chest.
Finally, having worked the lather over his entire body, Cook rinsed the wash cloth and retraced his path to wash away the suds from David's body. As he ran the wet cloth over David's neck and back, Cook followed its path with his lips, placing tender kisses against David's warm, damp flesh. The younger man groaned and tried to turn around, but Cook stilled him with his hands, saying they would get to that soon enough.
David submitted, allowing Cook to finish bathing him, then scooting forward as Cook quickly ran the wash cloth over his own body. Cook stood first, stepping out of the tub and retrieving a towel that he held out for David to step into. He folded the terrycloth around the younger man's shoulders, rubbing it gently over him as he cradled David's body against his own.
Cook dried himself as well, then took David's hand and wordlessly led him back to their bedroom and towards the bed that they shared. He tugged the towel open, looking down rapturously at David's body as he urged him to sit down on the bed.
"Lay back, baby," he said softly, giving David a heart-stopping smile. David complied and soon found himself lying on his belly with Cook straddling his hips. The older man had produced a bottle of lotion from the bedside table and began to rub it in slow, deep circles over David's back and shoulders. His fingers dug into the tense muscles there and David couldn't suppress a groan as he felt the knots loosen. "Just relax," Cook soothed him and David found it odd that he was saying that since he actually felt more relaxed than he ever had.
Cook continued the massage, his fingers bringing David a pleasure that almost hurt, yet felt really, really good at the same time. He was practically melting into the bed by the time that Cook had reached his lower back. David felt his boyfriend shift downward on the bed and he could feel Cook's strong fingers rubbing at his hips, his ass, his thighs, all the way down to his calves. Cook even rubbed lotion into the soles of David's feet before he began his return trip up David's body.
As he traveled back up the bed, Cook replaced his hands with his lips, kissing along all of the places he'd just pulled the tension from. All the while, he was whispering for David to relax and stay still. David obeyed, only groaning in reply to the feather light kisses that were being placed up the back of his calves and thighs, along the column of his spine, all the way up his neck until Cook's lips grazed his hairline.
"I love you, Archie," Cook breathed softly against his ear. "More than anything in the world and I don't ever want you to doubt that for a second."
David wanted to respond, but he couldn't seem to get the words out. All he could manage was a nod as he reached back blindly to clutch at any part of Cook that he could reach. He sighed as he felt Cook's fingers twine with his and Cook gripped his hand in reassurance.
He soon felt Cook's hands running along his sides, urging him over onto his back. Once they were finally face to face, David was taken aback by the emotions he saw playing across the face of the man above him. Although Cook had always been a pretty emotional guy, this was way beyond anything that David could recall from the man. The absolute love and devotion that David saw radiating back at him from that gaze was more than enough to take his breath away. And so, he did the only thing he could think to do in that moment. He reached up and pulled Cook to him, hugging him tightly and hoping that his body could convey the words that he couldn't seem to find.
Cook had allowed David to hold him, letting David clutch at his shoulders with an almost desperate need. Finally, when his grip eased a little, Cook pulled back to look down at David and David was sure by his expression that the man he loved knew just exactly how much David loved him in return. Cook's eyes welled with tears as he cupped David's face in his familiar, callused hands. He leaned forward, kissing David reverently.
They didn't speak; it didn't seem necessary. Instead, they lay together in the bed that had become theirs, exploring each other with an aching slowness that threatened to drive them both crazy and, at the same time, drew them so close that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Cook's eyes stayed locked with David's as he entered him, his cheeks still damp from his tears. David felt tears prick at his own eyes as he looked back at the man above him, the man inside him. And he knew that David Cook was the only man that he would ever love.
Afterwards, Cook had gotten up to retrieve a warm washcloth, cleaning David with a tenderness that made his breath catch yet again. David waited until Cook was finished, then opened his arms to beckon the man back into bed. Cook came willingly, lying down to curl his body around the younger man, his head resting on David's chest and his arms tucked snuggly around David's torso. David wrapped his arms around Cook, as well, enjoying the feel of his boyfriend's warm weight against him.
It was some time later, with Cook still lying in his arms, that David finally asked the question that had been playing at the back of his mind all night.
"Babe, what's this really all been about tonight? I mean, not that I'm complaining," he quickly added as his fingers trailed over Cook's bare shoulder. He felt Cook's lips against his collarbone and knew that the older man had not taken his words the wrong way. "I just . . . everything's okay, right?" He knew that Cook loved him, but there was a tiny part of him that thought this whole night might be a precursor to some sort of bad news. Like, maybe Cook was trying to soften the blow before it was even delivered. As silly as he told himself this thought was, David couldn't seem to vanquish it completely from his mind.
Cook, as usual, seemed to see right through David's words and into the fears behind them. He sat up enough to look down at David, bringing his hand up to cup the younger man's cheek as he said, "Everything is perfect, baby, I swear. I just wanted to make sure that you knew how much you mean to me, that's all."
"Cook, that's silly. Of course I know," David said honestly.
"I know, I just . . ." Cook ran his thumb over David's jaw line, following the movement with his eyes as he sighed. "Honestly? I've just been so worried about you since the whole thing with your dad and . . . well, I guess I just wanted to make sure that you were still okay with this, with us . . . I'm just really not sure what I would do if you weren't," he admitted.
"Cook . . . David . . ." the younger man said softly and Cook looked up to meet his gaze at last. "I've had a lot of doubts these last few months. I've had doubts about myself and my faith and my family. But, I don't want you to think for even one second that I've ever had a doubt about you, about us . . . okay?" Reaching up to cup Cook's face in his hands, David said, "I'll never stop loving you. Never."
Even as tears coursed down his stubbled cheeks, Cook smiled. "Okay," he replied softly as he nodded. Their lips met in a salty kiss, each of them clinging to the other fiercely.
"Thank you," David whispered into Cook's hair as he held him close.
"For what, babe?" Cook asked softly in reply.
"For always loving me, even when I wasn't sure I was worth it."
He felt Cook's arms wind tighter around him and felt Cook's breath against his skin as he said, "You'll always be worth it, baby. Always."
-=-=-=-=-
The next morning, David felt like things were different. Not in a bad way, but in a way that he'd been hoping they would be for a long time. He woke up feeling lighter and more hopeful than he could remember feeling in months. It was quite a welcomed change.
David found Cook in the kitchen, making coffee. He was wearing his robe and his hair was sticking up wildly, still tousled from sleep. David smiled at the sight. "You're up early," he commented as he walked over to lean against the counter next to the coffeemaker.
Cook looked over and grinned sleepily at him. "Morning, babe. Yeah, sorry if I woke you. I have some stuff to get done before Andrew gets here."
"Andrew's coming into town?" David asked. He knew it was possible that he should know that, but he didn't recall Cook saying anything about his brother coming for a visit.
Cook looked up, his face already registering an apology as he said, "Uh, did I forget to mention that?"
"No, it's fine. I just . . . he's coming today? How long is he staying?" David probably wouldn't have been too keen on having a houseguest before that day, but he had woken up feeling so much better that day that he couldn't seem to be upset by the prospect. Besides, he'd always liked Cook's younger brother and it would actually be good to see him again.
"Um, his plane lands at three this afternoon. He's supposed to be here for a week, but he's got some meetings with a couple of labels while he's out here so who knows. Anyway, I can take him to the Hilton if you'd rather. He really won't mind at all."
"What? No, don't be silly," David said. "There's a perfectly good guest room he can stay in right here. Besides, he's your brother. We can't just drop him at some hotel for the week."
Cook leaned forward to press a kiss to David's lips and said, "Thanks. Sorry I forgot to mention it."
"It's really okay," David assured him. "So . . . Andrew knows we're, um . . . you know . . ."
"Sleeping together?" Cook asked teasingly as he grinned down at David. "Yeah, babe, Andrew knows all about how head over heels I am for you, don't worry."
David blushed, but nodded his head. It was nice to know that Cook's family accepted their relationship, even if his own family couldn't be quite so supportive yet.
"So, he'll be here tonight for dinner, then?" David asked.
"Um, yeah, I guess," Cook replied.
"Do you think Andrew would mind a few other people joining us?" David asked. "I mean, if you don't mind, that is. I was just thinking, you know, we haven't ever really had our friends over since we started, um," he gestured between the two of them and searched for the right word, then finally settled on, "this. So, I thought maybe tonight, ya know, we could, um . . ."
"I think that's a great idea," Cook cut into David's rambling. He touched David's shoulder and smiled down at him, adding, "Really, I would love to have them all over. If you want to, that is."
David smiled up at him and nodded, saying, "Yeah, I really do." He could see the relief wash over Cook's face and knew that things really were getting better.
-=-=-=-=-
As soon as they'd decided to have people over, David had set to work on planning for the evening. He'd called and invited Michael, Carly and Andy over and, thankfully, they'd all been available at short notice. David had spent the better part of the morning cleaning, while Cook had been sent to the grocery store, armed with a shopping list and a time limit. He'd arrived back home just in time to carry the multitude of bags inside, then he'd kissed David quickly and run back out to head for the airport to get Andrew.
It was just as well, David knew. As much as he loved the older man, party planning was not something that David Cook was known to enjoy. Had it been left to him, they'd have ended up having pizza and beer and watching sports highlights. Which probably would have been fine with this group, actually, but David had something a little bit more in mind.
By the time that Cook and Andrew walked through the door shortly before five o'clock, the house was immaculate, dinner was well under way and David was upstairs deciding what to wear. He heard the guys come in and set his clothing choices aside, going downstairs to greet their houseguest.
"Hey Andrew!" David said brightly as he walked into the living room. Andrew smiled back and opened his arms to accept a friendly hug from the younger man. "I'm glad you're here," David said sincerely as he pulled away.
"Thanks for having me," Andrew replied. "Wow, dinner smells great."
"Archie's a great cook," Cook said as he stepped over to loop an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders.
"Better keep him around then, unless you want to live your life eating takeout and Ramen," Andrew said as he winked at David conspiratorially.
"Oh, he's not going anywhere, don't worry," Cook said as he hugged David to his side. The younger man blushed, but couldn’t help leaning into the touch.
"Um, everyone should be here around seven, so we should probably go get ready soon," David told the brothers. They both nodded and the three men headed up the stairs together. Andrew veered off into the guestroom and Cook and David went into their bedroom.
"So, you want the first shower?" David asked from the closet as he resumed his search for something suitable to wear for the evening.
Cook came up behind him and linked his hands around David's middle, bending down close to his ear as he said, "I thought we could share, actually."
David turned slightly, attempting to look at his boyfriend from the odd angle. "Um, Cook, Andrew is right down the hall," he reminded him.
"Yeah, so I guess that means you'll have to keep it down, baby," he said as he began to lick across the edge of David's ear.
Even as the sensation made him push back into Cook's arms, David said, "No, we . . . we can't, Cook."
"Um, yeah, we totally can," Cook assured him.
"But . . ."
"Archie, my brother knows we're having sex," Cook said as his teeth grazed David's earlobe, tugging gently and making the younger man gasp.
"I don't . . . I mean, it's just weird to think that your brother, um . . ."
"David . . ." Cook whined a little as he moved his mouth to David's neck and began placing sucking kisses along the tender skin. "I need you, baby . . . I want you . . ."
David felt his resolve weakening as Cook sucked a bruise into a particularly tender spot. "Uhhh . . . okay, but we have to hurry," David said. "And you have to be quiet."
"Mmm, I'm a shower sex ninja, baby," Cook smirked against his skin as his hands found David's zipper. They eventually made it into the bathroom, after nearly falling over each other a few times in the process. David hoped that dinner didn't end up burned, but if it did he still kind of thought it would be worth it.
-=-=-=-=-
Cook and David managed to keep their shower relatively short and relatively quiet, although there were a few rather enthusiastic sounds that David felt sure had traveled through the walls. Andrew just grinned at them from the couch as they walked downstairs together, though, so David decided to pretend that he hadn't heard a thing.
The lasagna that David had prepared was almost done by the time that their first guest arrived. It was Andy, who had come bearing a bottle of red wine and a huge grin. He hugged Cook and Andrew, then went to say hello to David, who was in the kitchen finishing up dinner.
"Hey Archuleta, how's it going man?" Andy asked as he set down the wine he'd brought and clapped the younger man on the shoulder.
David smiled and said, "Good, Andy, glad you could make it."
"Like I'd miss the first dinner party for the happy couple," he winked. David flushed and grinned. "Seriously, thanks for inviting me. I'm really glad to see that you and Dave are doing okay." David was aware that Cook had spoken to Andy about the issues with his family; he'd asked David before discussing it with him. And David understood his need to talk to someone, especially when that someone was the person he'd been best friends with for nearly half his life.
"We're great, Andy, thanks," David said sincerely. "And I wanted to thank you, too, for being there for Cook lately. I know I haven't exactly been there for him myself."
At this, Andy surprised David by walking over and slinging his arm around David's shoulders before saying, "Hey, you're what Dave needs, Archie. He loves you, you know that, right?"
David nodded and said, "Yeah, but it's always nice to hear."
"Are you guys in here talking about how handsome I am again?" Cook asked as he appeared in the doorway. David smirked at him and Andy rolled his eyes.
"Jeez, big head, get over yourself," Andy quipped.
Cook just laughed and winked at David, to which the younger man just smiled in return. "So, Andy, man," Cook said, "You gotta come hear this CD for Drew's band." Andy nodded, slapping David lightly on the back before heading out to join the others in the living room. David smiled as he watched them go. The night was already turning out pretty great.
-=-=-=-=-
Michael and Carly arrived just as David was pulling the lasagna from the oven. He came out to the living room to greet them, then told everyone that dinner was ready as soon as they felt like eating. Before long, they were all seated around the dining room table, telling David how great the meal was.
"Thank goodness you're here, Archie," Michael said as he took his second helping of lasagna. "Cook was destined to die of food poisoning from his own cooking without you."
"Ha freaking ha, Johns," Cook said, but he reached under the table and grabbed David's hand, smiling when the younger man's eyes met his.
"So, Carly, how's everything with you?" David asked.
"Oh, pretty good so far," she said. "I haven't craved anything too extreme yet. And Syesha has been sending me baby books in the mail every week so I think we've both read enough about parenthood to scare us completely out of our minds." She laughed and Michael nodded his agreement.
"You'll both be great," David said sincerely.
"Well, we're counting on the godparents for a lot of support," she winked.
"I think you'll have a hard time keeping Uncle Archie away," Andy said with a grin. "And we all know how Dave over there gets around babies. He'll be crying buckets for weeks after you have this kid."
"Aw, leave Davey alone," Andrew said. "He can't help that he's sensitive." Andrew and Andy both grinned at the comment.
"You two are so obviously jealous that I am way more evolved than you," Cook said. "It's actually pretty pathetic."
Good-natured teasing aside, David reached over and linked his hand with Cook's and said, "I like you just the way you are." Cook grinned at that and leaned in to press a kiss to David's lips. At that moment, the entire table broke into a chorus of awww and how sweet, but neither man seemed to give it much thought.
-=-=-=-=-
The group had moved into the living room after dinner and everyone was sitting around eating the cheesecake that David had made and laughing at the ridiculous stories that Andrew and Andy were telling about Cook's pre-Idol days.
"Well, it was your fault for renting Coyote Ugly in the first place," Cook said to Andy after one such story.
"Hey, don't blame me. No one told you to strip down to your skivvies and dance on the bar, dude," Andy countered.
"You were dancing on the bar in your underwear?" David asked with a smirk as he leaned on the arm of the couch near his boyfriend. He was mildly surprised by this revelation, but also kind of wished he'd been there to see it.
"Not just my underwear," Cook said with a grin. "I left my boots on."
The others laughed again. Then Michael, turning towards David, said, "Something tells me you're going to ask him for a private reenactment later." David blushed and tugged at his collar before he could think about it, causing Michael to roll his eyes and say, "Save it, Arch, I already noticed the love bites that Count Cook left on you." He winked conspiratorially at David, though everyone else had undoubtedly heard what he'd said.
Cook reached out to tug at the younger man's waist until David fell easily from his perch on the arm of the couch into Cook's lap. Wrapping his arms around David's waist, Cook said teasingly, "Stop flirting with my boyfriend, Johns. Don't make me kick your ass."
"You couldn't take me," Michael kidded back.
"But I could," Carly said with a smirk as she flicked playfully at her husband's ear. Michael scoffed, but didn't reply.
"What, you're not afraid of me but you're afraid of a pregnant woman who promised to love, honor and cherish you?" Cook asked with a raise of his eyebrows.
Michael shrugged, looping an arm around Carly's waist before he replied, "Well, she's a lot scarier than you, Dave." Carly squeaked in indignation as she shoved playfully at her husband's side, then leaned into him and allowed him to plant a kiss to her temple.
"Andy, I have a feeling we're outnumbered," Andrew said as he turned to look at the only other singleton in the room.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, man. Hell, at least they aren't making out," he added.
"Thank God for small favors," Andrew quipped, to which Cook stuck out his tongue at the two and laid a loud kiss to the back of David's neck.
"Cook!" David laughed as he squirmed a little in his boyfriend's lap. Before he could be groped any further, though, the phone rang. David jumped up, saying, "I'll get it!" and heading into the kitchen.
"You can run, but you can't hide, Archie!" Cook called after him. "I know where you sleep!"
There was a chorus of laughter still filtering in from the living room as David reached the phone. He was smiling and shaking his head at his goofy boyfriend as he said, "Hello?"
"Um . . . David?" came the reply. He recognized the voice immediately.
"Dan?" he asked, more than a little surprised to hear from his brother. They'd spoken a few times since David's trip home, but always after David had spoken to one of his sisters and they'd been able to hear how sad he was. He knew that they would then get Daniel to call him in an attempt to cheer their brother up. David appreciated the effort, but he also had a feeling that Daniel probably wouldn't have called him were it not for their urging. "Is everything okay?" he asked, feeling a warm dread wash over him at the prospect that something might be wrong.
"No, no, um, everything's fine," Daniel assured him. "I was actually, um . . . well, remember how we talked about me coming out to visit you?"
"We, um . . . yeah, I . . . well, I mean, that was before I told you that I, um . . . I guess I just sort of figured you wouldn't want to now that you, um, know," he admitted.
The line was silent for a moment and David wondered if his brother had hung up, but then he heard Daniel clear his throat and say, "Well, I was wondering if it was still okay with you?"
"Okay? Um, yeah, sure Dan. You know you're always welcome." He hesitated, then added, "Um, but you know that I live with Cook now, right? And, um . . . I'm not willing to pretend while you're here." He felt bold saying that, knowing it might be what his brother would expect him to do and also knowing that he would not compromise the great lengths he'd come in his relationship, even if it meant offending his brother in the process.
"Davey, I . . ." Daniel sighed and David thought for sure he was about to tell him exactly how wrong he thought David's lifestyle was. He'd been dreading this, feeling that his brother was the most likely person in his family aside from his dad to eventually turn his back on David. But, at Daniel's next words, David felt himself flooded with a strange mixture of guilt and relief. "I wouldn't ask you to do that, Dave," he said softly. "I may not understand completely what it is you and Cook have, but I told you before that you're my brother. That's all that matters."
There were tears spilling down David's cheeks instantly at the words and he found himself asking, "Really, Dan? Do you mean that?"
"David, of course," his brother said. "I'm sorry it's so hard to believe it."
"No, Dan, I-" he started, not wanting to offend his brother with his doubts. But then, Dan cut in again, once again easing David's mind.
"No, really, David. I really am sorry that you couldn't believe it before. I know you've felt alone in this, and that sucks. I should have been a better brother-"
"You're the best brother," David insisted. "Thanks Dan, I mean it. This means a lot."
Another pause followed from both men with David finally being the one to break it this time. "So, you want to come out and visit?"
"Yeah, actually, I really would," Daniel said. "Do you think that, um, that Cook would mind?"
David smiled, pleased to hear that his brother was asking about his boyfriend, knowing that it was a concession to the fact that Daniel knew their lives were intertwined now. He liked the thought of that. Smiling broadly, David said, "No, I'm sure he wouldn't mind at all."
-=-=-=-=-
David had gone back out to the living room to rejoin their guests and surprised Cook by moving to sit on his lap again. The contented grin on David's face hadn't escaped Cook's attention and he'd leaned close to David's ear to ask, "What's up, babe? Who was on the phone?"
David had turned in his boyfriend's arms and replied, "I'll tell you later," and the happiness that was radiating from his expression seemed to be enough for Cook for the time being.
The party had eventually wound down, with Carly growing tired and Michael deciding he needed to get her home. Andy had followed shortly after. He'd pulled David into a quick hug at the door, telling him he would be honored to be invited to one of his dinner parties any time.
Andrew had insisted on helping with the clean up and all three men had managed to put away the leftover food and return the kitchen to some semblance of order before they headed up to their respective beds. Andrew hugged his brother, then David, before ducking into the guestroom.
David went in to brush his teeth, nodding as Cook said something about needing to tell his brother one more thing and turning to walk back down to the guestroom. By the time that Cook had reappeared, David was clad in only his boxer shorts, slipping into his side of the bed.
He lay there, listening to Cook brushing his teeth and thinking about the day. He'd woken up feeling good and, he was surprised to find that he was going to sleep feeling even better. His problems hadn't all been miraculously solved, but David could finally see the light at the end of the dark tunnel he'd been wandering down for so long. It might not ever be perfect, but things were turning out so much better than David had ever expected them to. The thought made him smile.
"It's so good to see that look on your face again, baby," Cook said softly as he reentered the room. He was also only wearing his boxers as he made his way over to their bed. Climbing across the mattress, Cook leaned in to kiss David and added, "I've missed your smile."
"Today was a good day," David said to him. Cook nodded, pulling David into his arms and asking again about the phone call from earlier. David rested his head against Cook's chest and happily told him about the conversation with his brother.
"Oh, babe, that's fantastic," Cook said after he'd finished. "He can come whenever he wants, any time you're ready."
David nodded, turning in Cook's arms until he could meet the other man's eyes. He smiled and leaned in for a slow kiss before saying, "I wouldn't have made it through this without you."
"You're stronger than you know, Archie," Cook assured him.
"No, you're my strength," David insisted. "I'm better because of you."
Cook had tears sparkling in his eyes as he softly replied, "You're everything that's good about my life, Archie. I love you so much."
David smiled back, pressing forward for another kiss, this one much longer and deeper than the last. By the time that they parted, both men were straining for breath, clutching at each other and pressed together tightly.
"Andrew is right down the hall, Cook," David reminded his boyfriend. He saw Cook's lips turn up into a smirk and asked, "What?"
"I took care of my little brother, don't worry," he said.
"What does that mean?" David asked.
"Well," Cook said, "I knew you wouldn't want him to hear us. And, you know, I respect that. So, uh . . . I may have suggested that he sleep with his headphones on tonight, just in case."
David's eyes widened as he said, "That's what you had to go tell Andrew a few minutes ago? That he should listen to music really loud so he wouldn't hear us having sex?" The last two words were spoken softly, causing Cook to grin wider at David's reserve.
"Not in so many words, but yes, I suggested that the neighborhood can get a little loud and he might want to block out the noise."
"Cook, you can't even see any of our neighbors from here," David pointed out.
Cook grinned and pulled David into another kiss as he mumbled, "Oops, my bad."
Despite his embarrassment at what Andrew must be thinking, David couldn't help but giggle as he let himself be dragged back to lie next to Cook on the bed. "You're incorrigible, you know that?" he said.
Cook smiled slyly and replied, "You wouldn't want me any other way."
It was David who pulled him into the kiss this time as he answered, for the second time that night, "Nah, I think I like you just the way you are."
-=-=-=-=-
The End
September 30, 2008
-=-=-=-=-
Author: courts
Disclaimer: I don't own them. But, they kind of own me. Doesn't seem fair, does it? Ah well, no money being made, it's all made up, blah, blah, blah.
Rated: NC-17
Summary: Picks up after Wonderland; with Cook's help, David finally begins to move forward and feel better.
Notes: It's been forever, I know. I'm hoping that everyone hasn't given up on this series and forgotten about it. It's still my baby, so I am still working on it. My muse is just moving in slow motion lately. Sorry for the delay and I hope this is, at least partially, worth the wait.
Thanks: I owe an undying amount of gratitude to nightingale_12 for beta reading and general hand holding. I was all ready to scrap this and start over and she pulled me off the ledge, so thanks much bb! Also, thank you to everyone who has sent me messages lately asking about when I would be writing more. It makes me so happy to know that someone else gives a crap if I continue and you've all motivated me to keep going. :)
-=-=-=-=-
Previous Stories:
Gathered Together
The Long Way Home
Forever Yours
Miles To Go Before I Sleep
Wonderland
-=-=-=-=-
"I'm home!" David Archuleta called as he walked through the front door of the house he shared with his boyfriend, David Cook. He tossed his wallet and keys onto the table in the foyer, then made his way into the living room, all the while listening out for Cook. When he didn't hear anything, David called, "Babe? You home?" Still no response, so David moved further into the house, padding through the rooms downstairs, then heading upstairs to check the second floor.
Cook was no where to be found and David was perplexed. He'd spoken to his boyfriend on his way home from his meeting and Cook had said he'd be there when David returned. In fact, he insisted on it. It had become kind of their thing, actually.
Several weeks earlier, David and Cook had gone together to the Restoration church in LA, which was a Mormon church that had been formed by gay and lesbian members who'd been exiled from the traditional LDS faith. David had mostly gone for Cook, because he knew that the older man was worried about him. David began to worry that things between him and Cook might suffer from the strain as well and, he knew he couldn't allow that to happen. Cook was the only thing he felt sure of anymore and David was determined to protect that bond at all costs.
So, he'd gone to the meeting, with Cook by his side, and he'd actually been pleasantly surprised. There were a lot of elements of this church that were like the one he'd grown up in, actually. The difference was that here he didn't feel constantly like he needed to suppress who he really was in order to be accepted. In this church, he was free to be himself and that was actually a really refreshing change.
Cook had enjoyed the service as well, especially the change that it had brought to David. He later told the younger man that he knew this was no quick fix and that he wasn't expecting some miraculous change, but just seeing David's smile again was enough for him to know that it was helping. David had to agree.
He'd spoken with several members of the church that day, including a man named Jim who ran a support group for those who had recently come out and been forced out of the traditional LDS church. David had gotten some information from him and, a few days later had found himself at one of their meetings. Cook had said he'd be more than happy to accompany David, but the younger man had decided that this was something that he should do on his own. That evening, when he'd returned home, Cook was waiting at the door. He'd pulled David onto the couch and wrapped his arms around him, sitting back to listen as David recounted how the meeting had gone. It was nice, just knowing that the man he loved was there to listen.
It had been that way every meeting since. Today had been his fifth meeting in three weeks and David had come home expecting to find Cook waiting to talk, as usual. So, he was more than surprised to walk through the entire house and find no sign of his boyfriend.
Feeling a little disappointed, David walked into the kitchen and saw a piece of paper sitting on the counter. He picked it up and read in Cook's messy scrawl: Meet me on the roof, love DC. David smiled. He hadn't even thought of looking on the roof. He set the note aside and made his way back upstairs.
The house that he and Cook shared in the Hollywood Hills wasn't exactly enormous, but it was definitely larger than average. Cook had chosen it primarily for its secluded location and terrific view. And, that view didn't get much better than from the small rooftop patio. The only access to it was from the balcony beyond the French doors of their bedroom and David made his way over to them anxiously. He bounded up the wrought iron stairway and emerged on the roof, where he found who he'd been looking for.
"Hey baby," Cook said with a grin as he rose from a blanket he had spread out on the ground. There were candles scattered about and a basket that David assumed held food. Soft jazz played in the background and tiny white lights had been strung through the branches of several trees that hung close to the roof.
"Wow," David said as Cook reached him and wrapped his arms around David's waist, bending to place a soft kiss on his lips. "What's the occasion?"
Cook shrugged and said, "No occasion, just felt like we needed a special night together."
David smiled at that, reaching up to seal his lips to Cook's in a longer, deeper kiss. "This is really nice, thank you."
Cook returned the smile and cupped David's cheek in his palm as he replied, "Anything for you, babe." He pulled away slightly to take David's hand in his and led him over to sit down on the blanket.
The ground was softer than he'd expected and he lifted the edge of the blanket to look beneath. "Are these yoga mats?" he asked with a smirk.
Cook chuckled and nodded. "I never was much for yoga, so I figured we should get some use out of them. Besides, I'm getting too old to sit down without some padding." He winked at David as he reached over to pull a chilled wine bottle from a bucket next to him.
"You're not old," David said with a roll of his eyes. The man was only 30, but he was always saying how dating a 22-year-old made him feel ancient. David usually laughed and told him that you'd never guess that by the way that Cook behaved.
"You keep me young," Cook said, although the reverse was probably more often true. David didn't comment as he watched Cook pour the light amber liquid into two wine glasses. Cook offered him one and said, "Grape juice."
David looked at him skeptically and asked, "Seriously?" Instead of a reply, Cook turned the bottle so that David could read the label. Sure enough, it was non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice. He had to smile at that, but said, "You didn't have to do that. You could have bought real wine."
"You wouldn't have drank it," Cook said. He knew that David didn't drink, but he never really seemed bothered by it, just as David wasn't bothered by the fact that Cook occasionally did drink.
"No, but you could," David told him.
"This is about us," Cook told him. "Besides, I certainly don't need wine to get me in the mood to ravage you." He fixed David with a leering grin that made the younger man blush and giggle.
"Are we eating?" David asked as he sipped the grape juice, then set his glass aside.
Cook nodded and replied, "I got cold roast chicken and crudité from Whole Foods."
"Crudité, huh?" David said with a smirk.
"Raw vegetables," Cook clarified.
"Oh, I know what it is," David said. "I'm just surprised that you do."
Cook smirked at his boyfriend and said, "I've been watching reruns of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy."
David laughed. "Do I need to remind you that you are not a straight guy?" Cook winked at him and leaned closer, pressing his mouth to David's neck and sucking the skin there as David threaded his fingers through Cook's hair and groaned. "No," he gasped, "I guess I don't."
Cook shifted his position until his thighs were straddling David's hips and the two eased backwards until they were lying down, Cook hovering over his boyfriend, still sucking and licking at his neck. He finally raised his head enough to meet David's slightly glazed eyes and asked, "How was your meeting?"
"Mmm, fine, good," David replied, though the meeting was really the furthest thing from his mind right about then. He just wanted Cook to get back to sucking bruises into his skin. He didn't even mind if Michael teased him endlessly for the hickeys. It felt too good for David to let himself care.
"You wanna talk about it?" Cook asked as he raised his hand to sift David's hair through his splayed fingers. His fingertips rubbed gently at David's scalp and the younger man made a contented sound and arched into the touch.
"Not really . . . later," he said as he curled one foot around Cook's thigh and pressed their bodies together.
Cook stifled a groan at the contact and said, "Later works for me." Then, he swooped back down and captured David's lips in a searing kiss.
Fingers fumbled with buttons and zippers and hands tugged at fabric until both men were divested of their clothing and David lay prone against the blanket with Cook hovering over him. Miles Davis played softly around them, the sharp sound of the trumpet and the gentle undertone of the piano creating the perfect soundtrack as Cook's lips and tongue mapped David's body thoroughly. David arched up when those lips surrounded his nipples and gasped breathlessly as that tongue made a slow path down his chest.
Cook bit playfully at his hipbone, then ran his tongue over the faint marks left behind. He continued down David's body, lifting one leg and placing biting kisses against the sensitive skin on the underside of David's thigh. His tongue dipped into the crease behind David's knee and the younger man curled his fingers into the blanket beneath him as a moan escaped his lips.
His other leg received a similar treatment and David was biting his bottom lip, mewling softly and feeling the anticipation building within him as Cook began to retrace his route upwards. Cook's tongue ran a line along the crease where David's thigh met his groin and the younger man couldn't help but reach down to thread his fingers through his boyfriend's hair, murmuring, "Please," in a strangled, desperate voice.
His eyes met Cook's and he saw the older man grin wickedly and David knew that he was going to get what he'd been pleading for. He felt Cook's warm mouth engulf him and David released a long groan of pleasure. Cook's lips and tongue brought him quickly to the brink and, soon, David was tugging at Cook's hair, keening as he lost control.
When he was finally spent, Cook released him and moved back up to gather David into his arms and peppered his face with tender kisses. "Love you, baby," he whispered.
"Love you, too," David whispered back as he snuggled closer to the older man, burying his face in Cook's warm neck. He lay there for a few minutes, just breathing in Cook's scent and feeling his hands running up and down David's bare back.
Eventually, David pulled away and asked if Cook had brought any 'stuff', which was David's standard euphemism for lube. Cook had given him a look that clearly said, 'Duh,' and produced a small bottle from somewhere within his discarded clothing.
David could only grin as he took the bottle in one hand and Cook's upturned hand in the other, squeezing out a sufficient amount of the slick liquid unto Cook's fingers. Then, recapping the bottle, he rolled to his back and pulled Cook's hand down slowly, watching carefully as he brought Cook's fingers to rest between his own legs.
Giving him a feral look that made David's blood run hot, Cook eased a finger into his lover, keeping his eyes glued to David's the entire time. He moved at an excruciatingly slow pace, stroking and stretching David from within, adding another finger, then another, all while whispering slightly filthy things that made David's skin prickle in anticipation.
By the time that Cook entered him, David was beyond turned on again. He arched his back and pushed down with each of Cook's thrusts, their hips meeting and pulling them both closer to the inevitable end. David found his legs thrown over Cook's arms, his eyes trying to focus on the man above him in the dwindling twilight.
The tiny strung lights and flickering candles provided a warm glow around them and David could just make out the way that Cook's teeth sank into his bottom lip, the way that the muscles in his neck tensed with each thrust.
Cook's hands were gripping his hips, turning them up until he found the right spot, knowing he'd found it when David cried out sharply and his eyelids fluttered. He pushed forward again and again, whispering to David, urging him to fall. And so, he fell. Without Cook even touching him, David was spilling against his own stomach as Cook made one last, deep thrust and stilled against him, his body taut with his own release. They collapsed together afterwards, neither mindful of the mess between them, only caring about touching whatever part of each other they could reach.
David wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, but it felt like forever. He was almost asleep when the CD finally ended, pulling them both out of their semi-conscious state. They'd used Cook's shirt to wipe up their mess as best they could, then had dinner together in their boxer shorts, sitting on their roof with the trees shrouding them from prying eyes. David had leaned back against Cook's chest with Cook's hands warm against his thighs and thought that for all the ups and downs he'd faced recently, his life was still pretty darned good.
-=-=-=-=-
They eventually made it back inside, David only summoning the strength to move when Cook whispered something in his ear about a long, hot bath and a full body massage. The younger man tossed their soiled clothing into the hamper as Cook went in to start the water for the bath. By the time that David joined him, Cook was stepping out of his boxer shorts and the room was filling with steam.
He walked over to David and placed his hands against his boyfriend's hip, saying, "Let me help you, babe," as his hands moved down and under the elastic band of David's shorts. David stepped out of the garment as it pooled around his feet, and allowed Cook to take his hand and lead him over to the half-filled tub.
He stepped into the warm water, scooting forward in the large tub to allow Cook to slip in behind him. Cook's arms instantly came around him and David was pulled back against the solid warmth of Cook's chest. His eyes closed as he allowed himself to sink into the feeling of comfort and safety that being held by Cook always brought him.
They laid together in silence for a while and, for the second time that night, David nearly fell asleep in Cook's embrace. But then, he felt Cook shifting slightly and opened his eyes to see his boyfriend grabbing a washcloth and a bottle of body wash. He watched as Cook rubbed the cloth in his hands, then let his eyes slip closed again as Cook began to run the soapy cloth over David's arms and chest.
Finally, having worked the lather over his entire body, Cook rinsed the wash cloth and retraced his path to wash away the suds from David's body. As he ran the wet cloth over David's neck and back, Cook followed its path with his lips, placing tender kisses against David's warm, damp flesh. The younger man groaned and tried to turn around, but Cook stilled him with his hands, saying they would get to that soon enough.
David submitted, allowing Cook to finish bathing him, then scooting forward as Cook quickly ran the wash cloth over his own body. Cook stood first, stepping out of the tub and retrieving a towel that he held out for David to step into. He folded the terrycloth around the younger man's shoulders, rubbing it gently over him as he cradled David's body against his own.
Cook dried himself as well, then took David's hand and wordlessly led him back to their bedroom and towards the bed that they shared. He tugged the towel open, looking down rapturously at David's body as he urged him to sit down on the bed.
"Lay back, baby," he said softly, giving David a heart-stopping smile. David complied and soon found himself lying on his belly with Cook straddling his hips. The older man had produced a bottle of lotion from the bedside table and began to rub it in slow, deep circles over David's back and shoulders. His fingers dug into the tense muscles there and David couldn't suppress a groan as he felt the knots loosen. "Just relax," Cook soothed him and David found it odd that he was saying that since he actually felt more relaxed than he ever had.
Cook continued the massage, his fingers bringing David a pleasure that almost hurt, yet felt really, really good at the same time. He was practically melting into the bed by the time that Cook had reached his lower back. David felt his boyfriend shift downward on the bed and he could feel Cook's strong fingers rubbing at his hips, his ass, his thighs, all the way down to his calves. Cook even rubbed lotion into the soles of David's feet before he began his return trip up David's body.
As he traveled back up the bed, Cook replaced his hands with his lips, kissing along all of the places he'd just pulled the tension from. All the while, he was whispering for David to relax and stay still. David obeyed, only groaning in reply to the feather light kisses that were being placed up the back of his calves and thighs, along the column of his spine, all the way up his neck until Cook's lips grazed his hairline.
"I love you, Archie," Cook breathed softly against his ear. "More than anything in the world and I don't ever want you to doubt that for a second."
David wanted to respond, but he couldn't seem to get the words out. All he could manage was a nod as he reached back blindly to clutch at any part of Cook that he could reach. He sighed as he felt Cook's fingers twine with his and Cook gripped his hand in reassurance.
He soon felt Cook's hands running along his sides, urging him over onto his back. Once they were finally face to face, David was taken aback by the emotions he saw playing across the face of the man above him. Although Cook had always been a pretty emotional guy, this was way beyond anything that David could recall from the man. The absolute love and devotion that David saw radiating back at him from that gaze was more than enough to take his breath away. And so, he did the only thing he could think to do in that moment. He reached up and pulled Cook to him, hugging him tightly and hoping that his body could convey the words that he couldn't seem to find.
Cook had allowed David to hold him, letting David clutch at his shoulders with an almost desperate need. Finally, when his grip eased a little, Cook pulled back to look down at David and David was sure by his expression that the man he loved knew just exactly how much David loved him in return. Cook's eyes welled with tears as he cupped David's face in his familiar, callused hands. He leaned forward, kissing David reverently.
They didn't speak; it didn't seem necessary. Instead, they lay together in the bed that had become theirs, exploring each other with an aching slowness that threatened to drive them both crazy and, at the same time, drew them so close that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Cook's eyes stayed locked with David's as he entered him, his cheeks still damp from his tears. David felt tears prick at his own eyes as he looked back at the man above him, the man inside him. And he knew that David Cook was the only man that he would ever love.
Afterwards, Cook had gotten up to retrieve a warm washcloth, cleaning David with a tenderness that made his breath catch yet again. David waited until Cook was finished, then opened his arms to beckon the man back into bed. Cook came willingly, lying down to curl his body around the younger man, his head resting on David's chest and his arms tucked snuggly around David's torso. David wrapped his arms around Cook, as well, enjoying the feel of his boyfriend's warm weight against him.
It was some time later, with Cook still lying in his arms, that David finally asked the question that had been playing at the back of his mind all night.
"Babe, what's this really all been about tonight? I mean, not that I'm complaining," he quickly added as his fingers trailed over Cook's bare shoulder. He felt Cook's lips against his collarbone and knew that the older man had not taken his words the wrong way. "I just . . . everything's okay, right?" He knew that Cook loved him, but there was a tiny part of him that thought this whole night might be a precursor to some sort of bad news. Like, maybe Cook was trying to soften the blow before it was even delivered. As silly as he told himself this thought was, David couldn't seem to vanquish it completely from his mind.
Cook, as usual, seemed to see right through David's words and into the fears behind them. He sat up enough to look down at David, bringing his hand up to cup the younger man's cheek as he said, "Everything is perfect, baby, I swear. I just wanted to make sure that you knew how much you mean to me, that's all."
"Cook, that's silly. Of course I know," David said honestly.
"I know, I just . . ." Cook ran his thumb over David's jaw line, following the movement with his eyes as he sighed. "Honestly? I've just been so worried about you since the whole thing with your dad and . . . well, I guess I just wanted to make sure that you were still okay with this, with us . . . I'm just really not sure what I would do if you weren't," he admitted.
"Cook . . . David . . ." the younger man said softly and Cook looked up to meet his gaze at last. "I've had a lot of doubts these last few months. I've had doubts about myself and my faith and my family. But, I don't want you to think for even one second that I've ever had a doubt about you, about us . . . okay?" Reaching up to cup Cook's face in his hands, David said, "I'll never stop loving you. Never."
Even as tears coursed down his stubbled cheeks, Cook smiled. "Okay," he replied softly as he nodded. Their lips met in a salty kiss, each of them clinging to the other fiercely.
"Thank you," David whispered into Cook's hair as he held him close.
"For what, babe?" Cook asked softly in reply.
"For always loving me, even when I wasn't sure I was worth it."
He felt Cook's arms wind tighter around him and felt Cook's breath against his skin as he said, "You'll always be worth it, baby. Always."
-=-=-=-=-
The next morning, David felt like things were different. Not in a bad way, but in a way that he'd been hoping they would be for a long time. He woke up feeling lighter and more hopeful than he could remember feeling in months. It was quite a welcomed change.
David found Cook in the kitchen, making coffee. He was wearing his robe and his hair was sticking up wildly, still tousled from sleep. David smiled at the sight. "You're up early," he commented as he walked over to lean against the counter next to the coffeemaker.
Cook looked over and grinned sleepily at him. "Morning, babe. Yeah, sorry if I woke you. I have some stuff to get done before Andrew gets here."
"Andrew's coming into town?" David asked. He knew it was possible that he should know that, but he didn't recall Cook saying anything about his brother coming for a visit.
Cook looked up, his face already registering an apology as he said, "Uh, did I forget to mention that?"
"No, it's fine. I just . . . he's coming today? How long is he staying?" David probably wouldn't have been too keen on having a houseguest before that day, but he had woken up feeling so much better that day that he couldn't seem to be upset by the prospect. Besides, he'd always liked Cook's younger brother and it would actually be good to see him again.
"Um, his plane lands at three this afternoon. He's supposed to be here for a week, but he's got some meetings with a couple of labels while he's out here so who knows. Anyway, I can take him to the Hilton if you'd rather. He really won't mind at all."
"What? No, don't be silly," David said. "There's a perfectly good guest room he can stay in right here. Besides, he's your brother. We can't just drop him at some hotel for the week."
Cook leaned forward to press a kiss to David's lips and said, "Thanks. Sorry I forgot to mention it."
"It's really okay," David assured him. "So . . . Andrew knows we're, um . . . you know . . ."
"Sleeping together?" Cook asked teasingly as he grinned down at David. "Yeah, babe, Andrew knows all about how head over heels I am for you, don't worry."
David blushed, but nodded his head. It was nice to know that Cook's family accepted their relationship, even if his own family couldn't be quite so supportive yet.
"So, he'll be here tonight for dinner, then?" David asked.
"Um, yeah, I guess," Cook replied.
"Do you think Andrew would mind a few other people joining us?" David asked. "I mean, if you don't mind, that is. I was just thinking, you know, we haven't ever really had our friends over since we started, um," he gestured between the two of them and searched for the right word, then finally settled on, "this. So, I thought maybe tonight, ya know, we could, um . . ."
"I think that's a great idea," Cook cut into David's rambling. He touched David's shoulder and smiled down at him, adding, "Really, I would love to have them all over. If you want to, that is."
David smiled up at him and nodded, saying, "Yeah, I really do." He could see the relief wash over Cook's face and knew that things really were getting better.
-=-=-=-=-
As soon as they'd decided to have people over, David had set to work on planning for the evening. He'd called and invited Michael, Carly and Andy over and, thankfully, they'd all been available at short notice. David had spent the better part of the morning cleaning, while Cook had been sent to the grocery store, armed with a shopping list and a time limit. He'd arrived back home just in time to carry the multitude of bags inside, then he'd kissed David quickly and run back out to head for the airport to get Andrew.
It was just as well, David knew. As much as he loved the older man, party planning was not something that David Cook was known to enjoy. Had it been left to him, they'd have ended up having pizza and beer and watching sports highlights. Which probably would have been fine with this group, actually, but David had something a little bit more in mind.
By the time that Cook and Andrew walked through the door shortly before five o'clock, the house was immaculate, dinner was well under way and David was upstairs deciding what to wear. He heard the guys come in and set his clothing choices aside, going downstairs to greet their houseguest.
"Hey Andrew!" David said brightly as he walked into the living room. Andrew smiled back and opened his arms to accept a friendly hug from the younger man. "I'm glad you're here," David said sincerely as he pulled away.
"Thanks for having me," Andrew replied. "Wow, dinner smells great."
"Archie's a great cook," Cook said as he stepped over to loop an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders.
"Better keep him around then, unless you want to live your life eating takeout and Ramen," Andrew said as he winked at David conspiratorially.
"Oh, he's not going anywhere, don't worry," Cook said as he hugged David to his side. The younger man blushed, but couldn’t help leaning into the touch.
"Um, everyone should be here around seven, so we should probably go get ready soon," David told the brothers. They both nodded and the three men headed up the stairs together. Andrew veered off into the guestroom and Cook and David went into their bedroom.
"So, you want the first shower?" David asked from the closet as he resumed his search for something suitable to wear for the evening.
Cook came up behind him and linked his hands around David's middle, bending down close to his ear as he said, "I thought we could share, actually."
David turned slightly, attempting to look at his boyfriend from the odd angle. "Um, Cook, Andrew is right down the hall," he reminded him.
"Yeah, so I guess that means you'll have to keep it down, baby," he said as he began to lick across the edge of David's ear.
Even as the sensation made him push back into Cook's arms, David said, "No, we . . . we can't, Cook."
"Um, yeah, we totally can," Cook assured him.
"But . . ."
"Archie, my brother knows we're having sex," Cook said as his teeth grazed David's earlobe, tugging gently and making the younger man gasp.
"I don't . . . I mean, it's just weird to think that your brother, um . . ."
"David . . ." Cook whined a little as he moved his mouth to David's neck and began placing sucking kisses along the tender skin. "I need you, baby . . . I want you . . ."
David felt his resolve weakening as Cook sucked a bruise into a particularly tender spot. "Uhhh . . . okay, but we have to hurry," David said. "And you have to be quiet."
"Mmm, I'm a shower sex ninja, baby," Cook smirked against his skin as his hands found David's zipper. They eventually made it into the bathroom, after nearly falling over each other a few times in the process. David hoped that dinner didn't end up burned, but if it did he still kind of thought it would be worth it.
-=-=-=-=-
Cook and David managed to keep their shower relatively short and relatively quiet, although there were a few rather enthusiastic sounds that David felt sure had traveled through the walls. Andrew just grinned at them from the couch as they walked downstairs together, though, so David decided to pretend that he hadn't heard a thing.
The lasagna that David had prepared was almost done by the time that their first guest arrived. It was Andy, who had come bearing a bottle of red wine and a huge grin. He hugged Cook and Andrew, then went to say hello to David, who was in the kitchen finishing up dinner.
"Hey Archuleta, how's it going man?" Andy asked as he set down the wine he'd brought and clapped the younger man on the shoulder.
David smiled and said, "Good, Andy, glad you could make it."
"Like I'd miss the first dinner party for the happy couple," he winked. David flushed and grinned. "Seriously, thanks for inviting me. I'm really glad to see that you and Dave are doing okay." David was aware that Cook had spoken to Andy about the issues with his family; he'd asked David before discussing it with him. And David understood his need to talk to someone, especially when that someone was the person he'd been best friends with for nearly half his life.
"We're great, Andy, thanks," David said sincerely. "And I wanted to thank you, too, for being there for Cook lately. I know I haven't exactly been there for him myself."
At this, Andy surprised David by walking over and slinging his arm around David's shoulders before saying, "Hey, you're what Dave needs, Archie. He loves you, you know that, right?"
David nodded and said, "Yeah, but it's always nice to hear."
"Are you guys in here talking about how handsome I am again?" Cook asked as he appeared in the doorway. David smirked at him and Andy rolled his eyes.
"Jeez, big head, get over yourself," Andy quipped.
Cook just laughed and winked at David, to which the younger man just smiled in return. "So, Andy, man," Cook said, "You gotta come hear this CD for Drew's band." Andy nodded, slapping David lightly on the back before heading out to join the others in the living room. David smiled as he watched them go. The night was already turning out pretty great.
-=-=-=-=-
Michael and Carly arrived just as David was pulling the lasagna from the oven. He came out to the living room to greet them, then told everyone that dinner was ready as soon as they felt like eating. Before long, they were all seated around the dining room table, telling David how great the meal was.
"Thank goodness you're here, Archie," Michael said as he took his second helping of lasagna. "Cook was destined to die of food poisoning from his own cooking without you."
"Ha freaking ha, Johns," Cook said, but he reached under the table and grabbed David's hand, smiling when the younger man's eyes met his.
"So, Carly, how's everything with you?" David asked.
"Oh, pretty good so far," she said. "I haven't craved anything too extreme yet. And Syesha has been sending me baby books in the mail every week so I think we've both read enough about parenthood to scare us completely out of our minds." She laughed and Michael nodded his agreement.
"You'll both be great," David said sincerely.
"Well, we're counting on the godparents for a lot of support," she winked.
"I think you'll have a hard time keeping Uncle Archie away," Andy said with a grin. "And we all know how Dave over there gets around babies. He'll be crying buckets for weeks after you have this kid."
"Aw, leave Davey alone," Andrew said. "He can't help that he's sensitive." Andrew and Andy both grinned at the comment.
"You two are so obviously jealous that I am way more evolved than you," Cook said. "It's actually pretty pathetic."
Good-natured teasing aside, David reached over and linked his hand with Cook's and said, "I like you just the way you are." Cook grinned at that and leaned in to press a kiss to David's lips. At that moment, the entire table broke into a chorus of awww and how sweet, but neither man seemed to give it much thought.
-=-=-=-=-
The group had moved into the living room after dinner and everyone was sitting around eating the cheesecake that David had made and laughing at the ridiculous stories that Andrew and Andy were telling about Cook's pre-Idol days.
"Well, it was your fault for renting Coyote Ugly in the first place," Cook said to Andy after one such story.
"Hey, don't blame me. No one told you to strip down to your skivvies and dance on the bar, dude," Andy countered.
"You were dancing on the bar in your underwear?" David asked with a smirk as he leaned on the arm of the couch near his boyfriend. He was mildly surprised by this revelation, but also kind of wished he'd been there to see it.
"Not just my underwear," Cook said with a grin. "I left my boots on."
The others laughed again. Then Michael, turning towards David, said, "Something tells me you're going to ask him for a private reenactment later." David blushed and tugged at his collar before he could think about it, causing Michael to roll his eyes and say, "Save it, Arch, I already noticed the love bites that Count Cook left on you." He winked conspiratorially at David, though everyone else had undoubtedly heard what he'd said.
Cook reached out to tug at the younger man's waist until David fell easily from his perch on the arm of the couch into Cook's lap. Wrapping his arms around David's waist, Cook said teasingly, "Stop flirting with my boyfriend, Johns. Don't make me kick your ass."
"You couldn't take me," Michael kidded back.
"But I could," Carly said with a smirk as she flicked playfully at her husband's ear. Michael scoffed, but didn't reply.
"What, you're not afraid of me but you're afraid of a pregnant woman who promised to love, honor and cherish you?" Cook asked with a raise of his eyebrows.
Michael shrugged, looping an arm around Carly's waist before he replied, "Well, she's a lot scarier than you, Dave." Carly squeaked in indignation as she shoved playfully at her husband's side, then leaned into him and allowed him to plant a kiss to her temple.
"Andy, I have a feeling we're outnumbered," Andrew said as he turned to look at the only other singleton in the room.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, man. Hell, at least they aren't making out," he added.
"Thank God for small favors," Andrew quipped, to which Cook stuck out his tongue at the two and laid a loud kiss to the back of David's neck.
"Cook!" David laughed as he squirmed a little in his boyfriend's lap. Before he could be groped any further, though, the phone rang. David jumped up, saying, "I'll get it!" and heading into the kitchen.
"You can run, but you can't hide, Archie!" Cook called after him. "I know where you sleep!"
There was a chorus of laughter still filtering in from the living room as David reached the phone. He was smiling and shaking his head at his goofy boyfriend as he said, "Hello?"
"Um . . . David?" came the reply. He recognized the voice immediately.
"Dan?" he asked, more than a little surprised to hear from his brother. They'd spoken a few times since David's trip home, but always after David had spoken to one of his sisters and they'd been able to hear how sad he was. He knew that they would then get Daniel to call him in an attempt to cheer their brother up. David appreciated the effort, but he also had a feeling that Daniel probably wouldn't have called him were it not for their urging. "Is everything okay?" he asked, feeling a warm dread wash over him at the prospect that something might be wrong.
"No, no, um, everything's fine," Daniel assured him. "I was actually, um . . . well, remember how we talked about me coming out to visit you?"
"We, um . . . yeah, I . . . well, I mean, that was before I told you that I, um . . . I guess I just sort of figured you wouldn't want to now that you, um, know," he admitted.
The line was silent for a moment and David wondered if his brother had hung up, but then he heard Daniel clear his throat and say, "Well, I was wondering if it was still okay with you?"
"Okay? Um, yeah, sure Dan. You know you're always welcome." He hesitated, then added, "Um, but you know that I live with Cook now, right? And, um . . . I'm not willing to pretend while you're here." He felt bold saying that, knowing it might be what his brother would expect him to do and also knowing that he would not compromise the great lengths he'd come in his relationship, even if it meant offending his brother in the process.
"Davey, I . . ." Daniel sighed and David thought for sure he was about to tell him exactly how wrong he thought David's lifestyle was. He'd been dreading this, feeling that his brother was the most likely person in his family aside from his dad to eventually turn his back on David. But, at Daniel's next words, David felt himself flooded with a strange mixture of guilt and relief. "I wouldn't ask you to do that, Dave," he said softly. "I may not understand completely what it is you and Cook have, but I told you before that you're my brother. That's all that matters."
There were tears spilling down David's cheeks instantly at the words and he found himself asking, "Really, Dan? Do you mean that?"
"David, of course," his brother said. "I'm sorry it's so hard to believe it."
"No, Dan, I-" he started, not wanting to offend his brother with his doubts. But then, Dan cut in again, once again easing David's mind.
"No, really, David. I really am sorry that you couldn't believe it before. I know you've felt alone in this, and that sucks. I should have been a better brother-"
"You're the best brother," David insisted. "Thanks Dan, I mean it. This means a lot."
Another pause followed from both men with David finally being the one to break it this time. "So, you want to come out and visit?"
"Yeah, actually, I really would," Daniel said. "Do you think that, um, that Cook would mind?"
David smiled, pleased to hear that his brother was asking about his boyfriend, knowing that it was a concession to the fact that Daniel knew their lives were intertwined now. He liked the thought of that. Smiling broadly, David said, "No, I'm sure he wouldn't mind at all."
-=-=-=-=-
David had gone back out to the living room to rejoin their guests and surprised Cook by moving to sit on his lap again. The contented grin on David's face hadn't escaped Cook's attention and he'd leaned close to David's ear to ask, "What's up, babe? Who was on the phone?"
David had turned in his boyfriend's arms and replied, "I'll tell you later," and the happiness that was radiating from his expression seemed to be enough for Cook for the time being.
The party had eventually wound down, with Carly growing tired and Michael deciding he needed to get her home. Andy had followed shortly after. He'd pulled David into a quick hug at the door, telling him he would be honored to be invited to one of his dinner parties any time.
Andrew had insisted on helping with the clean up and all three men had managed to put away the leftover food and return the kitchen to some semblance of order before they headed up to their respective beds. Andrew hugged his brother, then David, before ducking into the guestroom.
David went in to brush his teeth, nodding as Cook said something about needing to tell his brother one more thing and turning to walk back down to the guestroom. By the time that Cook had reappeared, David was clad in only his boxer shorts, slipping into his side of the bed.
He lay there, listening to Cook brushing his teeth and thinking about the day. He'd woken up feeling good and, he was surprised to find that he was going to sleep feeling even better. His problems hadn't all been miraculously solved, but David could finally see the light at the end of the dark tunnel he'd been wandering down for so long. It might not ever be perfect, but things were turning out so much better than David had ever expected them to. The thought made him smile.
"It's so good to see that look on your face again, baby," Cook said softly as he reentered the room. He was also only wearing his boxers as he made his way over to their bed. Climbing across the mattress, Cook leaned in to kiss David and added, "I've missed your smile."
"Today was a good day," David said to him. Cook nodded, pulling David into his arms and asking again about the phone call from earlier. David rested his head against Cook's chest and happily told him about the conversation with his brother.
"Oh, babe, that's fantastic," Cook said after he'd finished. "He can come whenever he wants, any time you're ready."
David nodded, turning in Cook's arms until he could meet the other man's eyes. He smiled and leaned in for a slow kiss before saying, "I wouldn't have made it through this without you."
"You're stronger than you know, Archie," Cook assured him.
"No, you're my strength," David insisted. "I'm better because of you."
Cook had tears sparkling in his eyes as he softly replied, "You're everything that's good about my life, Archie. I love you so much."
David smiled back, pressing forward for another kiss, this one much longer and deeper than the last. By the time that they parted, both men were straining for breath, clutching at each other and pressed together tightly.
"Andrew is right down the hall, Cook," David reminded his boyfriend. He saw Cook's lips turn up into a smirk and asked, "What?"
"I took care of my little brother, don't worry," he said.
"What does that mean?" David asked.
"Well," Cook said, "I knew you wouldn't want him to hear us. And, you know, I respect that. So, uh . . . I may have suggested that he sleep with his headphones on tonight, just in case."
David's eyes widened as he said, "That's what you had to go tell Andrew a few minutes ago? That he should listen to music really loud so he wouldn't hear us having sex?" The last two words were spoken softly, causing Cook to grin wider at David's reserve.
"Not in so many words, but yes, I suggested that the neighborhood can get a little loud and he might want to block out the noise."
"Cook, you can't even see any of our neighbors from here," David pointed out.
Cook grinned and pulled David into another kiss as he mumbled, "Oops, my bad."
Despite his embarrassment at what Andrew must be thinking, David couldn't help but giggle as he let himself be dragged back to lie next to Cook on the bed. "You're incorrigible, you know that?" he said.
Cook smiled slyly and replied, "You wouldn't want me any other way."
It was David who pulled him into the kiss this time as he answered, for the second time that night, "Nah, I think I like you just the way you are."
-=-=-=-=-
The End
September 30, 2008
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