Shelter Fic
Shaun walked out of the small bedroom Zach and Cody shared in the small house in San Pedro. He had been touched and surprisingly gratified when Cody had asked him to read the nights bedtime story, and Shaun obliged willingly. Zach had just smiled and walked out of the room as they were beginning the first pages. Shaun walked to find Zach in the kitchen, standing at the sink. His back was turned and he was deeply concentrated in the task of washing the dishes they had used for the nights make shift dinner of frozen pizza and mac and cheese. In would be the last night they spent in the San Pedro house, and Shaun immediately agreed when Zach shyly suggested they spend the night here, for Cody's sake. Shaun stopped to watch him for a moment, and while he watched Zach engaged in a seemingly unimportant domestic task, Shaun's heart swelled. Zach was his. Really his. They were going to build a life together, be happy, be in love. Zach was a good man; responsible, beautiful, selfless. Shaun loved him with every fiber of his being. The thought of helping with the dishes every night made Shaun almost giddy, because he would get to do them with Zach.
Shaun came up slowly behind Zach, sliding his hands onto his hips and wrapping them around until he was holding him tightly. Zach had stopped what he was doing and reach up to turn off the water. Zach leaned his head back to settle in the curve of Shaun's neck and brought his hands, still wet, to rap around Shaun's arms, pulling him in tighter. They stood there silently for awhile, hugging, stroking, gently swaying. Zach sighed when Shaun began to kiss his neck and stretched it to the side in encouragement. Suddenly, Zach gently broke the embrace and turned around in Shaun's arms. When they looked each other in the eyes, Shaun thought Zach looked as if he were near tears. Zach put his hands around Shaun's head and took a deep, shaky breath before he spoke.
"I love you."
It was the first time either of them had said it, and swear to God Shaun about cried.
"I love you too. So much."
They kissed, gently, and Shaun finally tasted the salty tears. He wasn't sure if they were from Zach or himself or both and he did not break the kiss to find out.
They made love, on the couch in the living room in the small house in San Pedro. It could not have been more beautiful.