The Way We Are - Epilogue
PAIRING: Orlando / Michael (OMC)
RATING: Overall NC 17
WARNINGS: Rape and abuse in some chapters (clearly marked); hints of fluff; embarrassing situations and lame humor may also be encountered.
DISCLAIMER: I made this story up. It is not true. This never happened.
SUMMARY (story): While in London to shoot a movie, Orlando meets Michael who stirs new feelings in him and soon he is forced to re-consider his sexuality, what he wants and how much he is prepared to risk… And a lot of other stuff, thrown in for entertainment!
FEEDBACK: Makes my day better.
BANNER(s): Thanks to the awesome roomfor2 - not just for this lovely banner but also others (one was posted with previous chapters) - and for her constant support (she was my very first reader!). Big hugs… Seriously - Hugs.
BETA: When I reached chapter 25 idlesloth could no longer watch me struggle. She stepped in, volunteered her time, skills and patience (which was needed with me!) and cleaned up my messy story. She stopped my embarrassing mistakes, taught me grammar and introduced me to the enter key. Slothy, I simply cannot thank you enough - You’ve made this a much better story and been not just a great help but also a huge support for me. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Author’s note: It is the end! I can’t believe how long this has taken. Thank you to all the readers - and especially those who have spurred me on with lovely comments and motivating feedback, it has meant so much - and without it I simply would never have found the determination to finish. Thanks for being patient during my long writing breaks. Hugs to all.
EPILOGUE
Orlando turned around and trod water as he looked up at the cabin. Michael was outside fiddling with the grill and probably waiting for Orlando to come back up and help him with the non-meat preparations for their dinner.
It had been two years since Orlando first swam in this lake and two years since his world had started changing.
He was still with Michael. There had been arguments; there had been yelling, accusations and hurt feelings but just as many sincere apologies, hugs and make-ups.
Some days Michael was the biggest idiot, ignoring the hell out of Orlando, other days he was the greatest boyfriend ever. Days would shift where he made Orlando feel everything from happy, exited and adored to frustrated, angry and upset but not for a second had Orlando stopped loving him… and never had he doubted the feeling was returned - and apart from some separations due to work, the nights were always spent together - in their shared home, in their bedroom, lying close.
He was going to spend his life with Michael. There really was little doubt about that. And it didn’t matter any more what the world thought or how other people felt about it. What mattered now was how Orlando thought and felt. He was done living his life according to other people’s rules and opinions, was done trying to please the public, his management or anyone else. He didn’t need fame, didn’t need more money and he didn’t need the acceptance of people who meant nothing in his private life.
He needed Michael and he needed the freedom to listen to small, excited voices that promised adventures, love, and happy endings.
After Atlantis, Orlando had disregarded the advice of his all-knowing management and didn’t sign another movie deal in LA. Instead, he took a break, went home to London and spent his time with family, friends and most of all, Michael. He had since thrown himself into the West-end theatre scene, had done guest appearances on TV shows and worked on British movies which kept him close to home. He had now been offered a good role in an American production and considered returning to LA in the autumn - it was under discussion in their small household and depended on whether Michael could find work during the shoot. Orlando was not going anywhere for eight months if there were no opportunities for Michael to join him.
Orlando hadn’t made any public announcements or grand revelations about his relationship with Michael. He didn’t hide his boyfriend but he didn’t flaunt him at award shows either. Orlando didn’t want to be a gay icon, he didn’t want the world’s attention, he just wanted to live his life in peace and wanted his private life to remain private. Anyone who needed to know had been informed, most had taken the information well and Orlando soon realized that he had some very loyal friends and discreet social circles as people kept the story quiet - some out of loyalty to him, others possibly because it benefited them to do so.
Orlando knew, however, that should the story ever break, it wasn’t the end of the world and he would be able to cope. He wouldn’t be ashamed, he wouldn’t be apologetic and he wouldn’t deny the truth.
Sometimes he wondered though, whether investigative journalism had completely died with the emergence of gossip websites; it wasn’t difficult to discover Michael’s identity or his sexual preferences and yet he was never mentioned. In spite of countless photographs showing Michael at Orlando’s side, Michael’s presence was at best ignored or he was otherwise labeled as ‘a friend, personal assistant, personal trainer,’ - and once, to Orlando’s amusement and Michael’s utter annoyance, as ‘private dog-walker’.
Despite Orlando’s refusal to purposely undertake any more PR stunts with women, he was still being constantly linked with starlets and anonymous females across the globe but he didn’t much care about the gossip.
The hardest ordeal for Orlando had been telling his mum about Michael. He had postponed that specific talk - and postponed it again until he could no longer find any excuse for delay. Alone he had driven to Canterbury, ate lunch with his mum, lost his courage and drove all the way back to London only to realize that he could not go home and tell Michael that his coming-out mission had failed. And thus, he had returned to his mother’s house, trotted determined into the kitchen and told the truth.
“Mum, I’ve met someone. There’s someone I’m with and I’m in love with. His name is Michael and I love him. I’m in a relationship and I want to be with him. With a man. I have a boyfriend.”
His mum had stared at him; too long for Orlando’s liking.
“I love him.”
“So you said,” his mum had stared some more, then poured two large whiskeys and sat him down for a long talk. She was mildly astounded by her son’s revelation, mainly due to the many pretty girlfriends in his past. She was not however, terribly disappointed or angry as Orlando had dreaded. She still loved him, she still supported him and she was still proud of him. Once that had been established Orlando had felt as if the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders; his mum was still his mum and now she really knew him.
Happy with her response Orlando had still felt compelled to test her sincerity by bringing up the past - and the words she had so firmly instilled in his head.
“But Mum, you told me not to kiss boys.” Orlando had reminded her, earning him a confused look.
“When?”
“With Adrien.”
“Honey, you were six years old,” she had wrongly stated; he had been eight, he remembered it so clearly.
“I was eight.”
“You were six. It was Blanche’s son right?”
“Yeah…” Orlando had just nodded. Maybe he had been six after all.
“Well I had to stop you,” his mum had laughed, “You were kissing everything in sight. I was only teaching you some social manners.”
Orlando had been stunned by that information. Had those words not been very significant? Had it not been a gruelling lecture, a severe scolding and firm instructions on how not to live his life? And surely he had not been kissing everything in sight.
“You didn’t say I couldn’t kiss girls,” he had mumbled, weakly countering her argument. His mum had just smiled and agreed.
“No, but I told you not to pull their skirts down. It didn’t mean I never thought you’d to do it again.” Orlando had blushed; well he had pealed off a few skirts before meeting Michael.
“You can kiss whoever you want; you’re a grown man,” his mum had concluded and Orlando had concluded that maybe he was carrying too much baggage; too much out-dated advice and distorted childhood memories that were no longer relevant.
Turning onto his back, Orlando flapped his arms lazily to stay afloat while enjoying the evening sun on his face. He and Michael often escaped to the cabin when they needed a few days of rest. They even spent last Christmas by the lake, allowing them some privacy while being only a short drive from Orlando’s family on Christmas morning.
They had discovered, however, that the lack of central heating made the cabin more suitable for summer retreats than winter getaways. At Christmas they had to drag the mattress into the living room just to sleep closer to the fireplace - it had been absurdly primitive… but also undeniably cozy and, despite the lack of white bearskins, disgustingly romantic.
Orlando wanted to buy the cabin but Tim wouldn’t sell. Orlando wanted to renovate the cabin, make it suitable for winter use and then Tim could borrow it whenever he asked - but it wasn’t for sale. Orlando wanted to buy and renovate the cabin and give it to Michael as a gift - but Michael didn’t want excessive presents and Tim still wasn’t selling. Orlando was a little annoyed with the cabin situation. But, he still loved visiting Tim’s wooden mess by the beautiful lake.
Tomorrow morning they were returning to London. They would pick up Chris and his latest fling on the way and then meet outside the church with Alex and Mark, who were now a rock-solid couple. They had to be on time, Orlando reminded himself again. Not only was Michael in charge of wedding photos, he was also the Best-man and that required punctuality. Jake and Emily were tying the knot after a year of dating - the wedding rushed forward a few months due to Emily’s pregnancy.
Maybe Jake could be Michael best man when Michael got married, Orlando pondered as he watched fluffy white clouds drift past. Because Michael, too, was getting married at some point. He just didn’t know it yet. But Orlando had thought about it for a while and had decided. If he was ever going to marry anyone it would have to be Michael, noone else could ever come close to consideration.
It wouldn’t be in a nicely decorated church of course; that wasn’t allowed for them, neither was Orlando a Christian, and furthermore it would have been far too romantic and traditional for Michael to ever get his head around. No, there would be no big wedding but a civil union they could do at some point.
He really needed to involve Michael in those plans.
Orlando swam to the shore. He trotted happily across the soft grass, paused briefly to watch Sidi chase an imaginary rabbit, then proceeded to the cabin where he quickly dried himself and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt before joining Michael in the kitchen.
“Nice swim?” Michael briefly looked up from the potatoes he was peeling. They would become mashed potatoes; Michael was in a mashed potato phase - as if he just recently discovered that such a thing existed and should be eaten constantly. The same thing happened periodically with rice and pasta.
“Yeah.” Orlando steered for the small freezer, grabbed its only contents - a bag of frozen peas and began rummaging for a suitable saucepan. “We’re having peas, yeah?”
“Yes. Vitamins. But don’t put them on yet.”
“Oh,” Orlando stopped, small saucepan in hand. He was a good cook; he just struggled with the timing of things if more than one dish was needed.
“You can put them in the pan,” Michael advised, “Just don’t turn in on yet.”
“Okay.”
After filling the pan with water, Orlando went to stand next to Michael by the kitchen table. He cut open the frozen bag and slowly poured peas into the water, little by little, estimating how many were needed - a little more… maybe the whole bag. He glanced at Michael. “I think we’re getting married. In the future. Just so you know.”
“Sorry?” Michael stopped his potato peeling to stare at his boyfriend.
“A registered partnership. We are getting that,” Orlando explained but Michael looked at him suspiciously. “You ARE my partner aren’t you?” He could almost see the objections running through Michael’s mind and it was time for sensible reasoning. “It’s not right now. Just at some point.”
“Right.” Michael looked calmer and returned his attention to the potatoes. “Just out of curiosity what is the point of this impending wedding?”
“The point is I want it on paper,” Orlando crunched the empty bag and proceeded to the bin as he spoke. “I want to be with you legally. I want to be able to visit you in the hospital if you get sick and I want you to automatically get the house and stuff if something happens to me.” Those were sensible points Orlando thought; practical and non-romantic.
“I will get the house,” Michael argued, “it’s in my name too.”
“But you would have to buy my half or pay inheritance tax,” Orlando came to stand next to Michael again, leaning against the kitchen table and studying his response. “That’s a lot.”
Michael nodded reluctantly, probably impressed with Orlando’s logic. “Okay. But those things can be sorted out…”
“No, the tax can’t,” Orlando interrupted. “But that’s not the point.” He had to come up with even better arguments; it wasn’t just a financial matter. “Look, if you were in a coma I would have no say in turning the machine off.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, “You would turn it off?”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t get a say. They wouldn’t consult me.”
“Why can’t you be the one in a coma?”
“I just died in the last scenario!”
Michael laughed; fair was fair. He plunged the potatoes into a pot of water, having finished the peeling, and turned to study Orlando, a serious look on his face.
Orlando gave him a small smile. “The coma isn’t the point.”
“Then what is?”
“The point is I want to. I want to know that this is it. You and me.”
He was prepared for Michael to find a million reasons why it was a stupid idea and Orlando could almost see the anti-marriage arguments running through his boyfriend but when Michael finally re-focused on Orlando his eyes showed a mixture of love and resignation and instead of turning him down he said, ”We would need a really good pre-nup.”
“Can’t I just promise to never claim half of your stuff?” Orlando teased but Michael ignored the humour.
“It’s non-negotiable.”
“Okay,” Orlando agreed, though he didn’t quite see the necessity. He knew that Michael wasn’t after his money. Knew that Michael was too proud to ever take a penny from him if they ever broke up. And then he realized that they were discussing details but not actually disagreeing on the main idea.
He suddenly caught his breath and stared at Michael, unable to move and taking a second to understand that Michael didn’t need any more convincing. “Are you serious?” Orlando almost breathed out. “You will marry me?”
“Yeah,” Michael moved forward and encircled his arms around his lover’s slender waist. “Why not? I can’t seem to get rid of you anyway.”
“You haven’t tried very hard lately.”
“No, I haven’t,” Michael agreed, leaning his forehead against Orlando’s, “I must like having you around.”
And then Orlando realized that maybe Michael really wanted to marry him too. That maybe it was something Michael needed in order to firmly believe that Orlando was with him to stay; that despite their arguments and disagreements Orlando had no intentions of ever leaving; Orlando would never change his mind again.
“But it’s not right now though,” Michael double-checked their new agreement.
“No. It’s just some day.”
“Okay.” Michael’s head dipped, his mouth searching for the soft skin on Orlando’s neck, kissing and nibbling and drawing a wet tongue over his lover’s Adam’s apple till he squirmed. “And I’m not wearing a ring,” he mumbled, pushing Orlando up against the table.
Orlando drew his head back. “You have to wear a ring.”
“Can’t you just get one?”
“No!” Orlando looked at him with disgust at the suggestion. “The entire point is lost if we don’t both have one.” Michael seemed unconvinced and Orlando decided on a different tactic.
Edging closer, he discreetly placed a leg between Michael’s, his thigh purposely pressing where his lover felt it most. He ran one hand under Michael’s shirt, stroking his back and leaned in to kiss his throat with slow, lavish caresses of his tongue till Michael’s head fell back in gratification. He kissed his way up Michael’s exposed neck, licked on a strong, pulsing vein, reached the earlobe and bit it gently as he twisted his thigh just slightly. “I want you to wear a ring with my name inside it.”
“I don’t need an engraved ring to remind me,” Michael objected, his voice hoarse, “I see you practically every day.” His breath hitched as Orlando grabbed his jeans-clad cock and rubbed it with the palm of a hand.
“Well, let me put it this way…” Orlando kissed the tender skin beneath Michael’s ear, sucked and teased it in the way that always made his lover squirm. “It’s one of those non-negotiable things…” Orlando whispered in his ear, trailing a tongue along the sensitive ridge.
Michael gasped as Orlando’s hand snuck down, into his trouser to draw gentle - too gentle - lines up and down his growing erection. “You are wearing a ring, Michael,” Orlando tightened his grip and a moan escaped his stubborn lover.
“I detest gold,” Michael declared hoarsely.
“No gold,” Orlando promised. He wanted to smirk at his success but didn’t have time before Michael kissed him.
Clothes soon fell to the floor; Orlando was pressed against the wall and gently taken by his new fiancé.
Orlando had been pressed against that wall before - two years ago, when they shared their first kiss in this very kitchen.
Two years ago, he had felt nervous and self-conscious drying his body in front of Michael, now Michael knew every inch of it. Now they melted together with habitual ease. Now Orlando felt nothing but contentment from Michael’s familiar touch.
During their first kiss Orlando had cried in confusion; he had been overwhelmed by the sensations and scared when he heard a little voice that claimed he had been pretending and lying to himself his entire adult life - but though Michael’s touch could still overwhelm him, the nagging voice was quiet now.
There were no tears. There was no more pretence. Life had changed and life was better.
With a post-orgasmic glow on his face, Orlando eventually turned in Michael’s arms, still panting slightly. Michael nuzzled his hair, kissed his cheek and pulled him down to sit on Michael’s lap on a kitchen chair.
He leaned his head against Michael’s shoulder, taking in the familiar, comforting smell of his lover as they watched the sun set slowly over the lake. They idly caressed each other’s skin, played with locks of hair and loosely entwined their fingers as they talked quietly about the size of pine-trees, the dog-food they forgot in London and the cooking time needed for green peas.
They were boyfriends. They were lovers and fiancés and they were meant to be. They were family. They really didn’t need any non-gold rings to remind them. Orlando still wanted them though. “We could get rings now,” he mumbled quietly.
Michael just chuckled and gave him a small squeeze, knowing persistence was a strong personality trait in Orlando. He had known that from the beginning and he had always liked it. He kissed Orlando’s forehead. “I’ll think about it.”
Orlando smiled and let the discussion rest, knowing he would eventually win it.
And of course he did…
A month later he wore a new engagement ring.
So did Michael - with Orlando’s name engraved inside it.
*THE END*
NOTE: Some readers have requested a word document of the completed story. As it turned out to be a really, really long story and a rather big file for emailing I have done something quite technical!
A PDF file of the whole story can be downloaded here: http://www.mediafire.com/?9bmvgtuegnd
Hopefully it works!