Part three
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Just a few more steps!”
“Lewis, come on! Just tell me where to go instead of having this horrible blindfold!” Wilbur complained, the itchy fabric rubbing against his face uncomfortably. Lifting his hand, he went to scratch, when Lewis smacked his hand away.
“Stop that! Besides, do you or do you not want your surprise?” Lewis admonished, still guiding the boy up the stairs.
“Lewis, I’m all for surprises. I love surprises! But this blindfold is itchy!” Wilbur complained, pouting. He gave a soft gasp when he felt lips press against his own in a sweet kiss.
“Stop complaining.” Lewis ordered as he began pulling him again. The pair had been a couple for almost two weeks now, and it was amazing. Of course, no one but them knew, but still. It was becoming increasingly hard not getting caught. With their secret smiles at each other over the dinner table, and Wilbur staying in the secret room with Lewis to sleep, the boys were hardly ever apart. His parents were loony, but they weren’t stupid. They couldn’t keep their relationship a secret for much longer…
Wilbur knew that they wouldn’t last but… he didn’t want to lose this newfound happiness that he had found in a boy with beautiful blond hair and blue eyes. Lewis. The same blond haired blue eyed same boy who was currently dragging him around with a blindfold. Wilbur smiled to himself. Lewis was just… amazing. Even after two weeks, he still blushed when Wilbur would kiss him any longer then a few seconds, and Wilbur would always grin and tease him.
“Alright. Here we go!” Lewis announced cheerfully, ripping off the blindfold. Wilbur glanced around and felt his jaw drop.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Wilbur rolled his eyes in annoyance. Lewis simply grinned at Wilbur. “You dragged me around the house for twenty minutes, just to bring me back to the room we started in, where nothing has changed?” Wilbur demanded, gesturing wildly at the laboratory.
Lewis shrugged. “I could’ve just given you your surprise without the blindfold, but that wouldn’t have been as fun as this was!”
Wilbur smiled innocently. “So… there really is a surprise?”
Lewis laughed lightly. “Sit down you goof.” So Wilbur sat in a chair, and watched curiously as Lewis tugged out his guitar and nervously strummed a chord, clearing his throat while darting glances over at the raven haired boy, who was observing him with amusement. Without a word, he began to play a song.
“Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain
Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain…”
Lewis strummed the last chord, not daring to look up at the awe-struck Wilbur.
‘That’s the song dad used to sing me to sleep with…’ The revelation somehow seemed startlingly important.
”Lewis… that was… that was beautiful.” Wilbur managed to say. “Who’s it by?”
Lewis blushed brightly and mumbled something.
“Sorry?”
“I said I wrote it.” He said louder, though still barely audible.
“Wow Lewis! That’s amazing! I loved it, it was-“
“I wrote it for you.” Lewis interrupted.
“…What?” Wilbur asked dumbly, feeling shock spread through him.
“I just wanted you to know what you… what you mean to me.” Lewis broke of embarrassed. Wilbur stared at the blond in shock as he gently set his guitar down, and fiddled with his hands. “Are… what do you think?” Wilbur stood up, never breaking eye contact with Lewis as he walked over until he was kneeling in front of the young inventor. Once face-to-face, he gently lifted Lewis’s chin until he was looking at Wilbur. He then kissed Lewis deeper and more passionate then he ever had before, all the while silently praying.
‘Please let me keep him. Somehow… just let me hold onto us longer. Let me love him…’
Pulling away, Wilbur leaned his forehead against Lewis’s.
“I love you.” The raven-haired boy murmured tenderly. Lewis’s eyes widened to the size of golf balls.
“You… ah… huh?” He asked incoherently.
Wilbur laughed, and flicked Lewis’s nose. “You’re so cute when you’re confused. I love you Lewis. You’re amazing.”
Lewis blushed brightly, before smiling shyly. “I… I think I love you too.”
Wilbur grinned. Things had never been better.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Tell me about your family.”
“Huh?”
“Your family.” Lewis propped himself up and stared at Wilbur questioningly. “You never talk about them. You know almost everything about me… but I only know the bare minimum about you. So… tell me about your family.” Lewis asked curiously.
Wilbur smiled faintly. “Well uh… my mom is pretty much the craziest woman you’ll ever meet, but that’s why I love her. She’s wonderful. She’s the only one in my family I’m incredibly close to…” Wilbur swallowed hard. “My dad uh… my dad isn’t around much. Sometimes I think he hates looking at me because… it reminds him of everything he’s given up.” Lewis frowned at this, and grasped Wilbur’s hand tightly. “I really don’t know him that well… he’s always on business trips, and when he is home he never talks to me.” Unknowingly, Wilbur tightened his grip on Lewis’s hand.
“Aside from them, I have a ton of relatives that live with us. It’d take forever to describe them all, but they’re all amazing in their own way.” Wilbur chuckled. Lewis lay back down on Wilbur’s chest.
“I’m sorry about your dad.” Lewis said quietly. Wilbur tightened his grip on Lewis.
“Lewis… promise me something.” Wilbur felt Lewis nod.
”Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t ever change. That you’ll stay Lewis Robinson forever.”
“Wilbur?”
“Promise me.” Wilbur whispered.
“I promise.” Lewis said softly, obviously confused.
Wilbur shivered, even with Lewis’s warm body on top of him. Lewis could have no idea that he would change into the disappointing father figure Cornelius, who would miss his sons’ birthday three years in a row. Lewis couldn’t know that one day he would be emotionally detached from his entire family. He couldn’t know that Wilbur would grow to hate him.
But… that was Cornelius. Not Lewis.
As far as Wilbur was concerned, they were completely different people.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Lewis, come on! You’ve been working on this for hours! It’s time for sleep! Ya know. Sleep. That thing humans do?” Wilbur teased.
Lewis rolled his eyes. “I know Wilbur… I just… I’m so close to finishing this!” Lewis pleaded, adjusting his newest inventions core. Wilbur laughed. It had been seven months since his arrival. Three and a half months since him and Lewis had become a couple. It was wonderful.
“Come on genius boy- saving the world can wait until tomorrow.” Lewis sighed, setting down his screwdriver.
“Fine. You win!” Lewis gave in, rolling his eyes. “Let’s-“ The sound of Lewis’s cell phone ringing cut him off. Frowning, he pulled it out; biting his lip, worry shadowing his face. “It’s Franny.” He whispered. Wilbur suddenly had a horrible gut wrenching desire to tell Lewis to ignore it. Somehow this phone call was going to change things, he just knew it…
“Hello? Franny?” Lewis paled. “Franny please… I… I can’t understand you if you’re crying. I… what? Where? Yes. I’ll be there as soon as possible… He’ll be okay Franny.” Lewis said weakly. “I’ll see you soon.” Flipping his phone shut, he grabbed Wilbur’s hand and began dragging him.
“Jamie’s been in an accident.” And just like that, Wilbur felt his heart clench as they ran into the pouring rain to get to a car.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Franny!” Lewis cried, racing down the hospital halls to get to his best friend. “Franny, what’s going on?” The dark haired girl looked up, eyes puffy and red, tears streaking her face.
“He’s in the operating room right now.” She said hoarsely. “It… it doesn’t look good they said.” She swallowed hard. “He was on his way home from my house… and…” she gasped, tears still flowing steadily. Lewis pulled her into a tight embrace, murmuring into her hair, and for an insane moment, Wilbur felt jealousy clutch his heart. “I told him to call me when he got home like normal and… he never did. It only takes ten minutes for him to get home in bad weather… I was scared. Thirty minutes after he left I got a call to come here…” She sniffled into Lewis’s shirt. “He… he was in a drunk driving accident. The other car crashed right into him… the driver wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, so he was thrown through the windshield and he snapped his neck, killing him instantly. The car crashed right into Jamie’s door. They say it damaged all his major organs, and one of his lungs was punctured with machinery. Even if he makes it through the operation, they don’t think he’ll make it until morning…” she whispered, shaking desperately.
“Where are his parents?” Lewis asked, and Wilbur could hear the strain for normalcy, though he could tell by Lewis’s posture that he was close to breaking down.
“They’re out of town, but are on their way home… still, it’ll take them at least three hours to get back. I just hope they get back before…” She cut off abruptly, looking distinctly ill. Lewis gently guided her to a nearby chair, sitting next to her as she continued to cling to him. Wilbur placed himself by Lewis, subtly taking his freehand and squeezing it reassuringly. Lewis sent him a weak attempt a smile, before turning away.
It would be a long night.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Excuse me? Are you relations of Jamison Black?” A kind nurse approached the group solemnly.
“No.” Lewis replied, sparing a scared look with Wilbur.
“Are any relations of Jamison here?”
“No.” Lewis replied again softly.
“Very well… will you three follow me? The doctor needs to speak with you since no family is here for the boy.” Shakily, the three stood up, following the woman in white until into a nearby room. Franny immediately gasped, and Lewis sucked in a breath, for there was Jamie, barely recognizable, but it was him.
“Are you three with Jamison Black?” The doctor questioned politely, a veil of sadness in his eyes. Lewis wrapped his arm around Franny, and nodded. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that the operation was not a success…” Franny choked. “There was simply to much damage to repair… his lung was punctured badly enough that it will start flooding with blood shortly, and that will stop his heart. If we had a donor, it might be different but… as it is, he won’t make it until morning.” The doctor paused. “I’m so sorry.”
“NO! JAMIE! Jamie! Oh God, Jamie please don’t leave me… please don’t… don’t leave me…” Franny screamed, before collapsing on the floor, sobbing wildly. Lewis had tears streaming down his face as well, and had wrapped his arm around Franny.
Wilbur felt strangely detached from it all as he stared at the man who he would’ve called dad if he had lived. Anger suddenly boiled inside of him.
‘If you had just stayed alive things would be different! Mom would be happy! Lewis and I could be together forever! Damn you, why did you have to die!?’ He thought, glaring at the body on the table, even as tears filled his eyes.
But wait… if he would die… then that meant that Franny was already… Wilbur lowered his gaze to Franny on the floor, her stomach tiny and flat. He suddenly felt sick at the unfairness at it all.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
The funeral was lovely. The sun was shining, and the stifling heat made it nearly unbearable for everyone wearing black. Wilbur sat in the front row next to Lewis. Right beside Lewis was Franny, hugging him tightly, and Jamie’s parents, seemingly shocked. Wilbur felt incredibly guilty that he couldn’t bring himself to cry for Jamie, rather, he cried because of what it meant for him. What it meant he would lose.
He felt numb as they said goodbye to all the guests, and offered condolences to his parents. They had lost their only son… Wilbur felt a pang of pain for the devastated couple. He turned to stare at Lewis. His eyes were unusually dull, face pale and seemingly dead. Franny looked much the same way.
“Franny, you’re welcome to spend the night at my house tonight. My parents won’t mind.” Lewis offered, him and Wilbur having stayed the past few nights with Franny.
Franny continued staring downward. “I… I think I need to be alone Lewis. But thank you. I love you…” She whispered, hugging him tightly before turning to Wilbur. “Thank you for being here the past few days. I don’t think Lewis or I could’ve gotten by without you.” Wilbur nodded weakly, hugging her tightly. When she pulled away, he found himself staring at her stomach. She didn’t notice though, for she turned to walk away.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A month passed. Lewis had seemingly withdrawn into himself. During days he would simply do what was needed to live, and Wilbur did his best to get through Lewis’s sadness. At nights, the pair curled together on the air mattress, Lewis clinging to Wilbur tightly. Some nights he would begin to cry, burying his face in Wilbur’s chest so the other boy wouldn’t see the tears. Wilbur desperately wanted to tell the older boy it was okay to cry, just as his mom had, but he knew it would do no good.
One night, as they lay perfectly still staring at the stars, Wilbur felt a tension in the air… as if Lewis wanted to know something. Sure enough, a few moments later Lewis spoke.
“Wilbur… never leave me.”
“What?”
“Promise me you’ll never leave me. Please. Please promise me.” The blond requested, trembling on top of Wilbur.
“As long as I can help it, I will never leave you Lewis. I love you.” He whispered. Lewis tightened his grip on Wilbur, before drifting into an uneasy sleep…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Two more months passed. Lewis was slowly returning to normal. He smiled again, and joked, and lived… but there were moments he would suddenly space out, despair etched on his face, and Wilbur would be so frightened that he was that much closer to losing Lewis… This changed dramatically when a visit from Franny sent them reeling…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“I’m pregnant.” Franny whispered, pale and trembling. The cup Lewis had been drinking his hot chocolate from went crashing towards the ground. Ignoring the sound of cracking glass, he fixed his gaze on Franny.
“I… what? How?” Lewis whispered, eyes fixated on Franny’s stomach.
“It’s Jamie’s.” She managed hoarsely. “I thought the morning sickness was just my way of grieving… and I’ve only gained a little weight, but I thought it was just a side effect of depression…” She sobbed. Wilbur just looked on, feeling as if he was fading. He knew this was coming but…
“When?” Asked Wilbur worriedly, causing Franny to shiver.
“Two months.” She said softly, wringing her hands. “My parents want me to give it up, and I agree mostly… I don’t know if I could deal with a reminder of what I lost around me all the time.” She admitted in shame. “But… it’s also the only thing I have left of Jamie that won’t fade…” She shuddered. “I just don’t think I’ll make a terribly wonderful mother… I’m just a kid myself!” Lewis was still staring at her stomach before raising his eyes to Franny and opening his arms to her. She immediately fell into them, sobbing earnestly. He stroked her hair, a thoughtful look on his face.
“You don’t have to decide tonight.” Lewis murmured into her hair. “Just breathe.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Pretty wild huh?” Wilbur managed to say, as him and Lewis lay down. Lewis remained silent, but curled up next to the raven-haired boy. “What do you think she’ll do?” Wilbur asked few minutes later, voice a little fearful. Lewis remained silent, and right as Wilbur was ready to give up on waiting, Lewis spoke.
“I don’t know.” Lewis whispered, voice tormented. “I pray she doesn’t give her child up… that child deserves to know it’s mother.” Wilbur squeezed his hand encouragingly. “At the same time,” Lewis began slowly, “she shouldn’t have to do it alone…”
Wilbur felt his heart plummet to the floor. So this was how it began? With Lewis wanting him to have a family? Somehow it was both comforting and torturous to know that the man he was in love with loved him even as an infant…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Yet another month passed all to quickly, leaving Wilbur furious at how time had become his enemy. He had a time machine! He could control time! So why did it feel like all the time he shared with Lewis was slipping through his fingers?
What was worse was that Lewis was constantly thinking, over Franny’s pregnancy no doubt, and it tormented Wilbur. His time was almost up…One month left. Maybe less… Wilbur shivered, pulling Lewis closer to him as the blond slept restlessly.
“I love you Lewis.” Wilbur whispered. “Do you hear me? I love you.” He took a shuddering breath. “Please don’t make me let you go… please.” He knew it was futile. No matter how tempting it was, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the hope he had that they could somehow defeat time. That somehow, they could stay frozen in time, happy, and safe, and in love…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
It was one week later when the phone rang in the middle of the night. As Wilbur reached for it, he noted bitterly that it was his birthday. He had been waiting for this call, and dreading it all the while. Quietly, so as not to wake Lewis, he flipped open the blonds cell phone and spoke.
“Hello?”
“Wilbur?” A worried male voice came over the line.
“Hey Art… what’s up?”
“It’s Franny. She’s in labor. We’re taking her to Saint Gabriel’s Hospital… Could you wake Lewis and come down here?”
“We’ll be there shortly.”
Quickly, the two males said their goodbyes and hung up. Wilbur turned to stare at Lewis, trying to ignore the way his heart was thumping as if it was shattering with every second. He refused to let this moment be ruined… he would keep it, and cherish it, for it would be his last memory of Lewis sleeping he somehow knew.
The spell broke on it’s own will when Lewis’s eyes fluttered open and came to rest on Wilbur.
“Wilbur?” The sleep-ridden voice questioned blearily.
“Franny is having her baby.”
Lewis sat up abruptly, sleep vanquished from his eyes. The two boys got dressed silently and swiftly: one anxious to see his friend in the hospital, the other longing to cry knowing that his time was drawing to an end.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“It’s a boy.” The doctor announced, smiling widely at the baby, handing the small boy over to the nurse. After rinsing off the baby, the nurse wrapped the baby in a blanket and walked over to Franny, who looked incredibly lifeless. Offering the baby to his mother, the teen girl looked at the child, and shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself and beginning to cry. The nurse sent a worried look in the direction of Lewis and Wilbur, the former who frowned sadly, the latter merely staring at the teen girl sobbing. Lewis took a timid step forward, when Franny shrieked at him.
”GET OUT! GET OUT! You shouldn’t be here! You… it should be Jamie… it should be…” She collapsed, sobbing again. Lewis sighed, and grabbed Wilbur’s hand, dragging him into the hall. They went to the nursery room, and watched as Franny’s child was placed in a cradle. Lewis was staring at the baby, anguish in his eyes.
“Wilbur…” Lewis choked. “She… she can’t give him up. She can’t! She’d regret it for the rest of her life…” Wilbur nodded, wordlessly agreeing. “At the same time… there’s no way she’d be convinced to keep him unless…” Lewis cut off, turning to look Wilbur in the eye. “Unless the baby had a father to help.”
“Lewis, what are you thinking?” Wilbur asked calmly, proud his voice didn’t crack. Lewis took a deep breath.
“I think… I think I should marry Franny. Convince her to keep the baby by letting her know I’ll be there the whole time to take care of him with her. Unless…” Lewis hesitated. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
So this is what it came down to. Wilbur’s future was up to himself… He could choose the path that he knew would lead to the man he had become, or he could choose to be selfish and pray that Lewis would somehow find him… but Lewis wouldn’t remember him. If he was erased from the future with Franny and Cornelius as his parents, then it would be as if he never visited the past… Wilbur shuddered. His choice was made.
“I think… I think you should.” Wilbur croaked. Lewis looked surprised.
“But… I mean… you don’t care?” Lewis asked softly, looking hurt.
“Lewis! Of course I care but… how can I be selfish about this?” Wilbur’s eyes drifted to the sleeping baby. “He deserves a family… Even if it means I have to give up the person I love most for him to get it.” It was true. He lost Lewis, but gained Cornelius… But still, there had to be some of Lewis left in Cornelius, right?
“We would never be able to be with each other again… it would be to hard.” Lewis said quietly.
Wilbur gave a watery smile. “I guess we were never meant to be…” He murmured regretfully.
Tears filled Lewis’s eyes. “I wish we lived in another time…” Lewis whispered. “Maybe then I could have you…” Wilbur gave a strangled laugh that sounded more like a sob.
‘If you only knew…’
“Well… you should get going. Before she signs the papers.” Wilbur whispered. Lewis stared at him, tears streaming down his face. Giving a sharp sob, Lewis threw himself at the raven-haired boy, and kissed him frantically. All over his face, Lewis planted kisses, murmuring softly between each one.
“I love you. I love you. I love you…”
And Wilbur was kissing him back, just as passionately. After a few minutes, both boys ran out of breath, and stared at each other.
“Goodbye Lewis.” Wilbur whispered, before turning sharply and striding away quickly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Lewis, are you sure you want to go through with this?” Franny whispered, sitting in a wheelchair holding her son in the hospitals chapel area, a serene priest before them.
“Cornelius.” The blond whispered.
“What?” Franny asked, completely confused.
“I don’t want to be called Lewis anymore… I… Just, call me Cornelius from now on, please?” Lewis pleaded, silently praying she would not question him further. Franny seemed to hear his internal begging, for she nodded.
“Alright.” She whispered. Both looked away from each other, hearts stricken with grief. Both heartbroken, and both having lost the most important person in the world to them, the couple slowly made their way up to the alter…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Wilbur gasped as he ran towards the time machine. He needed to get out of here… he couldn’t stay knowing that Lewis was going to marry… her. Never before had he ever loathed his mother, but for a split second Wilbur was furious with her for making Lewis unconsciously choose between them… He had already driven to the Robinson house to get his belongings after stealing Lewis’s keys, and now he ran.
When he got to the cave he had hidden the time machine in, he ripped off the cobwebs and jumped in. Seconds later, he was home. He felt sick. How was he supposed to face Cornelius after this? Flying to his home, so different from how it looked eighteen years ago, and yet still the same. Climbing out of the time machine, he contemplated he next course of action… He could go have a heart to heart with his mom… or go find Cornelius. The decision felt obvious, though his stomach churned at the thought of facing the man who raised him after everything that had happened.
It had only been hours since he had technically left, though it had been a year for him. All the same, Wilbur ran to the laboratory, threw open the doors, and was surprised to find no one in the room. Biting his lip, his gaze moved upward to the bookcase that led to the secret room. Taking a shuddering breath, he climbed the ladder swiftly, and quickly found himself face to face with the hidden door. He bit his lip. He was frightened, but… he had to do this. Pushing on the door, he made his way through the archway to find… Cornelius sitting in the moonlight, dressed in jeans and a blue long sleeve shirt. Wilbur felt his breath catch as those familiar blue eyes sought him out.
“Wilbur.” The usually warm voice greeted him in monotone.
“Hey.” He replied softly, staring longingly, but worriedly at the space next to Cornelius. Smiling faintly, the blond motioned to the floor beside him. Silently, Wilbur went to sit in the empty space.
“Why did you change your name to Cornelius?” Wilbur found himself asking, unable to make eye contact with the older man.
“I didn’t want to live every day of my life with Franny calling me the same thing that he… you called me.” Cornelius gave a dry chuckle.
Wilbur swallowed. “So… what does this make us?”
“Nothing.” Cornelius responded immediately. “We’re nothing. It’s just… not right. I’m twenty years your senior-“
“Eighteen.” Wilbur corrected, smiling hesitantly.
“Not to mention the fact that I’m your father. Maybe not biologically, but I helped raise you! And that made you my son.” Cornelius muttered bitterly.
“But I’m not your real son!” Wilbur blurted, grasping to make him understand.
“You might as well be.” Cornelius whispered.
“All this time… you’ve… you’ve been in love with me- with the memory of me?” Wilbur asked, feeling guilt consume him.
“I think you know the answer to that Wilbur.” Cornelius replied shortly. A silence drifted between them before Cornelius spoke again. “For a while it was wonderful… the baby reminded me so much of him- you. It was a miracle, because not only were you a piece of Jamie for Franny, you were a piece of my Wilbur… only it turned out you were one and the same.” Cornelius shuddered. “When I began to realize it was really you, after I built the time machine… I felt sick. I couldn’t eat or sleep for weeks. I was dead, knowing the only person I’d ever been in love with was my son.” He bit his lip.
“I’m sorry I missed your birthday so many times… I just couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle knowing that you weren’t my Wilbur yet, knowing that the man I wanted to stay with forever was right in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything about it… And God spare my soul but I… I’m still in love you Wilbur.” Wilbur froze, and turned to stare at the blond, who had tears filling his eyes at the unfairness of it all. “It’s wrong. It’s all wrong…”
“But I-“
“We can’t Wilbur...” Cornelius stated sharply. “I… it wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“But… we live in the future! The life expectancy rate is 50 years higher than it was twenty years ago! Age doesn’t matter to me, and you’re not my father.”
Cornelius shook his head wildly, “Wilbur…”
“Just give me a chance.” Wilbur whispered.
Tears began to rapidly descend from Cornelius’s eyes. Wishing desperately to make them stop, Wilbur impulsively leaned over and kissed the blond sweetly on the mouth. When he pulled away, shocked blue eyes stared at him. Smiling hesitantly, he exhaled sharply.
“I love you… Lewis.” Wilbur murmured. Lewis pulled Wilbur into his arms, tears still flowing, but a bittersweet smile on his face.
“You have no idea,” the blond whispered, placing a fervent kiss on Wilbur’s head. “how wonderful it is to be called that by you again.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N- So there we go. Credit to the two songs I used in this story- “How I go” by Yellowcard, and “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas. Woot!
So, one week and forty pages later, I would really love feedback. It sustains me, and might just keep this MTR obsession going… J
“Just a few more steps!”
“Lewis, come on! Just tell me where to go instead of having this horrible blindfold!” Wilbur complained, the itchy fabric rubbing against his face uncomfortably. Lifting his hand, he went to scratch, when Lewis smacked his hand away.
“Stop that! Besides, do you or do you not want your surprise?” Lewis admonished, still guiding the boy up the stairs.
“Lewis, I’m all for surprises. I love surprises! But this blindfold is itchy!” Wilbur complained, pouting. He gave a soft gasp when he felt lips press against his own in a sweet kiss.
“Stop complaining.” Lewis ordered as he began pulling him again. The pair had been a couple for almost two weeks now, and it was amazing. Of course, no one but them knew, but still. It was becoming increasingly hard not getting caught. With their secret smiles at each other over the dinner table, and Wilbur staying in the secret room with Lewis to sleep, the boys were hardly ever apart. His parents were loony, but they weren’t stupid. They couldn’t keep their relationship a secret for much longer…
Wilbur knew that they wouldn’t last but… he didn’t want to lose this newfound happiness that he had found in a boy with beautiful blond hair and blue eyes. Lewis. The same blond haired blue eyed same boy who was currently dragging him around with a blindfold. Wilbur smiled to himself. Lewis was just… amazing. Even after two weeks, he still blushed when Wilbur would kiss him any longer then a few seconds, and Wilbur would always grin and tease him.
“Alright. Here we go!” Lewis announced cheerfully, ripping off the blindfold. Wilbur glanced around and felt his jaw drop.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Wilbur rolled his eyes in annoyance. Lewis simply grinned at Wilbur. “You dragged me around the house for twenty minutes, just to bring me back to the room we started in, where nothing has changed?” Wilbur demanded, gesturing wildly at the laboratory.
Lewis shrugged. “I could’ve just given you your surprise without the blindfold, but that wouldn’t have been as fun as this was!”
Wilbur smiled innocently. “So… there really is a surprise?”
Lewis laughed lightly. “Sit down you goof.” So Wilbur sat in a chair, and watched curiously as Lewis tugged out his guitar and nervously strummed a chord, clearing his throat while darting glances over at the raven haired boy, who was observing him with amusement. Without a word, he began to play a song.
“Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain
Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain…”
Lewis strummed the last chord, not daring to look up at the awe-struck Wilbur.
‘That’s the song dad used to sing me to sleep with…’ The revelation somehow seemed startlingly important.
”Lewis… that was… that was beautiful.” Wilbur managed to say. “Who’s it by?”
Lewis blushed brightly and mumbled something.
“Sorry?”
“I said I wrote it.” He said louder, though still barely audible.
“Wow Lewis! That’s amazing! I loved it, it was-“
“I wrote it for you.” Lewis interrupted.
“…What?” Wilbur asked dumbly, feeling shock spread through him.
“I just wanted you to know what you… what you mean to me.” Lewis broke of embarrassed. Wilbur stared at the blond in shock as he gently set his guitar down, and fiddled with his hands. “Are… what do you think?” Wilbur stood up, never breaking eye contact with Lewis as he walked over until he was kneeling in front of the young inventor. Once face-to-face, he gently lifted Lewis’s chin until he was looking at Wilbur. He then kissed Lewis deeper and more passionate then he ever had before, all the while silently praying.
‘Please let me keep him. Somehow… just let me hold onto us longer. Let me love him…’
Pulling away, Wilbur leaned his forehead against Lewis’s.
“I love you.” The raven-haired boy murmured tenderly. Lewis’s eyes widened to the size of golf balls.
“You… ah… huh?” He asked incoherently.
Wilbur laughed, and flicked Lewis’s nose. “You’re so cute when you’re confused. I love you Lewis. You’re amazing.”
Lewis blushed brightly, before smiling shyly. “I… I think I love you too.”
Wilbur grinned. Things had never been better.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Tell me about your family.”
“Huh?”
“Your family.” Lewis propped himself up and stared at Wilbur questioningly. “You never talk about them. You know almost everything about me… but I only know the bare minimum about you. So… tell me about your family.” Lewis asked curiously.
Wilbur smiled faintly. “Well uh… my mom is pretty much the craziest woman you’ll ever meet, but that’s why I love her. She’s wonderful. She’s the only one in my family I’m incredibly close to…” Wilbur swallowed hard. “My dad uh… my dad isn’t around much. Sometimes I think he hates looking at me because… it reminds him of everything he’s given up.” Lewis frowned at this, and grasped Wilbur’s hand tightly. “I really don’t know him that well… he’s always on business trips, and when he is home he never talks to me.” Unknowingly, Wilbur tightened his grip on Lewis’s hand.
“Aside from them, I have a ton of relatives that live with us. It’d take forever to describe them all, but they’re all amazing in their own way.” Wilbur chuckled. Lewis lay back down on Wilbur’s chest.
“I’m sorry about your dad.” Lewis said quietly. Wilbur tightened his grip on Lewis.
“Lewis… promise me something.” Wilbur felt Lewis nod.
”Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t ever change. That you’ll stay Lewis Robinson forever.”
“Wilbur?”
“Promise me.” Wilbur whispered.
“I promise.” Lewis said softly, obviously confused.
Wilbur shivered, even with Lewis’s warm body on top of him. Lewis could have no idea that he would change into the disappointing father figure Cornelius, who would miss his sons’ birthday three years in a row. Lewis couldn’t know that one day he would be emotionally detached from his entire family. He couldn’t know that Wilbur would grow to hate him.
But… that was Cornelius. Not Lewis.
As far as Wilbur was concerned, they were completely different people.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Lewis, come on! You’ve been working on this for hours! It’s time for sleep! Ya know. Sleep. That thing humans do?” Wilbur teased.
Lewis rolled his eyes. “I know Wilbur… I just… I’m so close to finishing this!” Lewis pleaded, adjusting his newest inventions core. Wilbur laughed. It had been seven months since his arrival. Three and a half months since him and Lewis had become a couple. It was wonderful.
“Come on genius boy- saving the world can wait until tomorrow.” Lewis sighed, setting down his screwdriver.
“Fine. You win!” Lewis gave in, rolling his eyes. “Let’s-“ The sound of Lewis’s cell phone ringing cut him off. Frowning, he pulled it out; biting his lip, worry shadowing his face. “It’s Franny.” He whispered. Wilbur suddenly had a horrible gut wrenching desire to tell Lewis to ignore it. Somehow this phone call was going to change things, he just knew it…
“Hello? Franny?” Lewis paled. “Franny please… I… I can’t understand you if you’re crying. I… what? Where? Yes. I’ll be there as soon as possible… He’ll be okay Franny.” Lewis said weakly. “I’ll see you soon.” Flipping his phone shut, he grabbed Wilbur’s hand and began dragging him.
“Jamie’s been in an accident.” And just like that, Wilbur felt his heart clench as they ran into the pouring rain to get to a car.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Franny!” Lewis cried, racing down the hospital halls to get to his best friend. “Franny, what’s going on?” The dark haired girl looked up, eyes puffy and red, tears streaking her face.
“He’s in the operating room right now.” She said hoarsely. “It… it doesn’t look good they said.” She swallowed hard. “He was on his way home from my house… and…” she gasped, tears still flowing steadily. Lewis pulled her into a tight embrace, murmuring into her hair, and for an insane moment, Wilbur felt jealousy clutch his heart. “I told him to call me when he got home like normal and… he never did. It only takes ten minutes for him to get home in bad weather… I was scared. Thirty minutes after he left I got a call to come here…” She sniffled into Lewis’s shirt. “He… he was in a drunk driving accident. The other car crashed right into him… the driver wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, so he was thrown through the windshield and he snapped his neck, killing him instantly. The car crashed right into Jamie’s door. They say it damaged all his major organs, and one of his lungs was punctured with machinery. Even if he makes it through the operation, they don’t think he’ll make it until morning…” she whispered, shaking desperately.
“Where are his parents?” Lewis asked, and Wilbur could hear the strain for normalcy, though he could tell by Lewis’s posture that he was close to breaking down.
“They’re out of town, but are on their way home… still, it’ll take them at least three hours to get back. I just hope they get back before…” She cut off abruptly, looking distinctly ill. Lewis gently guided her to a nearby chair, sitting next to her as she continued to cling to him. Wilbur placed himself by Lewis, subtly taking his freehand and squeezing it reassuringly. Lewis sent him a weak attempt a smile, before turning away.
It would be a long night.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Excuse me? Are you relations of Jamison Black?” A kind nurse approached the group solemnly.
“No.” Lewis replied, sparing a scared look with Wilbur.
“Are any relations of Jamison here?”
“No.” Lewis replied again softly.
“Very well… will you three follow me? The doctor needs to speak with you since no family is here for the boy.” Shakily, the three stood up, following the woman in white until into a nearby room. Franny immediately gasped, and Lewis sucked in a breath, for there was Jamie, barely recognizable, but it was him.
“Are you three with Jamison Black?” The doctor questioned politely, a veil of sadness in his eyes. Lewis wrapped his arm around Franny, and nodded. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that the operation was not a success…” Franny choked. “There was simply to much damage to repair… his lung was punctured badly enough that it will start flooding with blood shortly, and that will stop his heart. If we had a donor, it might be different but… as it is, he won’t make it until morning.” The doctor paused. “I’m so sorry.”
“NO! JAMIE! Jamie! Oh God, Jamie please don’t leave me… please don’t… don’t leave me…” Franny screamed, before collapsing on the floor, sobbing wildly. Lewis had tears streaming down his face as well, and had wrapped his arm around Franny.
Wilbur felt strangely detached from it all as he stared at the man who he would’ve called dad if he had lived. Anger suddenly boiled inside of him.
‘If you had just stayed alive things would be different! Mom would be happy! Lewis and I could be together forever! Damn you, why did you have to die!?’ He thought, glaring at the body on the table, even as tears filled his eyes.
But wait… if he would die… then that meant that Franny was already… Wilbur lowered his gaze to Franny on the floor, her stomach tiny and flat. He suddenly felt sick at the unfairness at it all.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
The funeral was lovely. The sun was shining, and the stifling heat made it nearly unbearable for everyone wearing black. Wilbur sat in the front row next to Lewis. Right beside Lewis was Franny, hugging him tightly, and Jamie’s parents, seemingly shocked. Wilbur felt incredibly guilty that he couldn’t bring himself to cry for Jamie, rather, he cried because of what it meant for him. What it meant he would lose.
He felt numb as they said goodbye to all the guests, and offered condolences to his parents. They had lost their only son… Wilbur felt a pang of pain for the devastated couple. He turned to stare at Lewis. His eyes were unusually dull, face pale and seemingly dead. Franny looked much the same way.
“Franny, you’re welcome to spend the night at my house tonight. My parents won’t mind.” Lewis offered, him and Wilbur having stayed the past few nights with Franny.
Franny continued staring downward. “I… I think I need to be alone Lewis. But thank you. I love you…” She whispered, hugging him tightly before turning to Wilbur. “Thank you for being here the past few days. I don’t think Lewis or I could’ve gotten by without you.” Wilbur nodded weakly, hugging her tightly. When she pulled away, he found himself staring at her stomach. She didn’t notice though, for she turned to walk away.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A month passed. Lewis had seemingly withdrawn into himself. During days he would simply do what was needed to live, and Wilbur did his best to get through Lewis’s sadness. At nights, the pair curled together on the air mattress, Lewis clinging to Wilbur tightly. Some nights he would begin to cry, burying his face in Wilbur’s chest so the other boy wouldn’t see the tears. Wilbur desperately wanted to tell the older boy it was okay to cry, just as his mom had, but he knew it would do no good.
One night, as they lay perfectly still staring at the stars, Wilbur felt a tension in the air… as if Lewis wanted to know something. Sure enough, a few moments later Lewis spoke.
“Wilbur… never leave me.”
“What?”
“Promise me you’ll never leave me. Please. Please promise me.” The blond requested, trembling on top of Wilbur.
“As long as I can help it, I will never leave you Lewis. I love you.” He whispered. Lewis tightened his grip on Wilbur, before drifting into an uneasy sleep…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Two more months passed. Lewis was slowly returning to normal. He smiled again, and joked, and lived… but there were moments he would suddenly space out, despair etched on his face, and Wilbur would be so frightened that he was that much closer to losing Lewis… This changed dramatically when a visit from Franny sent them reeling…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“I’m pregnant.” Franny whispered, pale and trembling. The cup Lewis had been drinking his hot chocolate from went crashing towards the ground. Ignoring the sound of cracking glass, he fixed his gaze on Franny.
“I… what? How?” Lewis whispered, eyes fixated on Franny’s stomach.
“It’s Jamie’s.” She managed hoarsely. “I thought the morning sickness was just my way of grieving… and I’ve only gained a little weight, but I thought it was just a side effect of depression…” She sobbed. Wilbur just looked on, feeling as if he was fading. He knew this was coming but…
“When?” Asked Wilbur worriedly, causing Franny to shiver.
“Two months.” She said softly, wringing her hands. “My parents want me to give it up, and I agree mostly… I don’t know if I could deal with a reminder of what I lost around me all the time.” She admitted in shame. “But… it’s also the only thing I have left of Jamie that won’t fade…” She shuddered. “I just don’t think I’ll make a terribly wonderful mother… I’m just a kid myself!” Lewis was still staring at her stomach before raising his eyes to Franny and opening his arms to her. She immediately fell into them, sobbing earnestly. He stroked her hair, a thoughtful look on his face.
“You don’t have to decide tonight.” Lewis murmured into her hair. “Just breathe.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Pretty wild huh?” Wilbur managed to say, as him and Lewis lay down. Lewis remained silent, but curled up next to the raven-haired boy. “What do you think she’ll do?” Wilbur asked few minutes later, voice a little fearful. Lewis remained silent, and right as Wilbur was ready to give up on waiting, Lewis spoke.
“I don’t know.” Lewis whispered, voice tormented. “I pray she doesn’t give her child up… that child deserves to know it’s mother.” Wilbur squeezed his hand encouragingly. “At the same time,” Lewis began slowly, “she shouldn’t have to do it alone…”
Wilbur felt his heart plummet to the floor. So this was how it began? With Lewis wanting him to have a family? Somehow it was both comforting and torturous to know that the man he was in love with loved him even as an infant…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Yet another month passed all to quickly, leaving Wilbur furious at how time had become his enemy. He had a time machine! He could control time! So why did it feel like all the time he shared with Lewis was slipping through his fingers?
What was worse was that Lewis was constantly thinking, over Franny’s pregnancy no doubt, and it tormented Wilbur. His time was almost up…One month left. Maybe less… Wilbur shivered, pulling Lewis closer to him as the blond slept restlessly.
“I love you Lewis.” Wilbur whispered. “Do you hear me? I love you.” He took a shuddering breath. “Please don’t make me let you go… please.” He knew it was futile. No matter how tempting it was, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the hope he had that they could somehow defeat time. That somehow, they could stay frozen in time, happy, and safe, and in love…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
It was one week later when the phone rang in the middle of the night. As Wilbur reached for it, he noted bitterly that it was his birthday. He had been waiting for this call, and dreading it all the while. Quietly, so as not to wake Lewis, he flipped open the blonds cell phone and spoke.
“Hello?”
“Wilbur?” A worried male voice came over the line.
“Hey Art… what’s up?”
“It’s Franny. She’s in labor. We’re taking her to Saint Gabriel’s Hospital… Could you wake Lewis and come down here?”
“We’ll be there shortly.”
Quickly, the two males said their goodbyes and hung up. Wilbur turned to stare at Lewis, trying to ignore the way his heart was thumping as if it was shattering with every second. He refused to let this moment be ruined… he would keep it, and cherish it, for it would be his last memory of Lewis sleeping he somehow knew.
The spell broke on it’s own will when Lewis’s eyes fluttered open and came to rest on Wilbur.
“Wilbur?” The sleep-ridden voice questioned blearily.
“Franny is having her baby.”
Lewis sat up abruptly, sleep vanquished from his eyes. The two boys got dressed silently and swiftly: one anxious to see his friend in the hospital, the other longing to cry knowing that his time was drawing to an end.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“It’s a boy.” The doctor announced, smiling widely at the baby, handing the small boy over to the nurse. After rinsing off the baby, the nurse wrapped the baby in a blanket and walked over to Franny, who looked incredibly lifeless. Offering the baby to his mother, the teen girl looked at the child, and shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself and beginning to cry. The nurse sent a worried look in the direction of Lewis and Wilbur, the former who frowned sadly, the latter merely staring at the teen girl sobbing. Lewis took a timid step forward, when Franny shrieked at him.
”GET OUT! GET OUT! You shouldn’t be here! You… it should be Jamie… it should be…” She collapsed, sobbing again. Lewis sighed, and grabbed Wilbur’s hand, dragging him into the hall. They went to the nursery room, and watched as Franny’s child was placed in a cradle. Lewis was staring at the baby, anguish in his eyes.
“Wilbur…” Lewis choked. “She… she can’t give him up. She can’t! She’d regret it for the rest of her life…” Wilbur nodded, wordlessly agreeing. “At the same time… there’s no way she’d be convinced to keep him unless…” Lewis cut off, turning to look Wilbur in the eye. “Unless the baby had a father to help.”
“Lewis, what are you thinking?” Wilbur asked calmly, proud his voice didn’t crack. Lewis took a deep breath.
“I think… I think I should marry Franny. Convince her to keep the baby by letting her know I’ll be there the whole time to take care of him with her. Unless…” Lewis hesitated. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
So this is what it came down to. Wilbur’s future was up to himself… He could choose the path that he knew would lead to the man he had become, or he could choose to be selfish and pray that Lewis would somehow find him… but Lewis wouldn’t remember him. If he was erased from the future with Franny and Cornelius as his parents, then it would be as if he never visited the past… Wilbur shuddered. His choice was made.
“I think… I think you should.” Wilbur croaked. Lewis looked surprised.
“But… I mean… you don’t care?” Lewis asked softly, looking hurt.
“Lewis! Of course I care but… how can I be selfish about this?” Wilbur’s eyes drifted to the sleeping baby. “He deserves a family… Even if it means I have to give up the person I love most for him to get it.” It was true. He lost Lewis, but gained Cornelius… But still, there had to be some of Lewis left in Cornelius, right?
“We would never be able to be with each other again… it would be to hard.” Lewis said quietly.
Wilbur gave a watery smile. “I guess we were never meant to be…” He murmured regretfully.
Tears filled Lewis’s eyes. “I wish we lived in another time…” Lewis whispered. “Maybe then I could have you…” Wilbur gave a strangled laugh that sounded more like a sob.
‘If you only knew…’
“Well… you should get going. Before she signs the papers.” Wilbur whispered. Lewis stared at him, tears streaming down his face. Giving a sharp sob, Lewis threw himself at the raven-haired boy, and kissed him frantically. All over his face, Lewis planted kisses, murmuring softly between each one.
“I love you. I love you. I love you…”
And Wilbur was kissing him back, just as passionately. After a few minutes, both boys ran out of breath, and stared at each other.
“Goodbye Lewis.” Wilbur whispered, before turning sharply and striding away quickly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Lewis, are you sure you want to go through with this?” Franny whispered, sitting in a wheelchair holding her son in the hospitals chapel area, a serene priest before them.
“Cornelius.” The blond whispered.
“What?” Franny asked, completely confused.
“I don’t want to be called Lewis anymore… I… Just, call me Cornelius from now on, please?” Lewis pleaded, silently praying she would not question him further. Franny seemed to hear his internal begging, for she nodded.
“Alright.” She whispered. Both looked away from each other, hearts stricken with grief. Both heartbroken, and both having lost the most important person in the world to them, the couple slowly made their way up to the alter…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Wilbur gasped as he ran towards the time machine. He needed to get out of here… he couldn’t stay knowing that Lewis was going to marry… her. Never before had he ever loathed his mother, but for a split second Wilbur was furious with her for making Lewis unconsciously choose between them… He had already driven to the Robinson house to get his belongings after stealing Lewis’s keys, and now he ran.
When he got to the cave he had hidden the time machine in, he ripped off the cobwebs and jumped in. Seconds later, he was home. He felt sick. How was he supposed to face Cornelius after this? Flying to his home, so different from how it looked eighteen years ago, and yet still the same. Climbing out of the time machine, he contemplated he next course of action… He could go have a heart to heart with his mom… or go find Cornelius. The decision felt obvious, though his stomach churned at the thought of facing the man who raised him after everything that had happened.
It had only been hours since he had technically left, though it had been a year for him. All the same, Wilbur ran to the laboratory, threw open the doors, and was surprised to find no one in the room. Biting his lip, his gaze moved upward to the bookcase that led to the secret room. Taking a shuddering breath, he climbed the ladder swiftly, and quickly found himself face to face with the hidden door. He bit his lip. He was frightened, but… he had to do this. Pushing on the door, he made his way through the archway to find… Cornelius sitting in the moonlight, dressed in jeans and a blue long sleeve shirt. Wilbur felt his breath catch as those familiar blue eyes sought him out.
“Wilbur.” The usually warm voice greeted him in monotone.
“Hey.” He replied softly, staring longingly, but worriedly at the space next to Cornelius. Smiling faintly, the blond motioned to the floor beside him. Silently, Wilbur went to sit in the empty space.
“Why did you change your name to Cornelius?” Wilbur found himself asking, unable to make eye contact with the older man.
“I didn’t want to live every day of my life with Franny calling me the same thing that he… you called me.” Cornelius gave a dry chuckle.
Wilbur swallowed. “So… what does this make us?”
“Nothing.” Cornelius responded immediately. “We’re nothing. It’s just… not right. I’m twenty years your senior-“
“Eighteen.” Wilbur corrected, smiling hesitantly.
“Not to mention the fact that I’m your father. Maybe not biologically, but I helped raise you! And that made you my son.” Cornelius muttered bitterly.
“But I’m not your real son!” Wilbur blurted, grasping to make him understand.
“You might as well be.” Cornelius whispered.
“All this time… you’ve… you’ve been in love with me- with the memory of me?” Wilbur asked, feeling guilt consume him.
“I think you know the answer to that Wilbur.” Cornelius replied shortly. A silence drifted between them before Cornelius spoke again. “For a while it was wonderful… the baby reminded me so much of him- you. It was a miracle, because not only were you a piece of Jamie for Franny, you were a piece of my Wilbur… only it turned out you were one and the same.” Cornelius shuddered. “When I began to realize it was really you, after I built the time machine… I felt sick. I couldn’t eat or sleep for weeks. I was dead, knowing the only person I’d ever been in love with was my son.” He bit his lip.
“I’m sorry I missed your birthday so many times… I just couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle knowing that you weren’t my Wilbur yet, knowing that the man I wanted to stay with forever was right in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything about it… And God spare my soul but I… I’m still in love you Wilbur.” Wilbur froze, and turned to stare at the blond, who had tears filling his eyes at the unfairness of it all. “It’s wrong. It’s all wrong…”
“But I-“
“We can’t Wilbur...” Cornelius stated sharply. “I… it wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“But… we live in the future! The life expectancy rate is 50 years higher than it was twenty years ago! Age doesn’t matter to me, and you’re not my father.”
Cornelius shook his head wildly, “Wilbur…”
“Just give me a chance.” Wilbur whispered.
Tears began to rapidly descend from Cornelius’s eyes. Wishing desperately to make them stop, Wilbur impulsively leaned over and kissed the blond sweetly on the mouth. When he pulled away, shocked blue eyes stared at him. Smiling hesitantly, he exhaled sharply.
“I love you… Lewis.” Wilbur murmured. Lewis pulled Wilbur into his arms, tears still flowing, but a bittersweet smile on his face.
“You have no idea,” the blond whispered, placing a fervent kiss on Wilbur’s head. “how wonderful it is to be called that by you again.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N- So there we go. Credit to the two songs I used in this story- “How I go” by Yellowcard, and “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas. Woot!
So, one week and forty pages later, I would really love feedback. It sustains me, and might just keep this MTR obsession going… J