Portraits Of An Angel

Author: Marilyn Hart

Parts: 21 - Epilogue

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~Part: 21~

Will stood outside Liam’s room for several minutes, trying to compose himself.  Where had all that anger come from?  He could understand that Liam felt frustrated and angry at his current condition, but his anger with Will was totally beyond his comprehension.  All he wanted to do was help Liam get better, get his life back to at least something like normal.

Okay, the problems Liam currently had, the incontinence and everything, obviously didn’t do a lot for his self-esteem.  And Liam’s self-image of himself had remained a delicate, fragile thing after what Rupert had done to him in the past, even though he had tried to instil some self-confidence in his shy lover over the months they had been together.   Will got that.  But to think that Liam imagined that all Will wanted was a pretty lover to fuck was so far off the mark it was almost laughable.  Will loved making love to Liam, but that was part of loving him.  Him, not just his gorgeous body or pretty face.  It was how he expressed his deep love for the soul, not just the body.

That was it.  Liam thought that Will couldn’t love him because of the way he was now.  Will had to admit that his lover was not at his sexiest, but that didn’t matter.  He could see past the problems Liam had at present.  His love for the talented artist transcended sexual attraction.

“Will?  Is something wrong?”

Will hadn’t heard anyone approach him; he had been too wrapped up in his thoughts.  He looked up in surprise.

“Joyce,” Will suddenly remembered that she had said she would come in to visit with Liam.  He couldn’t pretend nothing was wrong when his heart was aching so badly.  “It’s Liam.  He’s angry and frustrated right now.  He’s…he can’t walk and…”  Hot tears suddenly burned his eyes and his voice faltered.

Joyce’s expression turned to dismay.  She had come to visit with Liam, but she knew that Will needed her more at the moment. “You want to get a cup of coffee and talk about it, Will?”  Joyce put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.  “You look like you could use someone to listen right now.  I can come back later to see Liam.  Anyway, it sounds as if he’s not in the mood for visitors right now.”

Will swiped a hand across his eyes and nodded.  “Thanks, Joyce.”

She took the distraught blond by the arm and led him along the corridor and into the elevator.  

*  

Tears of pain, anger and humiliation coursed down his cheeks.

Why had this happened to him when he had finally found happiness?

Sneering at himself for even asking the mental question, he closed his eyes. It’s your punishment, you slut.  Whoring yourself to Rupert Giles all that time?  What did you expect?  Why would you think that Will could be happy with a tainted whore like you?

He brought a hand up to his face, the other being encumbered by the plaster cast on his broken wrist, swiping angrily at the tears that still trickled from his eyes.  Reaching further up, he felt the stubble now growing on his head, the healing scar from the surgery, and knew that he looked repulsive and pathetic.  And the outsize diaper?  It was the final humiliation, the final nail in the coffin of his relationship with Will.  Of course Will wouldn’t love him now.  Not when he could have Lindsey.

Lindsey was whole, untainted.  He could walk and didn’t need nurses to help him move; he had control of his body’s functions.

How could he, Liam, possibly compete with that?

The simple truth was he couldn’t.

He wished he had died in the accident.  Eternal oblivion was infinitely better than living like this.  

*  

Joyce ushered Will to a seat in a coffee shop along the street from the hospital.  She returned several minutes later with two cups of skinny latte.

“So what happened, Will?” she asked as she settled into her seat.

Will played with the sugar dispenser distractedly.  Eventually he looked up; his eyes were still liquid with tears.  “Liam has brain damage, Joyce.”

“Oh.”

“It’s not so bad that it’s affected his memory or anything like that, but he can’t walk.  And what’s worse from his point of view is that he has no control over his…functions.”

“Is it permanent?”

“His physician told us that, with therapy, he could get movement back to control too, if he’s prepared to work hard; but I think this has hit him so hard he doesn’t even seem prepared to try.”

“And he’s feeling miserable and sorry for himself, I would think.”

“He told me to go; he didn’t want me there…seeing him that way.”

Joyce reached across the table and laid her hand over Will’s.  “He’s a young and very attractive man, Will.  And I would never accuse Liam of being vain, but what’s happening to him must be devastating.  Incontinence is something always associated with babies or the elderly, so I can’t even begin to imagine how he must feel.”

“I understand that, Joyce, I really do.  But I can see past any infirmity he might have.  He means everything to me, and yet it seems he doesn’t want to let me close enough to help.  I just don’t know what to do.”

Joyce took a sip of her coffee.  “It’s a difficult situation, Will.  Maybe if you gave him a little time to get used to what his body can or can’t do at the moment, he’ll change his mind.”

“Maybe,” Will absent-mindedly poured sugar into his coffee.  “But if he wants to improve his chances of making a full recovery, he should start now,” He ran a hand through his bleached locks, a look of desperation on his face.  “Christ, Joyce, I feel I want to go in there and shout at him to make him see sense.  I can’t bear to see him so angry and upset.  I love him so much it’s tearing me apart.”

“What if someone else he knows tried to talk to him?”

“Would you?”

Joyce looked sceptical.  “I would happily give it a try, Will.  But I think Faith might be a better option.  Liam would probably associate me too closely with Rupert,” A thought suddenly occurred to her.  “Does Liam know Rupert’s dead?  That it was him who tried to kill him?”

Will shook his head.  “All he knows is that he was hit by a car; that’s all we’ve told him.  He doesn’t remember anything after leaving the hospital with Faith.  Not until he woke up in here.  Everything in between is lost.”

“Maybe you should be honest with him.  I think you owe him that much.”

Will’s thoughts turned to the other secret that he had kept from Liam; the attempt to get what was his back from Rupert Giles.  Then it came to him.

Lindsey.  

*  

He dozed fitfully, worn out by his disturbed sleeping pattern and the depression that was pulling him down physically as well as mentally.

He dreamed.

~He was standing on one side of the street looking across at an art gallery.  He was sure he should know this place; it held memories for him; unpleasant memories.

He heard an engine roaring noisily and turned.

A car was heading straight for him.

He tried to move out of its path, but it struck him.

At the last moment he saw the face of the driver.

Oh God!~  

*  

“That you, boss?”

“Yeah.”

Faith emerged from the kitchen, clutching a cup of coffee.  “How’s Liam?”

Will bit his lower lip.  “He’s…upset.  I tried…to tell him…Oh God!  Faith, he told me to leave him alone!  I want to help him, but he can’t…I’m lo…losing him, Faith.”

Will’s chest hitched with the effort of trying to hold back his tears.

Faith put her cup down on the hall stand and went to Will, pulling him to her.  He put his face against her shoulder and cried while his dearest friend stroked his hair and made soothing sounds as he wept.  

*  

He shuddered as he came out of the dream.  That face.  So full of hate.  And he knew him.  He knew his name, but he couldn’t remember it.

He was still struggling to come up with the name when two male nurses came into his room.

“Okay, Liam, time for you to be on the move again, buddy.  And check to see if you need changing.”  One of them smiled apologetically.

Liam didn’t answer.  He couldn’t care less about what they did to him in this place any more.  He couldn’t be humiliated further; he had already reached rock bottom.

The nurses exchanged glances.  This was the first time their patient, normally so accepting, had shown any sign of disinterest.

“You okay, Liam?”

Liam refused to look the nurse in the eye.  “Yes,” he said softly.

Even though he was unable to do much to help himself, Liam had at least tried when he was being manhandled in or out of bed.  Now he didn’t bother; he was sinking into a deep depression, not caring what happened to him any longer.

If Will didn’t love him, what was the point of going on?  

*  

Faith poured another finger of Jim Beam into Will’s glass, watching as he drained it once more.

“Thanks, Faith,” he put the glass down.  He didn’t want any more, but seeing Faith replace the top on the bottle told him he wasn’t getting any more even if he wanted it.  But the whisky burning down his gullet had helped.  He felt slightly less strung out.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do?  Liam doesn’t want me.”

“Garbage!  Of course he wants you!  Just put yourself in his place for a moment.  Years of abuse, confidence rock bottom, a taste of happiness and love for a while, then BAM!  Knocked back yet again.  I’d say Liam’s feeling so fucking depressed at the moment that he can’t grasp that you would still love him as he is now.  You did tell him you loved him, didn’t you?”

Will nodded.  “Of course I did.”

“Something drastic needs to be done then.”

“I don’t know what to do now.  And how does Lindsey fit into this?”

“Guess I could have a chat with him. Ask him about Lindsey.  Can’t hurt.”

“Thanks, Faith.  I was secretly hoping you would say that,” Will took her hands in his across the kitchen table.  “But I don’t know if…”

“Don’t be defeatist, you asshole!” Faith squeezed his hands affectionately to take the sting out of her words.  “We have to feel positive if Liam can’t.  Okay?”

Will nodded a little uncertainly.

“Okay?” she repeated more forcefully.

Will looked into her eyes.  He could see determination there, and tried to draw some of it into himself.  “Okay.”  

*  

Liam submitted listlessly to the humiliation of a nurse checking to see if he had shit himself.  It didn’t surprise him that he had; he’d felt uncomfortable, but couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to care.

As he was being bathed, Bridget arrived.  She tried to pop in to see Liam daily as soon as she finished her shift, and he had usually been pleased to see her.

Not this time; he almost ignored her cheery “Hey, Liam!”

He responded with a grunt, which brought a frown to her face.

 She motioned for the nurses to leave.  “I’ll do that.”

They turned to leave, shrugging helplessly.  They were familiar with Bridget and her maternal instincts, and knew her to be an outstanding nurse.  Her years of experience had brought not only knowledge, but an innate intuition about what her patients needed.  And the years had taught her compassion.  She normally made it a rule not to get too emotionally involved with the patients in her care; she couldn’t afford to, or she would have been an emotional wreck.  But she saw the vulnerability in Liam and had been unable to resist caring about him.

Bridget finished bathing Liam and put a fresh outsized diaper on him.  If he had cared, he would have felt embarrassed about his situation, but he was past that.  This was his lot in life now; to be cleaned and bathed like he was a helpless infant.

“Is that more comfortable, sweetie?”

Liam nodded, avoiding her gaze.

“Something’s upset you, Liam.  Would you like to tell me what’s wrong?  I may be able to help.”

“No one can help.”

“Okay, sweetie, I get it.  I’ve seen this before.  You’re depressed.”

Liam turned his head to look at her.  “I’m completely helpless.  And useless.  Why wouldn’t I be depressed?”

“I would be concerned if you were otherwise, Liam.  In your current situation, I wouldn’t blame anyone for feeling depressed and wish they’d never survived. I’m pretty sure I would feel the same.  I’ve lost count of the patients I’ve helped nurse who felt exactly as you do.”

Liam turned away; he was in no mood for pep talks and platitudes.

“You’re rock bottom now.  The only way for you to go is up.  So why not start by telling me what else is troubling you.”

Liam looked back, a startled expression in his eyes.

Bridget smiled gently.  “I’ve seen patients depressed because of their condition.  This has the smell of something more.”

Liam sighed.  He couldn’t hide anything from this woman.  “It’s Will.”

“Will.”

“Yes.  He has someone else.  He says he loves me, but how can he?  I’m stuck in this bed needing people to move me and clean me up when I shit myself.  I have to have help to move, and I’ll be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.  He says he loves me, but it’s only pity.  He feels sorry for me, and I can’t stand that.  I’d rather be dead.”

“Don’t say that, Liam.  Dead means no hope, and I’ve seen too much of that in my job.  While there’s life there’s hope, and that might sound like a tired old cliché, but it’s so true.  I’ve seen patients with worse disabilities than yours show so much determination that they have overcome amazing odds and gone on to lead happy and productive lives.  So don’t wish that.  You don’t mean it.”

Liam sighed listlessly.  “But if Will doesn’t love me, what’s the point?  I’ve spent too much of my life without hope, and I really thought that what we had was special.  I felt safe and loved for the first time in years.  It meant everything to me; Will means everything to me.  But it’s gone.  Maybe he did love me, but now?  Why would he want me when he could have someone whole and useful?”

Bridget took his hand and he didn’t try to snatch it away.  “Has Will told you he has someone else?”

Liam shook his head.  “He didn’t have to.  Someone came to the house…and asked for Will.”

“Just asked for Will.  Did he tell you that he and Will were an item?”

“He didn’t have to.  It was obvious.”

“Could it be that you misread the situation?”

Liam shook his head vehemently.  There had been only one conclusion he could have drawn from the encounter with Lindsey.

“Then I think you need to ask Will about it.  That’s the only way you’ll know for sure.”

Liam looked horrified.  “No…I…I couldn’t.”

“Why not?  Are you frightened of Will?”

“Will?”  Liam almost laughed at the ridiculousness of this idea.  “No.  Will would never hurt me.  Not physically.”

“So ask him.  If you don’t, how will you ever know?”

Liam thought about her words for long moments.  “I…suppose I w…wouldn’t.”

“For what it’s worth, Liam, I don’t believe he loves anyone like he loves you.  But that’s just my opinion.  If you want to know for sure, you have to ask him.”

Liam chewed nervously at his lower lip.  Did he really want to know?

~Part: 22~

Faith popped her head around the door of Liam's room. He was alone and sleeping.

She approached the bed, looking down at his sleeping face, at the stubble now growing back over his scalp and slowing beginning to hide the healing scar from the emergency brain surgery he had undergone. She felt bad about waking him, but the sooner she sorted things between he and Will, the sooner Liam would start wanting to get his life back. At least she hoped he would.

Faith stroked his hand gently until he stirred groggily. She smiled as he blinked sleep from his eyes and was pleased at the answering smile that lightly touched his lips.

"Sorry to wake you, Liam."

"S'okay." He shifted slightly, grimacing.

"How're you doing?"

He shrugged.

Faith felt for Liam. It wasn't easy for him, finding himself unable to move and unable to control the things his body needed to do and had done unthinkingly for most of his life. The things that everyone takes for granted every day of their lives until there comes a time when it is taken away from some for a variety of reasons; that's when they realise just how many other things they have always taken for granted.

She wondered if Liam had come to that conclusion yet. If and when he did, might he not be more amenable to fighting back?

And he looked so tired. "Will told me that you have to be moved every couple of hours, even during the night. Guess you find it hard to sleep, huh?"

The mention of Will's name cut through Liam like a knife. He flinched a little but said nothing. Instead he just nodded, looking up at her.

She could see the weariness in his face. "I guess you'll be starting therapy soon."

An expression of exasperation crossed his face. "Can't see the point. It won't change anything."

Faith realised then how depressed Liam had become. He had given up before he had even given rehabilitation a chance.

"How do you know that if you don't give it a try?"

Liam's eyes narrowed. "It would have been better if I'd died, Faith." He gestured to his body. "This isn't living. It's not as if I have anything to live for anymore," he finished quietly. He had listened to Bridget's wise words, but he found it hard to put her sound advice into practice and almost impossible to shake the feeling that his life was no longer worth living.

"You can get that attitude right out of your head, mister!" Faith hadn't meant to be so harsh, but she couldn't bear to hear Liam talk that way. "I'm sorry, Liam. That came out wrong. But you have to understand that there are people in your life now who care for you deeply. People who would have been devastated if you had died. And what about Will? Don't you think he would have been torn apart if you'd died? I thought you loved him?"

Liam turned his head away. "I do. I love him so much but…"

"But what?"

"He doesn't love me."

"Why do you think that?"

"He has someone else."

"Who?"

"Lindsey." Liam closed his eyes. Bridget had suggested he talk to Will about this, and he knew he should, but he didn't honestly think he could. It was just too painful to even think about. But now, knowing how forthright Faith could be he had no choice; he was a captive audience and couldn't get away from what was coming. He would have to face the awful truth.

That was just the opening that Faith needed. And right behind that thought came the blinding realisation who Liam meant.

"Lindsey. Who do you think Lindsey is?"

Liam swallowed, hating that Faith was trying to drag the truth about Will's new lover out of him. "Will's seeing him."

"How do you know?"

"He came to the house. While Will was away. He felt all wrong; he was creepy and then I understood why. He and Will are…they…" He turned his face back to Faith, his eyes moist and full of pain.

"Okay, Liam, let me explain who Lindsey is, okay? Will wanted to get back what Rupert stole from you. Did you know that he had used the compensation you received after the accident to buy the apartment?"

This was obviously news to Liam. His eyes widened in shock. "No…no, he couldn't have. There wasn't that much."

"How much did you think it was? Did you see the check? Did your lawyer tell you how much it was?"

"Yes…I think so. He mentioned it, I think, but I…I didn't want to talk about it. Every time the subject came up, I found it too upsetting. It just…brought back awful memories and…I…I couldn't deal with…"

"So you let Rupert run your affairs?"

Liam nodded his brown eyes full of sadness at the memory of what had happened to his family and what his life had become after his Grandmother died.

"Well, Will had a feeling that's what had happened, so he asked Gunn for advice and he hired a private detective on Will's behalf to do a little digging. He found out just how much Rupert had taken from you. The P.I.'s name was Lindsey."

Liam stared back at her, half afraid to believe she might be telling the truth yet wanting to believe that she was.

"It was merely a professional arrangement. Will only met him once, and was pleased that he had managed to get so much evidence against Rupert; enough to bring a civil case against him to try to get back everything you had lost."

"But he…he came to the house and he made it sound as if W…Will had done something for him, and he got all strange wh…when I told him I was Will's boyfriend. He sc…scared me…he…"

"All Will did for him was give him an extra bonus for a job well done. Will didn't like him much, either. Did he actually tell you that he and Will were…involved?"

"N…no, but…" Liam leaned back onto his pillows tiredly, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "I just thought…it sounded so obvious…"

Faith took his hand, appalled that he had kept this inside.

"Whatever he told you, or whatever you thought he implied, is just not true. Do you trust me, Liam?"

"Yes, Faith, I trust you."

"Then believe me when I tell you that you are the only man for Will."

Liam felt a slight lessening of the heartache that fuelled his hopelessness, but could still not believe that Will could love him. Not like this; an incontinent cripple. "I believe you, Faith. But look at me. How can Will love me like this?"

Faith felt tears well up in her eyes. She could almost feel the disgust that Liam directed at himself. "He does, Liam. And you won't always be this way. You can come back from this if you're determined enough. And Will can help you. I can help you. But you need to start helping yourself first."

"I don't know if I can, Faith."  

*  

Will stood nervously outside the door of Liam's room.

This was ridiculous. He could either stand here all day, and risk being moved on by the hospital security staff, or go in and hope that Liam didn't scream at him to leave him alone.

Faith's visit had encouraged Will to see him again and try to get through to him. She had told Will that Liam, though he now seemed to accept that Will did not have someone else, was still deep in despair over his condition. Will could hardly believe that Lindsey had gone to the mansion and deliberately tried to give Liam the impression that Will was seeing him behind Liam's back. He had roundly cursed the P.I., furious that Liam had been made to feel so insecure about his relationship with Will. He knew that Liam still felt emotionally fragile after all he had been through, and the last thing he had needed was a slimy no-mark like Lindsey McDonald fuelling that fragility.

And now he was left with the problem of encouraging Liam to make the effort to do something about his condition. Will was desperate to make him see that he would take his Angel any way he could get him; upright and walking tall or confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It did not matter to Will. All he wanted was to have Liam home and in his bed, even if they could never make love again as they had done before he had been injured. There was more to love than sex; there was companionship, affection and sharing everything, even the bad times. But he couldn't stand by and watch Liam give up if there was something he could do to improve his life, even if he only made a partial recovery. And Bobby Kerrigan had said there was a good chance of him improving if he worked hard.

If only Liam could be convinced.

There was a window in the wall next to the door through which a patient could be observed if necessary. The vertical blinds that could be closed to permit a patient privacy were open slightly and Will moved so he could peer through the gaps.

Liam was being lifted from his bed into a special chair adapted for use by patients with spinal injuries. Though Liam's condition was due to brain damage, the problems he had were the same.

The male nurse and an orderly who had lifted Liam settled him comfortably into the chair, and as the orderly moved away Will could see that Liam hated the fact that he could not do this for himself. The look of abject misery on his face made Will's eyes sting and his throat ache.

He stepped back, struggled to regain his composure and once he did, stepped into the room.

Liam looked up as he entered, his eyes widening as he saw Will.

"Okay, Liam? Comfortable?" the nurse asked.

The two men looked up when they saw Liam react to whoever had come into the room, and the nurse, who Will had seen before, smiled at him.

"Hi, Will."

Will remembered his name as Aaron. He had made a conscious effort to remember all the names of the staff he came into contact with, since they had all done so much to help not just Liam but himself too in the days when Liam had first been admitted. "Hello, Aaron."

"Come on in, buddy. We've finished. Liam needed cleaning and changing."

Will knew that Aaron had meant nothing by telling him the reason for their presence. They performed tasks like this everyday and thought nothing of it. But Will could see by the expression on Liam's face that he was deeply mortified by Aaron's words.

Will could understand that, but he also knew that Aaron wasn't being unkind. "Thanks."

Will stood aside as the two men left, bidding him a cheerful goodbye.

He looked at his lover, unable to say anything, and Liam looked back, equally mute.

They had so much to say but neither could say anything.

As the silence grew more oppressive, Will finally plucked up the courage to break it at the exact moment that Liam did.

"I'm sorry…"

"Sorry…"

Will stopped. So did Liam.

"You first," Will suggested.

Liam bowed his head. "I'm so sorry, Will. For telling you to leave me alone. For being so… mean to you. I…It's just…I thought you were see…seeing someone…else and…I…" He trailed off, feeling miserable because he had thought something bad about Will when all the time Will had loved him. Only him.

"I'm sorry too, Liam."

"For what?" Liam looked up at him in surprise.

"A whole lot of things. I have a lot of explaining to do, baby. But first I want you to know that I love only you, and I don't care if you're stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of your life and we can never make love again. I just want to be with you, to love you and take care of you, however much care you need."

Liam was too choked to reply.

"But I need you to do something for me," Will paused, wondering if he was taking the right tack. "I want you to at least try the therapy you've been offered. I know that right now you feel it's a waste of time, but for me, would you try?"

Liam broke eye contact, looking down instead at his useless legs. He appeared to think this over, and eventually he looked back up at Will and nodded. "I'll try."

Will felt relief wash over him. He had reached Liam at last. "Thank you, baby," Will went to him, leaned over and kissed Liam's lips tenderly.

For the first time since he had woken from his coma, Liam responded to Will, allowing the questing tongue entry as his lover gently explored the mouth that he had missed so much.

When they finally parted, Liam's eyes were moist with tears, but he had a faint smile on his lips. Will did still love him.

As he had said he would, Will pulled a chair over from where it stood against one wall and sat beside Liam, taking his uninjured hand and enfolding it in both his own. He began to explain everything to Liam; why he had tried to get back what was Liam's and why he had not brought the subject up because he knew talking about Rupert Giles always upset him; how Lindsey had sort of come on to him, and that had probably been the reason why he had come out to the mansion and sown the seeds of doubt in Liam's head.

Finally, Will decided that he should tell his boyfriend who had run him down.

He gently explained that Liam had told Faith he wanted to buy something special for Will before he returned home after his hospital appointment. That had been when the car had hit him.

Before Will could tell Liam who had been driving the car, Liam had tightened his hold on Will's hand painfully.

"It was him!" Liam looked around in panic, as if Rupert Giles could walk into his room and hurt him again. "I rem…ember seeing his face just be…before he hit m…m…me. It was him! Oh God! Oh God!"

Will wasn't sure what to do. Liam seemed to suddenly be reliving the accident, if the stark terror in his eyes was any indication.

~Part: 23~

Liam's face had gone white. He was in danger of hyper-ventilating, lost in his own private torture as the memory of what had happened crashed over him like a tidal wave.

Will could only look on helplessly, holding on to Liam's hand as his eyes blinked rapidly, watching something only he was seeing.

Finally the movie reel that seemed to be playing in Liam's brain came to an end, and he relaxed, the tension in his body draining away and leaving him limp and tearful.

"Rupert!" He turned terrified eyes to Will, still holding on to his hand with a death grip. "Rupert tried to kill me, Will!"

Will reached up the hand that wasn't being crushed in Liam's to gently run the backs of his fingers down the damp cheek. "I know, baby. I know it was him. But you don't have to fear him any more. He's dead."

"Dead? H..how?"

"He lost control of the car and it crashed. He died." Will couldn't bring himself to tell Liam that his former partner had burned alive in the car following the crash. He would never tell him unless Liam demanded to know more details, which he hoped and prayed he never would. Despite the way Rupert had treated Liam and tried to kill him, Will knew that he was a gentle soul and knowing that the man had died so horribly would undoubtedly upset him.

"Dead," Liam's expression was unreadable; Will could not tell if Liam was happy about Rupert Giles' death or not. "He c…can't hur…hurt me any m…m…more, can he?"

Will pulled Liam up into his arms and held him close, running a hand soothingly down his back. He was mightily relieved to hear those words. Even though Liam was no longer with Rupert, the feeling that he hung over them both like a malevolent shadow had never truly gone away. Now he was gone, he wasn't even a shadow; he was merely a grim memory of a painful past.

He felt Liam shudder against him as his body convulsed with sobs. Will hoped he was finally letting go of the nightmare that had been part of his life for so long.  

*  

Liam didn't mention Rupert Giles again, much to Will's relief. It seemed that that part of his life was truly behind him.

Liam's rehabilitation began, starting gently since his ribs and broken wrist had still to heal fully, but he was wheeled to the therapy unit daily and began light exercises. Only when his other injuries healed would he start on a more gruelling regime.

Will was satisfied that his lover was finally willing to try to help himself, and praised Liam for his efforts.

So when Liam's therapist had a chat with Will it came as a terrible shock for him to hear that if Liam continued to work half-heartedly as he was doing then his prognosis was not good.

Will stood with Raul Garcia outside the window of Liam's room, watching as his boyfriend tried to relax after his latest session. Liam was still lacking muscle tone and strength after what had happened to him, and a therapy session always left him feeling exhausted.

Raul, a darkly handsome thirty-something of Mexican origin, understood that Will thought Liam was doing okay. But he had seen many patients doing what Liam was doing. "It's as if he's going through the motions, Will. He seems willing enough, but his heart isn't really in it. He lacks belief in himself and until he really believes that he can get himself back on his feet he'll never make a complete recovery. The best he'll manage is shuffling around with the aid of a walker, and that would be a terrible shame. With a lot more effort and some self-belief, he could make a complete recovery if he wants it badly enough."

Will watched Liam as he drifted off to sleep, letting Raul's words sink in. Will had thought that when Liam said he would try he had meant it. Or maybe he thought he was trying. He had done his best to be encouraging, but Liam needed to want to work hard, to push himself; no one could do that for him.

"Raul!"

Will and the therapist turned and Will recognised the little dark- haired girl he had seen gamely hopping around on crutches in the hospital grounds during the dark days when Liam had still been in a coma.

He was amazed at how much she seemed to have improved, appearing to use the crutches merely as a means of support and not as a means to get her around.

"Kathy!" Raul spread his arms wide, clearly pleased to see the girl.

In a sudden moment of clarity, Will realised why she had reminded him of someone. His mind went back to the day he had spent with Liam at the apartment Rupert Giles had bought with money that belonged to Liam. He clearly remembered the paintings Liam had shown him in his studio; one in particular had stuck in his mind.

It had been a portrait, clearly painted by the hand of love, of a dark haired girl with chocolate brown eyes who so closely resembled the artist; Liam.

This Kathy was not a doppelganger for Liam's Kathy, yet there was enough of a similarity to remind Will of the girl he had seen only once in a portrait.

He was suddenly jolted back to the present as the little girl flung her arms around the therapist. He hugged her back, a big cheesy grin on his face; he was evidently delighted to see her.

Her parents, who Will remembered from the times in the gardens, followed more sedately behind her, smiling indulgently. They looked like a warm and loving family, and Will couldn't help smiling himself.

Raul rubbed Kathy's back affectionately. "You're looking real good, kiddo. And I know I shouldn't say this, but you were always my favourite patient."

Kathy drew back, covering her mouth shyly with her hand and giggling behind it. "I'm going home now, Raul. I just wanted to stop by and see you before I left."

"I would have been very annoyed if you hadn't," Raul grinned. "But you will still be coming back for regular sessions, right?"

"Sure I will. I'd miss you too much if I didn't." The cheerful little girl looked curiously up at Will. She smiled shyly.

"Kathy, this is Will," Raul saw the look and introduced the two. He nodded towards the room where Liam was currently sleeping. "His friend was hurt in an accident similar to yours and he suffered almost the same injuries."

Kathy looked sad at this news. "I'm sorry, Will. Is he a good friend?"

"A very good friend, Kathy. And I remember seeing you out in the gardens while Liam was still in a coma. The sight of you trying so hard to get back on your feet cheered me up a lot, and now I can see how much you have improved."

Kathy grinned. "It was Raul. He made me work hard."

"I worked you as hard as you wanted to work yourself, kiddo. You have to take the credit for your improvement, not me."

"Don't be so modest, Raul," the girl's mother smiled. She turned to Will. "Raul couldn't have done more for Kathy. She worked hard, still works hard, but it was Raul who encouraged her every step of the way."

"Um…Will Fitzgerald, this is Xander and Willow Harris, Kathy's mom and dad."

Will shook both their hands. Kathy plainly resembled her father in her colouring. Her mother had green eyes and beautiful russet hair. But Kathy seemed to have the same aura of sweetness and benevolence as her mother.

An idea flashed into Will's head as he shook hands with Willow Harris. He turned back to the little girl. "Kathy, Raul tells me that my friend Liam is not doing too well at his therapy. His heart's not in it, and I'm thinking he maybe needs someone to inspire him. He had a sister who looked very much like you who he loved very much and misses still. I was wondering if you could maybe have a word with him. Show him how much you have improved. If you don't mind doing it, of course, and your mum and dad are happy about it."

Kathy looked distressed at this news about Will's friend. "The poor man," she said forlornly. "What happened to his sister?"

"She was killed in an accident," Will replied.

Kathy looked sadly through the glass at the sleeping Liam. She turned to her parents. "Can I try to help the poor man? Please, before we leave? Can I?"

Her father exchanged glances with his wife, who shrugged. "If that's what you want, Kathy, of course you can try to help." He smiled indulgently at her, obviously proud of his young daughter's willingness to help another.

Raul smiled. "You could be just what he needs, Kathy."

Kathy grinned hugely, pleased that she could do something to help someone who was in the same predicament that she had been.

Will smiled at her and her parents gratefully. "Thank you," he said simply.

"I think it might be better if just you and Will see him, Kathy," Raul suggested. "He's still embarrassed by his condition so it'd be best not to overwhelm him with too many visitors together." He glanced at the Mr and Mrs Harris, who nodded their consent.

Will went in first, moving to the bed and gently stroking his lover's cheek until drowsy brown eyes opened and gazed up at him lovingly.

"Liam, you have a very important visitor who would like to see you," Will told him.

A flicker of panic flared in Liam's eyes briefly; he was only used to visits from Will, Faith and Gunn, and anyone outside of his little circle tended to alarm him.

Will stepped back and allowed Liam to see Kathy, who stood behind him balanced comfortably on her crutches.

Liam blinked. He blinked again. His eyes grew wide. "Kathy!" he whispered.

Kathy heard her name, tilting her head a little in confusion. "Um…how did you know my name is Kathy?"

Liam realised this pretty little girl was not his Kathy; it had been his confusion on waking that had fooled him. But she looked a lot like his late sister, and he felt tears prick his eyes. "I…I didn't. My sis…sister was called Kathy, and yo…you remind me of her."

"Oh. Okay. You're Liam, right?"

Liam nodded.

Will pulled a chair up to the bed and took Kathy's crutches as she sat down. "I'm Kathy, and your nice friend Will told me about you. I wanted to see you, see if I can help."

Liam looked slightly bemused. "Help me?"

"See, I was knocked down by a man in a car, just like you were," Kathy told Liam earnestly. "My mom and dad were awful worried when I didn't wake up. When I did I couldn't make my legs walk…and other stuff. I had to wear a diaper, like a baby. I hated it."

Will guessed that Kathy had suffered with loss of control, just as Liam had. His heart went out to her.

"But Raul made me work hard, and I slowly got better, and now I'm going home for good."

Liam smiled at the little girl's flushed cheeks; she was clearly excited to be going home at last. "And you c…came to see me b…before you left? Why?

"To help you, silly," Kathy giggled. "I thought I wouldn't ever get to walk again and never play games with my friends. But the doctor told me that I should be able to now. I'll be normal again."

Liam reached out and took the girl's hand. "I'm so g…glad for you, Kathy. You're such a pr…pretty little girl. It's only r…right that you should be able t…to play with your friends."

"If you work hard, you can too," Kathy squeezed his hand in both of hers for emphasis. She giggled. "Not play with my friends, of course. I mean play with your own friends."

Liam actually laughed at this. "I'd like that very much, Kathy."

"So promise me you'll work hard. Put your heart into it. That's what Raul told me."

Liam looked over at Will, who stood at the end of his bed, clearly touched by Kathy's courage and kindness. He smiled at his lover then looked back at the little girl.

"I promise, Kathy. I…I'll put my heart in…into it."

"You've made a promise, Liam. You have to keep it."

"I'll keep it, Kathy. I will. I'll d…do it for you."

Kathy clapped her hands. "I'll ask Raul if you are keeping your promise. I still have to come back for regular sessions, but I could be back at school for the new semester."

"I won't let you down."

"Okay, I gotta go now. Mom and dad are waiting for me."

"Thank you, Kathy. Th…thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Liam," she took the crutches that Will held ready for her and climbed reasonably nimbly to her feet.

"Take care, Kathy, and be…be well."

Kathy hobbled over to lean down and kiss Liam's cheek. "Don't forget your promise."

"I won't"

Will puckered an air kiss to Liam and followed her out of the room. He thanked her parents for allowing her to see Liam then bent to kiss her cheek. "Thank you, Kathy. If that doesn't make him try harder then nothing will. I owe you a big favour." He fished in his pocket for one of his cards and handed it to her. "If there is ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, you just call me. `Kay?"

"I will, Will," Kathy giggled at her own words. "I hope Liam gets better. Just make sure he works hard."

"I'll make sure of it. Now you take care, and remember what I said."

Kathy smiled and turned with her parents to leave. Will bade them all a warm goodbye. Raul followed them, sensing that Will might want to be alone with his partner.

Will returned to Liam who was trying valiantly to pull himself to a comfortable sitting position. When he failed, Will helped him, settling him comfortably against his pillows. It pleased him to see that Liam had at least tried to help himself.

"She is so like Kathy," Liam said wistfully, his chocolate brown eyes gazing up into startling blue.

"So you can't let her down, baby."

"I won't, Will. Kiss me?"

Will obliged, leaning in to kiss Liam's pretty lips. Liam sighed into Will's mouth; he loved Will kisses.

~Part: 24~

"Liam?"

Liam looked up from the book he had been reading, a look of surprise crossing his features as he saw who his visitor was. "Joyce."

"Look, if you don't want to see me, it's okay, I'll…"

"Why wouldn't I want to see you?" Liam looked confused by her words.

Joyce exhaled the breath she had been holding, relieved that Liam hadn't told her to go. She honestly wouldn't have blamed him if he had. "I can think of a few reasons, but…I wanted to see you before, but the day I came, you were upset, and then there was the inquest and…sorry."

Liam flinched slightly when he heard the word `inquest.' Will had told him about the outcome of the inquest into Rupert Giles' death. It had been recorded as accidental, and Liam had not asked for any more details. He hadn't been required to attend the inquest as there had been plenty of witnesses, much to Liam's relief. He didn't need to hear the details of what had happened; the picture that would stay forever etched into his memory of Rupert's angry face as he had driven the car straight at him was all the reminder he needed of that awful day.

Will had, if anything, been even more relieved; he had not wanted Liam to have to sit through the grisly details of the way that Rupert had died. Despite what Liam had suffered at the man's hand, Will knew that he was a sensitive soul and would have been haunted by the details.

"It's okay, Joyce. Will told me about the verdict."

"Oh. Good," She played nervously with the package that she carried. She had asked Will what Liam might like as a gift, and though he had not thought about it before, Will had suddenly realised what might be good for him at this stage of his recovery. "I…um…brought you this. It's not much, but I thought it might help to pass the time for you."

Liam took the package, smiling shyly up at Joyce. "Thank you. You didn't need to bring anything but…thank you, Joyce." He carefully peeled back the gift wrapping and pulled out a good quality sketch pad and a set of drawing pencils. As he gazed down at the thoughtful gifts he realised that he hadn't drawn anything since before the attempt on his life. Strangely, it just hadn't occurred to him to ask for drawing supplies, although it had only been the last couple of weeks that he had been able to do much of anything. Following his emergence from his coma he remembered that his passion was art, yet it hadn't occurred to him to try to draw or paint anything. Maybe he had lost the ability, a thought he found deeply upsetting, even though his physician had told him his skills and memory were unimpaired.

Joyce noticed his reaction to her gift, wondering if she had done the wrong thing. "If they're not the right quality pencils, Liam, I can change them for you. It won't…"

Liam dragged his mind back from the slightly disturbing thoughts he'd been having. "No, no, they're just right, Joyce. It…it's not that. I…just realised that I know I can draw and paint, or…at least I know I could, but what if I can't…now?"

Understanding dawned. "Oh. You mean your brain injury might have… taken that from you?"

Liam nodded his face troubled.

"There's only one way to find out, Liam. Try."

Liam's face creased in a frown before he gave her a slightly embarrassed smile. "I…I will. But not right now."

"That's okay. I can see that you'd want to be on your own. I won't keep you long. It's just that I have an apology to make to you."

Liam looked confused. "Apology? Why?"

Joyce sat on the bed before Liam's chair. She played distractedly with the wedding band on her right hand where she had worn it since her divorce from her husband Hank. "Because I knew what Rupert was doing to you; well, I didn't know for sure, but I had a pretty good idea. I saw the marks and bruises on your face, how he seemed to delight in humiliating you in front of people, and I did nothing. I am so very sorry, Liam, that I stood by and did nothing while you went through all that. If you can't find it in your heart to…"

"It wasn't your fault, Joyce," Liam said softly, looking down at the pad and pencils in his lap. "The person to blame is Rupert. And me. I'm to blame, too, in a way."

"No, Liam. You were the victim. How could you be to blame?"

"I was weak. I let him slowly wear me down, take control of everything in my life, until I had no free will and no confidence. If I had been stronger, he wouldn't have been able to do that to me. Please don't feel bad because you thought you knew what was going on. What could you have done? He was your boss and if you had tried to intervene, he would have fired you, and nothing would have changed," Liam looked up at her, gazing intently into her eyes. "And you did help. You made it so that Will could see me. That meant everything to me…to us, and I was lucky that I was able to call Will the time Rupert beat me bad enough that I needed surgery. That probably saved my life. So don't feel guilty. You did a lot more for me than you realise."

Joyce fought to keep her tears from spilling down her face. She didn't feel like she had helped much, although she was willing to concede that he had a point, but Liam's forgiveness meant so much to her, and he had given it, absolved her from blame and reassured her that she had helped. She was beginning to look at Liam in a new light. He was still shy and a little uncomfortable with people, but there seemed to be a quiet strength in him now, as if adversity had made him a stronger person. And Will. Will's love and support had done a great deal to help Liam's mental scars heal.

"Thank you, Liam. Thank you for your forgiveness." Joyce leaned forward to kiss Liam's cheek tenderly. "I'll leave you now so you can try out your gift. But I'll stay in touch, if that's okay. " She squeezed his hand. "I always did feel affection for you. You were always so sweet and gentle, it was hard not to."

"I'd like it very much if you kept in contact. You were a good friend to me, even if you thought you weren't. And thank you for the pad and pencils; it was a very thoughtful gift."

"My pleasure." She stood, leaning down to kiss him once more. "Now take care, and I'll leave you to…try."

Liam smiled up at her, though she could see in his eyes that he was half afraid that he had lost his wonderful talent.

As soon as he was alone, Liam opened the package of pencils, took one out and nervously opened his new pad. He sat for long minutes thinking about what he should draw until it finally came to him. Tentatively he put pencil to pad and began to sketch.  

*  

"Pet, this is gorgeous!" Will gazed down in awe at the drawing in his hand. "It's so familiar though. Have I seen something of yours like this before?"

Liam sat in his wheelchair, the early evening sun gently caressing his pale features. Now that the plaster cast had come off his healed wrist, he had wheeled himself out into the grounds, though he would have attempted it with his walker if he hadn't had such a tiring therapy session that afternoon. Raul had encouraged Liam to push himself and to a certain extent had given him his head, but he had warned him that he could work too hard, and it was important not to push himself to the point of exhaustion. He had now been moved from the hospital proper into the small rehabilitation unit, and was progressing well. Will had found him in the gardens adding the finishing touches to a drawing.

"I've never done anything like it before." Liam's brows knitted together in a slight frown. "Joyce brought me the pad and pencils, and I was terrified that I might have lost the ability to draw, so when she left I tried and that's what came out."

Will could not shake the feeling that the drawing was familiar. It was of himself and Liam, and incredibly detailed. They were lying in bed, naked and content, and Liam's head was pillowed against Will's chest. Will had his arm around Liam and a peacefully happy expression on his face. The real detail was the chastity device that encased Liam's cock, and the smile of bliss on his face, indicating that he was either blissfully happy or blissfully sated. Or perhaps both.  

Suddenly a memory kicked in. The story of their fictional lives together that Will had so lovingly written had contained a scene exactly like the one in Liam's drawing. He remembered reading it to Liam as he lay comatose soon after the accident. It was a ridiculous thought, but…was it possible that his words had actually permeated Liam's deeply unconscious brain? He shook his head, laughing softly.

"What, Will? What's funny?"

Will planted a quick kiss on his lover's lips, a look of wonder on his face. "I never showed you a story that I had been writing. It wasn't my usual stuff; it was the story of us, together; how I wanted it to be without all the shit that you had to go through and…"

"Can I read it? I'd really like to," Liam pleaded.

"Of course you can, baby, but my point is I was reading it to you when you were still in a coma. The staff told me I should talk to you in case you could hear me, but it felt weird just to keep talking about…everyday things, so I thought I'd read you the story of us. And this," Will gestured with Liam's gorgeous drawing, "was part of it."

Liam looked amazed. "You mean you think I might have heard you? Even though I was unconscious?"

"Maybe you did, baby, and it came back to you when you decided to try drawing." Will took his hand, leaning in to kiss him fondly again. "I'd like to think that's what happened, anyway. It's kind of romantic, don't you think?"

Liam nodded. "Very, Will. Do you have a title for it?"

Will pouted, shaking his head. "Never could think of just the right title. I just used Liam and Will as a working title."

"So what about `The Story of Us'?" Liam asked shyly.

Will reached a hand up to Liam's face and stroked his cheek lovingly. "Perfect, my love."  

*  

"So you think there is a good chance that we can get Liam's paintings back?" There was a note of hope in Will's voice.

Gunn nodded. "A good chance. They're his intellectual property, his initials are on each one, and Rupert Giles' creditors can't lay claim to Liam's property. The lawyers acting for the creditors took some persuading to see it that way, but I'm pretty sure it's in the bag."

Will couldn't help himself and hugged Gunn; in a manly way. "Thank you, Gunn. This means so much to me, and I'm sure it will mean everything to Liam."

Gunn clapped Will enthusiastically on the back. "Pleasure, man. Liam's paintings should be back in his possession by the time he comes home from the rehab unit."

"If you've finished making a pass at my man, I think I would quite like to have a turn," Faith smirked.

Will laughed. "Can I say possessive much?"

Faith too gave Gunn a hug and a peck on the lips for good measure. "Thank you, baby. You're the best."

Gunn smiled happily. His sense of fair play had been outraged at the injustice that Liam had lost everything, and he had been determined that Liam's paintings were not going to fall into the hands of the people to whom Rupert Giles owed large sums of money. As well as being Liam's intellectual property, Will had told him there were some paintings, like the one of his late sister, that meant so much more to him than money ever could. And though the last thing on his mind was to accumulate brownie points with Faith, he felt that now would be a good time to ask her the question that had been in his mind for weeks. Now that he had a sense of completion as far as the paintings were concerned, he felt the time was right. He intended to take her out for a romantic dinner and ask her to do him the honour of becoming his wife.  

*  

Liam's rehabilitation continued at a steady pace. He would have pushed himself beyond his limits if he could, but Raul, from having to worry about his patient's lack of commitment, now found himself trying to restrain him from doing too much.

Liam had mostly left his wheelchair behind and even his walker was slowly becoming redundant. He had graduated to crutches which gave him more mobility, and his most satisfying achievement was slowly re- gaining control of his bowels and bladder. He still had the occasional accident and required an incontinence garment through the night, but he generally managed to stay dry during the day.

Will was delighted with his lover's progress. Liam's physician had told Will that Liam was close to being ready to go home. There would still be the necessity of daily therapy sessions, but both the doctor and Raul felt that his recovery would be greatly helped if he could return to a near-normal life.

On the day that Liam was scheduled to leave the hospital, Will burst into his room that morning with a happy smile on his face. When he saw Liam had another visitor, his smile widened still further.

"Bridget!" Will threw his arms around the kind, motherly nurse, delighted to see her again on this day of all days.

Bridget returned Will's hug warmly. She had tried to visit with Liam as often as she could once he was moved to the rehab unit, but pressure of work often kept her away. On the rare occasions she managed to drop by, Liam was always delighted to see her. When she heard the news that Liam's discharge was imminent she had rushed over to catch him before he left.

"Hello, Will. I heard the good news and rushed over during my break."

"Thank you, Bridget." Will gave her a big sloppy kiss on her cheek. "Liam would have hated to leave without seeing you. Wouldn't you, baby?"

Liam nodded, a smile on his face and tears threatening to roll down his cheeks.

When Bridget saw he was upset she left Will's warm embrace and leaned down to hug Liam. "Don't be upset, dear. This is a happy day."

Liam nodded again, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "I…know… but I'll miss everyone who has…helped me…and…" Liam gave in to the tears as both Bridget and Will tried to comfort him.

When he finally regained his composure, he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I am glad I'm going home, I really am, but there are so many people who have done so much for me…" He shook his head. "…and I just don't know how to thank you all."

"Make a full recovery, sweetie. That'll be all the thanks we need."

Chewing absently at his lower lip in that adorable way he had, Liam nodded. "I'll do that, Bridget. I promise."

Bridget hugged him again. "Okay, I'll hold you to that promise. Now take care of each other, boys. I'm going to miss seeing you both." She turned to Will and gave him another hug.

Smiling a little tearfully, Bridget left them alone together.

With a barely suppressed grin, Will sat on the bed opposite Liam's chair, leaning forward and cupping Liam's cheeks with his hands. Wordlessly he leaned in and kissed his lover passionately, delighting in Liam's breathy moan as his tongue pushed gently past the compliant lips. He had missed their love-making so much while he had been recovering, and he longed for the day when Will could make love to him again.

Will reluctantly broke the kiss, running a thumb gently across Liam's pretty lips. "You know I love you, don't you, baby?"

Liam's lips trembled with emotion. He nodded, unable to speak.

"And you love me too?" Will asked, seeing the emotion in his lover's eyes as he tried not to weep again.

Liam nodded again, leaning forward in his chair to accept a chaster kiss. "I love you too." He managed to whisper against Will's mouth.

~Part: 25~

Will helped Liam out of the car, handing him his crutches and steadying him as he slid his arms into them.   Liam had regained the weight that had been lost while he lay in a coma, and his hair had now grown back so that it covered the operation scar on his scalp. He was back to being the Liam that Will had first set eyes on that night at the mansion when he was still in that horribly abusive relationship with Rupert Giles.

 He couldn't resist giving his beautiful boyfriend a soft kiss on his pretty lips.

"Welcome home, baby."

Liam smiled, looking around at the mansion contentedly.  "It is home, Will.  It's home because it's where you are."

Will couldn't bring himself to say anything.  Instead, he reached up with his hand to gently trace the contours of Liam's cheek, gazing into the deep chocolate eyes to communicate his feelings.

They turned together and made their way through the sunken garden and into the great hall.  

*  

Faith, Gunn and Joyce were waiting for Liam and Will.

When he saw them, Liam smiled self-consciously.

Faith went to him, giving him a hug and kissing him on the cheek.  "Glad you're back with us, Liam.  I've missed you."

Liam hugged her back.  "Glad to be home.  I missed you too, Faith."

Gunn shook Liam warmly by the hand, smiling broadly.  "Dude, I missed ya' too."

Liam giggled a little at the very un-lawyer like speech.

Finally Joyce stepped forward and gave Liam a motherly peck on his cheek.  "It's so good to see you up and about, Liam."

"Thank you, Joyce."  He shyly returned her kiss, pleased that the few people he was closed to had been there to welcome him home.

Liam had not wanted fireworks and Champagne to welcome him home, which Will had instinctively known, but a quiet and calm homecoming was just perfect.   Now that he was back at the mansion with Will and Faith he felt happier than he had since the visit from Lindsey that had initiated the downward spiral into doubt and despair that had led him ultimately to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.   He hoped his life had now taken a turn for the better and fate had no more unpleasant surprises in store for him.

Will fussed around him, guiding him over to the sofa, while Faith looked on in amusement, nudging Gunn with a `check-out-the-anxious- mother-hen' wink.  She was aware that Liam was not fully over his ordeal, but it was slightly comical to watch Will flapping like a mother bird whose chick had just fallen out of the nest.

Liam lowered himself gratefully onto the sofa, propping his crutches against the arm and looking up at Will with faint amusement in his eyes.  "I'm okay, Will.  Really."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks.  Just relax."

Will nodded.  "Okay.  Um, we have something for you, baby."

Liam's eyebrows rose.  "You do?"

Will went behind the sofa and lifted out two large wrapped packages. They were flat and about the size of an artist's canvas.  He placed them carefully on the sofa beside Liam, who looked up at him in bewilderment.

"What are they?

"Open them and see, baby."

Liam carefully ripped the brown paper off the top package.  He gasped.  "Kathy."  His fingers delicately stroked the face of his sister in the portrait he had painted of her just weeks before her death.  Tears formed in his eyes as he was overcome by the poignant pleasure of being re-united with one of his most precious paintings.

No-one disturbed Liam, allowing him his moment of private grief as he gazed quietly down at the portrait of the sister he had so adored and painted with all the love that he had in his heart for her.

Eventually he looked up at the others, quiet tears drying on his cheeks.  "How did.?  I thought I'd never see this."

Will knelt down in front of him, a gentle hand stroking a damp cheek.  "Gunn.  He got them back for you.  No-one asked him; he did it off his own bat because he hated the idea that you might have lost all your work to Rupert's creditors."

Liam looked up at Gunn, his eyes still shiny with tears.  "Thank you, Gunn.  Thank you so much."

Gunn squeezed Liam shoulder.  "Pleasure, Liam."

With Will's help Liam reluctantly put aside the portrait before tearing the wrapping off the other package.  He was silent for long moments.

Will sensed something might be wrong with Liam, so he knelt down again to look up into his face.  He looked as if he were far away, his eyes distant and staring.  "Baby?"

Liam suddenly seemed to shudder and he blinked his eyes rapidly, coming back to the present full of confusion.  "I never got there, Will.  I was going to go there.but.I couldn't."

"Go where, Liam?  Where did you try to go?"

"To the gallery.  I wanted to ask him for it back.  You wanted it so badly, and I tried to paint.for you but I.couldn't.couldn't do it. I'm sorry, Will."

"Couldn't do what?  What's wrong, baby?  You can tell me."

Haunted eyes turned to him as Liam gestured with his hand at the portrait of `Angel on his Knees.' "This.  I tried to get this back for you but.he was there, in the car and."

Suddenly Will understood.  He cupped Liam's face with both his hands.  "That's where you were going that day, wasn't it?  To see Rupert and ask him to give you back `Angel on his Knees' because you thought I wanted it so badly."

Liam nodded miserably.

Will stood up, glancing at his friends who instantly caught the meaning of his look and quietly left the room.  He sat down beside Liam, taking the second angel portrait from his unresisting hands and placing it down on the floor next to the painting of Kathy.

"Liam, I love those paintings, but if I had thought for one second that expressing a desire for something might cost me so much more, I would never have said those words.  I might have lost you, baby, and I couldn't bear that.  Even the thought of you going to see Rupert.my God, that must have worried you for days.  I am so sorry; so very sorry."

Liam looked up into Will's sad blue eyes.  "It.I was, but I would.was going to do it for you so.so that you would love me again.  After Lindsey came."

Will pulled him into his arms, stroking his hair gently as he tried to mend yet more damage to his beautiful Angel.  "I never stopped loving you, Liam.  And I know that you felt bad after that little shit put doubt in your mind, but you do believe me when I say that nothing could make me love you more, don't you?"

"Yes, Will."  Liam's voice was muffled slightly by the material of Will's shirt where his face rested against his shoulder.  "I believe you."  

*  

A week or so before Liam had been due to leave the rehabilitation unit, Will had suggested that they turn one of the downstairs rooms at the mansion into a bedroom for him, since there was a bathroom on the lower floor anyway and it would make it easier for him if he didn't have to use the stairs all the time.

Liam had pouted a little, telling Will that he wanted to share Will's bed when he came home.  Will had reassured him that he would sleep downstairs with his lover anyway, but Liam made it plain that he wanted to share their bed in their bedroom, not in a bedroom downstairs.  He wanted to get his life back to normal as quickly as possible.

Will even suggested that they have a stair-lift installed, but Liam had dismissed that idea too.  He'd insisted that taking the stairs was all part of his rehabilitation.  Will had asked Liam's therapist if this was true, and Raul had told him that it would do Liam no harm.  

So it was that, after the five of them had eaten a celebratory dinner that Faith and Joyce had prepared to include all of Liam's favourites, he and Will were finally alone together.  Liam had climbed the stairs a little awkwardly, with Will hovering around him in case he needed help, and entered their bedroom gratefully.  He lowered himself on the bed, looking around with a contented smile on his face.

"I'll run a bath for you, shall I?"

Still smiling, Liam nodded.  He was content, but there was still a way to go yet before he would be truly happy again. As Will went into the bathroom to run his bath, his face clouded a little with apprehension.  He desperately wanted Will to make love to him, but the problem he had with controlling his body functions made that awkward.and who was he kidding?  How could Will find him desirable when they went to bed together?  He still hadn't regained complete control and at night still wore one of those awful man-size diapers. He was sure it would turn Will off instantly.

He was dragged from his morose thoughts when Will returned.

"Okay, Liam, let's get you undressed."

Liam shook his head.  "I can manage, Will."  He pulled off his sweater then stood up a little unsteadily and set about removing his pants.  It was a little awkward for him without the support of his crutches but he managed without losing his balance.  He sat on the bed to remove his boxers; his feet were already sockless.  When he had finished he looked up at Will with a small smile of satisfaction on his face.

Will grinned hugely.  "Come on, into the bath with you."

He was chuckling as Liam picked up his crutches and walked, naked, into the bathroom.  

*  

Will had taken a shower as Liam soaked in the bath.  Turning off the shower, Will grabbed a white fluffy towel and stepped out onto the tiled floor, the breathtaking essence of male beauty lounging in the bath making his cock twitch a little.  It had been so long since he had been inside that gorgeous body, sheathing himself to the hilt as Liam had moaned and panted beneath him.  But he knew that it would be a while yet; he instinctively knew that Liam was not over his `how can you possibly find me sexy?' feelings.

During Liam's rehabilitation Raul had talked to both of them about their sexual relationship.  Raul had told them that in his experience adult patients who had suffered the kind of injuries that Liam had were almost certain to go through a stage of feeling less than sexy, especially when a problem with control was in the equation.  He had reassured them both that it was perfectly normal and as long as Liam felt no pressure to `perform' his libido should eventually return to normal.

Liam had asked how soon this would be likely to happen.  Raul had replied that there was no timescale; it depended entirely on the individual.  Addressing his comments particularly towards Will, he had suggested that an affectionate relationship with plenty of reassurance would do wonders to help ease the anxiety felt by the patient and would most likely bring about a speedier return of Liam's ability to get an erection.

Will could live with that; he loved Liam with everything that was in him, loved him enough to be patient and wait until Liam was willing and able to make love. In the meantime, Will was content just to fall asleep with his beautiful, sensitive lover in his arms.

Liam stood unsteadily in the bath, so Will helped him step out and wrapped him in another fluffy towel, helping him dry off while Liam perched on the edge of the bath. They kissed briefly, Liam's eyes flicking down to look at the floor shyly.  Will immediately put a finger under his chin, lifting his head so that Liam's eyes were level with his own.

"Come to bed, baby?"

Liam looked slightly uncomfortable.  "I need.I."

Will stroked his cheek soothingly.  "It's okay, I know.  I'll help you."

Will helped Liam into one of the incontinence garments that he had stowed away in one of the drawers in the bathroom when he had unpacked for Liam earlier.  He knew that Liam was more than a little self-conscious, but the sooner they made this feel routine and normal, the sooner he would lose that embarrassment.  When that task was completed, he helped Liam into his pj bottoms, kissing him reassuringly to try to put him at ease.

Taking up his crutches again, Liam returned to the bedroom and climbed into bed, settling himself down as he watched Will slip into a pair of pyjama pants.  Will looked over and grinned at the puzzled expression on his lover's face.

"If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me, baby."  Will chuckled, hoping this gesture of support and solidarity would help put Liam even more at ease.

Liam actually laughed.  He felt a warmth and affection for Will that almost made him want to cry.   "I love you so much, Will."

Will hopped into bed, snuggling down under the downy quilt and wrapping his arms around Liam.  As Liam snuggled up against his chest, feeling like he was really at home now, Will planted a kiss on top of the damp, tousled head that rested in the hollow between his shoulder and his neck.

"And I love you, baby.  So much."  

*  

Nearly three weeks later, Faith and Gunn announced their engagement to Will and Liam one evening after they had returned from the romantic candlelit dinner that Gunn had spent a couple of weeks planning.  Faith flashed a delicate diamond engagement ring for them, the happiness in her eyes testament to the pleasure an impending marriage to Charles Gunn gave her.

After congratulations and hugs all round, Faith sat down on the sofa beside Liam and with uncharacteristic shyness asked him if he would walk her down the aisle.  She had never known her father, and had no siblings or uncles, so since Liam and Will were the closest she had to family she hoped Liam would agree to do her that honour.

"Even if I'm still on crutches?"

"Even if you're still on crutches."

Liam looked at Will who smiled back at him, thrilled that Faith felt close enough to his boyfriend that she wanted him to give her away.

Liam's face lit up in a big beaming smile, dazzling Faith.  She hadn't seen him smile a lot in the time that she had known him; he hadn't had much to smile about over the past year.  But when he did smile with pure happiness, it took her breath away.  If she didn't love Gunn and if Liam were not gay, she could so easily have fallen for him purely on the basis of that glorious smile.

"It would be an honour, Faith."

Faith returned his smile with a dazzling one of her own.  She threw her arms around him and hugged him so tight he worried that breathing might become an issue.

Gunn clapped Liam fondly on the shoulder before turning to Will.  "Wouldn't want you to feel left out, Will, so I'm hoping you'll agree to being my groom's man."

Liam chuckled at the look of surprise on his boyfriend's face.  For once, Will seemed speechless.

"You don't want to do it?"  Gunn asked, thinking that Will's hesitation was a precursor to an excuse for why he couldn't do it.

Instead Will threw his arms around Gunn.  "Nothing would give me more pleasure, Charles."

With that, Faith hurried into the kitchen to fetch a bottle of Champagne from the refrigerator and four glasses.   Gunn opened the sparkling liquid, filled their glasses, and made a toast to his gorgeous fiancée and the other two men in her life who were as much family as those with whom she shared a blood tie.

Liam was restricted to one glass during their celebration, since he was still on medication and too much alcohol might not be a good idea.  But this did not prevent him from enjoying the impromptu party as another bottle of bubbly was breached.

He felt happy and relaxed, and as he watched Will laughing with Gunn and Faith, he felt the stirrings of something in his boxer shorts. He wanted Will.  Desperately.  

*  

Will had gone to the bathroom to fetch Liam's sleeping attire.  In the past two weeks Liam had had just one accident during the night, but Will had suggested they give it a few more weeks just to be sure.

When he returned, he was amazed to see Liam lounging naked on the bed stroking his hardening shaft.

Liam looked up at him, his eyes nearly black with desire.

"Liam?"

"Will."  Liam purred, his voice made husky by his need to have Will inside him.

"Are you sure this.?

"I'm sure.  I need you, Will.  I need you inside me, filling me."

Will opened his mouth, closed it; opened it again.  He couldn't find words.  There was Liam, naked on the bed, his legs spread wide and his cock thrumming with need, and all Will could do was ogle the gorgeous male beauty while giving his very best impression of a fish.

"You do?"  Will's voice had risen several octaves.

Liam batted his eyelashes seductively.  He nodded, his tongue licking his pretty lips in an unconsciously slutty gesture.

Will tossed aside the incontinence garment he had fetched for Liam and quickly divested himself of his clothes.  As he knelt on the bed beside the most gorgeous man he had ever seen, his shaft swelled to rapid tumescence and he leaned in to delicately lick the seductive mouth, his cock twitching as he heard Liam moan softly.

Splaying his fingers on Liam's cheeks, tangling heated fingers in the silky hair that had grown back in the months since Liam's surgery, he kissed him, gently to begin with then with mounting passion as Liam's lips parted willingly, inviting the questing tongue into his mouth.

After all the time he had been denied the pleasure of making love to his beautiful, sick boyfriend, Will had never wanted to be inside him so badly.  But he forced himself to reign in his raging passion, fearful that if he allowed himself to be swept along on a tidal wave of pure lust he might a) hurt Liam or b) turn him right off.  So he went as slowly as his burning desire would allow.

Fingers wrapped around Liam's hardness as Will deepened the kiss, exploring every centimetre of Liam's willing mouth.  He drew his hand up to the head, stroking the slit with his thumb, spreading the drops of salty pre-cum, grinning into the kiss as Liam shivered and moaned in pure pleasure.  Left his mouth to kiss delicately down the Liam- flavoured throat, across his collar bone to his shoulder; down further until he reached a nipple made erect by inflamed desire, taking it in his mouth and swirling his tongue around, dragging another whimper of lust from the panting mouth of his lover.

Liam arched up into Will's hand, seeking more friction, and Will played with Liam's other nipple as his hand left his cock and stroked the smooth skin of his hip, tracing soft circles as he moved inexorably towards his goal.  He grinned around the hard little nub he was suckling as Liam thrashed excitedly beneath him when he felt a finger push gently into his hole.

"Will."  Liam gasped.

"Is this what you want, baby?"

"Yessssssss."

Mindful that he might hurt Liam, Will's hand left the needy hole and he reached out to open the drawer of the night stand, his impatient fingers searching blindly for the tub of lube kept there.  His questing hand finally found it just as he was moaning in frustration and he deftly removed the lid and coated his fingers with a generous amount of the slick, sweet-smelling lube, letting the tub fall to the floor with careless abandon.  He had a needy, sexy body to attend to and couldn't be bothered with neatness.

The finger pushed into Liam again.  His eyes closed with relief as he lay back, floppy and relaxed, onto the pillows, lifting his legs sluttily as he raised them even higher so that the blessed digit had better access to his greedy hole.

Will let out a sigh of pure pleasure at the sight of his lover, legs splayed, eyes closed in intense need and added a further finger, invading the willing ass as it sucked the digits greedily inside.

A hiss and a long drawn out moan was dragged from Liam as Will added a third, working him slowly open, hooking a finger to nudge at the prostate as Liam's eyes flew wide, his open mouth forming a silent cry of pleasure/pain.

"Do you want me in you, baby?"  Will breathed, his voice hoarse with lust and desire.  "Tell me."

"Yessss.Will.I want your cock in me.fill me up, Will.  Fuck me. please."

Will's fingers left the needy hole, and he coated his cock swiftly with the remnants of the slick that now coated Liam's anus.  He lifted Liam's unresisting legs over his shoulders and moved forward to impale his gorgeous lover on his raging cock.

He pushed into the opening, felt the resistance of the tight ring of muscles and pushed a little harder.  Liam gasped at the exquisite invasion, his head falling back, his dark lust-filled eyes closing in ecstasy as his hand gripped his own cock, pumping erratically.

"That's it, baby.  Play with yourself for Daddy.  Daddy loves you, baby."  Will's eyes closed in relief; he was finally inside his gorgeous Liam, pushing gently into him as far as he could, pulling back before thrusting again.

Liam was far gone in the pleasure of being filled by Will, the hand around his cock pulling wildly at his leaking shaft as Will steadily built a punishing rhythm, hitting Liam's prostate over and over, making him moan, making him squirm.

Will bent to capture the kiss-swollen lips, his tongue entering and leaving the willing mouth with each thrust of his hips, mimicking his cock pushing in and pulling out of Liam's gorgeously tight ass.

Liam felt his hand pushed away from his cock and replaced by Will's, making him thrust up sharply with his hips as Will's shaft pushed even deeper into him.

"Nnnnnnnnnnuuuhhhhh!"  Liam uttered unintelligibly, driven to the heights as Will fucked him for the first time in so long.  He felt his balls tighten and lift; his toes curled downwards and his mouth opened soundlessly as  warm spunk splattered his stomach and Will's hand as he came, his head thrown back, his eyes screwed shut, the blessed release washing over him and whiting out everything around him.

As Will felt Liam's cum erupt over his hand it served to push him over the edge and with one final thrust into the lax body beneath, his spine seemed to stretch impossibly as his body arched and he filled his lover, shooting his seed deep into the passion-heated body.

As he slowly came down from the best orgasm he could ever remember, Will looked lovingly down at the zoned-out face of his angel.  Liam's eyes were half-closed as he looked drowsily up at his salvation and he turned his face into the hand that cupped his cheek, nuzzling into it as if he were a cat.

"Daddy loves you, baby."

"I love you too, Daddy."

~Epilogue~

Six months later  

Still in his boxers, Will crossed his arms over his chest as a sudden chill hardened his nipples.

Maybe it wasn't the chill.  Maybe it was the painting that hung on the wall facing the bed.

Highly erotic, the painting was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.  Correction; the most beautiful inanimate thing he had ever seen.  The artist himself was the most beautiful thing Will had ever seen.  And he was Will's; heart, mind, body and soul, and Will felt he should fall to his knees at least once a day and thank the Lord that Liam was in his life, in his bed, and in his heart.  It wasn't that Will owned Liam; rather that Liam gave himself, all of himself, to Will; willingly and unconditionally.

Given Liam's past, Will could hardly believe how lucky he was to be privileged enough to have access to that body, that mind, that soul. To have the trust and the submission of such a lover was something beyond his wildest dreams.

"You do like it, don't you, Will?"

He'd been so engrossed in the painting that he hadn't heard Liam come out of the bathroom.

Will smiled, his eyes focused on the gorgeous work of art that Liam had painted with so much love.  It was the fourth portrait of an angel, probably the last, since it depicted a free and happy angel.

The backdrop of the painting was their bedroom.  The winged creature on the bed was finally seen in all his heavenly glory, and the face and body were Liam's.  He was on all fours, his pure white wings spread out behind him, so beautifully painted that Will swore he could almost hear the gentle thrum as the wings vibrated delicately in the throes of passion.

The peroxide blond man on him was obviously Will, and it was pretty obvious from the expressions on their faces what was happening, although the pristine white wings hid their immodesty cleverly.

His thoughts went back to the day that Liam had revealed his latest work.

Once Liam had finished the painting, he had taken Will by the hand and led him up over the attic stairs to his studio where he had shyly unveiled it for his lover.  Will had been speechless; completely captivated by the astonishing portrait.  He had known Liam had a special talent, but this final angel portrait was mind-blowing.

 Liam had told Will it was a gift to him and suggested Will give the painting a title; he had happily obliged.

`Angel in Flight' was the title Will had given to the gift that Liam had so lovingly created for him and insisted they hang it in their bedroom.  After all the bad things that had happened to his lover, it seemed appropriate somehow that the angel should spread his wings and ascend blissfully to the heights of ecstasy in the very place where the real Angel did likewise.

"Will?"

Will came back to the present, a wistful smile still on his lips.  He was not so surprised to hear Liam's question.  His beautiful Angel always needed so much reassurance, which Will was happy to give him whenever necessary.  He turned, saw the anxiety in those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes and felt a rush of love course through his veins.

And Liam was naked.

Will's heart almost stopped at the sight.  Tall, athletic and lithely muscled, seemingly every inch the Alpha Male, yet incredibly submissive to Will, which never ceased to amaze him.

Taking his lover's hands, he brought them up to his mouth and kissed both palms.  "Next to you, baby, it is the single most important thing in my life."

Liam smiled shyly, as he always did when Will paid him a compliment. It was that beguiling innocence that Will found irresistible, for despite Liam's unhappy past he had never become bitter or cynical and had somehow retained the innocence of childhood.

Except he was a wanton slut when he and Will made love; pouting like a hundred dollar whore when he wanted Will to do something to him. This turned Will on so much he couldn't possibly resist his boy. Which meant that although Will was the dom, he was generally putty in his sub's hands, and whatever his Angel wanted he got.

"Did you enjoy the day, baby?"  Will pulled a naked Liam into his arms.  He was still warm from the shower and Will could smell the minty freshness of toothpaste on his breath.

Even thought he was a couple of inches taller than Will, Liam snuggled up against his lover as if he were the taller of the two. And he no longer did that for support since Liam no longer needed his crutches.  Much of the time he didn't even need a cane unless he was walking any distance.  His recovery was almost complete.

Liam kissed Will's lips chastely.  "It was a beautiful day.  Faith looked so lovely; I think I might paint a portrait of her and Gunn from one of the photographs.  Maybe give it to them for their first wedding anniversary.  And it was so good to see Joyce again."

"Yes, it was.  She's been so good to us, almost like a mum.  And the painting is a wonderful idea, Pet." Will ran his hands up and down his lover's naked back softly, revelling in the touch of his smooth skin. "Yes, it has been a wonderful day and it was so good to see everyone. Wesley said how well you were looking and I caught Fred making big puppy eyes at you on several occasions when you weren't looking.  I think she has a secret crush on you."

Liam grinned.  "Just like Oz still has on you."

Will raised his eyebrows.  He remembered the time, in the early days of their budding relationship, when Liam had felt insecure about his relationship with Oz, who had once been his lover. "Oz?  No way."

"Way.  But don't worry; I'm not going to get all insecure this time. I like Oz very much and I know you and he had a very close relationship before I came on the scene.  It's okay, Will.  I can deal with that.  You're mine now."

Will chuckled.  "I'm yours?  Baby, I'm not the one with his cock locked up."  Will held up the key that he wore on a chain around his neck.  "I own you; this key proves it."  He reached down and lovingly fondled the imprisoned cock as his other hand cupped one of Liam's ass cheeks.

Liam had remembered part of the story that Will had written while he, Liam, lay in a coma.  Even though he had been deeply unconscious, he had somehow remembered parts of it as Will had read it to him.  Once Liam was on the road to recovery Will had finished the story, which Liam had read and thoroughly enjoyed, printed it on quality paper and bound it together with the sketches of their lovemaking that Liam had made during his rehabilitation.  It was their private book; their story.

One part of it, along with the very first sketch Liam had drawn after his illness, had a particular resonance for him and he had not forgotten what was special about both the words and the sketch.  Liam was keen to fulfil that particular fantasy.

Will had been almost speechless with delight on the night that he had seduced Liam only to find, once he had removed his underwear, his lover's cock encased in a transparent chastity device.  Liam had looked up at him almost apologetically, afraid that Will might be angry, since he well remembered how angry Will had been when he had found that Rupert had cruelly done this to him while they had still been a couple.

But this was different; Liam had locked himself in the device willingly, wanting Will to know that he loved and trusted him so much that he was willing to give control of all aspects of his life to him.  He had hesitantly held up the key, which he had put on a gold chain so that Will could keep it close to his heart, and chewed his lip a little nervously as he awaited a response.

Will had responded by kissing him deeply, putting the chain around his neck and shagging Liam with his cock still locked up.

It had been a memorable night.  Will had been incredibly turned on by Liam's voluntary chastity, and Liam had enjoyed several dry orgasms.

Thereafter, Will had kept his lover locked up, wearing the key around his neck so that each time he felt it there he thought of the beautiful Angel who belonged to him and him alone.

With thoughts of that night in his mind, Liam gave Will a look of such wanton lust that the blond felt his own cock pushing against the confines of his boxers.

"You own me, Daddy."  Liam purred his eyes dark and alluring.

"I do, baby, and you're mine to do with as I please, aren't you?"

"Yes, Daddy."

Will leaned in to give Liam a gentle kiss on his prettily pouting lips.  He drew back, placing his hands on the broad shoulders and pushing down.  "I want to fuck your mouth, baby."

Liam obediently dropped to his knees, pulling his lover's underwear down over his hips and freeing the hardness they had struggled to confine.  He wrapped his fingers around the base of the shaft, licking the already weeping slit teasingly, and smiled secretly to himself when he heard the moan of need above him.

Will's hands tangled in the silky hair and as the gorgeous mouth opened to swallow him, he thrust his cock into the inviting warm wetness.

Liam sucked and licked like a whore, like he had been born to give blow jobs, and Will's head lolled back at the sensations his boy was giving him with that talented mouth.  With every moan of pleasure he dragged from Will, Liam smiled around the throbbing shaft in his mouth.

"Oh, baby!"  Will couldn't take this much longer.  He didn't want to come in Liam's mouth, not tonight.  He wanted to bury his cock to the hilt in his boy's willing ass.

Liam felt Will's hands encircle his upper arms, urging him up.  He obeyed, leaving the drooling cock with a pout that Will kissed away, tasting himself in the mouth that allowed him entry so willingly.

It was Liam's turn to moan as a finger pushed into his anus and a hand gripped his head fiercely, holding him in a dominant embrace as Will fucked his mouth.  He loved the control that Will exerted over him.  He felt loved and cherished and safe.

Will's tongue left his mouth, a hand grasping his instead, leading him to the bed, pushing him down and crawling over the body to latch on to his mouth again, sucking at his bottom lip urgently, fingers teasing the hard nubs of his erect nipples, dragging

Will reared over his lover, looking down at his face with heat in his eyes.  Liam blinked slowly, his eyes burning with his own need.

"You're a slut, baby.  You love it when Daddy fucks you, don't you?"

"Yes, Daddy.  I love it when you fuck me."

Will helped Liam scramble up the bed so that his head rested on the pillows.  He loomed over the hot, needy body, pinning the wrists down, exerting his dominance.

"Time for one of your favourite games, Pet."  Will leaned across to the night stand and fumbled in the drawer.  He withdrew several items, and Liam's eyes lit up.

Will leaned down and captured Liam's lips in another hot, passionate kiss as he tied a length of black silk around each of his wrists.

Breaking the kiss reluctantly, he tied the free ends to the bedposts, leaving Liam helplessly at Will's mercy.  A hand snaked down to the imprisoned cock as Liam licked his lips in expectation.

"If you're a good boy for Daddy, I might free you tonight.  Would you like that, baby?  Does your poor needy cock want to come out to play?"

Liam looked up at him prettily.  "If that pleases you, Daddy."

"It would please Daddy very much."  Will picked up another item from the bed.  It was another length of black silk.  "Don't want to hide those pretty eyes, baby, but I know you love this game and I'm sure you'll enjoy what I have in mind."

Liam gave him another slutty smile.  He loved the games he and Will played, especially when Will tied him up and blindfolded him.   Loss of sight only enhanced the pleasure of Will's touches.

Will kissed him briefly once more before he placed the silk over Liam's eyes, tying it not too tightly behind his head.

For what seemed like a very long time, Liam lay helplessly on the bed, his breathing quickening in delightful anticipation of what was to come.

Will looked at his beautiful, helpless boyfriend, his cock quiet in its confinement, and wrapped a hand around his own shaft at the incredibly erotic sight.  He couldn't resist dragging his hand up his length, but stopped himself because he didn't want to end this game too soon.

Leaning over his lover, he bent his head to one nipple, coaxing it into delicious hardness with his tongue before taking it into his mouth and nipping at it gently.  The helpless body beneath him bucked upwards at the contact, a breathy sigh escaping the sweet lips.

Will left the nipple, turning his attention to the other and dragging another shuddering moan from Liam.

"You like that, baby?"

"Yes, Daddy."  Liam's voice was a little hoarse with excitement.  He was enjoying this game immensely.

When Will left his nipple and moved his lips up to his collarbone Liam shifted a little in expectation.  Laying a kiss on the prominent bone, Will's mouth moved further up to lick the sensitive skin over the jugular, nipping at the soft flesh with his teeth, pulling gently at the skin.  Will knew that Liam was ultra sensitive there, and was delighted when a little mewl of need escaped Liam's lips.

Sitting back on his haunches, Will surveyed the body again.  He knew that his lover adored this teasing since he was never quite sure when or where the next erotic assault might come.

He felt Will spread his legs wide and Liam's breath came in rapid huffs in delicious anticipation of something breaching his anus.

Drawing out that anticipation, Will took his time preparing Liam's next surprise.

Mewling softly again, Liam squirmed when something cold was pushed into his hole. He didn't know what it was, but Will grinned at his reaction.  He had brought an ice bucket upstairs while Liam had been taking a shower, stuck the tub of lube in it and hidden it down bedside the bed.  With Liam unable to see what was happening Will had dipped his fingers into the tub of cold lube and pushed one into Liam.

"Is that good, baby?"

As the finger worked further into him, Liam arched his back.  "Y.y. yesssss!"  The cold lube was such an amazing contrast to the heat of his channel and he loved the sensation.

Dipping his fingers again, Will pushed two fingers in this time, slowly and sensuously working the cold lube into his boyfriend's quivering hole.  He added a third, stroking the quivering body to soothe it as he pushed further in with Liam's body heat gently warming the cold lube and dragging a long drawn out moan of pure carnal need from his throat.  He stroked a trembling thigh gently.  "Easy, baby."

"Daddy, I.need.uuuuuh!"

Will began to thrust his fingers in and out of the grasping hole as Liam's words were choked off by a cry of pleasure/pain.

"Is that what you need, baby?"

Unable to speak, Liam merely nodded his head, his open mouth forming a pretty moue as his head and neck arched back against the pillows. His whole spine arched as Will hit that sweet spot inside of him, kept hitting it until Liam's whole body shuddered with a dry orgasm.

Will gently stroked him until he stopped shaking with the aftermath of the climax.  He leaned down and whispered into his ear.  "Would you like me to unlock you, baby?  Would you like Daddy inside you?"

Liam's body quivered.  He panted, his pretty mouth widening in a smile of delight.  "Yes please, Daddy."

Will fondled the caged cock, reaching around and slipping one finger into his lover's slick anus again.

"Like that?"

Liam shook his head.

The finger left his anus as the hand left his cock and for several minutes Liam was disorientated, his head going from side to side as if he were trying to catch any sound that Will might make.  He felt the pillow on each side of his head move slightly, as if Will was leaning on his elbows, looking down at his face.

A voice whispered huskily in his ear.  "Like this, baby?"

He felt a tongue lick at his lips and he opened his mouth eagerly, moaning a little as a tongue was thrust into it; probing; dominating.

He whimpered in disappointment when the tongue left his mouth. Minutes ticked by again, and Liam waited in an agony of expectation for Will's next move.

He felt his wrists released then the blindfold came off.  He looked up at Will through squinted eyes as he tried to become accustomed to the light again.

"Fuck, you're so sexy, baby!"   Will lifted the chain from around his neck and pushed the little gold key into the padlock that kept the sections of Liam's chastity device secured.  He slid the padlock off and removed the device, freeing his lover's flaccid cock.  He grinned down at Liam.  "Masturbate for Daddy."

Liam did as Will instructed, wrapping his fingers around his sleeping member and stroking himself to hardness.  He made a slutty show of it, knowing that Will loved to watch him masturbate, and with his other hand he pinched a nipple, closing his eyes and moaning beguilingly.

Will's eyes almost bugged out of his head as he watched his boyfriend play with himself.  He took his own cock in his hand and matched Liam's rhythmic strokes until he couldn't bear it any longer.  He needed to be inside that sensuous, erotic body.

Flipping a grinning Liam over onto his front so that he was facing the painting on the opposite wall, Will lifted his hips so that he was on all fours and pushed his legs apart.   He positioned his cock at Liam's entrance and pushed gently into the lube-slicked hole.

Liam jerked a little as Will stroked the smooth skin of his back to calm him while he got used to the invasion.  Pushing a little harder Will breached the tight ring of muscles and felt Liam's anus clench deliciously around him.

"So tight, baby.  So fucking tight."  Will closed his eyes in ecstasy, the sound of Liam moaning his own pleasure heightening his arousal.

Will grinned as the body beneath him squirmed backwards to impale itself further on the hot shaft of flesh that filled him so pleasurably.  Liam sighed deeply, loving the feeling of being completely filled by his lover as Will began thrusting slowly.

"You like that, baby?  Do you like Daddy filling your ass like this?"

"Yes, Daddy."  Liam purred.  "Fuck me, Daddy.  Please?"

Will pulled back before thrusting into Liam again, stroking his back as he felt Liam tremble with the sheer pleasure of the sensation. "Yes, baby."

Their coupling was prolonged and sensuous.  At one point Will leaned over Liam's sex-heated back and grasped his boy's cock, tugging at it so deliciously that Liam wasn't sure if he should thrust into the hand or push back onto the shaft that filled his needy ass.  In the end, it didn't matter; they both climaxed almost simultaneously, and in the moment of release, before the world faded out of focus, Liam's gaze was drawn to the painting on the bedroom wall.

To the Angel, whose glorious wings were spread in pure ecstasy, and for a few seconds Liam felt as if he was truly flying.

In the afterglow, as they lay entwined in each other's arms, Will kissed Liam's mouth chastely, one hand stroking his back the other running gentle fingers through his hair.

"Is the Angel flying, baby."

Liam raised his sleepy chocolate eyes to his salvation with a smile of blissful contentment.   "I'm flying now, Daddy."  

THE END

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