A/N: this is in honor of AIDS awareness day - Dec.1...AIDS is not just a social disease..its a disease that is haunting every person in this world. We still have not found a way to cure it but now there is hope in a way to prolong life for  those who contract this nightmare. Im asking anyone who cares to raise a light, a glass, your heart to those who are living under this and give support. Pray for a cure to be found so that we can finally abolish this monster once and for all...saving our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, our sisters, our aunts, our uncles, the ones that hold our hearts...and also our sons and daughters. Thank you.

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It was a spring day that was perfect, as if it was out of a magazine or a movie..the sun was shining beautifully...not to hot, not to cold...there was a light breeze blowing through the trees that lined the sidewalks of the suburbs on the outskirts of Erebor City. A group of homes lined up along the streets...all looking the same, cookie cutter homes some would call them. Same roof, same lawns, same driveways...duplicates of each other, except for one home. The grass grew tall and untended as the driveway was cracking from long neglect. coming up this path was a young man with soft gingery brown hair that slightly curled around his ears... his face was soft and smooth with wire frame glasses perched upon a slightly large nose..all of which framed grey-green eyes that held worry within. Slowly the young man made his way towards the front door that showed the same neglect, as the outside, by its cracked and peeling paint. He raised his hand to knock but paused as he took a deep breath..then he rapped upon the deteriorating door..waiting for it to be answered. It wasnt long before the door was pulled open by a young woman wearing nurses scrubs with a company logo upon the front that read 'Erebor Everafter Hospice~...smiling at seeing who had come calling.

"Ori. So nice to see you again." the young woman opened the door  wider in invitation as he entered. "Michael is awake right now. He so looks forward to your visits every time...they bring him such joy." she moved through the home with him at her side. Ori followed along in her path...his eyes taking in the woman before him. Her name was Arwen Rivers, the daughter to District Attorney Elrond Rivers...which she bore a strong resemblance to...both had thick black hair and soft gentle blue eyes. Like her father she also was a caring person who gave herself without thought to her self...always going beyond the outlines of their duties. Arwen was as sweet and gentle as a person could be this day of age...which was exactly what a person like Michael needed desperately at this time.

Ten years ago Michael Shultz had met a man who he had fallen in love with from the moment they met..it seemed it was one sided on more than one level. Karl, his boyfriend, had HIV and failed to inform his lover about it, for he didnt care that he passed it onto Michael. At first Michael did not have any idea he had contracted it until one day he became very sick, so he went to the doctor and that was when he found out about having HIV. Michael went home in shock to tell Karl so they could get him tested and start taking precautions...thats when his life went down hill. Karl screamed at him for a bit and then walked out...but before he left he turned around and sneered how he knew he had it and he should of been more careful if he wanted to avoid getting sick. Michael watched in shock as his lover walked out the door after dropping that bomb. Eventually Michaels sickness progressed, till finally he collapsed and could not go on...all alone in this world except for a few friends who stuck it out with him over the years.

It was a few years ago that him and Ori met, becoming instant friends...even when he told Ori that he had AIDS , Ori stayed, not abandoning him like so many others. Ori was his saving grace..he kept his spirits up ,when he felt low, with jokes...little gifts, like the scarf he crocheted for him to keep Michael warm..making teas to ward off chills that easily set in and other such acts of kindness that showed how much he cared...more like how someone cared for a lover than a friend. When Michaels health began to fail, it was Ori who found Arwen Rivers-with his brothers help of course since he was a EMT (emergency medical technician)- to come and help take care of Michael as his health kept sinking. Now here he was, at the end..in bed, alone, and only with two friends who stayed by his side..Ori and Arwen.

Slowly Ori and Arwen made their way down the hall towards the bedroom where laid Michael who was resting. Ori paused at the sight of his friend, he looked bad...all hooked up to a CPAP unit that was helping him to breath and an Iv in his arm that was delivering his fluids and pain medications. His body was thin and wasted down to skin and bones..his brown hair that used to be thick and full was now thinned out to nothing. Michael used to have a nice healthy glow to his skin, now it was pale and lacking luster...overall he looked like he was knocking at deaths door. Ori made his way over to his friend, returning a smile back to Michaels who looked happy to see the younger man there. He wearily reached out his hand towards Ori, who without hesitation took the offered touch and they clasped hands tp bring comfort to the other.

"Hello Ori. how are you?" Michaels voice was raspy and harsh sounding.

"Fine Mic...Im fine. Nori sends his hello to you..hes working really hard , doing night shifts which he hates ." Mic tried to laugh but he began to cough...his breathing was raspy as he tried to gather his breath again. Ori became concerned as he watched his friend struggling to breath..wanting so bad to fix this...after a few moments the coughing fit eased up...seeing the worry in those sage green eyes.

"Im okay." Michael grabbed Oris hand to pull him closer so he could talk easier. "Ori..I...I need you to do something for me please?" he saw Ori furrow his brows as he nodded his head. "I need you to leave me, my friend, and not come back anymore." Ori was shocked and hurt by this...he did not understand why Michael would ask this of him.

"What? But why Mic? Have I done something wrong?" he was flabbergasted and his pain showed on his face as he stood next to the bed, holding tightly to his friends hand.

"N..No. Youve done nothing wrong. You have been the best friend anyone could ever have, ever. I...Its me. I dont want you to see me like this..watching this as I near the end of my life." there was a sadness in Michaels brown eyes that were very pale and dull looking as he pleaded for this one thing from his close friend. "Please Ori? Please...I need you to do this for me. Please my friend. i know this is a lot Im asking of you." Ori hung his head as tears filled his eyes in his grief...slowly he agreed...his heart cracking at his friends request, Michael sighed in relief. "Thank you Ori." he lightly squeezed the young mans...knowing he was hurting his friend with this but believing it was for the best for his young steadfast friend. Taking a deep breath Michael began to sing a few lines of his favorite song from his heart.

  I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'

Suddenly he ran out of breath, so tired he was shaking from exhaustion.  Arwen and Ori  were both very concerned as they saw him shivering upon the bed..each breath he took looked labored in coming. When Michael fluttered his hand Arwen understood his meaning and she quickly touched Oris shoulder to direct him gently out the door..seeing tears in his eyes, she gave him a look of compassion in what he was feeling as he left. Taking a steadying breath she went back in to Michaels side , where he was peering at her returning form..waiting for her to come closer so they could talk , still shaking.

"Are you sure Michael, this is what you want? Ori is a dear friend and would be by your side to the end if you let him...he wants to be." she sat down in the chair the chair next to him...trying to fully understand even though it wasnt forthcoming.

"I know Arwen, but this is for the best...for him. Now help me finish the letter please. Theres not much time left." she nodded and got out the pad of paper once more to write his words down for him.

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It had been 2 weeks since that day, Ori had last seen Michael and it was getting close to the evening time when his class would be over and time to go home. He was walking the halls of Erebor University, adjusting his bag for the long walk home..suddenly he saw Arwen standing near the entrance of the building...obviously waiting for him to approach. As he came closer he saw the tears in her blood shot eyes and her cheeks were red...he knew the reason why she was here.

"Ar..." he had to clear his throat to speak again. "Arwen is Michael..." he could not finish as his throat tightened in holding back his sorrow...seeing her nod her head. Ori held out his arms...opening them up to her, she didnt hesitate as she stepped into them...feeling him enfold her within his embrace to share in their sorrow for the loss of a great friend. They stood there crying into the others shoulders...mourning together, till eventually there was no more tears to be shed. He gently wiped her tears from her cheeks with his sleeve and giving her a understanding smile.

"How long ago?"

"This morning he passed. I was dozing a bit, when I heard him whisper my name. I looked over and he smiled at me for a moment...then he died. It was peaceful and he went as he wanted to...at home and no drama." Ori compressed his lips wishing he still could have been there. He noticed Arwen reaching into her pocket to pull out a letter and handed it to him.

"He wanted you to have this. He had me help him write it before he passed." Ori slowly opened the letter to read Michaels last message to him.

My dearest friend Ori,

I am sorry I asked you not to be here because I didnt want you to remember me that way...broken and dying. I wanted you to remember me how I was when we first met...smiles and laughter. My friend, I hope you can forgive me. I need to ask you one more thing to do...Live. I need you to live each day as if its your last and remembering me as you do so. Dont think of me with tears, but with joy once again. I need and want you to be true to yourself and forget the worlds prejudices that they hold towards someone of your beauty. You are beautiful..your heart...your mind...your very soul that radiates with love for others. You can not let others destroy that within me...be you, dresses and all...dont be afraid. Im hoping someday you will finally dance for me, like you promised. I may be gone from here, but I will be watching from above...waiting to see you in all your graceful beauty. If possible, can you do it to one of my favorite numbers..."Shut up and dance with me- by Walk the moon" I would love to see that..its a total celebration of life and music to me...next to my other favorite song by Lee Anne Womack- I hope you dance. I do hope you dance Ori...Never stop my friend. Dance to the beating heart of this world. Thank you for being there when I needed a friend the most...you have kept me strong through it all. Thank you Ori.

Ill Forever Love You Friend of my Heart,

Michael Shultz

Ori stood there staring at the letter, as it blurred to his eyes...when drops fell onto the paper, he realized he was crying once more. He quickly wiped at the moisture there upon his cheeks and when he looked up, he saw Arwen was gone. He did not remember the walk home that evening..did not pay attention to his surroundings as his feet kept trudging home. Looking up he noticed the sigh to his apartment complex..."The Blue Mountain Apartments" coming into sight and he sighed forlornly into the evening air.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance

I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (Where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder?)

A/N: this story feeds into my other story of Erebor Law- In the Line of Duty...that features Bofur and Nori.