"Say it! Say it properly."
☆

Six months later..

"Ahh Jude, do you really have to go? Just stay a little longer." Milo and Jude are presently snuggled together under the blankets of Milo's bed. It was already the middle of the day, on this Sunday afternoon and this was Jude's forth attempt at prizing himself away from Milo's warm embrace.

"I have to, I need to get stuff prepared for classes tomorrow." Jude says through a comforting stretch, slowly and reluctantly edging out of the warm bed. He pulls back the sheets, managing to wriggle out of Milo's grasp and finally gets to standing.

Milo admits defeat and rolls onto his back, watching Jude's bare behind move like a hypnotic lava lamp as he ambles over to his underpants, the sight now being covered up, much to Milo's displeasure.

"Why can't you stay?" Milo again whines as Jude continues to retrieve his clothing from various places in the room. 

"Because I can't!" Jude says, chuckling at Milo's neediness. "I have to sort things out, I said!" 

Milo suddenly sits up in the bed. It's as if he has had a eureka moment. A sudden idea, a revelation! The reaction is so unlike Milo's usual chilled demeanour, that Jude even stops doing up the buttons on his jeans to see what had gotten into him. "That's it!" Milo suddenly says, looking very excited. 

"What's is?" Jude asks.

"You, here, stay here!" Milo says, his words so desperate to get out that they sound like code, almost robotic.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Jude says, his voice sounding small as he stops with his jeans altogether. 

Milo beams a big smile and nods. "Yes."

"Say it!...say it properly!" Jude demands, his voice now more confident, excitable even. 

Milo clears his throat and composes himself. He looks Jude in the eyes and smiles. "Jude Parker...move in with me."

"Yes! Yes! Jude says excitedly, now running back to the bed jumping on top of Milo, causing him to fall back onto the mattress. Jude cages Milo, covering his face and body with kisses. 

Milo is now in fits of happy laughter. "Stop, you're killing me!" He jests. 

Jude finally stops, now looking down upon Milo, who now rests his hands on Jude's bare waist. "I love you Milo Macdonald." Jude says with a smile. 

Milo gives Jude's waist a gentle squeeze. "I love you too Jude Parker." He says, with a huge smile. Jude leans forward, catching Milo's lips. The feel so addictive that Jude was again in danger of being pulled back into bed. He reluctantly pulls away. 

"I still need to go though." He says, pushing himself up off Milo, 

"Fine!" Milo huffs as he lets him get up and leave the bedroom to head for the bathroom. 

Milo breathes out a contented sigh as he lays on his back. This is what it feels like to be truly happy.

***

Jude pulls the bathroom door closed as he begins to freshen up. He pulls out his toothbrush from its holder, which had essentially moved in months before, he applies some toothpaste and begins to clean his teeth. He leans over the basin, eyes closed, his mind in blissful thought about his future, his future together with Milo Macdonald.

"Hey psst." 

Jude pops his eyes open as he straightens himself up, looking in the overhanging mirror's reflection. There! As clear as day he saw a familiar face. A face he recognised, only from pictures, but he knew all too well who it was. 

Jude drops his toothbrush into the basin and hurridly turns around, clinging onto the bathroom fitting behind him. His mouth drops open wide as there, stood in front of him was a man. A man wearing a rainbow sweater, blue jeans and yellow converse hi tops. "Hester!...How...?" Jude stammers. 

"You think I'm in your head?" He says with amusement. 

Jude just freezes on the spot. "You're not real!" He manages to say, blinking multiple times to see if the vision, if that's what it was would go away, but doesn't.

"Who are you to say I'm not real?" Hester challenges. "Just because I don't have a body, doesn't mean I'm not real!" 

"What do you want? You don't scare me!" Jude says, trying his best to hide his wavering voice. 

"Relax Jude. I don't mean any harm. I'm just here for a little chat. That's all!" Hester smiles, edging a little closer. 

"Ok...I'm listening Jude says, swallowing hard. His brain still trying to get around the fact he was talking to a dead guy.

"I just want to say congratulations. Well done Jude. You have made Milo happy. You have succeeded where I had failed!" Hester smiles widely. Jude's tense shoulders now relax a little. "I just need you to do something for me ok?" 

Jude nods hurridy. "W...what is it?"

"Love Milo with all you heart!" Hester simply says.

"Yes...yes. Of course I will!" Jude replies. The request not hard at all.

"Good!" Hester smiles, before getting closer to Jude "You stick to that and you won't see me again. But..." Hester gets right up close to Jude's ear and whispers cold air. "If you break his heart, I'll haunt you until the day you die!" 

At this, Jude bolts from the bathroom, leaving Hester alone. He looks at his ghostly reflection in the mirror. "Just looking out for my best friend!" He says smiling! 

The End

A/N I love love loved, writing this story. Hope you enjoyed reading it just as much !

JoJo
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