On the drive back to the house, Sean glanced into the back seat to see his birthday present and the DnD books. He figured that all of Nate's instruments and the blanket had been put in the trunk. Resting his head against the shoulder of the seat, he told Nate regretfully. "I'm sorry that I left you to pick all the stuff up yourself." Nate kept his eyes focused on the road, giving him a small shrug as he said casually. "It's ok. I don't blame you for wanting to get out of there. Mark helped me take the stuff to the car, after I learned that you had taken off out of the parking lot. I didn't want you getting kidnapped... or lost." Sean let a small smile spread over his lips, than it drained away as he asked a bit spooked. "He didn't see the condom, did he?" Nate snorted, shaking his head. Sean relaxed, mumbling out lightly. "That's good. That last thing I need is for him to give me another lecture about the L.A. fines." 

Nate chuckled to himself, adding out just as softly. "I don't mean to pry... but you've asked him to... do that to you before?" Sean straightened back up in his seat with a heavy sigh, before answering in an undertone. "Ya... We rarely got time together because of the distance between us... So, we were always doing quickies in the back rooms of Pax or Cons. With the occasional hotel room service... but Mark wasn't one for risking public affection. He claimed that he didn't want to risk getting a criminal record over something like that... but I think he just didn't want his fans to see him... with me." Sean's last words fell from his mouth like lead and he slumped down in the seat. Mark had been in a lot of abusive relationships growing up and just the thought of his fans backlashing against him over his sexuality was enough to convince him to leave. 

Sean played with the strands of his ripped up knee jeans, mumbling out in a dead voice. "I proposed to him the night he walked out on me..." Nate's hand slid down the side of the steering wheel as the car slowed at a light. Sean watched Nate look at him with sympathetic eyes, asking very tenderly. "The proposal you did on stage...?" Turning his head away to look out his window, he told him weakly. "No. Not that one. Years after. I was visiting Pax. I was going to have my first solo panel. Mark and I were in the hotel. We had spent the whole night together... By morning, it just slipped out. I thought he'd react differently. Ask me to move in... Instead, I woke up the day of the panel and he was gone. Mark started keeping a distance from me. Shutting me out. Next thing I knew, Amy was in his life and I was just a distant memory." 

Sean stopped playing with the ripped strands to cover his mouth with his hand as he uttered out in a slightly quivering voice. "When Mark flew out with her for Cringemas... Everything just fell apart. Mark and I couldn't stop fighting and Felix just seemed to step in." Sean's throat constricted, causing him to close his eyes to fight off the tears. The car started moving again as Nate told him very softly. "I remember. Everyone seemed to sense that something had happened between you two. It even effected me. Morgan and I ended up separating the next year. I think it caused her distress to see that I was upset over loosing you... again." Sean sniffled lowering his hand to ask him a bit lighter. "Again? How long have you liked me?" Nate chuckled nervously, mumbling out a bit shyly. "Well... I mean. I've watched your videos on and off over the years. But as far as falling for you... Somewhere between my break up with Mat and meeting Cristina. I've lost track of the dates. With all my tours and schedules... It just blurs together after a while."

Sean shifted in his seat to face Nate, sniffling and trying to shift the subject off him by asking curiously. "Speaking of Mat. What happened to you? I never saw you two really have a falling out." Nate let out a heavy sigh, making Sean think that he shouldn't have asked. He was going to tell Nate that he didn't have to answer, but Nate replied rather softly. "We didn't really have a major falling out... More like... We realized a shift in our relationship and ended it." Sean was curious about that. However, he stayed quiet for a bit to see if he'd continue on his own. He didn't want to open a wound that Nate hadn't recovered from. Nate cleared his throat though, continuing on a bit lighter. "Mat and I were good together... but he wanted a family... and I wasn't ready for one. With my career, I just don't have the time. I think it was all my touring that made him feel lonely... Or maybe he just wanted to be a dad that badly. Either way... It had become visible that we were drifting apart. So, we just bowed out."

Sean laid a comforting hand on Nate's leg. He couldn't believe how similar their relationship troubles were. They both always seemed to be reaching for something they weren't allowed to have. Nate dropped his hand from the wheel to hold Sean's hand. Sean listened to the heavy rain pelt the car, while telling Nate in a loving voice. "Why did you never say something to me?" Nate squeezed his hand, his eyes focused intently on the road as he answered calmly. "I know I don't look it, but I'm a big introvert. It's hard for me to put myself out there. I've only ever opened up to people through my music. Every time I thought I had a chance... Someone would beat me to it. So, I focused on my music. Which absorbs a lot of my time and is probably why everyone I date gets lonely... It's demanding, but it's the only why I can express myself."

Sean thought about the link to the song Nate had sent him and smirked. It made sense now. Nate had told him his feelings from the very start and in the only way he felt confidant doing so. It was rather romantic and clever. Sean looked up from their intertwined hands to really look at Nate. Nate was softly singing along with the radio. He couldn't believe that he had missed a guy like Nate. Nate was the perfect blend of everything he wanted in reasonable doses. He wasn't too wild. He had an open heart. He was so passionate and was more understanding than he felt he deserved. Nate glanced at him, then did a double take, asking a little worried. "You ok?" Sean nodded, telling him in the sweetest voice he had. "Ya. I was just thinking about you." Nate's eyes widened playfully as he stated out uneasily. "Uh oh... What did I do? Did I tell you too much about myself?" Sean laughed, squeezing Nate's hand comfortingly as he told him warmly. "No. I just... I don't think I've ever really seen you, until now."

Nate glanced at him with a neutral expression, then gave him a small smile. Sean leaned his head against the seat to give him a smile of his own. Nate turned to look back at the road, but his hand left Sean's to reach over and ruffle his wet bangs. Sean pushed his hand off with a groan, trying to fix his hair before it dried like that. Nate pulled into his driveway, reaching up to hit the button on his car's visor to open his garage. The garage slowly opened and Nate crept the car inside. Nate parked the car and Sean climbed out to look outside at the pouring rain. He loved watching the rain. It reminded him of his home back in Ireland and it just had this calming effect on him. Nate opened the trunk, pulling out the blanket. He folded it up, then set it on the shelving in the garage, before turning to look at him. Sean stopped at the garage door, telling Nate happily. "I always expect L.A. to be so sunny... but every time I visit it seems to rain. Do you think it is trying to tell me something?"

Nate walked up to his side, saying in a pleasant voice. "I don't know. Maybe it is. The sun here tends to incinerate everything to dust. While the rain washes away the dust and promises us new life." Sean shook his head with a smile. Nate wasn't even trying to hide the meaning behind that. Nate was hoping for a new life with him. Sean was about to stay something sassy in response, when Nate rushed over to a radio on the garage shelf that had his iPod hooked to it. Sean shrugged as the radio began to blare a cover that Nate had done with one of his bands. Nate then ran back to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him out into the heavy rain! Sean yelped, shouting out in a giddy chuckle. "NO! Nate! Don't you dare!" Nate dragged him into the heavy and Sean squirmed in his arms, letting out more giddy cries. Nate spun him around by his waist to keep him from getting his feet, than carefully released him. Sean regained his footing trying to run back into the garage, but Nate ran up behind him to lift him up into his arms this time.

Sean wrapped an arm around Nate's neck, hoping that he didn't drop him. Nate held him tightly though, giving him the brightest smile that made Sean blush. Nate then looked up at the sky, letting the rain run down his face and neck. Sean lost himself in the moment, leaning in to kiss Nate's neck. The rain water rolled off Nate and down his cheek, but he barely felt it. All he felt was Nate's warm skin beneath his lips and Nate's strong arms around him. It was bliss. In the background, Nate's cover to Maroon 5's 'Girl Like You', blared out of the garage. It all felt so perfect. When he pulled his lips away from Nate's neck, his heart skipped. He didn't know how Nate was doing it... but his broken heart felt safe in Nate's care. Nate looked down at him, opening his eyes to reveal the darkest teddy bear brown eyes he had ever seen. They captured his attention and before he knew it, he was meeting Nate half-way to join their lips in a tender kiss.

Sean put his free hand on Nate's cheek to encourage him to stay in the kiss. Nate's grip on his legs loosened, causing Sean to stand back on his feet. Sean never broke their kiss though. He was enjoying it too much to stop. Wrapping both his arms around Nate's neck, he trailed his fingers up the back of Nate's neck into his dark wet hair. Nate's arms wrapped around his waist keeping him against him. After a minute, Nate's hands slid up his sides to cup his jaw and Sean lowered his hands down to Nate's waist. A car honked on the road then as the driver called out to them. "Get a room, Nate!" Nate took his hand away from Sean's jaw to flick them off, still not breaking their kiss. Sean broke the kiss to laugh, letting Nate turn his head to wave at his passing neighbor with a blushing grin. The song in the garage faded and overhead a ripple of thunder drew their attention upward.

At the first flash of lightening, they both yelped and ran into the garage. Inside, Nate pressed the button to close the garage door as they fell into fits of laughter. Sean brushed his dripping wet bangs off his face, shivering as he told Nate through a smile of chattering teeth. "I could go for a hot sh-sh-shower now." Nate brushed his own wet bangs out of his eyes, turning off the radio, before approaching him. Sean quickly snuggled into his arms, enjoying what little body heat Nate had now. Nate hugged him close, shivering himself as he told him in a warm loving voice. "Me too. Then maybe some hot chocolate coffee?" Sean's eyes widened as he stepped back, blurting out excitedly. "Hell, yes!" Nate nudged him playfully, then shouted out as he bolted off for the door. "First one gets hot water!" Sean gawked for a second, then took off after Nate. He sure as hell wasn't taking a cold shower! To Be Continued...