Vincent lifted his arm and winced as he tried to grab his shirt drying on a branch. Alex was glaring at him as he prepared the weird smelling mush that he insisted on slathering onto his shoulder. The one time Vincent had protested the application of the weird goo, Alex had a temper tantrum and lectured him for a good half a day.

He had given up at that point and allowed the boy to put the horrid stuff on him as long as he liked. It had, he supposed, cured his shoulder of the nasty rot that had set in it. Now he just had a rather slow healing, torn up shoulder instead of a gaping hole oozing all manner of foulness. His fever was gone and his beloved had somehow managed to find strange foods from their current location.

It had been a few days since he had even been up and walking with Alex's horse to balance. He had gone swimming in the pool as well, trying to gently stretch his sore muscles and regain his strength. He knew better than to join Alex in the mornings by the water though, lest the little bird that had taken a liking to his beloved screeched at him again.

It did not seem to like him very much, and he might have had a staring contest with it once or twice when Alex was not looking. Every time he tried to approach the boy though, the bird would yell at him with its chittering and hop about like Vincent was a wolf approaching its nest.

He wanted to explain to the little bird that he didn't have the energy for such things. Yet. The day was fast approaching though. He was finding it harder to stay calm with the sweet, warm body of his beloved pressed against him every night. His little prince downstairs was making itself known in the mornings when he awoke to those soft curls tickling his face.

When he had opened his eyes and beheld the concerned face surrounded by curls the first day his heart had almost stuttered in his chest. He loved the way the shiny hair bounced about his smiling face and he was beginning to turn his head when Alex stepped from the bathing pool. His blood would heat when he saw that slim figure or felt it press against his.

He could feel the flush invading his cheeks when he even thought of his beloved like this. It did not seem to matter at all whether he was a he or a she. It was Alex. Dear, sweet, loving Alex. The person he grew up with was in there, he knew this with every fibre of his being because of the gentleness he saw in the boy's eyes.

He was still the person Vincent had fallen in love with over all those years. Nothing had changed but the wrapping. What Alex was now; well 'he' was just as enchanting as 'she' had ever been. Vincent still felt drawn in by his mannerisms, conversations and laughter. It solidified his resolve that no matter the result of this quest, he would not leave his beloved. He didn't think his heart could bear it.

"Are you going to stand there and daydream, or sit so I can tend your shoulder." Alex was standing in front of him with a fresh wrap for him and he blinked down to bring himself back.

"Sorry love. As you say." He grinned at the blush that made the boy's cheeks rosy and sat himself down on a rock so Alex could work. He flinched slightly when he felt the small fingers poking at the still-tender flesh of the healing wound and saw Alex do the same with a frown.

"It is looking much better." He mumbled as he wrapped it up with the goo. Vincent felt the cooling and prickling sensation that accompanied the poultice and rolled his shoulder to get comfortable with the bandage. He saw a peek of the smooth skin under the edge of Alex's shirt as he leaned in front of him. Vincent felt his face threatening to flush and looked away quickly as he got up.

He took a few deep breaths to still the ache in his flesh from the innocent sight. Just then, he heard the quiet sniff behind him. Was that...? He turned around slowly so Alex wouldn't be startled and saw a faint trail of tears on his cheeks. He was flabbergasted. What had caused that? He slipped in close and tilted Alex's head up to look at him.

"What is the matter, love?" He asked gently. Alex sniffed and wiped his nose cutely.

"You... you don't like me anymore do you." It was said as more of a statement than a question. He was stunned for a moment and panicked when he saw more tears filling up his beloved's eyes.

"What? No. That is not true at all. What makes you think that?" He cupped the boy's face with his hands and perused the miserable boy's features in concern.

"You won't hardly look at me anymore. You get up and move away from me when I get too close. You don't like me anymore." He whined and the tears flowed down his cheeks. Vincent gently wiped them away and smiled with a pained look down at his little love.

"Oh sweetheart. That's not the reason I don't look at you. Nor the reason I move away." He pressed his forehead against the smooth one of his fiancé and took a deep breath. It was taking a lot of patience to keep from attacking his lovely boy. Especially with those tears and begging eyes looking up at him so desperately.

"Then why? Why else would you want to be away from me? You hate me now. You don't like me at all." He cried.

"Oh hush. It is precisely because I like you that I am keeping away from you. Do you know how hard it is...?" He stopped abruptly from saying something and looked at Alex's confused face.

"I don't understand. Why would you stay away from me if you like me? What's hard?" He murmured with his tear-stained cheeks and watery eyes. Vincent cursed to himself under his breath and stifled a laugh.

"Gods save me from your innocence, my sweet." He took a deep breath and pressed his forehead to Alex's as he stroked those soft curls. He felt the smaller boy press into his arms and wrap his hands around to grasp his waist. He didn't want to scare him, but at the same time he thought it was a good idea that the lad feels a little more confident in their relationship.

He bit his lip and wrapped his arms around Alex, pressing him in close. He shuddered when the slim body was pressed completely against his; felt himself stirring as he feared he might. As they shifted to get closer, he felt the moment Alex realised what was going on. He held still, taking in a deep breath of the musky scent which clung to the soft hair under his nose.

"Oh. Oh, I see." He felt a little chuckle as the boy tightened his arms about his waist.

"Not yet you don't. I promise one day you will. I truly, deeply, love you Alex. I only want you. I have no intention of leaving you whatever the outcome of this trip may be. Do you understand?" Vincent pulled away to look at the wide eyes of his little love. Alex nodded shyly. "Say it, that you understand love."

"I understand, Vincent." His soft voice sounded lost in wonder. Vincent smiled down at his prince and leaned forward again to press their foreheads together. He took a breath and stared down at the beautiful face before him. He lifted one hand to caress Alex's cheek.

"May I kiss you, my prince?" He asked quietly, not wanting to break the magical moment they were having. Alex's hands retreated from around his waist and he started to frown. Did he not want to? It was only when they slid up his torso and wrapped about his neck that Vincent relaxed.

"Of course, my love." Alex whispered against his lips as he lifted to his tip-toes. Their mouths brushed gently, tentatively against one another. Vincent carded his hand into the riotous curls and tilted his face before claiming those petal soft lips in an exploring kiss. He tasted sweet like the reed water they had with lunch.

Alex sighed at the firm contact and he was tempted to take their kiss deeper. He dipped his tongue into the warm cavern and smiled as his love moaned. He tasted just as sweet on the inside, as Vincent licked and tangled their tongues together passionately. His very blood felt as though it was filled with sparks and his head swam dizzily.

He pulled away from the intoxicating feeling only when they were both gasping for breath. Holding the trembling body against his as they both steadied, he pressed another kiss to the dear boy's forehead. Only when they both stopped shaking, did he pull back enough to look Alex in the eye.

"I am not leaving you. Not for any reason. Do you hear me?" He vowed as they stared at one another by the small pond.

"I hear you. Whatever happens then?" He looked up at Vincent determinedly. He smiled at the boy and nodded his head.

"Whatever happens." He promised. Alex hugged him fiercely and the little bird hopped on the branch nearby, for once strangely silent.