Through It All, We Remain ((Jack Wheelan)) [PG-13: L, S]

When Elijah really thought about it, three years was a long time...especially since the man was only twenty.  But the facts were- he and Jack had been together for three years.  The two were engaged, and the man wore the ring to prove it.  April eleventh was their anniversary, and it was...well, sort of a big one.  It was three years.  It was their first anniversary after getting engaged.  And it was Elijah's twentieth birthday.  The man hated celebrating his birthday, but his fiancé always insisted on doing something.  Usually it included the traditional vegan chocolate cake...which the son of Discordia could never say no to.  But the important part was the anniversary...and the small man was all ready to celebrate.  For what had to be the millionth time, Elijah pulled the ring box from his pocket, looking at the ring inside.  It was perfect.  At least, he was pretty sure it was.  Well, more than pretty sure.  Oh Gods, Elijah needed to relax.

The ring had been a pretty obvious thought for an anniversary gift.  Because Jack needed a ring, too.  As much as Elijah was pidgeonholed as the "girl" in the relationship, they were both men.  That meant the son of Venus should have a ring just as much as the small man.  In all fairness, it had stumped Elijah at first.  He couldn't make something like his fiancé had done for him.  Even with help from Vulcan kids, there was a very good chance the man would manage to burn camp down.  Obviously he couldn't get to a jewelry store in the mortal world.  But a walk through New Rome proved very fruitful.  After some intensive work by an older son of Vulcan, Elijah had the perfect ring.  The two's three year anniversary seemed like a perfect time to give that gift.  And it gave the small man a chance to get down on one knee...just how the older man had done for him.  As usual, it was Elijah and Jack doing things their own way.  That was something Elijah wouldn't change for the world.

Although Jack had spent the night in the Principia, like he normally did, Elijah hadn't seen his fiancé since breakfast.  It was what they had decided on...the two would be together all day, so they needed some time apart.  And River wanted to see her best friend for his birthday...birthday gift in hand, as she always did no matter how much he fought.  But this year, he had quickly forgiven her when he saw what she had found for him- an ancient, handwritten copy of The Aeneid, probably held together by thousands of years of Trivia magic.  The man had started shaking when he saw it...he was a sucker for that sort of thing, and River knew it.  Her story was also quite amusing...how she had found it in a dusty back corner of the library and traded an uninterested librarian for it...beauty cream and two crystals.  The volume was unsuspecting, but the fading date and era of Latin it was written in probably made it one of the oldest copies of the book in existence.  Elijah had given his best friend a giant hug, the kind where he held on for minutes.

Jack was going to come back to the Principia when he was all ready...which did give Elijah some time to look through his precious book.  He didn't know the plans...if they'd be staying in his room or going out or what.  Any way was perfect for the man, so he wasn't too worried.  And as much as he wanted to look at his book, he couldn't quite concentrate.  Right now, all he wanted was for his fiancé to just get there already.  Absentmindedly, the son of Discordia pulled out the ring box again.  He turned it over in his hand, flipping the lid up to stare at the ring.  In some ways, it was hard to believe...the simple engagement ring that Elijah wore, that he loved more than anything, to the very nice one made just for Jack by practiced hands.  Three years ago, the small man wouldn't have believe he and Jack would be engaged.  Hell, three years ago, they didn't know if they'd last a week.  But they did.  And then it was a month.  And the time just flew by, landing them to now.  Three years.  Three years.  The future was bright...and Elijah would thank the Gods forever for giving him Jack...and for them to have a future together.  Gods...Elijah loved Jack so much.

Checking the clock on his bedside table, Elijah let out a soft huff.  He wanted Jack there...now.  Over the years, the man had learned a lot about patience, but he didn't want to be patient right now.  He wanted to be with his fiancé.  Celebrating their three years together.  "Hurry up," Elijah mumbled, glancing at the door to his room.  Waiting like this was brutal.  Putting the ring box back in his pocket, the small man started pacing.  A usual inpatient past time.  It couldn't hurt...Jack would be here soon.

Jack perched on the edge of his bed and stared at the small black cardboard box in his hands. He was beginning to doubt his choice of gifts for his fiancé. It seemed so small and so insignificant for something that was neither small nor insignificant. The two were celebrating three years together. Three years since the illogical couple had decided they were too infatuated with each other not to try. Three years had led to deep love, incredible connections, and ultimately their engagement. Jack was going to marry Elijah. He was going to spend the rest of his life with him. And the best he could come up with was a small, stamped medallion to add to Elijah’s necklace. Jack had given him the necklace for their first anniversary. The suede cord held two charms. One stamped with the Roman numerals of their anniversary date. The other with the words “te amo”. Though Elijah never made it something big or obvious, Jack was well aware of the fact that his fiancé wore the necklace every day. That knowledge had inspired this year’s anniversary gift, but as Jack pulled the top off the box and stared in at it, he wondered if it was enough.

Of course, anything would be enough for Elijah, especially when he realized how much work Jack had put into creating the medallion. The tiny circle of bronze, about the size of a penny, had been carefully heated and hammered out to a relatively even thickness. From there, one by one, the son of Venus had stamped miniature letters into the surface, working hard to ensure he didn’t push them too deeply. He needed to keep them on the surface, so he could stamp the other side of the coin as well. After doing so, he had punched a small hole in the top and threaded it onto a ring to hang it from. Finally, the whole thing had been coated in River’s special solution to keep the metal from irritating the son of Discordia’s skin. Jack carefully lifted the piece out of its box and studied the letters on the front. Tribus annis, amica mea… it read. Turning it over, he read the words on the backside. …et multi magis. Latin. A language Elijah had been working to teach Jack from their first days together. Three years, my love…and many more. It was so simple, but the son of Venus wondered if it would be enough.

With a sigh, he replaced it back in its box and returned the cover. Whether it was enough or not, it was too late now. Elijah was expecting him any minute, and Jack couldn’t disappoint. He had to be content with the gifts he had to give. And he just had to keep reminding himself that Elijah would love it no matter what. Besides, even if he didn’t, there was always the vegan chocolate cake that Jack made for every anniversary. The whole day could blow up in his face, but the son of Venus knew the cake would save everything. Standing, Jack slipped the box into his pocket, fingers brushing the small metal chip residing there. He hesitated a second before pulling it out and studying the surface. Embossed with a large number 3, the coin stood as a testament to many things. On bad days, it was a reminder of all the things he had done wrong, all the mistakes he had made. On good days, it told him of how far he had come, how hard he was working to make things right. Jack ran his thumb over the numeral, remembering that it should be a four now. But this was where personal strength came in even more than before. Paul’s last letter said he wouldn’t get another coin until he reached six months. Until that time, Jack had to rely on his own will and strengths to keep him working toward that coin.

The son of Venus sighed as he dropped the piece back in his pocket. Now was not the time to be thinking about that. Today was a day to celebrate, to be happy, and to appreciate the life he got to spend with Elijah. He just had to remember that, so he didn’t ruin Elijah’s day. Shaking his head, Jack carried himself to the bathroom to freshen up before heading out. If he was wearing his emotions on his face, that just wouldn’t do. Standing before the mirror, he splashed water on his face and ran his hands through his hair a few times. Cheer up, he told himself. You can do better than that. You get to see your boyfriend. No, your fiancé. You get to spend the whole day with him. You get to hold him and kiss him. And if you’re lucky, you might get to… No, Jack couldn’t be thinking like that. That was no way to greet his fiancé. If he walked up to the door with that on his mind… The son of Venus would deserve to get the door slammed in his face.

Shaking his head again, he turned from the mirror and headed for the door. Knowing Elijah, the son of Discordia was already pacing the floor of his Principia room. Jack couldn’t keep him waiting any longer. Before he knew it, the young man was pushing open the doors to the main room of the Principia. As he crossed the quiet, echoing space, he debated between knocking on Elijah’s door and just letting himself in. Jack knew Elijah didn’t mind when he just walked in, but knocking was the gentlemanly thing to do. The son of Venus finally settled on a cross between the two. As he reached the door, he knocked twice before twisting the handle and poking his head around the edge. “Hi baby,” he greeted. “Happy birthday. And happy anniversary.”

Pacing was both a good and a bad thing for Elijah.  It was a habit born of concentrated anxious energy...but it also helped him think.  Right now, it was good to get it all out before Jack got there.  As much as the small man knew they had a lot to ponder, he knew they also had a lot to celebrate.  The pondering bit was pretty heavy for the day, and the son of Discordia was sure that was what was up with his fiancé right now...tucking away the heavy stuff in order to be able to celebrate.  And there was so much to celebrate!  Sure, the whole anniversary and birthday thing was a given.  But there was happiness, and Jack's four and a half months of sobriety.  There was the fact that things were getting back to normal, and Elijah and Jack had pulled through so much.  They had made it, and would keep going.  Three years was such a monumental mark, especially with everything the two had been through over the years.

No one said it would be easy.  So much of what was shown in movies and TV made it look effortless.  Elijah was truly learning that was bullshit.  He and Jack were meant to be, but they still constantly worked for it.  Nothing just...happened.  And even if it would be nice for easy, things were much better like this.  It made the two's relationship stronger...better...real...and completely just how Elijah liked it.  The couple had been a challenge from the beginning, and Elijah loved it.  Sure, sometimes he wanted easy, but he'd take what they had more often than not.  It was all about going back to the start...as odd as that was to think about.  Still pacing, waiting for his fiancé, the small man really took a moment to remember that day three years ago.  Truly, Elijah never would have that thought that day would lead to this day.  Or really, any other day along the way.  It was definitely weird to think about...where they had been.  The early days, when everything was just so uncertain.  But they wanted it bad enough, and they needed it bad enough.  And now they were...well, engaged, to put things simply.  It was never that simple for two young people ready to spend their lives together.

Elijah really wanted Jack to get there...and soon.  It wasn't necessarily like him to get this impatient, but the small man was so ready to celebrate with his fiancé.  Not that they wouldn't have all day or anything, but the son of Discordia didn't want to waste a single second.  So when he heard the knock on the door, the boy perked up, lunging for the door as Jack was opening it.  "Hey love," he beamed as he smashed against the older man's tall frame.  There was no need to explain his over excitement...Jack would know anyway.  "Happy anniversary, Jack," Elijah grinned.  He kept his arms wrapped around his fiancé's waist for a moment, resting his cheek on the other man's chest.  He always loved feeling Jack's heartbeat.  Gods, it was always so tempting to just stay like this forever...of course, until the next sensation camp up.  "Three years..." Elijah looked up with a wide smile.  "Can you even believe it?"

Tugging on Jack's collar, Elijah pulled his fiancé down for a kiss.  After all this time, the small man still loved the fact his lover had a good foot on him.  Everything about Jack drove the small man insane.  He never thought he'd have something like he had with his fiancé...which was partially why he never took any moment for granted...especially after the alcohol poisoning.  He could still picture the son of Venus laying still and pale in the hospital bed...the feelings that choked him...the fear.  Now was not the time to be musing over this...but it did make Elijah so grateful.  He could have lost the love of his life.  And he made sure to thank the Gods and Goddesses every day.  Jack knew...because Elijah would never keep that stuff inside.  His fiancé needed to be reminded, as far as Elijah was concerned.  Because all of it really had taught the son of Discordia not to take these things for granted.  Gripping Jack's face, Elijah kissed him lightly again.  "I love you," he said softly.  "I can't wait for today."

The ring box felt heavy in Elijah's pocket.  Not in a bad way, of course, just the fact that it was an item filled with nervous anticipation.  The man couldn't wait to pull it out, but he knew he had to wait.  First things first, the two had to figure out what they were doing that day.  "What were you thinking for today?" Elijah asked, taking Jack's hand and interlacing their fingers.  "We can stay in...or go out...or both...or...?" the small man felt like he was shining.  All the basic building blocks would make for a phenomenal day...that much was obvious.  "But it doesn't really matter...as long as it's just you and me," the boy knew truer words were never spoken.  With the two of them together and celebrating, there was no way it could go wrong.

Jack had barely opened the door, barely even made it through the frame, before he found Elijah’s body pressed against his.  The younger man had wasted no time whatsoever in throwing himself into his fiancé’s arms.  Jack couldn’t help but chuckle.  The son of Discordia’s enthusiasm was contagious, and it felt so good to hold the man’s body against his own.  Though Elijah was significantly shorter and smaller than he, the younger man fit.  He was so perfect and so comfortable in Jack’s arms.  The son of Venus often thought he had been made specifically to hold Elijah.  With all they had been through, all they had experienced together, it was simply one more thing that the man accepted as one of their truths.  His grin widened as he felt Elijah’s cheek against his chest.  It was so comforting to have the younger man burrow in, to have him show Jack that he still loved him despite all they had been through.  Every time the son of Venus thought he had gone too far, that he had finally destroyed their relationship, Elijah showed him otherwise.  The son of Discordia never failed to express just how much he loved the other man, and he had gotten better and better at seeing when Jack needed it the most.  It was one of the many reasons Jack’s love continued to grow for his fiancé, even after three years together.

With a grin, Jack leaned down to kiss Elijah as soon as he felt the younger man’s hands at his collar.  By now, he knew what that action meant, and he was more than happy to oblige.  “If it wasn’t with you, I wouldn’t believe it,” Jack chuckled, leaning his forehead against Elijah’s.  “I never thought I’d be in a relationship at all, let alone one that lasted three years.  And I certainly wasn’t ever going to get married.  Marriage was for stuffy, boring people.  Monogamous people who gave up having fun or were too afraid to play the field.  I was going to have my fun with whoever I damn well wanted.”  Jack paused and lovingly kissed Elijah again.  “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Miraculously, you changed my mind, Mr. Emmanual.  You’re the only one I want, and I couldn’t be happier.  I am truly lucky to have you.”  Smiling into Elijah’s kiss, Jack held the small man fast and deepened their kiss.  “I love you, too,” he murmured.  “Thank you, baby.”

As Elijah pulled back, the son of Venus took a moment to silently thank the gods, especially his mother, for leading him to Elijah.  Things had certainly been rough lately, but the son of Discordia never failed to lift the older man’s mood.  He was always there for Jack, he had been extra encouraging lately, and with the young man so excited to celebrate their day together, there was no way Jack could continue to dwell on the negative. All those thoughts instantly blew away the moment Elijah’s cheery voice reached his ears.  It almost made Jack cry—happy tears, of course—to realize just how much Elijah affected him.  It was a true testament to the kind of person Elijah was deep down, but also to how far Jack had grown since he had come to camp all those years ago.  The son of Venus had learned much more since then, but he had never expected a drunken binge to have such a positive effect on his life.

Squeezing Elijah’s hand, Jack pretended to ponder his fiancé’s words before answering.  Of course, he had thought it all out.  He knew exactly what he wanted to do that day—and night—but he didn’t want to answer too quickly.  “Well…” he started slowly.  “I was thinking we could do both.  It’s still early in the day.  We can stay here for a bit.  Talk…cuddle…nothing too risqué,” he promised.  “And then maybe go for a walk before dinner.  We can stop by the kitchens on our way.  Pick up dinner and dessert.  Take it to the spot on the beach…”  The son of Venus knew he didn’t have to specify which spot.  Both he and Elijah knew exactly what that meant.  “We can share dinner and a sunset, and then when we get cold…when you get cold,” he teased gently.  “We can come back here for the night.  How does that sound to you?”

There was nothing Elijah loved more than the feeling of his and Jack's bodies together.  It never seemed to matter how they were...standing, Elijah perched on his fiancé's lap, cuddling in bed...their bodies always seemed to fit perfectly.  The two had learned this long ago.  They were like puzzle pieces, something that had helped cement their love long ago.  Being in the older man's arms made everything better...and for the moment, the small man didn't want to move from that position.  He could feel Jack's heartbeat echoing through his body, his chest rising and falling with his breaths.  Yet another feeling that Elijah loved so much.  The son of Venus's arms around him...his uniquely Jack smell...it was amazing.  Gods...as the man leaned down to kiss him, the small man couldn't decide exactly what he wanted the most.  "It's hard to believe either way," Elijah chuckled, running his fingers lightly down the older man's cheek as he rested their foreheads together.  "And I never thought I'd meet someone who could stand me enough to want to marry me.  Funny how that works, huh?" whether it was actually funny or not, it certainly wasn't anything Elijah expected from his life.

Jack kissed him again, and Elijah almost melted.  "And I will always be grateful that you changed your ways for me..." the man smiled.  "We're going to get married!  You're mine forever," sometimes it was still hard to believe...even the words shocked the man from time to time.  He and his fiancé had known pretty quickly that they were something special.  It hadn't even taken too long to realize they were meant to be forever.  The way the son of Discordia saw it, anyway.  Most couples wouldn't reach that point as quickly as he had with his fiancé.  Everything they had been through...and come out on top of...and every time the small man thought things couldn't keep getting better, they did.  "Jack...thank you," Elijah knew he didn't necessarily have to say more than that at the moment.

It was something Elijah truly appreciated about his relationship with Jack.  For as perfect as they were, they had had plenty of rough times.  Rough times that had strengthened their relationship, of course, but rough times nonetheless.  The man remembered the first time they had admitted their love to each other, and the burn scar right below his collarbone from Jack's pendant burning him.  The month or so they had spent apart shortly before their first anniversary, the terrifying moment where they didn't know if they could make it work.  The older man's move to New York City...and the alcohol poisoning that ended up bringing him home.  No one ever said it would be easy.  Throughout everything, Elijah had learned just how wrong the movies and TV shows got it.  Fictional worlds where the trials and tribulations were rarely as severe and intense as they got in real life...but the man was still going to get his happy ending.  He and Jack were going to be together forever, and nothing could stop them now.  They were a force to be reckoned with, and the small man wouldn't want it any other way.  At this point, he knew that the two of them could do anything and come out on top.  And he thanked the Gods for it every day.

When Jack started going over his thoughts for the day, Elijah squeezed his hand gently.  As always, the son of Venus knew the right way to have a perfect celebration.  Time in private, time out of the room.  The small man could feel the ring box in his pocket...he wasn't sure when would be the best time to "propose" to his fiancé.  The thought was sort of funny, and he couldn't help but smile slightly at how silly it sounded in his head.  But his already fiancé deserved a proper proposal as well.  Maybe he could do so on the Sound...it seemed like a pretty perfect place, especially at "their" spot.  "I love when you get all romantic," the son of Discordia teased.  "It sounds like a perfect day.  I can't think of a better way to do it," Jack really did get too good at this.  It was definitely a perk of dating a Venus kid.  Well, there were lots of perks, but the romance was great.  Not that the sex and other stuff wasn't, but sometimes Elijah really did just want some classic romance.  He had never thought he'd be like that...his fiancé had changed him plenty as well.

Hands held tight, Elijah pulled Jack over to his bed.  He was sort of grateful he hadn't put his shoes on yet...his combat boots were still a pain to take off and put on.  If he and Jack were just going to be cuddling for a bit, it was nice to not have to worry about shoes just yet.  Smiling slyly, the man pushed his fiancé onto his bed, crawling in after him.  "I guess you made dinner and dessert then?" he chuckled, curling up at the other man's side.  The son of Venus was amazing in the kitchen, and his food was always a treat.  Elijah could already imagine their night...sitting at their spot on the Sound, eating, cuddling.  "Remind me to bring my hoodie anyway," he laughed.  "To keep warm on our way back," the man could definitely get cold easily, even in this weather.  "Jack..." the many looked up at his fiancé, smiling slightly.  "I keep thinking it can't get any better...and then it does.  I love you so much."

Jack presented his proposal for the day, and immediately knew his fiancé’s thoughts on the matter. Elijah’s face, his expressions, showed everything he was thinking. The son of Venus wasn’t sure if it had always been like that or if he had just gotten very good at reading his fiancé. Either way, he loved the fact that he could determine the younger man’s moods simply from a glance. The words that followed made Jack laugh aloud. The son of Discordia may have been teasing, but Jack knew there was also truth in the statement. As perfect as their relationship was—in all ways—the son of Venus knew it made his fiancé weak in the knees when he actually took the time to think with his brain rather than his body. And he did make an effort to do that fairly regularly. Whether Elijah admitted it or not, the older man knew he was a hopeless romantic. He was fantastic in bed. Jack would never deny that. But romance was the true way to get to Elijah’s heart. Even if it was nothing fancy or spectacular, simple romantic gestures were what sustained the boy. In a way, it was a meshing of the two different languages the couple had learned to use to communicate. Elijah, the verbal communicator… Jack, the purely physical communicator… Jack learning to adjust his communication to fit what Elijah understood best…

Jack was dragged from his thoughts as Elijah pulled him over to his bed. Before he had time to protest, the younger man was pushing him down on the mattress. The son of Venus simply laughed and quickly kicked off his shoes before the son of Discordia crawled up beside him. He barely got comfortable before he once again found his arms full of tiny, black-haired chaos. He grinned and pulled the younger man tight against his chest. “Of course I made dinner and dessert. Who do you think I am?” he teased. As was tradition, Jack had cooked up a picnic dinner for the two to share. At his request, the nymphs were keeping it warm until he came to collect it. And dinner would be finished off with the vegan chocolate cake that Elijah loved so much. Jack remembered the first time he had attempted vegan baking. The first day they had gotten together. The cake had simply been meant as a peace offering, but the son of Venus had been so hell bent on getting it right. Two whole cakes had gone straight in the trash can because they had been so truly awful. The third recipe was the only one that tasted like a real cake. And it was the first truly romantic gesture that had brought the two together…

At Elijah’s next words, Jack twisted slightly to quirk an eyebrow at his fiancé. “Your hoodie?” he teased. Though he knew Elijah owned multiple oversized hoodies, the son of Venus knew he was most likely to bring along one particular extra-large, worn, dark blue one. “Let’s not forget where that hoodie came from,” he continued, playfully poking the younger man on the shoulder. “You’re lucky you still have it to keep warm. One of these days, I might just sneak in here when you’re gone and steal it back. What would you do then, hm?” The son of Venus leaned in and lovingly kissed his fiancé. As much as he teased the younger man about it, it made him giddy to know that Elijah had and regularly wore his hoodie. It looked utterly ridiculous on the man’s tiny frame, but it was just one more perfect aspect of their relationship. Jack returned Elijah’s smile and leaned in to kiss him again. “I love you, too, baby. No matter what…for you, I will always work to make it better.”