Jason and Shaun Chapter 30

Author's Notes:

I want to thank my Readers. You guys are the best. Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or dead persons. I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this story. If you disagree with the idea of guys being in love, then find something else to read. Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at

_Hnstskr4@aol.com_

Jason and Shaun

Chapter 30 – It Happens ( Saying Goodbye )

***

Tonight is the last night that Jason and Shaun will spend in Indiana, and they want to take a walk down memory lane.

"Any favorite memories from our time in Indiana?"

Jason asks his husband. Shaun remembers that he put something in the car to look through as they drove out to Utah.

"Jason, I will be right back. I need to grab something out of the vehicle."

Shaun says as he gets up from the couch.

"Okay, I'll guess that I'll wait for your answer."

Jason says as he watches his husband walk out the door. He is a little ticked with Shaun for not answering his question before he stepped away, but it fades pretty quickly. Shaun gets out to the vehicle and opens the passenger side car door. Shaun pulls a thick memory book from a bag in the front seat. He carries the book into the house and sets it down before going back outside to close the vehicle door. When he's back inside the house, he picks up the book and sits next to Jason.

"When you asked me about my favorite memory in Indiana, it reminded me that I put this together for us."

Shaun opens the book up yet, but he does show the cover off, which features a picture of themselves in front of the house when they first moved into it.

"Cool, Shaun, so have you thought an answer to my question from earlier?"

Shaun smiled and didn't waste one second in answering his husband.

"Yeah, I do, my favorite memory is when I married you."

Shaun says as he leans in to kiss Jason on the lips. Jason gives Shaun a kiss of his own.

"What's your favorite memory from Indiana?"

Jason knows what he's going to tell Shaun.

"My favorite memory isn't from our wedding, though that is one of my favorites. My number one favorite memories were the first time that we met. I loved your body to begin with, but I fell head over heels as I got to know you."

Jason says this as he stares into his husband's eyes. Thinking back to that day, Shaun remembers that he too was thinking the same thing about Jason.

***

Shaun opens up the photo album, and he and Jason begin flipping through the book. The first few pages featured baby pictures of both Jason and Shaun. The cuteness is too much. The guys smile at each other's photos. One of the images in this section were taken that first day outside of the apartment when Jason and Shaun first met. The first picture shows Shaun approaching Jason, April, and Tom. Jason got his hands on the images from April, who took the photo on her phone. There are also photos of the group moving stuff into the apartment. There is one picture, though, that stands out from all the other photos on this page. It's a picture of Shaun taken by April when Shaun was carrying something heavy, and his muscles are showing in it.

"Look at the sexy beast of a man."

Jason says as he points to Shaun in the photo. The old Shaun would have turned beet red at the words that came out of his husband's mouth, but new and improved Shaun just let it go.

"I'm pretty sure that it's me. I wonder how many pictures April took of me?"

She didn't take all that many pictures of him, but she did take at least three. She shared two of the images with Shaun and kept the other one for herself. It wasn't a bad photo, but it just caught her eye a little bit more than the others. They continue to flip through the pictures. Shaun goes to turn the page to the next page, but his husband stops him. Jason wants to see baby Shaun again.

"Sorry, Shaun, but I had to see your cute baby picture again."

Jason points to baby Shaun, as he smiles.

"I can't get over how cute you were as a baby."

Shaun gives Jason a teasing frown. He figured that Jason would want to see better older pictures, where his husband is older, taller, and more muscular.

"Honestly, I thought you would prefer the more college boy look instead of the diaper-clad baby look."

The guys laugh at each other as they look at their younger selves in the pictures. They smile and laugh as they look at more photos.

***

They've already taken a peek at some pictures that April sent, but there might be a few surprises for Jason. Woven into the pages are photos and memories from Jason, Shaun, and others, which Shaun reached. The first photo is of Jason taken by the car before Tom, April, and Jason left his place to head off to Shaun's apartment.

"Look at how young you look, dude?"

Shaun asks as he points to his husband. Jason shrugs his shoulder and looks at the next page. On the next page, there is a piece written by April on her thoughts of that first meeting between the guys.

"Shaun asked me to write about the first time that Jason saw him. So yeah, here it goes, Jason was eager to see his new room-mate. He was hoping that your body matched your voice. I can tell you that he was in awe when you stepped out of the apartment building and saw your muscles and that tight ass when you finally turned around, and Jason could see it. He was so sure that you were straight too. He would take any offer you made to him. I'm not afraid to say that I would have let you lead me to the bedroom, too, if you asked. I didn't realize that I had an admirer too, that was with us that day, and Tom was feeling a little jealous. I also want to add that you looked fantastic in the pictures that I sent you. Wink, wink! Best of luck in Utah! Sorry to see you guys leaving."

Shaun stares at Jason as if something in the piece had him like a lead weight.

"You assumed that I was straight? Did you know that Tom was interested in April back then?"

Shaun didn't see any hint of Tom's interest in April because she was focused on Shaun's body.

"Shaun, you know that I don't like to assume anything about anyone. There were no signs of any interest, as far as I knew they were just friends."

Jason replies to Shaun.

"True, you are a good person, Jason. April sure did make me uncomfortable at first."

Jason smirks at Shaun's words.

"That was April being April, as you've learned."

April has always been kind of a blunt person with no filter whatsoever; it's just her personality. There are pictures of Lucy with Shaun holding her. Shaun is proud of himself for being so brave that day.

"I was a little surprised that you held her; April wouldn't hold her; she isn't big on snakes."

Shaun didn't mind holding her, especially considering that Jason was right there watching her for any sign of a change in her mood. Jason has worked with her and has learned to read her moods quite well. The next page is a particular entry from Shaun's journal written that first night.

"Dear Journal,

My room-mate arrived today. Man, he is hot. I don't even know where to begin explaining him to you. I don't want to expose my feelings to anyone again. All it does is cause me pain. You have no idea how much I want to tell him that I'm gay. I just can't...I can't, maybe someday, when I've learned to trust him, but not now because he'll just turn away from me or move out. Quite frankly, I need a room-mate, so, for now, I'll keep quiet. Well, I am going to bed. Till tomorrow journal!"

For added effect, Shaun read the journal entry. He got a little emotional, but who could blame him for that.

"Babe, I don't blame for not wanting to tell me. You had good reason to be scared. I mean, what Payton did to you was crazy. I'm just glad that you found the strength to come out to me."

Jason leans in and kisses Shaun.

"I would never turn away from you."

Jason adds to his response. Shaun is trying to make sense of what his husband just said.

"But you hardly knew me back then?"

Shaun had no clue that Jason felt that way even then.

"Shaun, I'm gay. Do you think I would have cared if you were gay?"

Jason pretty much accepts people at face value, and yeah, he liked him.

"Jason, I had a lot of baggage from my life before I came to Indiana and then with Payton. I guess I was feeling a little messed up inside. Thanks for standing by me."

Jason kisses Shaun again, and it felt so good to be with him enjoying these memories with him. The next couple of pages hold stuff that Jason and Shaun cried over when it first arrived a few weeks ago from Katrina.

***

Jason is looking at pages that were sent to Shaun by Katrina. He has no clue that within the next couple of pages are words taken from Ms. White's Journal. Each entry is from different times in her life and their lives. The first entry dates back to the day that Shaun first met Ms. White.

"Today, a young man came to my aid. I was trying to carry in my groceries when I was stopped by a young man who looked like he might be in college. He offered his assistance in carrying in my bags into my apartment. When he got them into the apartment, I thanked him and offered him $10.00 for helping me, but he refused the money, which surprised me. I felt the need to pay him back for helping me. He accepted some cookies for payment. While the young many and I enjoyed the cookies along with a glass of milk, we started talking. I learned that the young man's name was Shaun Allen, that his mother and father are divorced and gay. I also learned that he is from Utah, was a member of the LDS church, but no longer attends that church. He's currently single and very handsome."

Shaun blushes a bit at the thought of his adopted grandmother, considering him "very handsome."

"Shaun, why are you blushing? A person would have to be blind not to notice how handsome you are."

Jason pats him on him the back.

"It's just weird knowing that she thought I was handsome."

The guys move on to the next clip. This next clip comes from her journal, and its date comes one of Shaun's worst days in his life. Shaun had been living with his room-mate, Payton, for a couple of months, when Shaun confessed his crush to his room-mate. Here is the clip from Ms. White.

"Today has been a horrible day. It started okay, but around 1:00 pm, the day turned into a nightmare. I was suddenly aware of awful words coming from Shaun's apartment. I felt my apartment to hear better and the hallway echoed with Payton's foul words. Suddenly, Ms. White could hear Shaun's voice could be heard telling Payton to stop, but the words coming from behind the door got worse, so I called the police. They rushed to the scene. I found out that I was not the only neighbor who called the police. Shaun was well respected in the building, and there were many of us gathered together in the hallway. It didn't take the police long to arrest Payton. Before they left, the officers called for an ambulance to check Shaun over to ensure that he didn't need to go to the hospital. They cleaned him up and then bandaged him up, and then left. Shaun was hurt both physically and emotionally by Payton, and I fear he might need therapy after his attack. I couldn't just walk away from him, so I asked him for his phone, and I called his friend Matt; his best friend. I explained to him what happened, and he wasted no time in arriving at the apartment building. I let Matt into the building, and he headed straight for Shaun's apartment. Matt was kind enough to call him off from work and his classes. I just hope my grandson will be okay."

Some parts of that day are best left forgotten. Jason kisses his husband and hugs. The last clip in these pages comes from the day Jason approached Ms. White about Shaun hiding his feelings from Jason.

"I had a surprise visit from Jason today. He wants to talk to me about Shaun. Shaun has listened to a conversation between Jason and one of Jason's friends. Jason was not too happy about his room-mate behaving in such a manner. I worry that Shaun will fall fast for Jason. As of late, Shaun has struggled with his feelings, and that was echoed in Jason's conversation with me. I hope that Shaun finds his voice and speaks with Jason about his feelings and opens up that heart. If he doesn't, he might lose out on someone worth keeping. Luckily, Shaun has Jason because his room-mate is patient, kind, and wise for his age., He was nice enough to bring a crepe, just like Jason, always thinking of others. Shaun and Jason will make such a sweet couple. I know that I hinted at this already, but before Jason left my apartment, he said he wouldn't wait forever on Shaun. I think Jason is more patient than that, but maybe that is just my opinion of him. Flashforward a few hours, and Shaun comes to visit. I talked with about my visit with Jason. I told him that he needed to speak with his room-mate and let his feelings out. Shaun was quiet for a large portion of the talk, but I think he let my words sink into this head. Shaun cares for Jason; I know he does, so I hope after our talk, that he did indeed speak with Jason."

Shaun didn't let too much time pass before he spoke with Jason. The next few pages are designed to remind them about their friends here in Indiana.

***

Friends have helped Jason and Shaun make it through their time here in Indiana. Their friends will be greatly missed. One friend that; they already miss much is Ms. White. Katrina penned a letter for her aunt, and it too came with the journal entries that went earlier. The words are all of Ms. White's. I think; Ms. White's words say all that needs to be said.

"Dear Sons,

If the writing looks a little different in this letter, it's because Katrina is writing this one for me. I think it's time that says goodbye to you. As you know, I have been sick, but over the past week, things have got worse. I don't expect to last any more than a month. I...I'm...I'm sorry, I wish that I could be there to see what the future holds for the two of you. I love you, my sons. Jason, you made Shaun whole, and I can't thank you enough for that. You have been necessary to him from the day that you moved into the apartment. Shaun, my sweet, sweet young man, I feel like you have always been my friend, and for that, I am thankful. The two of you have such huge hearts, and your relationship is beautiful to behold. I will miss both of you so much when I leave this life behind. Never stop loving each other. Never stop growing as a couple. I love you, my sons!

Love Always,

Ms. White"

Payton may have been responsible for causing Shaun's heartache and pain, but he also redeemed himself by apologizing to Shaun. There are pictures of Payton taken while he was a room-mate, at their last meal together, and one that Payton's mother sent to Shaun while he was in the hospital giving his mother a big thumb's up. Some people may think it's odd that he would be included here, but Shaun felt it was important to remember him. April is Jason's friend dating back to high school. Her mind is usually in the gutter. She has proven to be a great friend despite her unique gift for blunt, having no filter, and that dirty mind. She, too, has recorded a note for both Jason and Shaun.

"Dear Jason and Shaun,

I know that I can be a bit much at times, and I am sorry about that, but I want to be real right now. You guys are two of my favorite people. Shaun, despite how I treated you early on, you've accepted me into the fold, and for that, I will always be grateful. Jason, you have been there through some dark days, and I hope you'll be around for whatever may come my way. Just know that I will always be there for the two of you. Thank you for letting me be me. I hope Utah treats you well because if it doesn't, I may have to go rabid on it. Much love now and forever, love April!"

Shaun pulled pictures of April from the wedding. He also asked her to give her best memories of the two of them.

"My best memory of Jason is a little risqué so, I will try to clean it up. Let's just say that Jason was a little excited to see his Tom, his friend, not his brother. We were all in our bathing suits, by the way. Anyway, I noticed, and Jason knew that I saw his friend. He went beet red, and I mean super beet red. What happened next was the best, though, and it's a good example of why the three of us will always be together. Jason thought that Tom didn't notice the excitement in Jason's swimsuit, but he did. Tom came up to when Jason went inside to get us drinks and asked me if that was "little" Jason, and I nodded my head. Now, there isn't one of us who isn't a little outspoken at times, but what happened next surprised even me. Jason came out with three ice-cold lemonades. Tom took them and sat them down on the table. He then pulled Jason to the side, and this is what Tom said, according to him anyway:

"Jason, I know that you were saluting my hotness, but I don't want you to worry about it. We're good because I know you're not about to do something that would make me upset, so no more red faces, okay?"

I watched from a distance, and I could see my two best friends giving each other a killer hug. Anyway, we had our swim, had some fantastic pizza later on, and just enjoyed the night."

She also submitted a memory of Shaun.

"My favorite memory of Shaun took place at their wedding. I watched all the dancing during the reception, but something hit me as I watched you guys during your very first dance as a couple. It hit me that Shaun and Jason are a couple. Seeing the smile on Jason's face struck me hard. I was soo happy. Another favorite memory came when Shaun danced with your young neighbor. It made me extremely proud because I know how important those boys are to the two of you."

Next, it's Tom's turn to share some of his favorite moments.

"Don't worry, Jason, my favorite memory of you, is not the one that April wrote up. I know that I mentioned this at the wedding, but I wanted to talk about it again. Jason, you invited April and me over to you during our time in junior high, and yes, this is not the same day as April's story. We had no idea that Jason would come out that day, but that is exactly what happened. Now, April and I had discussed your sexuality a couple of times before you told us. We had been swimming for an hour and enjoying the water when suddenly Jason left the pool. Somehow, April and I knew what was coming. Jason came back to the pool and told us he was gay. I think that he was surprised by our reaction, but we could have cared less. Jason was our friend before he came out, and he will always be our friend. Love you, Jason!"

Jason teared up a bit as he read that, but it's something that he will always remember. Next, Tom shared his memory of Shaun.

"Shaun, first off, don't take offense to anything that I am about to say. It was late July after our senior year in high school. Jason decided that he wanted to live off-campus, so he started searching like a mad man for an apartment. He found your post about needing a room-mate, and he jumped on it. You agreed to let our friend move in without even meeting him. April and I were like okay, so we helped pack up his life and move him into your apartment. All we heard from our friend was how hot this guy sounded, how he hoped you were gay, and how he hoped that if you were straight, that you weren't a homophobe. April and I were dating yet, but I had the biggest crush on her. When she saw you, she was immediately stuck on you. I mean, stuck on you. I have to admit that I was jealous of you, big guy. Eventually, though, she dropped that crush, and I found out just how good you were for my friend. Without you and Jason, she may never have found out how great of a guy I am. Thank you, Shaun, for loving my friend and for helping April find her love."

Next, Shaun placed Matt's words.

"Jason, I met you via Shaun. Trust me, I heard all about you from our mutual friend. I don't think a day went by after you moved in that I didn't hear about how hot you were or that Shaun wished that you were gay. I just couldn't convince him to speak up. Once I had a chance to meet you, we quickly became friends. With time, I learned that you were more than just the newest guy that my friend had a crush on, and I am glad to say that you are the nicest guys that he ever met. I can honestly say, I'm thankful that you decided to move in with him. Thanks for making him happy every day."
Next to Matt's words about his friend Shaun.

"I'm not going to be long-winded. We met in college, and it didn't take me to figure out that you were gay. We became great friends, and nothing is going to change that; I just glad that you found Jason, decided to marry him, and I'm thankful for your example."

Of course, this group of friends would not be complete without having to have a couple of pages dedicated to their neighbors; Eric, Sarah, Mark, and also Steve; Eric's boyfriend. Eric is the first one to be spotlighted in the book. Here is Eric's memory of Jason.

"My favorite memory of Jason happened during a camping trip with Jason and Shaun, along with Steve. I messed up on that trip and could have ruined my friendship with Jason and Shaun and ruined my relationship with Steve. Jason and I had a long talk, and by the end of our conversation, Jason had forgiven me, which was a gift. I'm sure there are many other memories that I could give about Jason, but I think this memory suits him well."

Eric also gives his favorite memory of Shaun.

"My favorite memory of Shaun comes from Jason's and Shaun's wedding. Steve and I talked before the wedding, and we talked about attempting to get a dance out of Jason and Shaun. I wanted to dance with Jason, but it's cool, I got to dance with Shaun. I have to admit that I was super nervous even to ask either guy to dance; however, I am not one bit upset over my dance partner. Thanks, Shaun, for allowing me to dance with you that night."

Sarah was also asked to write up a piece like everyone else.

"My favorite memory of Jason is when he came to my house looking for help in getting the ring for Shaun. It made my day to be asked to participate in that day. I am truly, truly appreciative to Jason for that blessing. Much love Jason!"

Sarah went on to complete the request from Shaun by writing up her memory of Shaun.

"My favorite memory of Shaun comes from their first day at their new home. He showed up at my house with an armful of pizzas. Now, there might be hundreds of memories that I might have picked from, but those pizzas kept me from having to cook. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking, but a night off isn't such a bad thing, right?"

Mark was also asked to write up his memories, and his choices are pretty cool, or so he thinks. Like all the others, Shaun decided to put his husband's memories first and his last.

"My memory is sort of a reoccurring thing. I try to relax after each day after work, so I started to work out. I didn't have a workout partner, and then Jason and Shaun moved into the house across the street. I offered the option to workout with me to both Shaun and Jason, but it was Jason who agreed to work out with me. He agreed to go running with me. Now that you guys are leaving, who am I going to run with?"

Now, it's Shaun's turn to see what Mark remembers about him.

"Shaun reminds me of my brother. One day, I was working in my yard, and it was hot outside. Sarah had to run out to get stuff for the baby. At the same time, the baby was having a nap. I went outside to work, and Shaun saw me out there doing all kinds of yard work. Shaun disappeared into his house and reappeared with a tall glass of cold water. I cannot tell you how nice that was of him."

Finally, we come to Steve.

"Jason, you know what my favorite memory is of you. It's the night that you went with me to get Eric away from Vince. I was scared that I would get there, and it would be too late, and the cops would have to be called and Eric and Vince would have to go to the hospital. Eric would have to go because Vince might have hurt him, and then I would have had to hurt him. You stayed in the car, ready to act if need be. Thanks for doing that!"

Then, Shaun put Steve's memory into the book.

"Shaun, I'm not trying to be sentimental. I know that I danced with Jason at the wedding. I watched you dance with Eric, and I was so touched. It made me smile so much to see Jason dancing with someone who cares about him so much. Thank you for caring about him!"

With the memories all read, there are tears in both of their eyes.

***

They need to get out of the house for a little bit, so they head out. The first place they go to is the apartment building where they lived for the start of their relationship. It's here where they first met, asked each other out, and where they both had their first arguments. If it were not for this apartment, Jason and Shaun might not have met each other. They drive past the university, which was why Jason moved down here, to begin with, and why Shaun moved out here too. A large part of their relationship was during their time as students in this school. They were busy in college with classes and clubs. They stopped by the cemetery where Ms. White and Payton are buried. They spend more time visiting with Ms. White than with Payton, but both graves get attention. This grave is where they feel the most connected with their best friend. They stop at the Bowman company long enough to say goodbye to Jason's friend and mentor. After their time spent at the Bowman Company, our duo returns home, where they order pizza and have lunch.

***

After lunch, they flip through the book some more and come to the section that Shaun added to the book that contains letters that Jason wrote to him. One was given to Shaun on the day that they became engaged.

"Dear Shaun,

I'm writing this letter on the night that you came out to me. I want you to know that I'll forgive time and time again. You have such a great spirit about you. You've had me from day one. For whatever reason, I didn't see it right away. Knowing you have greatly blessed me. I needed a roommate, and you were there. I needed a friend, and you are here. I want you to always be yourself around me. There is nothing I won't do for you. I cannot imagine what it must be like to hide from your loved ones.

As I heard your story, I listened to the pain in your voice. You held back from me so that your heart wouldn't take any more damage. I wouldn't be where I am today without my family's support, and I can't imagine not having it. If at any time, your family finds out about your sexuality, I know my family will gladly take you in as their own. I hope with all my heart that your family never finds out. I will never purposefully do anything to hurt you out of anger or hate.

Shaun, I am ready to be with you. I want to face the challenges of life together. I've wasted enough of my life being alone. Shaun, I am dying to hear you say, "Will you be my boyfriend?" come out of your mouth. I'm not very good with mixed messages, so don't expect me to pick them up. Shaun, I am never going to cheat on you, and I hope you'll never do me wrong. I'm willing to work through any problems. I am here, no matter what. Remember, I love you no matter what!

Your friend always and forever,

Jason"

Jason remembers writing this letter. It had been a rough day. Shaun had come out to Jason, and it was rough, but it was also a wonderful day all rolled up into one. Maybe, he should have given it to Shaun that night, but it just didn't feel right to him. There is one more letter to be read, and this time there is a bit of a surprise. The next letter to be read was given to Shaun on their first Christmas together. It reads as follows:

"Shaun,

We have only been engaged for two months now, and I am looking forward to the day we are married. I know that you can hardly wait yourself. I am dying to spend our first Christmas alone with you. We've discussed having our first major holiday alone at the house. I hope we spend time with you at our house, where ever that might be. There are so many things that I want to do, but I can't wait to see what happens. I won't get upset if we don't spend the day by ourselves, but I hope we do. I'm not sure what our lives will be like, but it doesn't matter because we will be together. I love you forever, Babe.

Signed,

Your guy, Jason"

Jason read the letter out loud to Shaun. Jason leaned in and kissed his baby on the cheek.

"Thanks, Jason."

Shaun says.

"I...I...haven't read the letters since the first night that you gave them to me."

Shaun's eyes are a little moist as he leans in again to kiss his husband. It's going to be hard to leave a place that has meant so much to them. They reach the end of the section and get ready to switch to another area.

***

The next section is marked "Made Me Smile, Made Me Laugh, Made Me Cry," and it is filled with bits of memories that span many days, weeks, and months in their relationship. Jason quietly reads each word. The first memory that Shaun picked was a day that brought a ton of painful memories back to the surface. Shaun felt it was time to tell Jason about the attack by his ex room-mate, Payton, but even better, it was the day that they officially became boyfriends. Continuing, Shaun added his own words about the day.

"I was a train wreck. I knew that I needed to tell you about Payton, but I was afraid of the pain that would come up with it. I didn't know if you would understand the fear built up in me from that day, and yet, I knew telling you was the right thing to do. It was also the day that I asked you to be my boyfriend. You made me so happy that day. Thank you, Babe!"

Jason looked at his husband with wet eyes. He doesn't want his husband to relive that pain, so he does his best to help him relax. Shaun gets a kiss and a hug. The guys move on to the next emotional memory. With nephew, Adam, by his side, Jason went to the animal shelter and brought home Sasha, the Siamese kitten, for Shaun. This section also features the first photographs of Sasha and Shaun together. There are also photos of Adam holding the little kitten. Sasha got a new home along with Nyx. The next memory that Shaun worked into the book is from the death of their "grandmother,"; Ms. White. Shaun placed his speech from her funeral.

"Most of you don't know me, but I am Shaun Allen. How I met Isabella White is not important, but what is important is the effect that this one woman had on my life. She saved my life; she did this by stopping an attack on my life. After this, we became best friends, and she became my adopted grandma when no one else in my family wanted me. When my best friend and now my husband came into my life, she guided us in that journey. Over time, she became our best friend. She was always ready to dispense wisdom or deliver a tongue lashing when needed. Isabella was there when we barely knew each other. She saw us through our darkest days. She...loved us...any...grandma could love their grandsons. In short, Isabella White was a loving and caring person she was. She was not afraid to get involved in the lives of her adopted grandsons. Grandma, you will always be remembered. We love you."

Shaun felt it was fitting that this piece is included in the memory book. There are pictures of Ms. White at different stages of their friendship. It can be said that she is the reason that the guys got together in the first place. Now, she will live on in their memories and this book. Shaun's next emotional page is the visit with Tom and Adam when Adam first met Shaun. This memory is one of Shaun's top memories. There are pictures of Adam and Tom, including highlights from the visit. Shaun and Adam really hit it off, and the uncle might be a little biased, but he really loves any time with his nephew.

Course, Tom is also his favorite brother in law too. The next page is all about Joshua's first visit. This visit is where Joshua and Shaun had to deal with his mom due to his girlfriend being pregnant. Their mother wasn't exactly happy over the fact that her son is dating a woman who has a child already, and that her son made a woman pregnant. Shaun had to deal with his family throughout the whole visit. Jason was there to help Shaun deal with the mess. After Joshua's visit, he went home only to argue with his mom, and in that argument, Joshua told his parents that Shaun was gay. There was just so much stuff going on in Shaun's mind. He couldn't be angry with his brother under the circumstances.

Shaun just had to include this in the book. Shaun again got a pat on the back from his boyfriend, and Jason got a kiss. The last memory that Shaun had was the death of a fellow student from the college. Mike was a young man in college who committed suicide. Shaun and Jason attended a vigil at the school. His death didn't smack them in the face, but it did occur at the same time that Trent came to visit. They took Trent out to the vigil to give him that experience and see how the community comes together. After this section, Shaun pieced together memories from their wedding.

***

Shaun and Jason were kept apart by both Tom; Jason's friend, and Matt; Shaun's friend, because they wanted to have a wedding that fit tradition. Every once in a while, Tom and Matt would switch places, so they talk to the guys. The best story coming out of this was the realization from Matt just how big little Jason is, and Matt will die with the memory of accidentally seeing the beast. Shaun had heard about this bit of gossip from his best friend after their honeymoon. Shaun's response to Matt was, "Yeah, it really is that big.", which he said as straight-faced as he possibly could. When walking up to the front during the beginning of the ceremony, Adam passed gas, and when he got up by his uncles, he quietly told his dad what happened. Tom being the guy that he is, could barely contain the laugh. Luckily, he did, and all was well. The next part may have already been mentioned, but Shaun is including it in this section. Shaun and Jason both love the vows, but there was something that wasn't widely known by everyone. During the practice, Jason started laughing during the reading of his vows. Luckily, he didn't laugh during the wedding ceremony itself. Jason was glad that he didn't have a laughing fit during the wedding. Another interesting tidbit from the wedding took Shaun a couple of attempts to get the ring on Jason's hand. Once it was on, Shaun took a deep breath. Everyone at the wedding quickly forgot it.

***

After the wedding, Shaun decided to post memories of their dates. The first picture is from their very first date as boyfriends. They had dinner at a favorite pizza place, they went to a local park and walked around, and when the kids were not on the swings, they got on the swings. Shaun even managed to get some pictures of Jason swinging. They even found a nice person to take photos of them standing in front of the duck pond. After that, they went back to the apartment and cuddled on the couch. Another page features another date, they had been invited to go out bar-hopping by guys from schools, but since Shaun doesn't drink, Jason and Shaun declined.

Instead of bar hopping, Jason and Shaun went to an ice cream parlor. It's not an ice cream shop. This place serves its own ice cream, and it's super cute. Shaun had peach ice cream, and it's made with real peaches, and Jason had cactus fruit ice cream made with prickly pear cactus fruit. It wasn't anything super fancy, just simple ice cream cones. They loved their ice cream cones, and then they went home. Another date night, they had a movie night at the apartment. Before the movie, they went to a local popcorn place that does gourmet popcorn. They each got their flavor of popcorn. Shaun got parmesan cheese and garlic popcorn, and Jason got jalapeno-cheddar cheese popcorn. They returned home and watched a movie together. One night at the house, they invited Sarah and Mark over for board game night. They snacked as they played games. Each couple won a game. Overall, they just enjoyed the night, and that is the end of the dating section. They have a ton of other memories that may be added to some other point. Shaun went on to yet another area, and he loved it. It's all abo family.

***

Shaun and Jason have played host to numerous family members over the time of their relationship. Tom is always an exciting visitor. He is full of life. Tom has no filter, which makes Shaun blush almost every time that he comes to visit. Shaun loves him deeply. It could be that Tom always brings Adam, his son, with him. Joshua, Shaun's brother, has been to visit, and so has Trent. Both boys came at different times, and each visit seemed to bring some headaches for Shaun and Jason. With Joshua, there was the announcement that Joshua had left without telling his parents that he was headed for Shaun's apartment. Then there is Trent, who not only announced that he was gay like his older brother, but he also had a crush on Jason. Jason has to admit that he loves his husband's brothers. They had visits from their families during the wedding and the reception. From there, Shaun went into talking about Eric and Steve.

***

Eric and Steve have been a part of their guy's lives since Jason and Shaun moved in next door. It all started with Mark and Eric came over to introduce themselves and offer some help in moving Jason and Shaun into their home. It didn't take long for Eric to realize that he had allies in the form of the two guys who moved in next door. The teens found themselves learning from the guys, but it's the memories of the guys that bless Jason and Shaun's lives. One of the memories of Eric and Steve came from the engagement dinner when the teens served as waiters for Shaun's and Jason's engagement. Another memory, for better or worse, is when Jason and Shaun took the teens out camping. Many things happened on that trip, and the guys came away with a serious lesson learned. It wasn't an easy lesson to learn either, but the message soaked in for sure. Another painful event in their lives is when Eric decided to see this idiot named Vince instead of Steve. Shaun and Jason liked to slap a kid during that phase of Eric's life. How do you hurt someone that you love like that? With some help, they were able to move past Vince. Jason and Shaun got to see first hand the pains of cheating. Shaun closes off this section with pictures of their youngest friends. It hurts to leave them behind, and the boys may need them now more than ever.

***

The next section is filled with memories of Jason and Shaun as a couple from the perspective of Shaun. It starts many years ago when Shaun said goodbye to his room-mate Payton. Jason ends up calling Shaun just a couple of hours after Shaun posted the need for a room-mate.

"Jason, you called me out of the blue to let me know that you were interested in being my room-mate. I have to admit that I didn't have the same thoughts that you had upon hearing my voice, but when I saw you, I was deeply touched. Yeah, I was struck for sure. Yeah, I was scared that you might be straight, and I was afraid to share my heart with you."

Jason is a little surprised to hear those words coming from Shaun. It makes him feel good. There is a picture of Shaun kissing Jason thrown in for the fun of it.

"Jason, I don't honestly know what I would do without you. My life has been so blessed because of you. I have had to overcome so much, but you have helped me rise above it on so many occasions. Thanks for everything, Babe!"

Jason knows how Shaun feels about him. Shaun may write sweet things, but there isn't a day that goes by without Shaun's love being shown through actions and not just in his words.

"I don't want you ever to think that I'm not grateful for what you have given me. I know there will be dark days ahead of us, but I also know there will be many happy days. There is no doubt that you will be there to raise me up. You know my heart, and I know your heart, and together, we will weather any storm. Indiana will always be our home, even if we live elsewhere. Someday I promise, we will be back in Indiana."

Shaun intends to keep that promise too. Jason has learned that when Shaun says, "I promise," that he means we will keep that promise no matter what.

"You are worth it."

Shaun says at the bottom of the page. It says a lot about their relationship.

***

The next section in the book is a mix of stuff that the guys made using the words "If we had more time..." and who knows what they will say. Shaun starts them with a couple of sentences.

"If we had more time, I would rent that cabin the state park that you've always wanted to stay at."

Jason and Shaun saw the cabins while they were out hiking at one of the state parks, and Jason fell in love. It's one of those things that just never happened. Shaun would have loved to have done that for their anniversary. Perhaps, they will find a park in Utah with a cabin that they can rent.

"If we had more time, I would put in that vegetable garden that we always wanted."

Jason spent time creating a place in the yard where they could relax, but there wasn't room in the garden for food raising. Depending on where they end up, maybe they will put in a food garden. Now it's Jason's turn to create something for this page.

"If we had more time, I would take you out to see this spot down south, where we can watch meteor showers and see all the stars in the heavens."

They have watched meteor showers from their backyard; while lying on their backs on a blanket. Jason was surprised that Shaun agreed to do it, but he was right there beside his husband looking up into the heavens. In this spot that Jason knows, you can see triple the number of meteors. The city lights have drowned out some of the meteors and some of the stars.

"If we had more time, I would pay for us to do a boat tour on Lake Michigan."

Jason would love to make a night of it; first, the tour and then dinner. Shaun would love it. Maybe, they could invite Sarah and Mark to go with them. He doesn't know if there is anything like that in Utah or not. You cannot make memories without having someone to help make those memories with you.

***

Everyone has someone that they are thankful for, and this is true for our couple. Again, Jason and Shaun took a little bit to write these out, and then they emailed them out to their friends and family. Shaun starts by writing to his dad and his step-mom.

"Dear Dad and Mom,

Thank you for accepting my husband into the family. Jason was nervous about meeting you guys, and you made it all worth it in the end. Mom and Dad, I love you! I hope you know how much Jason loves you and cares for you. Having you guys take him into your arms feels incredible.

Love you,

Your Sons"

Shaun knew that if he mailed it, it wouldn't get after that they got to Utah. Jason's turn to pick someone to thank.

"Dear Mr. Bowman,

It started with a tour, and then you welcomed me into your office after talking with Shaun, and that talk leads to my first job. I don't know what inspired you to give me that job, but I owe you so much. I don't know what inspired you to provide me with that job, but I owe you so much. I gained much-needed experience working for you, and I genuinely hate walking away and moving on to Utah. Not only did you give me that job, but then you blessed my life again by reaching out to a friend in Utah, and he helped me land a job in what will become my new home state.

Sincerely,

Jason"

How could Jason not thank this man? He became a mentor and a friend. Mr. Bowman saw the potential in his new employee that he hasn't seen in some of the other employees. Shaun's turn again, and this person deserves a HUGE thanks.

"Dear Katrina,

You are Ms. White's niece, but the way she spoke about you, one might think that you were her daughter. I just wanted to say thanks. Your friendship means the world to me. We are truly blessed to have had her in our lives. Likewise, we are incredibly blessed to have you in our lives. Thanks for your friendship."

Katrina has helped the guys learn about their adopted grandmother. She has supported them in the dark days after her aunt's death, and she has become a sister to the guys. It's now Jason's turn to pick someone else to thank.

"Sarah and Mark,

Shaun and I wanted to say thanks for everything. We don't know what our lives in this house would have been like without you to make us smile. Your friendship means so much to us. I don't know when we will be back, but hopefully, we will be back someday. Love you guys!

Sincerely,

Jason and Shaun"

Life is good with Sarah and Mark in the world. Without them, they wouldn't have met Eric and Steve. They also were responsible for helping Jason's and Shaun's proposal, and just about everything else in their lives since moving here. Shaun's turn to thank someone.

"Eric and Steve,

What can we say, you guys deserve the world to bless your lives. You have taught us stuff and blessed our lives. You guys are our little brothers here in Indiana. We will always stand by you guys."

They close this section and move to the next area.

***

This section is written just for Jason and will be removed at some point, so it's away from prying eyes, or maybe it will be left in the book.

"Jason, I don't know why you stood by my side once you found out that I spied on your phone call, but I'm glad that you did."

It would have stunk if Jason walked away at that point. Can you imagine what their tale would have been like if Jason would have walked away from the apartment and got a new place to live?

"Jason, why did you stay when you found out about my lack of sexual experience?"

Jason kind of loved Shaun's lack of experience. It was kind of cute and sexy.

"Jason, when you found out about my mom and how she can be, why didn't you leave?"

Jason didn't leave because he loves Shaun. Jason's birth mother isn't going to ruin their day or their lives. Jason is amazed by it and kisses his baby on the lips. His eyes might be just a little wet also. Jason is loved, no doubt about it, and so is Shaun. Jason and Shaun lay down for just a little bit before they head out for Utah.

***

Shaun and Jason are just about ready to head for Utah. They walk across the street, knowing that this short trip from their house to Eric's house will be their last trip to visit the family. Their belongings are already on their way to Utah, and all that is left is having goodbye. Jason knocks on the door and quietly waits for someone to answer the door. Sarah answers the door with her usual bright smile.

"Hi guys, come on inside."

She is glad to see them because maybe this visit means that they aren't leaving.

"Is everyone home?"

Shaun asks Sarah.

"Yeah, I need to get them, hold on."

She vanishes for a few minutes while she gets her husband and her brother. If only she knew what the purpose behind this visit was about, she would not be so eager to gather her family. Saying goodbye is never easy. Sarah and her family appear in just a few minutes. Shaun and Jason don't want to be doing this right now.

"Well, Sarah, Mark, and Eric, I have bad news. We are loaded up, our belongings are already headed west, and we are ready to head out. So this is officially good-bye."

Shaun says to his adopted sister, brother in law, and his nephew. Hearing those words, and Eric is already in tears. Despite the tears, Eric calls Steve so he can listen to their goodbye. Steve answers the phone, and Eric nods the guys, so they know it's okay to respond. Jason decides to speak up.

"Hey everyone, I'm...I'm sorry, but the time has come for us to say goodbye. We love you, and we will miss you."

Jason says to everyone. Jason and Shaun gives everyone hugs and gives kisses to Sarah on the cheek.

"Wait, Sarah gets a kiss, and I don't?"

Mark says to Jason and Shaun.

"We can remedy that."

Shaun and Jason move close to Mark with a smirk on his face; then, they kiss him. As they turn to leave, Eric comes up to them and quietly asks them a question.

"Please, can I come with you? I can help pay for gas."

The tears continue to fall as Eric realizes that he can't go with them. Shaun takes Eric into his arms and then hugs him, and Jason does the same thing.

"It's going to be okay. Eric, we can chat anytime, as long as we are home. No need for tears! We love you, and we love Steve."

Jason says to Eric and Steve.

"I know you love us."

Steve says as Shaun and Jason release their hold on Eric. Eric walks away from his friends and rejoins Sarah and Mark and begins to tear up again. Sarah takes her brother into her arms as Jason and Shaun walk out the door. When the guys are out the door, Shaun turns to speak with Jason.

"If it were not for our house in Utah, and your new job. I would say let's ditch my job and find a new home here in Indiana."

Jason stops in his tracks.

"I know, Babe, I feel the same way."

Shaun walks up to Jason and takes his hand, and they walk back to their house. Shaun sold his car to Eric and made sure they give him the title. Together, they head into the house to finish loading up the van. They have to secure the animals inside the vehicle. With all the animals secure, they take one last look at the house. Shaun snaps a picture with his camera, and then he gets into the van. Jason gets into the van and starts it up. They pull away from their home and head out on the road. Shaun gives his house one final glance. This is the last time that the guys will be in Indiana.

***

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