Disclaimer: This is a romantic love story about love between young adolescent boys. There will be some explicit sex scenes in the story later (pretty soon, actually!), in subsequent chapters, but they are not the main focus of the story.
So if you are looking for a story with a lot of explicit sex action, you are in the wrong place.
If you like to read a sappy romantic tory with occasional kinky sex scenes, then please sit back and enjoy!

I am probably going to continue in HTML for a while. My knowledge of HTML is quite rudimentary at the moment, but I'll try to learn as I go.

Thanks again to all those who wrote with comments! 

Your feedback is always welcome!

 albert.c87@yahoo.com

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All of life can be broken down into moments of transition or moments of revelation.
This had the feeling of both.

       Babylon 5    Episode Z'ha'dum  

*** 

 Fortune favors the bold

       A Latin proverb  


Almost a week had passed since their bike trip to the daylilies field.

 It was shortly after 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Diego and Luke were relaxing on the grass on the far side of the pond, under their favorite willow tree. Its long leafy brunches gave them shade protecting the boys from the hot afternoon July sun.

 Luke was resting on his back with his eyes closed and his hands folded behind his head, slowly chewing on a fresh stem of grass. Diego was lying on the side, with the left hand under his head, staring at Luke quietly, as his mind wandered off.

 So much has happened since Diego came to Green Oaks just a few weeks ago. So much has changed, gotten better. It did not seem possible but there it was. He was alive again. Living again. With Luke.  Luke, he was always there, with him ...   Laughing, touching, teaching, giving ... Hugging, cradling, soothing, making it better ...  

Diego lay on his back and closed his eyes. Images flashed through his mind. 

Luke, helping him mount Summer ... Luke's hands on the pottery wheel ...   Luke telling him the names of the ferns in the forest ... Luke laughing, holding Toby on his knee ... Luke laughing, slapping Ritchie on the back ... Luke reading a book under the old willow ... Luke sketching something, his face sharp, focused ... Luke laughing again, playing with Amber .... Luke, pointing to the Orion and the Big Dipper ... Luke laughing, holding a fish they just caught ...

 Diego shook his head with a start and looked at Luke again. Luked was still there, in the same position, lazily relaxing under the tree, still chewing on that piece of grass ...  Diego stared at him intently.

 Luke ... The summer breeze lightly stirring messy locks of his soft brown hair ... A warm goofy smile even now creasing his beautiful broad face ... His strong muscular chest moving rhythmically up and down ... Luke's hands lying on the grass ... The memory of those warm magical hands holding Diego, touching him, hugging him ... Luke's eyes, now closed, resting. Those beautiful bright eyes sparkling with playful green fire  ...  Luke's face, so strong,  so beatiful, so ...  Luke's smell, that special Luke scent, faint at this distance but still so sweet, so reassuring ... No doubt about what all of this meant, no doubt at all! Diego stifled a sigh.

 Diego looked at Luke again. That blade of grass was touching Luke's lips, his tongue ... Damn it, jealous of a stupid blade of grass!

Diego sighed. He so wanted to make Luke happy! Wanted so badly to give Luke the kind of joy that Diego himself just felt being near him, lying next to him, watching his face, listening to his breathing. Was that even possible?! Could that even work? Could that ever be? What if Luke doesn't feel the same way? What if Luke ... Still, he's got to try. He's got no choice. His heart would explode otherwise. His head would crack open. This pressure in his chest would just keep building. The cramp in his throat would throttle him. He's got to try. It's okay. It's okay to try. It's Luke. It's Luke. It's gonna be okay! He had to try!! 

Keeping his eyes tightly shut, with a sudden awkward lunge Diego flung himself on top of Luke, grabbed Luke's face in his hands and planted a long, desperate kiss on Luke's lips. At first his nose hit Luke's nose pretty hard, but Diego moved his head to the side quickly. He pressed his lips against Luke's soft lips, closed his eyes and prayed silently, prayed really hard. Please please let it be okay. Please Luke let it be okay. Please Luke. Please.  

Luke's eyes flew wide open in shock.

 "Mmmmph", he mumbled through Diego's lip-lock. But only a couple of seconds later Diego felt Luke's hand clasping behind his back and pulling him closer in a tight embrace. Diego sensed Luke's mouth open. Tentatively at first, and then with growing, almost frantic hunger, Luke started to return the kiss. Diego opened his eyes and saw Luke's green eyes blaze with gentle fire of love and joy. He had won! Diego exhaled deeply and his body melted into Luke's embrace.

Luke reached over and removed the piece of straw that was still stuck in his mouth. 

 He finally spoke: "You know, babe, you almost made me swallow that. Next time you've got to give me some warning!"

Diego, a great weight lifted off his shoulders, covered Luke's face, eyes, nose, ears, lips, and forehead with rapid soft kisses.

Luke laughed gently: "Diego, babe, slow down, there is no need to sprint. We've got all the time in the world!" 

Diego buried his face in Luke's shoulder, sobbing silently.

Luke slowly lifted Diego's head, holding his chin with his finger. 

"I can't believe you just did that!" Luke said with a soft chuckle. "I can't belive you did that!" he repeated. 

Luke stared at Diego with a tender playful delighted grin. 

"Oh, my god, Luke, I just ... Oh my god! ... I ..." Diego gazed back at Luke with a happy embarrassed smile, tears of joy still rolling down his cheeks.  

Luke slowly reached out with his hand and gently wiped off the tears from Diego's cheek.

"You don't have to cry, babe," Luke said softly. "I'm here. You've got me. I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to cry." 

With sobs of unburdening laughter, Diego buried his face in Luke's chest again. Luke continued gently stroking Diego's hair, caressing his ears, and cooing lightly. After a while Diego's breathing has quieted down, became steady. 

"You know, babe," Luke whispered, "you've got no idea how long I've been dreaming of doing this! Holding you like this! Being with you like this!" 

Diego lifted his face. He saw that Luke, although still smiling, now had tears welling in his shining green eyes. 

Luke reached out and kissed Diego on the lips, slowly, tenderly, sweetly. As they separated Diego burst into happy laughter again and covered his mouth with his hand.  

"Oh, my god!" he exclaimed, "Luke, oh my god!!" Diego giggled involuntarily. Suddenly he emitted a loud hiccup. Diego blushed and covered his mouth with his hand again. 

"Oh, my god, Diego!" Luke repeated with a slight chuckle.  "Oh, my god!"   

Luke reached up towards Diego's face with his right hand. Diego grabbed it and covered Luke's palm with kisses, first quick ones, then lasting longer and longer. Luke gazed at him silently in amazement, still smiling. Still looking down at Luke throw tear-filled eyes, Diego took Luke's palm his hand and pressed it against his cheek, rubbing it slowly, eyes closed. 

"O-o-o-h," Diego exhaled deeply. "You have no idea how long I've been dreaming of doing that! You've got no idea!..."

Luke cupped Diego's face with both hands and gently kissed kissed his lips, his eyes and his nose. 

"Uu-uf," Diego finally rolled over from Luke onto the ground next to him.

Diego lay on his back with his arms outstretched, looking at the leaves of the old willow waving above him in the summer breeze.

It finally happened! He finally did it!!  

Diego felt his heart leaping out of his chest, his head spinning and his entire body singing with joy. 

He turned on his side to face Luke and saw that Luke had already done the same. They moved closer to each other and were now lying face to face, their noses almost touching. 

Their hands clasped at first and moved to their faces. 

The boys lay next to each other smiling, peering into each other's eyes, gently caressing each other's faces, feeling each other's breath. Neither one spoke for a while. 

Eventually Luke moved and stood up on his knees. Diego did the same, facing Luke, holding Luke's hands. 

 "Diego, babe, I still can't quite believe this isn't a dream," Luke said smiling, searching Diego's face with his gaze.

Luke's voice turned more uncertain, more hoarse, as tears welled again in his green eyes: "Are you really gonna accept me just as I am, trailer trash Luke? I got no special art, no Cap and Bells to give you ... Just my heart and soul ... All yours now ... Will you take my heart and soul, Diego? Will you love me as I am?" 

Luke stared at Diego with an almost desperate look in his eyes. 

"Luke, my sweet doofus," Diego replied softly with tears running down his cheeks. "Your heart is your Cap and Bells, don't you know that? You've got so much of it!" 

Diego embraced Luke tightly and buried his face in Luke's chest. Luke hugged him back, stroking Diego's back and his hair, and kissing the top of his head. 

"And it's all yours, Diego, my heart, it's all yours now," Luke whispered, tears rolling down on top of Diego's head. "I'm not takin' it back."

"I'm keepin' it," Diego sniffled into Luke's chest with a light chuckle. "You couldn't get it back if you tried."

 The boys finally separated. Luke exhaled deeply. He got up and then sat next to the willow, his back against the trunk, his feet stretched outward.

Diego thought for a moment and lay down, the back of his head in Luke's lap, looking up at Luke and smiling sweetly.

Luke caressed his face and hair lightly. 

"Comfortable?" Luke chuckled.

"Yeah!" Diego giggled back. 

He closed his eyes, enjoying the soft tender touches of Luke's hands.  

A few minutes passed in silence. 

"So, Luke, when did you first know? About me?" Diego quietly, his eyes still shut. 

"You mean that I loved you? Oh, man, I am not sure," Luke replied wistfully. "I was probably in love with you almost from the day I met you. By by the end of the week I was dead sure." Luke looked at Diego but his eyes were still shut. "After that it was real agony. Not being able to tell you. Being afraid of losing you. Desperately wanting to touch your face like this and not being able to. It was torture." Luke tenderly stroked Diego's smooth cheek.

"So why didn't you say anything? Why did you wait?" Diego whispered.

"Well, Diego, babe, it's a little hard to explain," Luke sighed. "For one thing, I wasn't sure how you felt about me. I didn't wanna risk losing our friendship. Also wanted you to get better first, find your own feet, ya know," Luke sighed again and curled a lock of Diego's hair with his fingers.  

Luke paused, collecting his thoughts.

"For another thing, I knew you've  gotten it  into your head that I saved you or something. That you needed to repay me back in some way," Luke continued. "It would kill me if you were to try to give yourself to me not because you love me but because of this, 'cause you thought you owed me somethin'. So I had to wait for you to make the first move." 

Luke stopped and shook Diego slightly. Diego opened his eyes and looked up at Luke's earnest anguished face. 

Luke spoke again: "Diego, please tell me that that's not why you are doing this! Please tell me that you really love me for me! ... and not trying to repay a debt or somethin' ... Diego, please! ..." 

Luke looked at Diego pleadingly. 

Diego reached up for Luke's face with his hand, caressing Luke's cheek. He got up and sat, bow-legged, facing Luke.

"Luke, my sweet dummy, " Diego said with a gentle chuckle, looking at Luke with a reassuring smile. "I can't believe this is what you were worried about! Yes, you did save me, and yeah, I am grateful beyond words. Maybe we'll talk 'bout it some other time ..."  

Diego got up again and sat next to Luke, his back also against the trunk of the willow. He took Luke's hand in his. 

"Luke, you big goof, look at me, please," Diego continued. "Remember that movie, 'The Hot Chick' ... And and the end there's a girl there that says to this boy that's played by Matthew Lawrence. She says something like. Billy - that was his name - Billy, you are the only boy who makes my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. Well, Luke, that's how I feel 'bout you! You make my heart beat faster and slower at the same time! You always did, from day one!"

A warm smile of relief was growing bigger and bigger on Luke's broad face. 

"Really?" he asked, putting a hand on Diego's chest. 

"Really really!" Diego smiled back. "Check for yourself!" 

Diego held Luke's hand against his heart. 

"And your hands, Luke, there's real magic in them, I can't explain it otherwise!" Diego continued, looking at Luke. "They just take me somewhere ... somewhere ... over the rainbow - he-he - and I wanna stay there!"  

Luke was smiling back at Diego now, the anxious expression on his face almost gone. 

"And don't even get me started on how good you smell!" Diego giggled. Luke joined him. 

"And that's even before we get to how sexy, strong, kind, sweet, generous, honest, loyal, brave, smart, and happy you are, " Diego carried on with a wide smile, "how much I wanna kiss you every time I see you, every time I'm near you!". Diego demonstrated by planting a soft kiss on Luke's lips. 

"Now, do you really still think that I don't love you for you?!" Diego asked softly, holding up Luke's hand and kissing it. 

"I am sorry, babe," Luke said through tears, "I've been such a moron!"  

"Yes, yes, you have! But you are now all mine!" Diego replied with a laugh. 

Luke stared back at him with a wide warm grin. Suddenly Diego saw a wild playful spark blaze in Luke's green eyes. 

Luke jumped on his feet and grabbed Diego in his arms in a tight bear hug, lifting him above the ground. 

"Luke, what are you ..." Diego started asking with a laugh. 

"Yay!! Diego loves me! Diego really loves me!!" Luke shouted at the top of his lungs, spinning around wildly, Diego flying above the ground with him.  

"My sexy little wood-elf loves me!" Luke continued shouting, laughing like a maniac.

"Luke, come on, put me down, please," Diego pleaded half-heartedly in mock protest. 

"Not until you unlock your magic, oh enchanted one! Unlock your magic secrets for me!!" Luke continued shouting while laughing and spinning.

Luke grabbed Diego below his armpits and launched him upward like a rocket. 

"L-u-u-u-u-u-k-e!" Diego screamed, flying through the air.  

Luke caught him on the way down and they fell in the grass, rolling together, Luke still laughing manically.  

As Diego lay on his back, panting heavily, Luke crawled above him on all fours. Diego stared at Luke grinning face, playful green fire still sparkling in his eyes. Luke winked wickedly and lowered his head, kissing and licking the nape of Diego's neck. "Mmm, it does taste like honey, just as I thought!" Luke gigled, briefly lifting his head, and then continuing kissing Diego's neck.

Diego squirmed and whimpered weakly: "Luke, please ..." 

 Luke relented and rolled off him, laying next to Diego, with hands outstretched. They were both panting and and giggling a little.

Eventually Diego caught his breath and turned on his elbow, facing Luke. Luke did the same, looking at Diego with a wild grin. 

"Luke, babe," Diego asked, still panting slightly, "what you said just now about me unlocking my magic and stuff, what didya mean by that? Just goofing around? Or did you mean something?" 

Luke's expression got more serious.

"Yeah, I did mean something," Luke responded, kissing Diego's lips softly. "It's kinda hard to explain. I knew that there was something really special about you right from the start. And I don't just mean that you are insanely beautiful and kind and sweet, I mean, somethin' on top of all that. There is some magic about you, babe, although I can't quite describe it. I am still figuring it out. Like the way you move, Diego!" 

"Whadaya mean? What's so special about the way I move?" Diego giggled. 

"It's really smooth, man, graceful, like a tiny bit slower than the rest of us, like time moves a little more slowly for you..., " Luke explained earnestly.

"Then there is this other thing I figured." Luke paused before continuing. "See, there are some people with this special gift called empathy. That means being able to really understand what others are feeling, to feel for them, to connect with them. I know 'cause I'm one of them. I have always had it, this thing, empathy, I mean. I'm not braggin', it's just how it is ...  And I think you have it too!" 

"I do??" Diego exclaimed in surprise. 

"Yeah, babe, in spades, in buckets! Probably more than me!" Luke confirmed emphatically. "Like I said, I felt it from the start. The way you clicked with Summer and Winston and even Ritchie on the very first day, I mean that was really something and that was a dead giveaway!"

"Wow!" Diego said after a pause. "You really are a wise one, my sweet barnyard Socrates! So this empathy thing, does it make one like a super good person?"

"Mmm, not sure, but I bet it helps," Luke replied pensively. "I think it's what you do with your empathy that counts. If you don't use it to help others, then what good is it? Am I right or am I right??"  

"Yeah, yeah, you are right, my brother empath, but just don't you get too full of yourself!" Diego replied laughing and kissing Luke again.  

"Anyway," Luke continued, "I think that empathy is another part of your magic. But I don't think that's all of it. I'm sure there is more! I'm sure somewhere behind those huge brown eyes of yours there is another magical superpower hiding! And I am gonna  find out what it is!!" 

The boys laughed together.

"Wow ...," Diego said more wistfully, "magical powers, yeah, that'd be pretty cool ..." He paused. "Like that thing, with your hands, Luke ... when you touch my face ... I figure if we ever actually tried full body contact, like skin on skin, I'd probably pass out ... maybe pee on you even ..."  

"You're gonna pee on me, Diego?!" Luke chuckled mischievously. "Cool! I definitely wanna try that!" 

"Luke! Oh, come on, that's gross!" Diego protested with a laugh.

"No, sorry, too late!" Luke declared defiantly. "It's now definitely on our to-do list!" 

He giggled wickedly.  

"He-he, you are such a doofus! A sweet and funny one! That's your real magical super-power, and I have already found it!" Diego laughed in response. 

"Yeah ...," Luke agreed, "yeah ..." 

He remained silent for a moment and suddenly sat up, standing on his knees next to Diego and looking down. 

Diego saw a wild playful happy look appear again on Luke's smiling face. 

"Say, Diego," Luke giggled, "speaking of sweet and fun things to do, I got an idea!"  

Luke started slowly lifting up his shirt. 

Diego's face turned more serious. 

"Wait, Luke, wait," Diego stopped Luke gently with his hand. "Just ... wait." 

Luke put his shirt down and looked at Diego questioningly, perplexed: "Diego, babe, don't you wanna ...?" 

There was a slight pause. Luke looked up at Diego's face and saw tears welling up in the smaller boy's face. 

"Yeah, of course I wanna ...," Diego said softly. "I wanna touch everything, feel everything, taste everything, do everything ... I wanna do all these things with you so much, Luke, I really do! ... but ... but not yet ... not just yet ..."  

Diego looked at Luke pleadingly with now tear-filled eyes. 

"See, I feel like I've just been born ... just now ...," Diego continued haltingly, "like I still don't quite know who I am ... what I am ... like I'd been buried in some cold dark place and only now am stepping into the light ... And that too much light, too quickly might blind me, burn me ..." 

Diego paused for a moment. Luke moved close to him and squeezed Diego's hands in his own big warm hands.  

"I just need a little more time ...," Diego whispered looking Luke in the eyes pleadingly, "a little more time to get used to the light ... to being alive again ... to being a boy again ... Can you wait for me, Luke? Can you forgive me?" 

Luke embraced Diego and cradled him against his chest, not saying anything for a while.

 "Diego, babe, there's nothing to forgive, nothin' at all!" he spoke at last. "Just being with you, like this, is more than enough for me! Way more than I dreamed possible, until today".

 Luke separated from Diego, lifted Diego's chin and kissed him softly.

 He smiled at Diego warmly before continuing: "And all that other stuff, the sex stuff -- of course I wanna do that with you too. But it can wait. I can wait. Until you are ready. Being with you -- that's what's important! It's okay, honest! Really, Diego, it's okay! I promise, it's okay!"

Luke hugged Diego again.

"Okay," Diego sniffled into Luke's chest, "okay." 

Luke released him and Diego smiled back at Luke in relief. Luke kissed his nose and grinned at Diego.

"And hey, you're absolutely right!" Luke chuckled, "the sight of my naked butt has been known to blind people, he-he! So when you do finally see it, you might wanna wear some protective goggles!" 

Luke and Diego both laughed heartily. 

"Well, Diego, babe, what do yo say we head back to the clubhouse," Luke suggested. "They will be serving dinner soon." 

"Yeah, sure, Luke," Diego agreed. "It's time." 

"And Diego," Luke continued, grinning, "while you are taking your time getting ready for ... you know ... I want you to think of some of your favorite fantasies for us to try later!"  

Luke giggled wickedly. 

"Well," Diego replied with a chuckle, "one of them involves you, me, a spaceship and a robot." 

"He-he, okay," Luke chuckled back. "I'll work on getting us a spaceship, but I'm almost afraid to ask: What were you going to do with a robot?"  

"Oh, you will find out!"