A/N: YATTA! IT'S DONE! *dead* I can breathe again! hahaha. The epilogue is finally up and I can now move on to other fics that are screaming for attention! I must say, however, that I am rather disappointed in the responses I got for the last chapter. Really, guys? Yes, some of you really liked it and I thank you for that. However, for those of you who were upset about Allen being seme, let me clear up a few things. First of all, if you read the section in my profile about my views on the seme/uke relationships, you would see that I am a strong advocate of EQUAL LOVE. They are both men! They should both get a chance to top! And, the main smut wasn't even a full lemon, so neither one of them topped! Secondly, in the parts that came after the scene on the beach, I mentioned that Kanda topped as well. I was so discouraged that I almost didn't post this. But because there were those of you who didn't say that they liked it and then went on to criticize it, I thought it was only fair. *takes a deep breath* well, here is the end (finally) of this fic. Despite the dissatisfaction with the smut, I hope you all enjoyed. Until next time...

It was just a picture, in a cheap metal frame, still shiny with newness and sitting next to another picture that was at once older and younger. The two frames sat side by side on a simple, generic dresser, one of the past, of two young boys who shone with warmth and joy. The other was of those two same boys but older, wiser, bearing life in the darkness in their eyes. Yet they still both smiled at the camera, arms wound around each other, more intimately than in the first one and, if anything, the joy had intensified, becoming a warm glow in the gray and deep blue gazes. In the background of the picture were tame, hissing waves and a clear blue sky, the first day after the two boys had become everything to each other and more. The day had reflected their feelings, warm and bright and perfect. The sunlight shone in the depths of the dark haired boy's deep eyes and the pale, silvery hair of the other, contrasting against the sharp, red mark that wandered across the pale skin. They looked right together, fitting with perfect ease within the frame and each other's arms, the renewed love of two boys that had been separated for far too long and then reunited once again.

Every day Kanda paused to look at that picture whenever he passed by the dresser, taking in the pale haired boy who was now his lover and his future; and instead of pain, there was only a soft glow of warmth, brought on by the image and the memory of that one boy's smile. Three weeks ago that second picture had been taken, marking the start of something great and new and altogether brilliant. Though that had been the very same day Allen had left his side, he knew that what they had begun wasn't over. It wouldn't be for a very long time, if he had his way.

Three weeks and four days. That was how long it would take for the pale haired boy to complete high school, get his diploma and drive back down to the Cape for good. They had talked about it the morning they had woken up wrapped around each other, the same day they learned about their respective pasts. Though Kanda had hated to sound insecure, he had not been able to remain silent, asking Allen in a sullen voice when the younger boy would be going back home. It had occurred to him that he could simply go back with the pale haired boy, that nothing was really keeping him at the Cape but there was nothing for him in West Earl anymore…except Allen. But the younger boy had smiled at him and threaded his fingers through the long strands of his black hair.

"I'll be back, Yuu. I graduate from school on June seventh. I'll be back down here on the eighth," and the kiss he had given the older boy was like the sealing of a promise.

Kanda scrubbed at his hair with a towel, glad to have finally managed to hop in the shower before collapsing into bed. He had somehow gotten his job back at the Lobster House, his case argued to none other than the owner by Angela. She had come to see him not long after Allen had left, demanding he come back to work at the restaurant as it was, "boring without him stirring up trouble," as she put it. Though he wasn't too fond of her reasoning, he was grateful to get his much needed job back. Without it, he would not have been able to remain in his room at the Congress. It was his first day off in what felt like forever and he had just come back from the beach ready to crash onto his bed and pass out.

The picture on the dresser caught his eye though and he paused on his way to the bed, staring down at it. Allen had smiled so much that day he thought his heart might burst and though a simple picture could not do the real thing justice, it was better than nothing until the younger boy came back. He stilled dreamed about it; that night in the storm and what had followed, the pleasure and the bright, exploding happiness following him doggedly through his dreams. Though he knew his lover was coming back, it still felt empty and wrong without Allen there with him. But it isn't permanent, not this time. We know for sure we are going to see each other again…

Just as he was pulling up a pair of sweat pants over his hips and tossing his towel through the open bathroom door to be picked up at another time, a flash of something out the window caught his eye. The sun was already setting but the light blazed across the sky in a riot of bloody color and shone upon the earth like a scattering of a million jewels. And in the parking lot, it sank into the bright silvery hair of a boy walking calmly across the asphalt and shone like a beacon.

Kanda was out of his room and down on the street level before he even had time to think, the only thing running through his mind was three days…he's early, it was supposed to be three more days.

And then Allen was in his arms and they were both laughing as they embraced and kissed heatedly, not caring one whit if people were looking on in astonishment or shock. He didn't care because the boy he had loved most of his life was once again real and solid in his arms, kissing him back with the honeyed warmth his mouth had been craving for the last couple of weeks.

"You're early," he muttered in between nipping at the younger boy's bottom lip and sucking it into his mouth. Allen huffed a little laugh that sounded more like a groan before pushing him gently away, hands sinking into Kanda's still damp hair.

"Yeah, I couldn't stay away any longer. I can still get my diploma even though I don't walk in the ceremony," another long, deep kiss followed, the rich taste and the pleasure making the older boy's toes curl. This was how it was supposed to be, how it should have been. But he had promised not to dwell on what he should have had instead of what had really happened because it was alright now. Allen was with him, smiling and loving him and that was all he needed.

"You're here," he whispered, tipping his head forward so their foreheads connected comfortably. Allen hummed softly, eyes shining in the bright sunset like clear springs of winter.

"I'm here…" they stood like that for a long moment, soaking in the knowledge that they didn't have to move if they didn't want to; that nothing could separate them again if that was what they chose. Then a wild thought flickered through his mind and he lifted his head in alarm.

"But, I'm only here for the summer. How will—" a slender finger pressed against his lips and he was suddenly basking in the eclipsing warmth of his lover's smile.

"Then you can come with me," Allen drew nearer, eyes darkening, "anywhere…" and the words left unspoken hung between them like a bright globe of molten gold…

as long as we are together, anywhere is home…

fin.