Epilogue

Ennis, Jack and Lureen passed all of their exams with flying colours, and by the end of the month the two young men were moved into their new apartment. As Lureen had slyly suggested, the pair of them spent most of their first night christening every room, including the kitchen. They figured out how to have sex on a washing machine and made full use of this knowledge. As their relationship strengthened, they found themselves finding and exploring new ways of pleasing each other and being close. They trusted each other completely.

In May, the law on gay marriage was officially changed, making it legal for them to get married in the state as long as they remained residents. They talked it over, and ultimately decided that they wanted to wait until after they had finished their studies. They knew that it would be another four years until this happened, but they also knew that it would be worth the wait, and that their love was strong enough to survive. They had already made their promise to marry as soon as the time was right for both of them, and they were already very committed to each other anyway.

In June, they attended their first Pride event together in Boston. It was bright and colourful, and the atmosphere was very excitable. They walked around town holding hands and occasionally kissing, feeling safe to do so around everybody there. The celebration this year was especially memorable, thanks to the change in the law.

The summer was spent with them not doing very much. They went to Provincetown again and enjoyed the peace and quiet that they had found there. They also visited Jack's parents again and they once more told Ennis how happy they were that Jack had found him.

As they entered their third year, they continued to live in the apartment. After what had happened when Ennis had disappeared, the other students never bothered them anymore. Jim apologised for hitting Ennis and making fun of them, and they reached a tentative truce. Both Ennis and Jack knew that they would never be great friends with these people, but at least they could be civil.

Jack entered the apartment one day to find Ennis pacing nervously, clearly waiting for him. "Hey, what's up?" Ennis gave a hesitant smile.

"I got offered the Masters course, Jack...they want me to do the two years after graduation." His smile widened. "Guess we'll both be stayin' on."

"Oh my God, Ennis!" Jack said excitedly, running to him and throwing his arms around him. "Congratulations, cowboy. I'm really proud of you..." He drew back a little and kissed Ennis firmly. "We're gonna celebrate tonight."

Ennis grinned. "Sounds good to me, darlin'."

The next two years were pretty uneventful for them. Neither of them were hurt by anyone and Ennis's fear dimmed down to a level, with Jack's help. He taught his cowboy techniques for managing fear, including simple breathing exercises that he knew would calm Ennis down. As time passed, Ennis got scared a few more times, but he never ran out on Jack ever again. By the time they graduated, Jack knew that he could now trust Ennis not to bail on him.

At the end of their fourth year, the college hosted a graduation ball, open to all students. The two of them talked it over and decided to go, as a couple. They held hands throughout the evening and associated with their fellow students, many of whom were happy to see them joining in and not shying away just because they were different. Ennis even surprised Jack by leading him to the dance floor a couple of times, and they both danced with Lureen. During one of the slow, romantic songs late into the evening, Ennis pulled Jack close.

"Been some good times these last few years, huh?" he whispered, and Jack nodded.

"I'll say. If anybody were to tell me five years ago that I'd end up with someone like you, I would've thought that they'd had too much to drink. Can't believe how lucky I am..."

"Believe it, Jack...'cos it's real..." Ennis pulled his head back to smile at him. "Love you..." He leaned in again and this time went for Jack's lips, pressing his own to them for a few seconds. Maybe it was the champagne, but he honestly didn't care at that moment if anybody was watching them. He just held Jack in his arms and kissed him slowly, savouring the moment between them. People were watching them, and while some of the young men were uncomfortable, most of them acknowledged that what they were seeing was love, pure and simple.

The Masters courses weren't easy, but they helped each other as much as they could. They would spend their evenings in front of the TV curled up on the sofa, thoroughly enjoying their private time together. They felt like a real couple now, out in the world, and it felt wonderful to be like this. They would always take lunch together in town, no matter who had a class that day, and Ennis found himself often wondering how he could ever have been scared of this situation. It was true that they spent some time apart, but he knew that they would end up in the same bed every night, and for the rest of their lives.

In 2007, halfway through the first year of their Masters, Ennis's mother finally divorced his father and moved to New York, where she had family. The boys visited the city a few times and enjoyed being in a bustling place. While they were there, they looked in on Jack's brother and caught up, exchanging news of their lives.

In the summer of 2008, when they had finished their Masters, they finally moved to Provincetown, hopefully for good. They found a beautiful apartment on the seafront with an amazing view, and they knew that they would be very happy here. Ennis got a job as an intern at the local animal clinic and Jack could see how happy it made him. He, meanwhile, found a job as an intern at the local counselling centre, and he was on the road to learning how to become a counsellor himself. Both he and Ennis were now working towards their dreams that they had spoken of so long ago.

Just after they had gotten their jobs, Ennis decided that it was high time he made his promises to Jack and solidified their commitment. One cool summer evening, they went to their favourite seafood restaurant in town and enjoyed a candlelit meal together. When they were finished, Ennis looked over at Jack.

"Jack, I...I want you to know that I'm real happy, here with you. When I was growin' up, I never thought I'd get to be this happy. You changed all that. When we got together, I started believin' that I...I might just have a chance to be happy."

He held Jack's hand as he said this, and he saw Jack smile. "Ennis...you make me happy too. I love you to bits, you know that."

Ennis nodded. "I do. Which is why...I wanna ask you somethin'. We've been together for nearly five years now, an'...I was thinkin' that it might be time to make some promises." He took a deep breath. "Jack...will you marry me?"

Jack's mouth fell open. "Oh, um...Ennis, I..." He looked into Ennis's eyes and could see the truth in them; it was time to take the plunge and take advantage of the change in the law. His face broke into a shaky grin. "I will!" He threw his arms around Ennis's neck and squeezed him as hard as he could. Ennis smiled and rubbed his back, feeling ecstatic that Jack had accepted, and that they were going to be married legally. Jack wore Ennis out that night with celebrating, and the next day was spent with them calling their friends and family in a frenzy, inviting them to the ceremony. They found someone willing to perform the wedding, and decided to have it on the beach at sunset; their favourite time and place these days.

Two weeks before the wedding, Ennis got a call from his mother, who said that his father had died of a stroke that morning. Ennis had been shocked and upset, despite what his father had done and threatened to do. He spent the night lying in Jack's arms and talking about his father; the few good memories he could conjure up and the bad ones that were plentiful. He had planned for himself and Jack to go to the funeral, but he then received another call from his cousin, the one that was to inherit the ranch. He told Ennis that he was not welcome at the service, and this tore at Ennis's heart.

"Just wanted to say goodbye..." he whispered against Jack's chest. "Just...wanted..."

"Closure?" Jack suggested in a soft voice, and Ennis nodded. "I know you did, baby. If you had...you might have been able to leave things in the past where they belong. But now..." He didn't need to finish; they both knew it. Ennis would never be able to truly move on from everything his father had done. It would always be there in the back of his mind as a bad memory that might continue to haunt him for a long time.

"Jack...do you think...he ever loved me?" Ennis said, clinging to him. Jack was at a loss for words.

"I dunno, bud. I know he did you wrong, but...he was still your father, and parents are supposed to love their kids unconditionally. I reckon he did, deep down. He just didn't always know how to show it." Ennis didn't know how to respond to this, so he just closed his eyes and let Jack hold him.

The wedding was a beautiful occasion; sunset on the beach as they had wanted. Their friends and family all attended and joined them in their celebration. When they turned to each other to exchange their vows, Jack sighed a little.

"Ennis...I don't know if there are any words that can describe what I feel for you. You know how bad things were for me when we met, and...I was thinking that I'd never be happy, because I'm gay. I thought I'd never have the courage to pursue a relationship with a guy. So...I think it was fate that made us roommates that day. You were brought to me, and I'll never forget it. I know it hasn't always been easy for us, but...I'm still really happy. You're my soulmate, Ennis...and I love you." He smiled and lifted Ennis's left hand, poising the ring at his finger. "I, Jack, take you, Ennis, to be my loving husband, and my partner for life. I know I'll be just fine as long as I've got you. Love you, cowboy." He slipped the ring onto Ennis's finger and could hear his mother sniffing.

It took Ennis a moment to recover from the wonderful words that Jack had just said to him, and he took a deep breath, taking Jack's ring from his cousin; one that actually accepted them. He looked down into Jack's love-filled eyes and hoped that his nerves wouldn't get the better of him.

"Jack, I...I ain't never gonna be as good with words as you, an' I know that. But...I hope you know what you mean to me. I never thought I'd end up with a guy, especially one like you, but...I ain't never regretted us bein' together. You've...made me real happy, darlin', an'...I hope I can make you happy too. Love you, Jack." He took Jack's left hand and gazed into his eyes. "I, Ennis, take you, Jack, to be my husband an' my partner for life. Gonna love you an' take care of you as best I can. I swear." He slid Jack's ring onto his finger and saw his face glow with happiness. The minister smiled at them and cleared her throat.

"They have exchanged their vows and their rings, and have declared their commitment to each other. If anyone can show just cause that they may not be joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." She and the young men looked around at the congregation, hoping that nobody would speak. To their relief, their guests stayed silent. They then turned back to each other and she spoke again. "Very well. Ennis, Jack, by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I now declare you to be legally married. You may seal your union with a kiss."

Ennis smiled at Jack and drew him into his arms, kissing him as warmly as he could. They had practiced the perfect wedding kiss a few times; a few seconds with no tongues. Both of them knew that they would make up for it later. They broke apart to the sound of their family and friends clapping and cheering for them, and Jack grinned. "Can't believe we did it," he said breathlessly, and Ennis cupped his cheek. "We're really married..."

"We sure are, darlin'," Ennis whispered back, his deep brown eyes shining with happiness. They turned to the congregation and their parents came up to them, accompanied by Jack's siblings, Lureen and Debbie.

"Congratulations, sweetheart," Ellen whispered in her son's ear, while Karen said the same to Jack. Richard shook Ennis's hand and welcomed him to the family, and Ennis couldn't help but wish that his father had been here. Still, he had learned to leave those things in the past.

Their reception was held at their favourite restaurant on the pier and they enjoyed a lavish meal, toasting their friends and family for always believing in them and their relationship. They made a toast to Lureen and Debbie for always being there for them when they'd needed them. Both of them knew that they might not have made it if it hadn't been for their circle of support.

After dancing for the next few hours, the congregation finally headed back to their hotels, and Ennis and Jack retired to their apartment on the front. Once inside, they turned to each other, and Ennis slipped his arms around Jack.

"You have a good day, darlin'?" he said softly, and Jack nodded, a look of peace on his face.

"Sure did, cowboy. You wanna get started on the wedding night?" he asked with a smile. Ennis took his hand and led him to the bedroom, where they made love slowly and tenderly, feeling their love for one another blazing within them as they connected, melding into one person. As they moved together, they both knew that the rest of their lives would be lived together, full of love and happiness. Neither of them could ever have predicted that they would end up here, but both of them knew that they had found everything they'd ever been looking for.