Squeezing him slightly tighter before letting him go, Sam said, “Now, how ‘bout we go get a message and a mineral bath and eat chocolate covered strawberries and other really relaxing things. How does that sound?”

Sy hummed as he rested his head on Sam’s shoulder, snuggling with a contented sigh. “That sounds like paradise.”

When they entered the massage room, neither missed how serene the room was. Centered were two massage tables surrounded by walls painted a dark green. Two light fixtures were mounted to the north wall, casting a glitterance up the walls, giving off shadows, ambiance and romance. Between the two lights sat sets of four towels stacked on shelves five tall. There was a small radio that played soft electronica music sitting under and just in front of the towel shelves. Beneath that were cabinet doors that remained closed.

Under the lights were tall end-tables made with a light colored wood, with candles that burned off their own glow. Before climbing onto the massage tables, Sam pulled Sy close to him for a soft, if quick kiss. On either wall were also candles, expanding its light up the walls, casting a dancing glow of yellow and orange. 

They each undressed and laid down on the tables, covering themselves with the provided towel. Not longer after, two well built men entered the room. They were dressed in black shorts and white collared shirts with the company logo on the left breast. For the next hour, the years’ worth of tension and knots were worked from their bodies. They let the music wash over them as the masseuses worked their magic over their muscles, reducing them both to puddles. 

They didn’t say much over the hour, simply enjoying the moment and the massage. When their hour had expired, and the experienced hands left their bodies, they each felt like blobs of putty, they moaned in ecstasy as they pushed themselves into a sitting position. 

“God, I didn’t want him to stop,” Sy said as he began to stretch. “I didn’t realize that I had so many knots in my shoulders.”

“Surprise.” Sam chuckled softly. “We need to make sure to drink some water, though, or we’re gonna get sick.” At Sy’s frown, Sam continued, “When your muscles are massaged like that, and for an extended period of time, it releases toxins into the bloodstream. Water will flush them out.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.” Sy smiled gently at the beautifully magnificent man across from him as they stood from the table and dressed. “So, what’s next?” They walked from the room and into the hall, walking back the way they’d come. 

“What about a mineral bath?” Sam suggested with a quirked eyebrow.

“Never had one before.”

“Well, let’s go.” Sam reached out his hand and with a huge grin, Sy laced his fingers with Sam’s and they made their way to the mineral baths.

“Wow, Sammy. This whole place is so wonderful. We can actually swim in here, it's so big.” Sam looked over at Sy and couldn’t help the smile that completely enveloped his face. The walls were made up of long, thin pieces of steel, mixing different shades of gray and put together like snap-on, wooden floorboards. The railings down into the crystal clear water were standard steel railings, and Sy held on loosely as he made his way down into the water.

Sam watched as Sy flipped onto his back, his eyes slipping closed as he floated atop the ripples he made in his wake. Sam wrapped his right arm around Sy, his hand lightly resting against the side of his hip, the other tracing down his arm. “You’re so beautiful,” Sam told him. The look that he was given when Sy opened his eyes made his chest ache in the best way. Sometimes, even after a year, he still marveled that they found each other. He also marveled at the fact that, despite everything both of them have gone through since that fateful night, they managed to find the paths back to each other’s heart. “I love you, Sy.”

Sy brought his feet underneath him, and stood to his full height and wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck, whispering, “I love you, too.” As a thought crossed his mind, a small frown formed before it was quickly replaced with a small smile. 

“What?” Sam dragged the pad of his thumb over Sy’s brow as he questioned what was on his mind, but Sy shook his head slightly and he smiled a bit wider.

“Nothing. It’s nothing. Just…thoughts…thoughts that I sometimes can’t help, but I’m trying to keep from…controlling me. It’s something that I’ve been working on lately. Trying not to let intrusive thoughts spoil things.”

“That’s good. I know what they do to you sometimes.” Sam kissed him, drawing his tongue lightly across Sy’s bottom lip.

Nodding, Sy said, “I don’t want to be like that forever. You told me that my past doesn’t have to define me. That it doesn’t have to control me. And I think that those words really impacted me after Sammy’s accident. And you’re worth growing for. Sammy is worth growing for. I don’t want to be stuck in that cabin for the rest of my life, Sammy.”

Sam’s smile was broad and proud. Kissing him again, he said, “You’re such an amazing and strong man, Sy. I wish you knew just how fucking brave you are. And how proud I am of you.”

When they returned back to their room, Sy changed into something comfortable and collapsed onto the bed with a huge, contented sigh, filled with serenity after the thoroughly relaxing day they’d just had. “Are you hungry?”

Sy paused, his shirt half-way up, before he took the white undershirt off and tossed it on the bed. “Yeah, but can we order room service? I kinda just wanna stay in and cuddle up…if that’s alright?”

Sam grinned at Sy’s sudden shyness with this request. Sam took the few steps over to him and slipped his arms around his lower back. With a gentle kiss against Sy’s full lips, he said, “As you wish.”

Sy chuckled and wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck, kissing him against his pulse point. When he rested his head against Sam’s shoulder, Sam pulled him a bit closer. They stood there quietly, enjoying the feeling of having the other man in their arms. The separation that was forced upon them so long ago was never far from their minds, always remembering what it was like to not have the other. “I love you, Sammy.”

Sam tightened his hold the slightest bit, his chest tightening automatically with his arms. “I love you, too.” When he pulled back, they shared a small smile before Sam moved over to the menu that was set on their bedside table. “What are you in the mood for?” 

Sy took his seat next to Sam, their bodies pressing from shoulder to toes as Sy leaned into him. The Wanderlust Spa had an up class, five-star restaurant attached to it. “Everything sounds delicious…how am I supposed to choose?”

Sam chuckled. Kissing Sy lightly and smiling, he said, “How about steak?” 

Sy’s mouth instantly salivated at the suggestion and he smiled. “That sounds perfect. With mashed potatoes and corn,” he said.

About twenty minutes after they ordered their food, there was a knock at the door. The food smelled beyond this world and as Sy opened the domed lids to their dinner, Sam tipped the employee that brought their meals before joining Sy at the medium sized dinner table situated comfortably in a corner not far from the bar.

“This is the best steak that I’ve ever had,” Sy said, his eyes rolling backward as he savored the bite.

Sam nodded as he chewed his own bite. “It really is.” 

They talked through their meal, an easy going, light conversation that was coupled with bouts of uncontrollable giggles from them both. For the moment all thoughts of their past and their pain was set aside for this moment of happiness. Once the food was consumed and the dishes gathered back onto the rolling cart that it was delivered on, Sam suggested, “Want to have a couple drinks?” 

Sy wrinkled his nose. “Nah. But don’t let that stop you if you want a drink.”

Sam chuckled, ignoring the full bar he was leaning up against. “You never were much of a drinker.”

“No,” Sy agreed. “And the last time I got drunk, Sammy happened.” Sy smiled thinking about his son before he laughed outright. “Though, I don’t think that you and I have to worry about that happening.”

“Wouldn’t that be something…” Sam said laughing as well. Reaching out his hand, he said, “Come on. Let’s go sit out on the terrace and look at the stars.” The terrace stretched the length of the room, complete with a loveseat, a glass coffee table on a steel frame, and two chairs with white cushions that matched the ones on the loveseat.

Once they were seated, Sam threw his arm around Sy. Sy leaned in, his head resting on Sam’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful out here,” Sy commented, his eyes focused on the sky. “You can see all the stars. It’s peaceful.”

Sam smiled, kissed Sy’s forehead and agreed. “It is.” Sam’s eyes slipped closed, the stars vanishing behind his lids as Sy’s hand slid up his leg, fingertips brushing over his hardening flesh. “Sy…” he whispered in a rush of breath.

When Sam awoke the next morning, he watched Sy sleep soundly in his arms. As he watched him, Sam’s mind began to wander. While his eyes drew down the curves of Sy’s cheekbones, or the angular shape of his jawline, his mind began to conjure up what it was like all those years without him. The hell that he faced within his mind on the daily; the never ending pain that had for so long been a constant companion. 

Though in that moment as these thoughts ran through his mind, that familiar pang held a different vibe. While he knew that that time in his life would always hold that accompanied pain that traveled with him through those years, that wasn’t at the forefront as his mind went down that path. He knew without a doubt that he never wanted to be without Sy Benson or the beautiful boy that Sy had named after him. He knew what he wanted to do, but the prospect of it terrified him. He was also fully aware that what he would gain if his plan went into fruition, it would be well worth the terror he felt now.

He smiled as Sy’s jade eyes fluttered open and focused on him. “Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?”

Sy stretched before laying back across Sam’s body, sighing contentedly as he snuggled into Sam’s chest. Smiling, he said, “Better than I have in so long. This was a wonderful idea.”

“I’m glad that you’re enjoying yourself. You deserve it. It’s wonderful to see you smiling so much.” Tracing his thumb over Sy’s bottom lip, he kissed there gently. “I’ve missed it. I don’t think you know how much your smile brightens up every dark corner of my soul.” Sam chuckled as Sy’s face burned a deep purple, hiding his face into Sam’s shoulder. His laughter continued as he saw the blush extending down his neck and shoulders. “Look at you all red,” he said, teasing, tracing his fingers along the crimson bloom of his skin. Sy squirmed and giggled under his touch, causing Sam to laugh a bit harder as he tightened his hold in a light squeeze before loosening his grip again.

When Sy finally looked back up, Sam couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “Shut up,” he said, but couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. “What’s for breakfast?”

Grinning devilishly, Sam said, “You can have me for breakfast.”

Sy grinned right along with him. “Food breakfast. With as delicious as you are to eat.” Chucking he added, “Now who’s blushing?”

“How about we take a look at the room service menu and have breakfast in bed,” Sam suggested as he reached for the menu.

After a breakfast of fruit topped pancakes and whipped cream with a side of sausage links for Sy, and an omelet, completely loaded with all the makings, with a side of crispy bacon for Sam, they decided to go have a dip in the pool. The pool room was empty other than the two of them and the lifeguard that sat in his chair, Ozzy Osbourne playing from the speakers situated above him. 

They entered the water and before Sam could deflect it, Sy splashed water into his face. “Hey!” he said with a chuckle. When Sy took off, swimming as fast as he could toward the deep end of the pool, Sam gave chase and the race was on. Sam reached the other end two strokes before Sy, and when they surfaced, shared a smile. “Wanna race back?”

An hour and a half later, they found themselves sitting at a small restaurant that served ostrich burgers, enjoying an early lunch. They laughed and joked, all manner of stress far away from them in this moment they were sharing.

When they arrived back into their room, Sy went to the kitchen to grab a can of Coke, and Sam broke off with a small word into the bedroom and grabbed something from his bag before making his way back to join Sy, who was sitting at the bar on one of the black leather topped barstools. Sy smiled around the can as Sam approached, spreading his knees as Sam came to stand between them. 

Leaning forward, Sam placed the softest of kisses against his lips and when he pulled away the slightest bit, he whispered, “Marry me.”