Subj: Kissing Cousins
Date: 4/13/01 4:40:48 PM Central Daylight Time
From: DSRules

Quentin stepped resolutely up to the headsman's block, refusing to let fear show on his face. He prepared to make his final speech, when he suddenly felt enveloped by warmth, acceptance, and love.

{Daphne!} He thought, {she's here, somewhere!}

Quentin looked around the group assembled for his execution, but didn't see Daphne anywhere. Instead, he saw Desmond.

As Quentin's and Desmond's gazes met, Quentin felt the reassurance given and received - reassurance that, whatever happened, he wouldn't be going through it alone.

Cherishing Desmond's nearness at this dark hour, Quentin stood up to the block as they offered him a blindfold . . . .

* * *

Once he could see Collinwood, Quentin finally broke the silence. "That was an awful risk you took, Desmond. Shooting Gerard like that."

"I had to, Quentin. It was the only chance for you. The only chance for us."

Quentin heard a world of meaning in that one word. "Us?" He looked deeply, searchingly, into Desmond's hazel eyes.

Clearing his throat, Barnabas mumbled. "I think I'll wait for you at Collinwood." But the other two didn't hear him.

After a long moment, Desmond broke their gaze. He stared at the ground beneath his feet. "I don't know what happened. But when I realized that it was all over. That we'd never see each other again . . ." His voice broke. "I have no hope that you'd ever feel . . ."

"But I do feel the same way." With two fingers, Quentin gently tilted Desmond's face upwards, to make eye contact with him. "And I can't explain it any more than you can. But after today, I can never imagine my life without you in it again."

Desmond's face lit up with a brilliant smile. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes. I do." Then, realizing that neither had yet spoken the word, Quentin took the ultimate leap of faith. "I love you, Desmond."

* * *

Quentin and Desmond met up with Barnabas on the front steps of Collinwood, and the three stepped into the foyer. "Barnabas and I will look for Daphne. Why don't you go and speak with Leticia?"

Desmond nodded curtly, longing to touch Quentin, but uncertain about doing it in front of Barnabas. He gave Quentin and Barnabas a weak smile and left.

For several seconds after Desmond had closed the door behind himself, Quentin continued staring longingly at the spot where Desmond had stood moments before.

"Quentin," Barnabas began. "Shouldn't we go and look for Daphne?"

Quentin shook his head slightly as he came back to himself. "Yes. We should."

Quentin and Barnabas walked up the stairs, where they split up, Barnabas taking the East Wing, while Quentin took the West.

After searching fruitlessly for some minutes, Quentin eventually found Daphne.

"Quentin!" Daphne threw herself into his arms, pressing a desperate kiss to his lips. When he didn't return her kiss, she drew back.

"What's the matter?"

He met her eyes briefly, then looked away again. "There's no point in putting this off. But perhaps we should sit down first."

* * *

Desmond arrived at Rose Cottage, where he was greeted by Leticia.

"Desmond! You're all right!" She beamed.

Immediately afterward, though, she became somber. "Something's wrong. What happened?"

"Leticia, I don't know how to tell you this, but . . ."

"It's over, isn't it. There's someone else." Leticia gazed into Desmond's eyes. "It's Quentin, isn't it? You're in love with Quentin!"

* * *

Quentin led Daphne to the bed, where they perched on the edge. "Daphne, there's someone else . . ."

Immediately, Daphne's lower lip began to quiver. Quentin began to reach forward for her, but she pulled back. "No. I'm all right." She lied. "Just say whatever you have to say and get it over with. It's Joanna, right?"

Quentin shook his head.

"Samantha?"

"No. Not her either."

"You haven't been seeing *another* woman?"

"Actually, it's not a woman at all."

Daphne looked shocked. "It's not a woman? You mean, it's . . . a man?"

Quentin nodded slowly. "I never would have imagined it either. Not before today, when I finally realized that, through everything, it's always been Desmond and me, together. And that's how it should always be."

"Desmond? What will Leticia say when she finds out?"

* * *

"Oh, Desmond! That's wonderful!" Leticia threw her arms around her former lover's neck, and hugged him warmly. "I'm so happy for you both."

Despite everything, Desmond was slightly crestfallen that Leticia wasn't more heartbroken. "You mean you're not upset?"

"Upset? No! I can see it plainly now. You've been through so much together. And you really see each other as you really are, and love each other despite your flaws. Why should I be upset?"

She paused for a moment. "And besides, my brother's wife is about to have their first baby. I have a feeling it's going to be a boy, and that I'm going to want to be there for the birth. Maybe Daphne can come back to England with me. I know a Viscount who would be perfect for her . . ."

* * *

The next morning, Leticia and Daphne took the first coach out of town, with plans to spend some time in Boston before they boarded their ship for England.

Desmond moved his belongings from Rose Cottage to a spare bedroom at Collinwood, and then eventually, he and Quentin moved into the master suite together.

They were cautious about going out as a couple at first, but as the residents of Collinsport began showing acceptance of their relationship, they became more open.

One night, years after their admission of love for each other, they lay in bed together. Quentin interlaced his fingers with Desmond's. "What would I have done without you?" He asked.

Desmond smiled gently, drawing slow circles on Quentin's palm with his thumb, sending tingles up Quentin's arm as he did so. "We were meant to be together, Quentin. Nothing short of death could have stopped it."

"Yeah." Quentin smiled, kissing Desmond's hairline. "You're right. You always were right -- about us."

"Good night, Quentin." Desmond, yawning, leaned his head against his lover's shoulder.

"Good night, Desmond." Quentin responded as he reached up and extinguished the lamp.