Title: Homecoming
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I don’t own them, they are owned by various executives, producers, studios and writers who have more lawyers on retainer than I want to mess with. I’m not making any money and promise to return them once I’m done… maybe.
Summary: He was coming home.
Beta: White (Speed)
Author’s Note: This is one of the holiday bunnies bob pounced on me… Inspired by the song The Snow Came Down – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas Attic)’

~*~

The snow fell softly from the sky, blanketing the train tracks, the platform and the surrounding grounds. A young man grabbed his bag out of the backseat of the taxi and headed inside the station. He bought a one-way ticket – home. He stepped out onto the snow covered platform clutching the ticket in his hands. He watched the snow fall down covering the world with a white blanket. Speed lifted his head and let the soft flakes fall onto his face, cool to the touch. He was going home.

He had been gone for over a year, dealing with the jewelry store shooting. Actually it was more like dealing with what led up to the gun jamming during the shooting. He knew his gun was dirty, and he knew why. Despite being loved by his partner, the darkness inside him was too deep for him to get past. And it all came to a head on the floor of that jewelry store.

Miraculously he lived through it, but the look in his lover’s eyes was enough to know he needed to get help. He needed to face his past and deal with his issues. The moment he was well enough, he packed his bags and left Miami, leaving only a note behind, promising one day to come home.

And now he was on the final part of his journey. The past year had been difficult. Speed had gone home to face his family, the town he grew up in, and to say goodbye to his first lover. Each step was difficult and was filled with pain. Many times he had picked up the phone and dialed Miami, but he would hang up just as fast. He had to deal with his past before he could move on with the future.

He stepped onto the train, taking a seat by the window. Speed was leaving his past behind him; his home and future were in Miami, hopefully still waiting for him to come home. He just watched as the landscape and climate change as the train rolled South ward; the snow turning to rain and then finally to warm sunshine. His heavy coat, gloves and scarf were piled on the seat next to him, leaving him in jeans and a simple sweater.

As the train got closer to Miami he became more nervous. Doubts plagued his thoughts, ‘what ifs’ were prominent in his mind. He looked out the window, his lover’s smiling face at the forefront of his mind. No matter what happened, Speed knew he had to see him and tell him that through all the pain, the heartache, and darkness one thing kept him going – knowing he was loved.

The train pulled into Miami station. Speed grabbed his bag, leaving behind the coat, gloves and scarf. They weren’t part of his life in the sun soaked city. He stepped down onto the platform absorbing the warmer temperature. Glancing at his watch he ran towards the front of the depot and hailed a cab. If Miami traffic cooperated he would be in time for Christmas Eve Mass.

Speed sighed in frustration as the traffic crawled over the Causeway Bridge. By the time the cab pulled up in front of the old Cathedral it was not only too late for Mass, but it was no longer Christmas Eve. He paid the cab driver, grabbed his bag, and stepped out of the cab. The driver asked if he wanted a ride to a hotel, but Speed shook his head and closed the door.

Walking up the front of the steps, he wasn’t surprised to see the doors still open. He eased into the silent church, sat his bag down and walked up to the front. He knelt and made the sign of the cross before the altar; looking up at the crucifix he sent up a silent thank you along with a prayer.

Speed eased back up and turned around, he would find a place to stay the night and in the morning…

“Speed?”

He stopped mid-step and looked down the aisle towards the front doors. Standing there was the reason…

“Is it really you?”

Speed nodded his head choking back the tears, “I missed Mass…” not sure what else to say to his lover.

He was soon caught up in a strong embrace, tears sliding down his cheeks as he was finally back where he belonged. Speed pulled back and looked into the face he had dreamed of for so long.

His lover smiled brightly. “I knew. I had felt like something was coming. Then tonight during Mass I just stared at the door, waiting…”

“Traffic still sucks.” Tim refused to let go completely, holding on to his lover’s hand.

His laugh echoed through the church, “Yes it does. I can see why you ride your bike… makes getting through it easier.”

“You still have it?”

“Of course I do.” He reached up and ran a hand through the dark hair. “I knew you were coming home. That you had this time to deal with what you needed to, and no matter how long it took I would be here when you came home.”

Speed choked back more tears. “I love you.”

He was reward with being pulled back into the strong arms, and a soft kiss that brought joy and hope to his heart. He slipped his hand into the soft dark hair and deepened the kiss. A gasp had both men separating.

“Eric…” Clorinda Delko stared at her son, then turned towards the man next to him and gasped.

Eric looked down at his returned lover, “Look who came home for Christmas.”

Her hand went to her mouth, and as tears began to fall, as she moved up the aisle and into his arms. Speed held onto her as she cried, soon to be surrounded by the full Delko family. He was hugged and kissed; asked if he was okay, and got one head slap from Pavel Delko. The older man then hugged him tight and sent a thank you towards the heavens for their Christmas Miracle.

Eric saved his poor lover by pulling him out of the family clutches and back into his arms. “I love you.”

Speed looked into his eyes that were so full of emotion, kissing him softly, and with just a touch of lips he whispered, “I’m home.”

~ The End ~

~ The Snow Came Down – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas Attic) ~

A railway station
On a long forgotten line
No destination
But it always leaves on time
He buys his ticket
As the train prepares to leave
Don't want to miss it
On this night Christmas Eve

He stared into the night no expectations
He watched the world go by without a sound
He saw the city lights arrive and fade away

While all that night
All that night
The snow came down

No conversation
As the snow fell from the sky
His consolation
That the world is well disguised
He stared into the night no expectations
He watched the world go by without a sound
He saw the city lights arrive and fade away

While all that night
All that night
The snow came down

He stared into the night, no expectations
But in his heart he wanted to believe
That somehow someone would be waiting there
Upon this Christmas Eve

And when his train it pulled into that station
He saw there was a single pair of tracks
Within the snow and leading to that
Station door
And he followed those steps back
And on this night of our salvation
Where dreams that have been lost
Can there be found
They walked away together
On that Christmas Eve

While all that night
All that night
The snow came down

In this last season of the year
This season that we trust
It's not only important to know for whom we wait
But to know who waits for us
And as they walked home together
To the light of Christmas trees
They could not help but wonder
About how this night came to be

While back inside the attic
The girl saw them walking through the snow
And she smiled with a child's delight
Thinking how they would never know
And suddenly she realized
Beneath this night of stars
Sometimes Christmas uses its own hands
And sometimes it uses ours