Take Care of Me - the final chapter

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

Title: Take Care of Me
Author: Liriel
Pairing: VM/OB, slight SB/EW
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: AU
Summary: Orlando and Elijah are flatmates, living in London. One afternoon they are overheard whinging about how easy girls have it. A challenge is issued. Will they accept it?
Beta: The incomparable, unforgettable catlover2x Mwaaah
A/N: I know, and you know that most women don't have it this easy. So don't blame me, the opinions expressed in this story are those of the characters and not the poor author, who's just recording the events and thoughts.
A/N2: Special thanks to mesnica for the awesome banner!



Orlando shifted sleepily in the bed, a smile curving his lips as he felt gentle fingertips stroking over his cheek and down to his jaw. Slowly he opened his eyes to look into the intense blue gaze of his lover.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Viggo said with a smile when Orlando's eyes finally opened. He'd woken up before dawn and had spent the past two hours watching the young man sleep, hardly daring to believe that Orlando had finally committed himself to their relationship wholeheartedly.

“Merry Christmas, love,” Orlando smiled sleepily, reaching up his hand to stroke the older man's face.

Viggo turned his face slightly to press a tender kiss to Orlando's palm where it rested against his cheek. “Shall we get up and see what Santa left for us?” he grinned mischievously.

“I already have my present, right here,” the young man replied, smiling sweetly as he let his hand trail down his lover's neck to stroke the downy hair on Viggo's chest.

Leaning in, Viggo captured Orlando's lips with his own in a tender kiss full of promise for the future, their future together. When he finally released the sweet pink mouth, he spoke not a word as he drew his young lover from their bed and helped him to don his dressing gown.

In bemusement, Orlando allowed Viggo to help him with his robe and guide him out the bedroom door. Suddenly, he remembered the gift that he'd had Lawrence hide beneath the tree.
“Hurry!” he said quickly, taking the lead to pull the older man down the stairs to where their tree stood, glittering magically in the low light of the sitting room.

Viggo chuckled when he found himself being hauled urgently towards the sitting room.

“Sit here,” Orlando commanded excitedly, pushing his lover into position on the couch before crawling beneath the tree to retrieve his gift. Impatiently brushing his curls out of his eyes, he crawled on his knees across the floor and carefully placed the oddly shaped gift into Viggo's hands. The young man's breathing accelerated as he waited nervously for his lover to open the gift.

Smiling affectionately at Orlando's barely concealed excitement, Viggo began to slowly unwrap the knobbly gift. With the wrapping paper pulled away, he examined the polished wood sculpture in his lap. Picking it up, the sandy-haired man stroked the smooth surface, his fingers caressing the sensuous curves. “This is beautiful, Orlando. Thank you.” Viggo leaned over to kiss his lover's smiling mouth.

Orlando leaned up to meet the kiss and then rested his hands on Viggo's knees as he lifted his love-filled gaze to meet his lover's intense blue eyes. “I made it for you,” he said softly. “I found the wood when I went out walking and got lost. Look, see this bit in the middle? That's me.” The young man pointed to the small piece of lighter wood nestled within the protective curves of the dark walnut. “And this is you,” Orlando continued, stroking the refined, elegant lines of the wood. “You were taking care of me, and protecting me, but letting me have the room to find my way... to find my place... When I found this, I knew... I love you, Viggo.”

Tears filled Viggo's eyes as Orlando explained the sculpture to him. When the young man admitted his love, he could no longer contain himself, pulling Orlando onto his lap and crushing him in a tight hug. The sandy-haired businessman buried his face in his lover's chocolate curls, allowing his tears to fall. He'd never dared to hope that Orlando could love him.

“Don't cry, Vig, please?” Orlando begged, stroking his shaking lover's back. “I didn't want to make you cry.”

Finally pulling back to look into his partner's concerned gaze, Viggo smiled, making no attempt to wipe his tears away. “You've made me so happy, baby.” Cupping Orlando's face in his hands, he leaned in to bestow a tender kiss on his lover's mouth. “I love you, Orlando,” he breathed.

Smiling happily, Orlando wrapped his arms around Viggo's neck, peppering the older man's face with quick kisses. To have Viggo accept the sculpture, and tell Orlando that he loved him, was more than the young man had dared to hope for.

Quite sure he'd never get enough of holding and kissing his beloved, Viggo nevertheless eventually convinced Orlando to stop. “Now it's time for your present,” he said with a tender smile.

Quite willing to unwrap and discover what Viggo had got for him, Orlando quickly slid off the older man's lap and onto the couch, only to blink in confusion when Viggo carefully placed the sculpture on the side table and stood, drawing Orlando up with him. “I'm afraid your gift wouldn't fit under the tree,” the older man said with a teasing smile.

“What?” Orlando asked in confusion. “Viggo?”

“Patience, my love,” Viggo crooned as he led Orlando out of the sitting room and down the hall towards the back of the house.

Pulling a key from the pocket of his dressing gown where he'd placed it before Orlando woke up, Viggo smiled as he handed it to the mystified young man. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

“What's this?” Orlando asked in bewilderment as he looked between the key in his hand and his smiling lover. Was Viggo giving him a room?

“Unlock it,” Viggo encouraged.

With trembling fingers, Orlando fitted the key into the lock and then slowly opened the door. His eyes widening in shocked surprise, he took a few trembling steps into the room, his shaking hand covering his mouth. “Oh my God,” the young man whispered as his gaze took in the contents of the room. Everywhere his eyes rested was all he needed to help his dream come true. He'd never dared to think, all those weeks ago, that the first real conversation he'd had with Viggo would result in something like this. “Viggo?” Orlando said, his voice clogged with tears, as he turned to look at his beaming partner. Without another word, he flung himself into the older man's arms, sobbing with happiness.

Viggo held his shaking lover tightly, pleased that Orlando liked his gift. When they'd talked that first night together, Viggo had conceived the idea to provide Orlando with a studio, so that he could realize his dream of becoming a sculptor. He'd taken great pains to ensure that the work was carried out with the utmost secrecy and had taken advantage of the opportunity presented when Orlando was ill to have all the equipment delivered and installed in the studio.

One wall was covered in large windows that at the moment allowed plenty of weak wintry sunlight to enter. In one corner a large kiln had been set up so that Orlando could fire the pieces he created. There were two large bins of clay, three wheels, and a long bench that held an array of tools, while shelves held containers of glazes, even the expensive raku variety.

“Thank you so much,” Orlando said tearfully when he could finally manage to speak. “Thank you for believing in me, that I can do this.”

“I know you can do it, baby,” Viggo said tenderly, stroking his hand over the young man's still quivering back. “You have the talent. That sculpture you gave me proves that; anyone could see that. It takes an artist's eye to see the shapes in raw materials and hone the meaning into the wood.”

“I won't disappoint you, Viggo, I swear,” Orlando vowed, lifting his face to look into the older man's love-filled gaze. “I just....” his lips began to tremble again at the enormity of the gift. That Viggo had enough confidence in him that he would spend so much money on him completely blew Orlando away.

“You could never disappoint me, Orlando,” Viggo replied before once more claiming his young lover's lips, content in the knowledge that Orlando loved him, and they would have a wonderful life together.

~end~

Comments

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I'm always sad to see the end of my stories. Thank you for joining me on the journey!

[nad-no-ennas.livejournal.com]

Sob! I will miss this story so much! What will I look forward to on Thursdays? Hope you have another bunny in mind that involves so much h/c, tenderness and good old Viggorli! Thank you so much for a beautiful, enjoyable read.

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm a total H/C ho, so most of my stories have it in them. I'm very happy that you enjoyed this story and hope to have another one ready soon!

[readgreekeasy.livejournal.com]

Over?!?!?! I'm so sad now.. but a fantastic ending. I'll miss this one now that its over

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

Yep, it's over, I'm sad to say. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it, though.

[livdh.livejournal.com]

So lovely, but so sad this is over ! :((((

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! *hugs*

[lotr-gal709.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just wanted to say that even though I havent left you any other feedback, i really did love this fic!!! Ill miss it very much, and cant wait to see what you come up with next!!!
I have an idea if you want it!!!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sadly, my muse has left on vacation at the moment, so I will have to pass on your idea. (I currently have 17 WIP that NEED to be finished before I can even consider another one!)