Title: All This Time 2/?

[sairalinde.livejournal.com]

Title: All This Time
Authors: sairalinde and anorienbean
Pairing: David Wenham/Craig Parker
Rating: NC-17 for graphic m/m sex
Archiving: Saira’s Library, Here With Me, Mirrormere, OEAM, others please ask first
Feedback: Yes, please. We live for it. Send to: sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com, or thechroniclesofosgiliath @ yahoo.com
Disclaimer: No money was made from this, and this in no way is meant to imply anything about the sexual preferences or practices of anyone mentioned within this story.
Summary: Craig knows that the only person he can really talk to about his string of failed relationships is his best friend, David, who’s always been there for him.






David had arrived at the airport a little early, and was waiting for Craig's plane to arrive. He had checked the flight schedule more times than he could count that day before he left home, just to make sure it wasn't delayed. At least that's what he kept telling himself.

He wasn't sure if he was insane for asking Craig to come stay with him or if after all these years he just couldn't stand the distance of the entire country between them anymore. He knew Craig didn't have the same feelings that David had for him, and maybe it was for all the wrong reasons that he had offered his home to his friend, but he was tired of seeing Craig hurt. Maybe if he were out of Los Angeles he would find someone who would be good to him? David wished that Craig would one day open his eyes and see *him* but even if he never did, David still wanted him to be happy. He deserved that.

Craig was intelligent, funny, incredibly talented, and had the worst taste in lovers of anyone David had ever met. Maybe being away from a place like Los Angeles where it was less likely he'd meet someone as shallow as Stuart or his last few lovers, he'd have the chance to find happiness. At least David hoped so. When he heard that Craig's flight number had arrived, he couldn't stop smiling. It had been almost three years since he'd seen Craig in person.

Craig grabbed his carry on bag and was one of the first passengers off the plane. He really was looking forward to seeing his best friend. It’d been way too long, and, even though he and David had kept in close contact, it wasn’t the same. He missed David’s laughter, his sense of humor; the way he always looked on the positive side of everything…he missed David.

As he walked into the terminal, he quickly scanned the crowd, looking for the sparkling blue eyes and copper colored hair he hadn’t seen in such a long time. Without a doubt, David would be here…as Craig had always known, the only person who he’d ever truly been able to count on was David. He finally spotted him standing near the gate, and made a beeline in his direction, stopping only long enough to let the guard check his bag.

Without even thinking about it, Craig dropped everything and wrapped his arms around his best friend of over 15 years, holding him close and feeling better than he had in a very long time.

When David caught sight of Craig his smile grew even wider. He hadn't seen him in almost three years and he was still gorgeous as ever. That dark hair and those sparkling blue eyes he loved so much.

When Craig spotted him waiting and he smiled, David felt his pulse quicken. His smile could always take David's breath away. Once his friend made it to him through the hordes of other people he found himself wrapped up in a tight hug. "Hey there, stranger," he said laughing and wrapping his arms around Craig. God it felt good to hold him again even if it was just a hug of friendship.

Craig grinned and couldn’t help but notice that David smelled good….*really* good. And damned if he didn’t look amazing too. Always had, though. He’d never understood why someone hadn’t snatched David up a long time ago…he was certainly the best man he’d ever had the pleasure of knowing, and the most honest and caring person he’d ever met. “Hey yourself,” he laughed as he pulled away and looked at his best friend from head to toe. “God…Daisy, I’ve missed you so much. You just have no idea.”

"I've missed you too, Craig," David said smiling and having to bite back the words that wanted to fall from his lips about how damn good Craig looked. "Come on, let's get your luggage," he suggested, holding his hand out in invitation for Craig to walk with him.

He kept resisting the urge to touch Craig, now that he was here after so long, David needed to remind himself often that they were *just* friends. "My house isn't very big, but...I think you'll be comfortable there," he said falling into step beside Craig.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get back here to help you move when you first bought it,” Craig said as they walked toward the luggage rack. “Everything was so crazy with the movie back then. The pictures you sent are gorgeous…I can’t wait to see it. You’re sure you have room and I won’t be intruding?”

"That's ok, I know how hectic things were for you. And thanks, it's not much compared to what you were probably used to out in L.A. but...it's comfortable. And for the last time, you aren't intruding...remember *I* invited *you* so...I think there is a rule about that or something, but you are *my* guest so you can't be intruding," he teased as they waited for Craig's luggage to circle the carousel. After a few moments, Craig pointed out his luggage and David helped grab the bags. "Is this everything?" he asked.

“That’s it,” Craig smiled. “I didn’t pack much, but I….well, honestly, I don’t think I want to return to LA anytime soon. I…well, we can talk about it later.” He’d given it a lot of thought, and couldn’t think of one single reason to stay in California. The screenplays could be emailed and, when he needed to, he could always fly back for meetings. It was time, he’d decided, to stop trying to *be* with someone and finally accept that some people were simply meant to be alone.

Several minutes later, as they climbed into David’s car, he turned toward his friend. “Now, promise me that if I get in the way, you’ll tell me…or…well, I know you said you weren’t seeing anyone, but if you need me to leave so you can have some privacy, you’ll let me know, right?”

"I promise I'll let you know, but I doubt you'll be in the way. As I said I'm not seeing anyone...and don't have plans to in the near future," David said starting the car.

He couldn't tell Craig that ever since he'd discovered he was in love with his best friend he hadn't dated anyone. As David drove, he talked about the changes around town that had taken place in the years Craig had been gone. After an hour they finally arrived at David's house. It was a small white house with green shutters and was set back from the street enough to have a decent sized yard with a few flower beds that the previous owner had planted and David continued to tend. "Well here we are," he said turning off the engine. "Welcome to my home, it's not much, but it'll be paid for in another twenty years," he said grinning.

Craig surveyed the house with a smile as he opened the car door and stood up. The yard was neat and well cared for, and the house cozy and welcoming. “I love it already,” he said as David stood as well and proudly surveyed the house. The slight breeze made David’s hair feather softly around his face, and as David continued to look at the house, Craig blinked and took in his friend’s profile. “You look wonderful, Daisy,” he said truthfully.

One thing he’d never managed to do was hold his tongue around David…with everyone else, he tended to be a bit shy, or say something stupid, but with David, he didn’t have to worry about what he said or did. With David, Craig could just be….Craig. “Always have been the handsomest man I’ve ever seen….you could have made it in Hollywood if you’d ever given it a try.”

David felt a blush race up to his cheeks as Craig spoke even at the same time his inner voice said //then why can't you love me instead of all those other losers?//. Instead David laughed and shook his head. "Umm...I...thanks," he stammered. "Let's get you inside, I bet you are exhausted after your flight," he said quickly changing the subject and going to the trunk to get Craig's luggage. "And as I said before, you can stay as long as you want to," he said pulling two of the suitcases out.

~~~

Once they had gotten Craig settled into the guest room, David went to the kitchen to start dinner. He'd asked Craig if he was tired, but Craig had said he wasn’t, only that he wanted a shower.

David tried his best not to think about the fact the man he'd been in love with for over three years was probably naked AND wet just a few rooms away from him. He moved about the kitchen gathering ingredients and unable to get over the feeling that this was one of the happiest days he'd had in a long time. Having Craig back home was something he had doubted he would ever see again. Craig had moved away right after college to pursue his career, and really hadn't ever looked back, except to stay in touch with his family and with David.

Chopping tomatoes for a salad, David tried to focus on being what he always has been. Craig's best friend. Help him to heal after this latest disaster with Stuart and be supportive. He hadn't counted on how hard it would be to hide how he felt with Craig *there* in his home until now.

It was easy chatting on the computer, or in email, or on the phone...much easier than in person. David had hardly any guile in him and it was hard for him to hide things, especially from Craig. He hoped he hadn't made a mistake asking him to come, but...he couldn't pass up the chance to be with his friend. It was always a double-edged sword.

As Craig stepped from the shower and dried off, he thought about how good it felt to be here. His dark mood from the days before had lightened considerably, as it always did when he spoke with David. And now, he was here, in David’s house, and he was determined not to moan about Stuart and how used he felt. David was always willing to listen, had never once made Craig feel as if he were tired of hearing about Craig’s life and failures at love, (of which there were many) but Craig found that he honestly enjoyed hearing about David’s life…his students, his work, the books he read, the movies he watched. He was, as he had been since their college days, simply interested in *David*. Oh, he knew at one point they’d have to talk about Stuart, but Craig was determined not to be the one to bring it up. His career might be steamrolling ahead, but his love life was a complete and utter failure, and he didn’t need to remind David of that little fact.

Slipping into some sweats, Craig quickly buttoned up his favorite blue shirt, and hurried into the kitchen, eager to catch up with David in person. They’d chatted almost every night either on the phone or on the computer, but as soon as he’d laid eyes on David at the airport, Craig had realized that he missed seeing him face to face more than he thought possible. “Need some help?” he asked with a crooked smile as he padded barefoot around the bar, his hair still wet and spiky and the shirt clinging to his chest where he’d failed to get completely dry.

David turned when he heard Craig's voice cut through his thoughts. Immediately, his mouth went dry, seeing Craig in *his* home, his hair wet and standing in adorable spikes and his shirt clinging to him that way. David's voice simply left him for a moment. He realized suddenly that he was staring at his best friend and holding a spoon out in front of himself like a weapon. Almost laughing at himself he lowered the utensil and smiled. "Sure, wanna pour us some tea?" he asked nodding toward the fresh pitcher on the table. Turning back to the pan on the stove, he stirred the spaghetti sauce. "It should be done soon," he said over his shoulder, trying to fall into the normal patterns with Craig.

Craig grinned and poured the tea into the two glasses David had already set on the table. Moving closer to his friend, he leaned over the pot and took a deep breath. “Mmmm,” he murmured, “that smells delicious. You know I’ve always loved your cooking, Daisy.”

David grinned as Craig leaned over in front of him, and for the briefest moment he didn't have the scent of sauce around him at all but Craig's scent, one he knew well in his dreams. He swallowed hard and smiled as Craig looked up at him. "Thanks," he said feeling a slight blush stain his cheeks. As he looked at his friend he laughed. "I thought you said you weren't tired?" he asked eyeing the front of Craig's shirt.

Craig looked down and saw that in his haste to get into the kitchen, he’d missed a button. Shrugging, he laughed and took the spoon from David’s hand, then dipped it into the sauce. “You know me,” he laughed as he blew on the spoonful of sauce to cool it. “Never have been able to get the simple things right.” His eyes sparkled as he looked at David and brought the spoon to his lips. He took a small bite, closed his eyes and smiled. “Delicious,” he murmured, offering the last bit of sauce on the spoon to David. Already, his misshapened shirt was forgotten and he gently nudged David’s lips with the spoon. “Tried it yet?”

David watched as Craig took the spoon from him and then pursed his lips to blow on the sauce. //God, he's so damn gorgeous.// They were close enough that David could feel the heat from Craig's body and he tried diligently not to stare but failed miserably. When Craig had closed his eyes and smiled, David felt the most irresistible urge to kiss him and looked down and away. Then when Craig offered the next taste to him and he looked up, he found himself trying to will his pulse back to normal. Opening his lips as Craig nudged the spoon against them, he tasted the rich sauce, and then licked his bottom lip. "Thanks, no I hadn't tasted it...you sure it doesn't need anything else?" he asked, trying to be as conversational as possible.

“No,” Craig said, handing the spoon back to David and crossing the kitchen to get a glass of tea. “It’s perfect…your cooking’s always been perfect, Daisy.” He took a large sip of tea and set the glass in front of David. Looking down, he suddenly remembered his shirt and shook his head. Unbuttoning it with one hand, he opened the cabinet in front of him with the other and smiled when he saw he’d guessed correctly. Taking down two dinner plates, he looked up at David, completely forgetting his unbuttoned shirt and arched his eyebrows. “Want me to make a salad or something?” he asked.

David still had his back to Craig as he asked about a salad, "I already cut up the..." his voice trailed off as he turned around and saw Craig standing bare chested not three feet away, "Uh....the tomatoes...and...the bowl for the salad is in the cabinet beside the fridge," he finally managed feeling completely foolish. To hide his embarrassment, David turned back to the stove and checked the noodles and tried to pretend that his face wasn't glowing yet again. Closing his eyes he realized having Craig on the other side of the country all these years had made it easy for him to hide how he felt but with him here....now...he was going to have to try harder.

“You ok, Daisy?” Craig asked as he reached for the salad bowl. “I….if you’re worried you’ll have to cook for me the whole time I’m here, don’t….I plan on doing my fair share – cooking, cleaning, whatever…and I won’t even leave my stinking socks all over the house this time. I know *that* used to drive you nuts.” Chuckling, he began putting the salad together, keeping one eye on his friend. “Or…if you need to go out or anything, don’t feel like you have to stay here and keep me company. I’ll be just fine.”

"I'm fine...sorry I just, you know how I am sometimes,…errant thoughts," David lied keeping his back to Craig. He could never lie to his face, not even about this. "I'm not worried about cooking either, I love to cook, you know that, and it's nice to have someone to cook for...you know...for a change," he said not realizing until it was too late how utterly pitiful that sounded. "I do appreciate not having to pick up your socks though," he teased. "Grab the colander over there for me?" David asked tipping his head toward where it hung on the wall.

Craig laughed and handed the colander to David, gently elbowing him in the ribs as he passed. “In my defense, I’ll say that my socks smell fresh and beautiful, even after I’ve worn them for several days in a row and slept in them at night,” he said playfully, enjoying their usual, easygoing banter. “My socks are a treasure, I’ll have you know.”

David snorted and shook his head, "A treasure, my dear friend, that you are welcome to keep ALL to yourself," he teased. Draining the noodles, he turned around and Craig was already there holding out plates. He smiled; they had cooked together before, though it had been many years, somehow they already found an easy pattern with each other. Like always. "Thanks," David said taking the plates and serving out spaghetti and sauce. Craig already at his side took one and moved to the table picking up the salad he'd finished off for David. Plating up his own food, David followed Craig to the small table and smiled. "Thanks again, for the help."

“No, Daisy, thank you for reminding me where my home is,” Craig said, smiling, but knowing that his words couldn’t be any truer. “I….well, I guess it’s a good time to tell you that I’m thinking of moving back here for good. I’m tired of LA, and I miss….well, I miss spending time with you, I miss home cooked meals, I miss hearing the crickets chirping at night. There’s nothing for me back in LA that can’t be taken care of with a plane ticket. Of course, that’ll mean me and my lovely socks will be around *alot*, so I wanted to talk to you about it before I made my final decision. As I said earlier, I don’t want to cramp your style, but, God, it’s nice to just look you in the face and *talk* instead of typing out my life to you chapter by chapter, ya know?”

David looked up as Craig said he was thinking of moving back home for good. He couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face; he was practically beaming at Craig. "For good? I...after all these years..." he trailed off. "I would love to have you back here again, where we can see more of each other. And like I said before, you are welcome to stay here as long as you like. I don't mind at all...honestly, it gets a bit lonely sometimes...so don't worry that you are imposing and don't worry that you have to rush out and get a place right away," he said, simply unable to stop smiling. "Seeing you here, home...face to face is better than anything."

Craig laughed and studied David’s face for a moment. He really did seem happy to hear his news. Maybe he *wouldn’t* be an imposition. “There honestly wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think of you while I was in LA,” he said, idly twisting his fork in the spaghetti. “Maybe next time I fly out, you can come with me? There’s so much I’d love to show you. There’s a restaurant I just know you’d love, and some bookstores that always make me think of you with their huge section of historical texts. Oh, and there’s a little club I’ve been dying to show you for years where they play live music every night…it’s amazing, and not many people know about it…” His voice continued on, telling David of all the things he wanted to show him, all the places and people he wanted him to see, until he realized he was rambling. “…um…yeah. Anyway. Will you come with me? If I schedule it when school’s out for the summer?”

David had listened to Craig talk about Los Angeles and was genuinely interested in visiting. "Sure, I'd love to. It would be nice to see the places you've been, and see what it is like there. I've always been curious, especially when you'd tell me about your life there, I always tried to picture the places you talked about, but I'm sure my imaginings pale in comparison to the real thing," he said with a smile before taking a bite of his food. He found himself watching Craig, the way he was always so casual and relaxed. When they were younger David sometimes envied that about him, and now, he found it to be incredibly refreshing after so many years of just being Mr. Wenham the history teacher.

“All my acquaintances are dying to meet you,” Craig said, warming up to the idea of finally being able to show David all the things he’d wanted to for so long. “I guess I tend to talk about you a lot. I didn’t even realize it until several people asked why I didn’t bring my mysterious best friend to the cast parties and dinners. Why even….” Again, his voice trailed off and he shook his head. The man he’d dated before Stuart, Viggo, had once told him it seemed like Craig loved David, not him. Craig had started to protest, but stopped when he realized that he *did* love David. Always had, since he first laid eyes on him in college all those years ago. But Craig knew he pushed his lovers away….no matter how hard he tried, he always ended up screwing his love life up beyond repair. And he couldn’t do that to David…he couldn’t stand to lose him. So they’d remained friends, and he’d been closer to David than he’d ever been to anyone else in his entire life, but they’d never made love, never even kissed. David was the one constant in his life, and, even if Craig never got the balls to tell him how he’d felt all these years, David couldn’t possibly feel the same way. “Never mind. So…what do you want to do tonight? Since I won’t be online taking up your evening with our marathon chats, what do you feel like?”

David was a little surprised to hear that Craig actually talked about *him* to his friends back in L.A. Craig had never mentioned it before to him, and he couldn't help feeling touched. At Craig's question he sat back in his chair. "I hadn't really planned anything in particular really, I spent all day yesterday grading papers so I wouldn't have anything to do tonight, but...I didn't think of anything in particular. I guess we could find a movie to watch and pop some popcorn later or something? Remember those cheesy monster movies we used to watch in college? I'm sure we could find one and make fun of it," he laughed, remembering what they did years ago, when they were both too tired after a full load of classes and work to even move from the dorm media room couch.

“Oh my God,” Craig laughed. “Like The Blob or Godzilla vs Mothra? Or, hell, even the new stuff…Jason in space or something? I’d love to! I even brought something for you from LA. You know those Swiss chocolate truffles I always send you for your birthday? I had a few dozen made up as soon as I knew I was coming…I know you’ve always loved them.”

David laughed as Craig mentioned the movies they could watch and then smiled happily as he mentioned the truffles. "Fancier than the Hershey bars we always had in college...but I bet they'll go great with the popcorn," he laughed. God, he'd missed this. Missed Craig. They finished dinner and set about straightening up the kitchen before heading to the living room.

Craig settled on the couch and curled his feet underneath him. All thoughts of Stuart and his love life, or lack thereof, had been the farthest thing from his mind, and he realized that he was truly enjoying himself. He watched as David looked through the movie guide and laughed as he remembered how his friend used to love watching horror movies, but would jump and hide behind him every time something would *move* on the screen. More than once Craig had had five small, finger shaped bruises on his arm where David would grab him and hide, giggling as he both tried to watch the movie and tried to burrow behind Craig at the same time. “Make sure it’s good and creepy,” he teased as he wrapped the afghan over his legs.

"Hmmm.....I'm looking...oh here's one of yours....not horror though," he teased. "Let's see...oh here's one. Oh God, Friday the 13th...just don't tease me too much I KNOW what happens and STILL jump," David said changing to the channel it would be coming on. He settled back under the afghan with Craig and smiled. In one way this was torture sitting beside Craig like this, close enough their thighs touched because David's couch was so small, in another it was as natural as rain on a spring day.

Craig reached behind him and flipped the light switch, enveloping the room in darkness except for the TV. He saw David’s head snap toward him and laughed. “Oh, come on, Daisy, I’ll keep you safe. No promises on the teasing though.”

As the lights went out David had turned to Craig and almost scowled at him. "I know...you always have," he said softly almost forgetting himself. "I guess I'll just have to live with the teasing...I just don't see HOW you can't jump," he muttered, though suppressing a smile made his lips twitch.

Giggling, Craig drug his eyes away from the shadow of David’s profile and turned his attention to the screen. It had been so long since he’d done this. He’d actually tried watching horror movies with Viggo and Stuart, but it just wasn’t the same. Both of the other men had sat there as if bored, laughing at all the wrong places and never once jumping, even when Craig had to fight the urge to jump himself. After a while, he’d simply stopped trying…horror movies were best seen with his best friend, and he didn’t see how anything would ever change that. He leaned back against the couch, making sure his arm was in easy reach of David’s already clenching hands and pulled the afghan higher over both of them. “Here we go, Daisy,” he whispered as the movie finally started.

David laughed as Craig 'warned him' and tried to relax next to his friend. It had been ages since he'd sat down and watched a horror movie. He tried on his own a few times, and with other friends, and even a few lover's he'd had before he discovered how he felt about Craig...and it was never the same. He and Craig just seemed to click on a certain level, they got each other's sense of humor, and while he was the much more 'straight laced' according to most people who knew them, somehow they just seemed to fit. Always had. David reasoned that was probably why he'd fallen for Craig. Soon his thoughts turned to just getting wrapped up in the movie, and he didn't even realize he'd inched closer to Craig as the music began to build, knowing that *something* was about to happen.

Craig stared at the screen, but kept a close eye on David, well aware of exactly *when* David would be grabbing his arm and trying to squirm between Craig’s back and the couch. //God, Daisy, I’ve missed you so much. Thank God I never told you how I felt back then…or we wouldn’t have *this*…we’d probably not even been speaking to each other, I’d have fucked us up so badly.// Craig smiled as David almost unconsciously inched closer, his eyes sparkling even in the dim room as his friend held his breath and moved closer still.

As the music on screen built to a crescendo, David closed his eyes, already knowing what the scene held, but the sound, and the screams still made him flinch and grab Craig's hand under the afghan. He didn't even realize he'd buried his face against his friend's shoulder, until he heard the music recede and he opened his eyes and looked up at Craig's that were sparkling with amusement. "Don't say it," he whispered and sat back against the couch.

“Not. A. Word.” Craig grinned, automatically curling his fingers around David’s, knowing that his hand would be sore the next morning, but not really caring. Moments later, David’s head was again hidden against his arm and he tried not to laugh. He’d never laugh *at* David, but David’s own nervous giggles made it all the more enjoyable. He found himself hoping there would be at least one or two more horror movies on after this one. They had a lot of time to make up for, and he’d not had anyone to truly enjoy watching these movies with in a long, long time.

David was grateful that Craig hadn't made fun of him, and he let himself simply enjoy sitting there, holding hands with the man he loved even if Craig had no clue. When the movie was finally over, they saw that another good slasher film was coming on and they agreed to use the break to go make popcorn. David knew at some point Craig would want to talk about Stuart, but he was glad this first night was just for them and their friendship.

~~~
TBC