Shelter fic - Finally Home

[raynedanserwrites]

Shelter - Shaun/Zach - Rated PG - 846 Words
Many thanks to joshysleo for the handholding. Love ya darlin!
Find my other Shelter posts HERE

Zach pulled back from the hug Shaun held him in, but kept his hands on Shaun's hips. He just wasn't quite ready to let go yet. He'd messed up enough and had so much to make up for, including this.

“So, um, when you said anything -” Zach began. He moved his hands up and began fiddling with a couple of buttons on Shaun's shirt.

“I meant anything. What? What is it?”

Zach exhaled and pulled back a little from Shaun. “Jeanne's leaving for Oregon today.”

Shaun nodded. “Okay.”

Zach plunged ahead. “She says she can't take Cody with her.”

For just a moment, Zach was worried that Shaun was going to tell him to forget it. Moving in together was one thing, but he hadn't signed on to play daddy to an active five year old.

“She – can't take him with her? Can't? Or won't?” Shaun finally asked in disbelief. “You know what? Forget it. We'll bring him too.”

As Shaun went to load his bags into his car, he left a stunned Zach standing in the middle of the yard. He shook himself and rushed to catch up, grabbed a bag and took it out to Shaun's car. With the trunk firmly closed, Zach leaned against it and watched Shaun putter around the yard a moment.

“Are you sure?” Zach asked. “I mean, Cody wasn't part of the deal.”

Shaun stopped and stared at Zach, then walked slowly over to him. Zach spread his legs a little, allowing Shaun to step between them. “Zach. Is Cody part of your family?” he asked and waited as Zach nodded. When he got the answer he was looking for, Shaun nodded, kissed Zach quickly the nose and went around to his car door. He opened it and looked over the roof of the car. “Then why are we still talking about this? Come on, let's go.”

And like that, it was solved. Well, as long as Jeanne would go along with it. He'd finally made a decision, finally figured out what he wanted to do and had a way to do it, he just hoped Jeanne didn't mess it up for him. For all of them.

********

Cody brushed his teeth and changed into his Pokemon pj's and Zach wandered around Shaun's half unpacked living room, picking books up and putting them back. Picking up framed pictures and putting them back, too.. For the time being, the couch had been made up for Cody, but Shaun had already promised to convert his spare bedroom/almost home office into a bedroom for Cody. Cody came out of the bathroom, rubbing his eyes tiredly and Zach chuckled.

“C'mon, Codes, bed time,” he said as he held the blanket back for Cody. He climbed onto the couch and Zach pulled the blanket back up over his shoulders before passing Cody a stuffed dog that Shaun had picked up for him on the way. “You good?” Zach asked his nephew.

Cody nodded. “Yup,” he said after a huge yawn.

“Alright, little man. You get some sleep.” Zach gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, and then smoothed the edge of the blanket. Before he went down the hall to the room that he shared with Shaun, he made sure that the apartment was locked up. He smiled a little when that train of thought clicked. The room he shared with Shaun.

He found Shaun propped against a mound of pillows, his laptop open in front of him. He was reading something and his lips moved silently. Zach leaned his shoulder against the door frame and just watched Shaun quietly for a bit.

Zach cleared his throat as he stepped into the room.

“Cody all set?” Shaun asked as he closed his computer.

Zach peeled off his tee shirt and shorts, then crawled across the bed and flopped over onto his back next to Shaun. “Yeah. He's good,” Zach answered with a grin.

Shaun dipped his head down and brushed his lips over Zach's. “And how are you doing?” he wanted to know.

Zach grinned wickedly. “I'm really, really good.”

“Yeah?”

Zach reached up and toyed with the edge of Shaun's sleeve. “Yeah,” he whispered.

“Zach?” came a little voice just then, interrupting what may have been.

Zach groaned. “What Cody?” Next to him, Shaun was chuckling. Zach kicked him gently in the shin, promptly shutting him up with a soft grunt.

“Can I sleep in here?” Cody asked as he climbed onto the bed and snuggled against Zach. “I'm scared.”

Zach's heart melted. New house, new noises, new everything. Of course Cody was scared. “Sure buddy, climb in,” he offered as he sat up and pulled the covers back. He raised his eyebrows at Shaun in silent question, smiling when Shaun nodded almost imperceptibly.

Cody slid under the covers and curled up on his side, snuggled once again around the stuffed dog from Shaun and it wasn't long until his breathing evened out in shallow breaths. Zach smiled and snuggled against Shaun, kissing him gently.

“Night,” Zach whispered, cupping Shaun's cheek.

Comments

[ravenbat.livejournal.com]

Such a nice story. :) I really like this one. I've not even seen the movie and it makes me want to.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetie! I really do appreciate the hand holding. *g* MWAH

[vidonia.livejournal.com]

Awww, so precious! Shelter has totally eaten my brain, as well.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Awww, so precious!

Thank you!

I watched it *again* today (with a friend so she could be addicted too *g*). I haven't been like this over a movie in a LONG time... meep.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

I could see the whole scene in my head!!
Beautifully written!!

Thank you!!!

My take with Shaun has always been that he cares so much for Zach that he takes everything - Cody, etc - and that once he commits, he commits fully and he's there for the long haul.

You did a wonderful job with your stories...Loved it very much!!

Thank you!

[jinxiegirl.livejournal.com]

Just wanted you to know that no matter how much I "know" you, you are a very talented woman!!!!

*wants more of story*
*stories*
*plural*

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetums!!!

I have more bunnies. *sigh* I should have showed you my list of bunnies for this movie. Good GAWD. lol

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

The first section is a great gapfiller. And the second is a lovely moment in time as the two boys move in with Shaun and begin their future as a family.

You made both sections very special as you captured both Shaun and Zach very well!!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

You made both sections very special as you captured both Shaun and Zach very well!!

Thank you so much for this. I sat on this one for a couple of days because it just felt... I was worried I was missing them. It's good to know I didn't. Thank you!

[rosiet.livejournal.com]

Awww.. Thank you for this!! I wished that we had actually had a scene like this first part here in the movie.... I could see it being just as you wrote it if it were. Shaun is so wonderful!! ( But them so is Zach...I love them both equally.... maybe Shaun the teeniest bit more.... but then maybe not... I need to see the movie another 1,000 times to decide, I think. hehehe )

The second part was lovely too.. I love imagining their new life together!!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

I could see it being just as you wrote it if it were.

Thank you! :D

[brokeback1963.livejournal.com]

Awwww, baby, I'm so melted away here!!! **sigh** This is sooooo beautiful!!! Oh please, keep writing, keep writing; you're amazing!!

I love Zach, he has a very HUGE heart!! But I love the most Shaun; he's very very very special, a true gentleman, so full of true love!! **swooning and drooling**

How delicious is that Shaun wanted Cody too because he really cared for Zach? Oh my...I'm smiling like a silly school girl!!! And what about that ending scene? They both prefer take care of that scared Cody instead of make love....Jesus, they are unbelievable!! I want a Shelter man for me!!!

Thank you so much for this, baby. You made my day!!!

[brokeback1963.livejournal.com]

BTW, I'm fucking in love with "Lie to me" (I read you're listening to it now), then with "More than this". My favorite scene is Lazy Days, where we see all those precious, tender moments between our boys.....their shared sweet days, that white bed...Shaun's neck being kissed.....Oh my, that scene makes me shiver, because it has my favorite images and my favorite song, Lie to me.

Is there any possiblity for a little shot about those Lazy Days?

Thank you baby!!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

How delicious is that Shaun wanted Cody too because he really cared for Zach?

Honestly? I Can't see him being any other way. All through the movie, he readily accepted Cody as a HUGE part of Zach's life and included him a lot. I just see him jumping in without hesitating. :D

Thank you so much for this, baby. You made my day!!!

No, thank you hon! You made mine, believe me. :D

[bellamyrose.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yet another thing I get to blame on you.

This was lovely, honey. And this one is all your fault too. I saw the first fic, when it popped up on my f-list, skimmed through, thought 'hmmmm', and yes. You know after that I had to get the movie.

It just went off, and I just, I love it. I think your characterizations are spot on, and I loved the scene with Cody asking to sleep with them. Yummy. More, please?

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Hey. there's worse things you could be blaming me for! :D

I'm glad you enjoyed them and the movie, sweetie. Um, did you see I posted icons, too? *g*

[delibby.livejournal.com]

When I went to read the next one, I saw the link to all your Shelter stories and thought, I thought there was only one other one. then I wondered how I missed this one. Because it's now Tuesday afternoon and I hadn't looked at LJ since, umm. It wasn't yesterday, that was food and friends. Sunday was reading Xander/Spike. Saturday was movie, then book, then Spike/Xander. Friday was work and then nap i think. Was it Thursday maybe when last i saw LJ? Possibly.

LOVE! Love it!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

heee! Busy busy. :D

Now, hopefully I can do justice to our guys as well. I promised a prompt to someone at the comm, too, so that will be posted tomorrow. ;-)

[spikedluv]

Sweet! Wish we'd gotten to see Zach telling Shaun about Cody in the movie. Loved the ending with Cody sharing their bed. Hopefully he'll feel secure enough soon to sleep in his own room (once it's set up of course), leaving the boys time for *coff* other activities. *g*

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

I'll um, leave the other activities to you. ;-) I haven't quite made it that far (yet?). I'm glad you liked it though. They're so much fun to play with!

[fansprez.livejournal.com]

So so sweet. Shaun gets the Best Boyfriend gold star for the day.

[pixeestyx.livejournal.com]

Indeed! :D

[pixeestyx.livejournal.com]

I was having so much fun playing with them and then last week hit and I ran out of time. I'm hoping to pick up the bunnies this week. *g*

I'm glad you liked it!

[jess-d-10.livejournal.com]

Just lovely. I love that you take the time to think about the details, like the fact that it would take a few days to get settled in and get a bedroom set up for Cody. And the family bed is a beautiful image as well!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm really glad you're enjoying these and really appreciate the feedback. :D