*** Hunter's POV ***

I'm standing at the counter, trying to read the piece of paper when someone finally picks up the phone. "Hello?"

"Joooooooooanie????" I whine. Once upon a time, I had this great idea that I was gonna do everything for Jericho's party myself, including making the cake.

I can tell by her voice she already is sick of me calling her. "What now, Hunter?"

"Do you have any flour?" At least...I THINK the recipe calls for flour. There's a big splotch of.....uhm....what the hell IS that?.....over that line.

Joanie sighed loudly. "You started making a cake without having any flour? What kind of idiot are you....wait, don't answer that." Yeesh, you make one (ok, seven) cooking mistakes and all of a sudden you're the world's biggest imbecile. "Ok, how much flour do you need?"

"Uhm...lemme see...3 cups."

"Ok...I'll send Eddie over there with it, alright? I need him to stop at the store anyways."

"Noooo...don't-" but Joanie hung up before I could protest her sending the bane of my existence to help me out.

Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell starting to ring continuously. I opened the door to find Eddie Gurerro leaning on the bell. "You could knock.." I suggested, but he ignored me, wandering into the house.

"You making a cake for Jerktina?" he asked.

Now it was my turn to sigh. "Yes, I am making a cake for CHRIS. Now, do you have the flour?"

Eddie walked into the kitchen and hopped up so he was sitting on the counter. "This place is a mess.." he muttered.

I glared at him. "No, you think? Now, I want my flour."

He shook his head, pulling out a Ziploc bag full of white powder. "Actually, it's my flour. And I don't think I want to give it to you."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure you do. Now put away the crack you are so obviously on and give me the flour."

Eddie put his hands on his hips (and he's supposed to be the only straight one out of all of us...) "I'm not on crack I'm on TAMALES!"

I don't want to know. I just don't want to know. "Regardless of what drugs or Mexican foods you are taking, I really need the flour."

I made a grab for the bag, but Eddie wouldn't let go. We started a tug-of-war with it, both of us pulling until.....

POOF!!!!!! The room was engulfed in white powder. Three cups of flour had suddenly managed to cover an entire kitchen. Eddie and I turned to each other. "Now look what you did!" we yelled at the same time.

From the doorway came an almost evil laugh. I looked over my shoulder to see, of all people, Sean and Kane at my door. "Uhm...Hunter....you want me to drive to the store and maybe buy a cake?" Kane asked, trying not to laugh.

I opened my mouth to say that I could do it myself, but Sean cut me off by saying. "You are aware that it's five o'clock and Chris is supposed to be home in an hour. And you haven't decorated yet."

I closed my eyes. "No. We can get this done." I returned my glare to Eddie. "Get a broom."

He wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Why?"

"Because you're gonna sweep this mess up." Before he could start to complain, I turned to Sean. "You're good at blowing things, inflate these balloons." I looked at Kane. "Can you hang the streamers? You're the tallest."

Finally, I glanced at Joanie, but she sighed before I could talk. "Yes, I'll finish the cake for you. But you SO owe me."

With everyone drafted into service, I began to set up the table in the living room. This was gonna be fun.

*** Jericho's POV ***

Hunter is going to die. I'm going to be very tactful about it, but he is so dead. Billy and Jesse met me as I was about to go up the stairs to my home, telling me that Hunter had invited them over to, and I quote, "watch the game." On my BIRTHDAY!!! I was hoping to watch the Game too, but I highly doubt we're talking about the same thing.

I opened my door. "Hello?" It was pitch-black inside. I stumbled in, turning on the light as I went.

Around the table, sat Joanie, Eddie, Sean, Kane, and Hunter. Joanie had a towel wrapped around her head and a Snow Globe sat in the middle of the table. My friends were all holding hands with their eyes closed.

Joanie was the first one to speak. "I feel a presence...."

Hunter was next. "Chris, Chris, is that you? Can you hear me?"

I started to tell him that, yeah, you big idiot, I could, but Kane spoke up first. "Are you at peace?"

Sean was next. "What's it like on the other side of the hill?"

Joanie's voice was wavering with barely-contained laughter as she cut in. "The spirit is weak because of it's old age. Please, one question at a time."

Oh. Now I get it. "You guys are soooooo funny. A seance."

"The spirit is speaking!!!!" Eddie squealed.

I just shook my head. "Now, I know for a fact that all of you except Sean are older than me, so you have no right to be making age jokes."

Hunter stood up, coming over to embrace me. "We know. But it's not every day your friend turns thirty. Happy birthday, honey bun."

Sean whistled softly. "Thirty. Wow, that's OLD!!!!" He was promptly smacked by everyone else in the room.

I looked around the room. Black streamers. Black balloons. They really had fun with this. "Kane, did you raid your brother's room or something?"

Kane laughed softly. "No, but I did get the address to 'Gloomy Party Supplies Inc.' from him."

I stared around the room and the reality sunk in. This was a birthday party. For me. Seven people came to a party because of me. Not because of free beer, but because they....

...Because they wanted to make fun of me, I guess. Sean and Kane had apparently ducked into the kitchen, because all of a sudden everyone was singing as they carried out my cake. Which was shaped like a tombstone. Do ya feel the love?

Eventually, the cake was put in front of me and I was ordered to make a wish. I thought about it for a moment, whether I should wish for the WWF title or for Hunter to loose the frustration that plagues him, or world peace, or a whole lifetime like the last five months have been...but I finally came up with something. I wish for the strength and courage to do what I've planned tonight.

After a while, all the cake was eaten, the presents were opened, and everyone began to head home. Eventually, it was just me and Hunter. "So...." I started off. This seemed like it might be harder than I thought.

Hunter smiled at me. "Did you like your party?"

I nodded. "It was great. Except for the whole age theme. That wasn't so much fun." I swallowed. "But there's something else."

Hunter immediately got concerned. "What is it?"

I looked down. "Well...in therapy we keep talking about....." The rest came out in a rush. "We both know one of these day we're gonna have to start doing what normal couples do, and I want that day to be today."

I could see the flash of worry in Hunter's eyes. "Chris...we are a normal couple, regardless of what we do or don't do at night. Don't feel pressured into this before you're ready."

I shook my head. "No, I want this. I want YOU. With every inch of my body. Yeah, I'm scared, but I'm always gonna be scared." I finally met his eyes. "I love you and I trust you and I want to be with you in every way."

A moment passed where we just stared into each other's eyes, and then Hunter pulled me against him. "I love you so much. You know that, right?" I nodded against him. He looked down. "Chris...do you want to be the one in control? Would that make this any easier?"

A small part of me said yes, said that it would be so much easier that way, but that's the same part that kept me from confessing my secret to Hunter for so long, so I ignored it. "No. This is all or nothing." I bit my lower lip. "My heart knows you would never dream of hurting me. Prove it to the rest of me."

Seconds later, I felt myself being lifted up until I was being carried by Hunter. He carried me through the living room and into our bedroom. He set me gently down on the bed. "I promise you, I will make this perfect." He started to kiss my neck lightly, and I moaned, rolling my head to let him get closer. This here, this intimacy, I missed this so much. He began to lower his kisses, brushing his lips over my throat before pulling back slightly.

I blinked up at him. "What? What's the matter?"

He smiled comfortingly. "Nothing. I have to get your shirt off." He began undoing the buttons one by one, kissing each new patch of skin revealed. When my shirt was finally off, I took the liberty of slipping my hands under his shirt to pull it over his head. The shirts landed in a heap on the floor, and I thought for a moment how nice it was that this was our floor, that we would finally be making love in the home we shared. Hunter knelt above me, trailing his finger over the outline of my abdomen. "You’re too thin, sweetheart."

I glared up at him. "Oh shut up. Not everyone can be as scarily muscular as you."

Hunter laughed. "Oh come on, you know you love it."

I couldn’t help but giggle, but I’m not sure if it’s because of what he said or because his fingers are starting to tickle. "Yeah….I always feel like I’m with the captain of the football team. And my school’s football team had a really hot captain."

Smiling, Hunter replaced his light touch with his tongue. He traced the lines of my stomach, dipping his tongue into my bellybutton, and I felt every muscle in my body turn to water. My hands clenched where they rested on Hunter's back.

He paused. "You ok?"

I nodded. "It’s just…been awhile…and it feels so good."

His hands traveled to my waist. "And it’s only gonna get better." He unbuttoned my pants, sliding them off of me.

He moved to take off his own jeans, but I stopped him. "No no no, I want to…." I sat up, unzipping his pants. I let my fingers brush ever-so-slightly across the bulge in his boxers and felt his whole body tense.

"You little tease…" He pushed me gently backwards, placing kisses along my collarbone. I twined my fingers in his hair, just needing him to keep touching me. Hunter looked up at me. "Are you sure you still want to do this?"

I pulled his head down to capture his lips in a hungry kiss. "Does that answer your question?"

Gently, he moved his hands down to the waistband of my boxers. I closed my eyes, trying to tell myself that the nightmare of that locker room 15 years ago would never be repeated, that to be exposed now was simply to bring myself closer to the man I loved.

Before I knew it, my boxers were off and I watched Hunter remove his. His body still amazes me. It is so strong, powerful…it’s almost amazing that he is so gentle when we are together. Hunter moves down on the bed, leaning over to pull a small tube out of the drawer by our bed. Although I try to fight it, my stomach tightens. Ever empathic, Hunter picks up on it. "Baby…relax. I promise, I will take this as slowly and carefully as you need. Nothing will hurt you."

I took a shaky breath. "I know."

I felt him take my hand. "Just remember...it's me here. And I love you."

As slowly as possible, one finger slid into me and I bit down on the wave of nausea. Hunter squeezed my hand and once I had regained control, I gave him a tiny squeeze back. "Keep going..."

Another finger slid into me, and this time, the fear stayed down. A third finger, slightly brushing my prostate, and every nerve in my body started to tingle and I started to remember why sex is a good thing. When I came down from the feeling, I could feel him inside me, and despite the electricity still running through me, I started to panic.

Until I heard his voice. "I love you angel...I always will....don't be afraid....there's no one here but me and you..."

A tear ran down my face. My voice failed me, so I answered in the only way I could. I rocked my hips against him.

Hunter's arms curled underneath me, bringing our bodies closer as he began a slow rhythm. My hands splayed across his back, feeling the muscles move underneath his skin as he moved ever so slightly. The pace gradually quickened, Hunter seeming to instinctually know when I could take more, and I remembered why sex is always better when you're in love.

Hunter continued his soft chant of loving phrases, and as I became increasingly lost in the feelings, I too began to whisper. "I love you. You saved me. You are my hero, my knight in shining armor, you made my world beautiful again...."
 

He comes first, in a hot rush that is nothing like the pain of years before, because it is Hunter. It is only seconds before I too am pushed over the edge.

Hunter pulls out of me, rolling over onto his side to face me. "You ok?" His voice is low, tired.

"More than ok." I try to think of words to describe how I feel, about the gift I feel that Hunter has given me by his patience and love. "Hunter....thank you...I..."

"Shh..." he places one gentle finger over my lips. "I know, baby. Believe me, it was my pleasure."

I snuggle up against him, closing my eyes. In his warm embrace, I nearly fall asleep, until I hear a loud knocking at the door. "What the hell do you want???" Hunter yelled.

Giggling, then Jesse and Billy yelling "Trojan Man!!!!" They made fake-sounding hoofbeats, and I truly wanted to kill them.

But it appears Hunter will beat me to it. He kisses me apologetically as he got out of bed. He opened the door a crack. "Will you two go the hell away?"

I could hear Jesse's laughter. "Are you aware you should never have sex without a latex condom?"

Hunter blushed all the way down his body, but still came back with "Are you aware you should maybe save those condoms for yourselves? Billy is such a slut, he probably isn't even sure where he's been."

"Heyyyy..." whines Billy, but it gives Hunter the advantage to slam the door shut.

"Sorry about that.." he mutters, getting back into bed. He pulls me again into his arms. "So, how do you like being 30?"

I looked up at him sleepily. "Part of me doesn't feel nearly as old as I thought I'd be, the rest of me feels much older." I yawned. "At least I'm not REALLY old....like 31 or something..."

Hunter laughed quietly. "You stop that now." He kissed my forehead slightly. "Anyways, I think both of our old bodies need some sleep."

I wanted to agree, but I couldn't summon up the energy to do anything besides close my eyes and drift off into my first night of sleep with my demons starting to be slain.

_______
Your love is better than ice cream
Better than anything else that I've tried
Your love is better than ice cream
Everyone here knows how to cry
And it's a long way down
It's a long way down
It's a long way down to the place that we started from....
-"Ice Cream", Sarah McLachlan