Title: Timeless Love 
Author/pseudonym: Candy Apple 
Rating: MAO, m/m
Pairings: J/B

Status: NEW, complete
Date: 2-14-98
Series/Sequel: Part V of the Diary Series

Disclaimers: Pet Fly and UPN own the guys and The Sentinel.  No
money being made.  Just for fun.

Notes: Special thanks to listsib Sandy, who kindly provided me with
information on Hawaiian weddings, customs, and even the name of a
church, and Virginia, who surfed the 'net for information on Hawaiian
same sex marriages and related topics!  Sorry things veered off course,
but I've tried to make it up to you both in the story! ;-)

"In This Life" was written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, and the
version I'm using is from Collin Raye's album of the same title. 
"Timeless Love" is credited at the end of the story.

Mistakes are all mine.  I proofed this baby myself. :-)

Summary: Jim and Blair make a decision about their wedding, and
celebrate Valentine's Day.



TIMELESS LOVE

by 

Candy Apple


     Blair sighed loudly and stared out the window of his office at
the steadily falling snow.  The campus was really quite beautiful in the
dead of winter, with the barren trees appearing to be made of glass,
offset by the occasional frosted pine and the rolling snowy hills that in
the spring would again be dotted with students, studying and relaxing
and picnicking.  Those same students scurried quickly across campus
now, hunkered down in multiple layers of clothing.

     Tearing his eyes away from the winter scene below his window,
Blair's eyes settled on the photo of Jim and himself.  They had finally
gone in and had a professional portrait done.  This shot had been
anything but posed, though.  Tired of the stilted poses the photographer
was shooting--and tired of wondering if he'd shoot it the same way for a
male-female couple, Jim had slid his arms around Blair from behind
and rested his chin on the shorter man's shoulder, so their faces were
next to each other.  The impish grin on Jim's face and the pure delight
on Blair's were too good for the photographer to resist.  He had snapped
several shots while the moment lasted, and now it was captured there
in a frame.  The casual pose was a humorous contrast to the suits they
had worn, which they'd both agreed later wasn't their look anyway.  So
the pose of the two of them cutting up while wearing the dress clothes
was more fitting than ever.

     Next to that photo was another, older photo.  Not yet lovers, but
already having feelings beyond friendship for each other, the two men
had posed for a photo at Blair's surprise birthday party.  Jim had his
arm around Blair's shoulders, and Blair had happily mirrored the
gesture with an arm around Jim's waist.

     So next a wedding photo should join the collection.  Blair
sighed again.  Sometimes the whole concept of the wedding seemed as
stilted as the suits they'd worn to the photo session.  As the time drew
closer, Blair couldn't help feeling that this ceremony would somehow
devalue the vow they'd made to each other after making love one night,
and then reinforced with their matching rings.  What more was there to
do?  And could anything mean more than whispering those words in
the privacy of their bed, still joined from their lovemaking?  Could
anything hope to mean that much?

     Jim hadn't seemed all that pumped up about the wedding idea,
but he'd gone along with it for Blair.  Now that the date was in sight,
just a few days away, with a slew of arrangements, reservations and
plans in place, Blair found himself going through with it for Jim.  

     If it would make it legal, that would be different.  But it wasn't
even legal in Hawaii yet, let alone at home in Cascade.  They had
merged bank accounts, exchanged every piece of paper the law
provided for two people to exchange, and Jim was raising numerous
eyebrows within the municipal government trying to push the Cascade
PD into recognizing domestic partners for benefits.  Since Blair was
still a ways from having the new dissertation project to a point of
completion, the insurance benefits from Jim's job would have been
helpful.  It still moved Blair beyond words that this man who had spent
his entire adult life in military/police culture would not only
acknowledge him publicly as his life partner, but would start making
waves in that very culture to force the establishment to acknowledge
their union with more than passing tolerance.

     All tied together this way, and having exchanged their vows
already, wearing each other's rings, the whole wedding idea was
suddenly turning a bit sour for Blair.  He'd wondered why his
enthusiasm was waning at first, but then he realized that he felt no
stirring at exchanging vows because they'd already done that.  All the
wedding would do was have them restate their promise in front of
witnesses.  But the trip to Hawaii wasn't cheap, and the only witnesses
would be Simon, Stephen and Naomi.  That was only made possible by
Jim's brother managing to get use of his company's corporate jet to fly
the group there in style--and free of charge.

     He wanted a celebration of their relationship with all their
friends there.  With his friends and colleagues from the University--those 
who would be happy for him anyway, and the people who had
become both their friends at the department...  For that matter, Blair
wanted to shout it from the rooftops--not slither off to Hawaii and "take
care of it" with a couple close friends and relatives nearby.

     Slumping back in his chair, he tossed the pen he'd been using to
grade exams onto the top of the pile and pulled off his glasses, sending
them to land next to the pen.  

     "That bad, huh?"  Jim's voice from the doorway startled him,
and he smiled as his favorite person headed across the room, closing
the office door with a little kick.

     "The exams are okay," Blair replied, his tone dismal despite the
smile.

     "What's wrong, sweetheart?"  Jim gave his lover a quick kiss on
the lips and then sat across from him, against the edge of the desk.

     "It's the wedding," Blair answered honestly.

     "What about it?  Did something go wrong with the plans?"

     "Yeah.  Me."

     "I'm not following, Chief.  Just say it."

     "I don't want to go through with it."  Blair was so clear on his
meaning that he never would have expected to see the stunned,
wounded expression on Jim's face.  "Oh, my God, no, I didn't mean it
that way, mine," Blair hastened to reassure him, taking one of the
larger hands in both of his and kissing it.  "It's just that...we're already
married.  It seems like...like it somehow makes the moment we really
got married, that we vowed to each other, unimportant."

     "The night we made love, and said the vows?"  Jim clarified,
nodding a little.  "I sort of considered that was it, too.  But I guess when
we got the rings, and then did all the paperwork, it seemed like we
ought to make it official."

     "As soon as we leave Hawaii, it's invalid again.  But our vows,
the ones we made that night--they're forever, and they cross all the
boundaries--of states, nations, oceans, life, death...those, to me, are
eternal."

     "I agree," Jim responded, his voice a bit husky with emotion. 
He had felt somewhat disappointed that they were going to go through
another wedding ceremony, as if their vows and the exchange of
wedding rings hadn't had any significance and needed some other
ceremony to have meaning.

     "You aren't upset?"

     "No.  Relieved might be a better word."  Jim let out a long
breath and laughed a little.  "Man, I thought I was getting dumped for a
minute there."  He shook his head, as if to shake off the thought.  Blair
stood up and took Jim's face in both his hands.

     "Don't ever think that--don't ever worry about it.  I won't ever
leave you, you know that."

     "I know, sweetheart.  I know."  Jim pulled the other man tightly
into his arms.  "You smell good," Jim commented, smiling into Blair's
loose hair.  "Shampoo...it's that one that you know makes me horny as
hell."

     "I think I could wash my hair with Palmolive and it would make
you horny.  You have a hair fetish, man."  Blair laughed, partially at
Jim's ardor for his hair, and partially at the little growl the other man
emitted before finding a tasty spot on Blair's neck to turn into a giant
passion mark.  His laughter fast became a sigh.

     "Better call Sandy," Jim said, pulling back and kissing the end
of Blair's nose.   

     "Oh, man, she is *not* going to like this.  After all that
information she pulled together for us on Hawaii, and finding the
church..."

     "And then there's Virginia in the library," Jim reminded him,
swooping down again for another neck-attack.

     "She found us all that domestic partner information on the 'net--
but hey, we're still gonna use that.  You're making the mayor's life
miserable with it," Blair said in a half groan, getting decidedly more
excited by Jim's attentions by the minute.  Then he spotted again the
plastic bag with the card shop logo on it that Jim had brought in and set
behind him on the desk.

     "What's in the bag?"  Blair asked, feeling the busy mouth freeze
in its work, and the larger man pulled bag marginally, still keeping his
arms clamped tightly around Blair's waist, as if the smaller man might
try to escape.

     "You're going to think it's stupid.  I don't even know why I
bought it.  It *is* stupid.  I can take it back if--"

     "Jim, just take breath, buddy.  How about letting me see it
before you take it back?"  Blair asked through a little chuckle, stroking
Jim's face with a gentle hand.  It wasn't often he got to see Jim uneasy
and blushing.   He found it all very endearing, and also a little sad,
wondering if Jim's idea of romantic gifts had gone over like lead
balloons with Carolyn.

     "I feel silly.  I should have never bought it.  I just saw it and--"

     "Jim, give me the bag," Blair commanded, grasping Jim's
shoulders.  The other man laughed a little, somewhat easing his
obvious tension.  It didn't take sentinel touch to feel the tautness in the
considerable mass of muscles in Jim's shoulders.

     "Okay, but if you laugh at me, I'll..."  Jim looked at the bag a
moment before handing it to Blair.  "In this case, I'll completely
understand."  He handed the bag to Blair, who stepped back a little to
open it.  He did laugh, but it was a good laugh.  Blair had never gotten
a silly, romantic, stuffed toy for Valentine's Day before, and he adored
it.  Even if it was a green plush, leggy frog holding a red satin heart
with white letters commanding, "Kiss Me, Baby".

     "I just thought of you when I saw it--Oh, man, I don't mean it
that way.  I mean, not the frog part, but--"

     "Hey, lover, calm down," Blair said, still smiling and inspecting
the frog with its bulging eyes and sappy expression.  "I love it.  I love
you.  Nobody ever got me one of those stuffed Valentine things
before."  Blair slid an arm around Jim's neck and pulled him down for a
prolonged kiss.

     "At least it works," Jim responded as they parted, and both of
them laughed a little.  "This isn't the whole thing--I mean it isn't all
you're getting or anything.  I have something else...a real present.  But I
kind of always wanted to buy one of these for somebody..."  Jim trailed
off, shrugging.

     "Listen to me," Blair said softly, keeping the frog tucked under
one arm while he took a hold of Jim's arms.  "You don't have to
apologize for getting me a present.  I love it.  It's romantic, it's silly--it's
the perfect kind of present for Valentine's Day.  I love that you got me
something romantic like this.  I love anything you get me because when
I open it, I can almost feel the love oozing out of it.  You've never
bought me anything you didn't pick out with love.  How could I not
want something like that?"
     
     "How'd I luck out and end up with you, huh?"  Jim said in a
husky voice, pulling Blair, and the unfortunate frog, into a crushing
hug.

     "You gave me so much love that I was spoiled for anybody else,
that's how," Blair responded, squeezing back.  He smiled, feeling Jim
tighten the embrace a little more, and deliver two or three quick kisses
to Blair's neck before drawing back.

     "You honestly like it?"

     "I honestly love it.  Besides, I, um, still have to give you my
present, and I don't want *you* laughing at *me*."  

     "You got this one early, so where's mine?"

     "In the drawer, as a matter of fact.  I got it this morning when I
stopped at the bagel place in the food court at the mall.  It was in the
window of the card shop, and..."  Blair shrugged.

     "Come on, Sandburg, no stalling.  I showed you my frog.  Now
it's your turn," Jim teased.

     "Man, that sounds really sexual," Blair responded, opening the
large bottom desk drawer and pulling out a bag not unlike the one Jim
had brought with him.  "Happy Early Valentine's Day," Blair declared,
handing Jim the bag and watching as the other man, small smile
tugging at his mouth, opened the bag and pulled the black, hairy item
inside out of its hiding place.  Jim laughed out loud.

     He was holding a stuffed gorilla, about fifteen inches tall,
wearing white boxer shorts with red hearts on them.

     "Squeeze his paw," Blair instructed, smiling at Jim's reaction to
the Valentine critter in his hands.  Jim did as directed, and laughed
when the refrain of "Wild Thing" emanated from the stuffed beast,
ending with the declaration of "Wild Thing, I think I love you" and the
last four guitar chords that went with it.

     "And I was worried about a harmless little frog," Jim replied,
still laughing, but resisting the urge to start up the song again.

     "Actually, he kind of goes with the rest of your present, but you
have to wait until Saturday night for that."

     "He's great.  Thank you, sweetheart," Jim responded, smiling
and leaning forward to plant a big, wet kiss on Blair's mouth.  

     "GMTA, huh, lover?"  Blair said, grinning as he inspected his
frog.

     "What?"  Jim looked up, puzzled.

     "It's an e-mail abbreviation for 'great minds think alike'."

     "I see.  Well, I better get going.  I've got a meeting with Simon
and the Chief in about twenty minutes."

     "Anything I should know about?"  Blair asked.

     "I don't know what it's about myself yet.  Simon hadn't come in
yet when I took off for my lunch break, so I don't know what's up.  I'll
call you later."

     "Okay.  I guess that means I have to call Sandy."

     "And Virginia."  Jim dropped a kiss on Blair's forehead and,
tucking his boxer-clad gorilla back in his bag, headed for the door.

     "Oh, man.  They're gonna *kill* me."

     "They better not.  I've got plans for you tonight.  GNYTTM,
baby," Jim tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

     "What does that mean?"  Blair frowned, and Jim turned around,
grinning devilishly.

     "It's a horny cop abbreviation for 'gonna nail you to the
mattress'.  Have a good day, Chief."  And with that, Jim was out the
door, leaving a speechless, but aroused, Anthropologist standing there
hugging a stuffed frog.

********

     Dreading informing his two "research" helpers that the wedding
was a no-go, Blair opted for the personal touch of visiting instead of
calling.  Hopeful that the right combination of sweet smiles and 
puppy-dog eyes would get him off the hook, he made his way to Sandy's office
first.  As fate would have it, the attractive young Hawaiian native who
was attempting to adjust to the rigors of a Cascade winter, was between
appointments in her job as an academic advisor.  She brightened
immediately when Blair tapped on her open door.

     "Good morning, Blair!  Hey, the big day's almost here," she
added, grinning conspiratorially.

     "Um, well, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. 
You've been such a major help with getting me all that info on Hawaii--"

     "My pleasure.  Just remember you promised to have lots of
pictures taken so--"

     "Jim and I...we decided not to get married in Hawaii after all." 
Blair watched her, waiting for the explosion.

     "Is anything wrong?"

     "Oh, no, it's nothing like that," he hastened to explain.  "See, we
kind of exchanged vows between us already, and we have the
rings...and going to Hawaii and doing it all again seemed...wrong
somehow.  Like the first vows weren't binding or something.  And they
are--more than any others we could ever take."  Blair perched on the
edge of one of the chairs across from her desk.  "Plus, we really can't
have most of our friends there, and it wouldn't be valid here at home
anyway."  Blair paused.  "I really am sorry about all the work you did
for nothing."

     "I made a few phone calls, took a few notes--it's okay, Blair. 
Really."  She smiled, watching the stress drain out of the man in front
of her.  "I understand.  So what are you guys doing for Valentine's Day
now that all your plans have changed?"

     "Probably the same thing we would have done in Hawaii, only
at home."  Blair blushed a little, and then they both burst out laughing.

     Buoyed by the smooth sailing of his first meeting, he headed for
the library to find Virginia, his favorite reference librarian.  There was
almost nothing she couldn't locate on the Internet, and what she didn't
find there, she managed to excavate out of some dark recess of the
archives.

     Smiling to himself as he thought of how he seemed to find a
way to make most of his requests of attractive young women on
campus, he spotted Virginia at her computer, keys clicking furiously. 
There was only room in his heart for Jim now, but married wasn't dead,
and he could still enjoy the campus scenery.

     "Hi, Blair," she said, still watching the screen when he was still
a good several feet away from her desk.

     "How do you *do* that?"  he asked, wondering if Virginia was a
closet sentinel, the way she always knew it was him without looking
up.

     "You expect me to give away all my secrets?"  she asked,
finally looking up at him over her glasses, which she then moved to
rest on top of her auburn hair, backing away from her monitor a bit. 
"What can I do for you?"

     "Well, nothing really.  I just wanted to let you know that, ah,
Jim and I aren't, um, going to get married in Hawaii after all."

     "Oh, no!  You didn't split up, did you?"  she asked immediately,
her face a mask of concern.

     "I guess I've gotta start telling people first that we *didn't* break
up," Blair responded, smiling.  "See, we took vows on our own a while
ago, and something just feels wrong about going to Hawaii and doing it
again--like we're saying we *haven't* been married all along.  And as
far as we're concerned, we have been.  Besides, it's not like we can do it
with all our friends there."  Blair paused.  "I just wanted you to know
that we both really appreciate all the information you dug up for us."

     "Jim hasn't given up on the domestic partnership issue with the
PD, has he?"

     "Oh, no.  It still really blows me away that he's doing that.  I
mean, right along, I've been shocked that he's been so...direct about us
with everybody."

     "I'm really glad to hear that.  He seems like a really
straightforward kind of person."

     "He is.  Well, I gotta run.  I've got a seminar in about fifteen
minutes.  Look, I really appreciate all your help."

     "No problem.  I enjoyed the research."

     Relieved that neither of the women were angry at their wasted
efforts, Blair made his way to his seminar.

********

     "What did Simon and the big boss want?"  Blair asked drowsily,
nestling into the warmth of Jim's arms.  They'd barely made it inside
the door before abandoning the though of dinner for the time being and
heading upstairs.  Blair hadn't been "nailed to the mattress" by any
means, but he had been lovingly but thoroughly taken, and was content
now to drift between sleeping and waking, listening to Jim's heart
thumping reassuringly under his ear.

     "Why don't you catch a quick nap before dinner, sweetheart?" 
Jim kissed Blair's forehead and exhaled loudly.

     "Jim."

     "The chief was 'suggesting' that perhaps I should let this whole
domestic partner issue rest.  Honestly?  I was more pissed at Simon for
offering to get you on the department's insurance plan.  Like
goddamned hush money."

     "He probably didn't mean it that way, lover.  Maybe he thought
that was the big thing you were concerned about--getting insurance and
stuff like that for me."

     "That's part of it, but eventually that's not going to be the issue. 
I want you to get my pension when something happens to me--"

     "Don't go there, Jim.  I don't want your pension.  I want you."

     "I know that, baby.  I want you too--not your life insurance or
your power of attorney or anything else like that.  That isn't the point. 
The point is that if something *did* happen, I have a right to provide
for you just like I would provide for my wife.  Oh, man.  Not that I'm
trying to turn you into my wife, but--"

     "I get it, Jim.  I didn't even turn into a frog at the word 'wife'.  I
know what you meant."  Blair planted a kiss over Jim's heart.  "Look,
you've provided for me just fine without the department.  I'm going to
finish my dissertation--someday," Blair added, smiling a little.  "And
when I do, I can try for a real job.  I won't need you to support me
financially all my life."

     "Everyone's missing the point.  Shit, I thought you'd at least get
it."

     "I know what you're trying to do.  And I couldn't love you more
than I do for trying it, but I don't want you to get assigned all the dull,
dirty, dangerous jobs because you're campaigning for something and
they want you out.  They can make it hot for you, love.  I don't want
that.  It isn't necessary."  Blair raised up to look at Jim, still resting a
hand on the broad chest.  "I know you're trying to strike a blow for us,
to make the PD officially accept us.  I think that's...amazing.  It still
blows me away that you would do that.  But I don't want you do ruin
your career over it.  No one's keeping us apart.  No one's forbidding us
to be together.  Hell, we're even working together.  And if you piss the
chief off too much more, you can bet that won't go on much longer."

     "I hadn't thought of that."

     "That's the place we're vulnerable.  We want to work together. 
If he forbids it, we're history as a working team."

     "So you think I should back down?"

     "Oh, hell, I don't know."  Blair slumped back against Jim's
chest.  "Naomi's protested against things for years, but she had nothing
to lose when she did it.  You can beg the powers that be to save the
rainforest and not lose something dear to you in doing it.  Our
partnership is at their mercy, lover.  I want to work with you.  All the
domestic partner papers and pensions and insurance plans in the world
don't mean as much to me as that, and they certainly won't make us
more married or more in love.  We've got that covered."

     "I never thought you would want me to back off of this."

     "I don't want us to lose our partnership.  Think about this a
minute--the chief has already turned his head to you working with your
male lover, who isn't a cop.  Most of the other cops at least treat us
with courtesy, if not acceptance, and our friends have handled it just
fine.  We can't make the whole world turn upside down overnight.  It's
just like this whole wedding issue.  Gay and lesbian activists have
worked tirelessly to get same-sex marriages legalized.  They're still
working.  But it takes time.  And in time, the Cascade PD will probably
have domestic partnership policies.  Maybe because of us, but maybe
just not yet."

     "So I should back off and take the insurance and walk away
satisfied with my hush money?  I don't think so.  They can shove their
insurance up their ass.  If they aren't going to let me have that benefit
for you because we're married, they can keep it.  You're not some
charity case who needs free insurance."

     "It would be a big savings--"

     "I said NO.  Now just drop it," Jim snapped back, and Blair fell
silent.  "I'm sorry, sweetheart."  Jim rubbed the soft skin of Blair's back
on long, soothing strokes.  "I know you don't need me to take care of
you, but I want to.  I want to provide for you, and it pisses me off that
because of your gender, my employer won't let me."

     "Jim, you've been 'providing for' me for a long time."

     "The department owes me those benefits, damn it.  Every other
cop who's married gets them.  Why shouldn't I?  I'm not letting this go."

     "Have I mentioned lately that I love you?"  Blair asked, stroking
Jim's set jaw, and totally undoing Jim's resolve to remain in a hostile
state.

     "I love you too, angel.  And I want you respected as my life
partner--not just some live-in sex partner."

     "It'll all happen in time, lover.  We've made a lot of progress
since we were spotted kissing in the car that morning.  We'll make
more."

     "How about making a little progress right now?"  Jim shifted
onto his side, then rolled them over so Blair was trapped beneath him. 
A powerful thigh insinuated itself between Blair's legs, which spread
willingly.  "Want you again," Jim breathed into Blair's ear, then traced
the shell with his tongue.  He could feel Blair hardening against him,
and feel the answering increase in his heartbeat.  

     After a long duel of tongues, Blair wriggled under Jim,
signaling the larger man to move aside.  Jim watched, his arousal
building, while Blair rolled over and got onto his knees, holding onto
the railing behind the bed, spreading his legs.  With a feral gleam in his
eyes, Jim snagged the lube off the nightstand and moved up behind his
lover, kissing and licking along Blair's spine as he worked some fresh
lubricant into the already slick and somewhat relaxed passage. 
Satisfied the other man was ready when he began thrusting back to
meet Jim's fingers, he coated himself and entered Blair in one long,
sure stroke.

     "Oooh, God...yeah...do it, Jim...give it to me hard..."  Blair was
bracing himself on the railing, taking the powerful, steady thrusts
coming from his lover.  When Jim hit his prostate, he let out a scream,
and more followed as Jim adjusted his angle to give the sensitive little
gland a vigorous massage.

     "Feels so good," he ground out, groaning himself at the intensity
of the rapid movement and the sound of their flesh slapping together. 
Blair's cries of pleasure filled his hearing, the younger man's musk
saturating his sense of smell, the taste of Blair's damp skin exploded on
his tongue.  He reached under his lover and pumped the engorged shaft
he found there in tempo with their passionate lovemaking.

     "Jiiiimmmm...ugh..."  Blair gave up on words, letting out one
wild cry with his orgasm as it bathed Jim's hand and the bedding under
them.  

     Blair lost his grip on the railing in his lethargy, and flattened on
the bed, with Jim on top of him, riding the tide of Blair's spasms, and
reaching his own climax with a hoarse shout.  Covering Blair's body
with his own, they lay there, still joined, panting and waiting for their
heart beats to settle a bit. 

     "Blair, baby...that was...unbelievable," Jim finally concluded.

     "So good," Blair gasped in agreement.

     "Can you breathe, sweetheart?"  Jim asked, smiling a little,
positive he must be squashing the smaller man into the bed.

     "Good enough for right now.  Just don't move yet, okay?"

     "I love you."  Jim started a little trail of kisses down the side of
Blair's neck, lifting the damp curls aside.  Then he began lazily licking
his way across Blair's back, from shoulder to shoulder, occasionally
pausing to leave a prominent passion mark on the smooth skin.

     "Feels good," Blair sighed, sounding drowsy.

     "How about a hot bath?"  Jim suggested, then resumed his
tongue bath of Blair's neck, shoulders and upper back.

     "Thought that's what I was getting," he responded, turning his
head sideways and grinning back at Jim.

     "You've got to be feeling a little on the sticky side by now,
baby."  Jim slid his arms under Blair and rolled them on their sides,
still joined.  "I'm going to move now, sweetheart.  I'll go slow."  Jim
reached around and got a hold of Blair's hand, lacing their fingers as he
slowly withdrew himself, hearing the expected little grunt from Blair. 
"Did I hurt you?"

     "I can sure feel it, but I'm fine, lover.  I think the whole block
knows when I came.  Besides, I teach most of the day tomorrow, and I
do that standing up anyway."  Blair chuckled a little and wriggled back
more tightly against Jim.  "I'll be a little sore, but that just means I'll be
thinking about tonight all day tomorrow."

     "Hope you'll be behind a podium then," Jim quipped, running
his hand lightly from Blair's hip up along his side and back again.

     "Mmmmm...keep doing that and we'll have to start over."

     "I think twice is enough for a while, baby.  Don't want to wear
out my welcome."

     "I don't think it's your welcome that would get worn out, man," 
Blair responded, laughing.

     "You really think I should let this thing go at the department?"

     "Think about it this way.  Sometimes to get a special privilege,
you forego a few rights.  It's like I've told some of my students who live
at home and bitch about their parents all the time.  Once you're over 18,
living at home for free is a privilege.  So for that, you might have to
give up a few adult rights.  With us, our whole partnership is a
privilege.  Now if we drag the PD into the spotlight, and the chief has
to explain why your male civilian lover is also your partner, you'll find
yourself riding with another cop so fast you won't know what hit you.  I
might get my name down as a beneficiary on your pension, but we
won't be working together anymore.  I guess our partnership means
more right now.  And when you think about it, we're already getting
special treatment, just being allowed to work together."

     "I hadn't thought about it that way, I guess."  Jim started
devouring Blair's shoulder again.

     "I think you need to have dinner, mine," Blair teased lovingly as
Jim worked on another passion mark on Blair's shoulder.  "Do you
want a little ketchup with that?"

     "Don't want to let go of you long enough to eat."

     "Tonight was beautiful," Blair said softly.

     "Every night is beautiful.  I keep wondering when things are
going to change.  But they don't," Jim concluded, sounding a bit
incredulous.

     "Change how?"  Blair shifted and turned over in Jim's arms so
they were facing each other, sharing a pillow, their breath mingling in
the close, hot space between them.

     "Get old.  Get boring.  Lose the thrill."

     "That doesn't have to happen," Blair responded softly, running a
hand lightly over Jim's chest.

     "I don't have much to offer you by way of excitement,
sweetheart.  This is about it."

     "You don't get it yet, do you?  I'm excited every time I look at
you and know you're all mine."  Blair closed the marginal distance
between them and they shared a lengthy exploration of each other's
mouths.  Jim pulled his lover tightly into his arms, hands gently
stroking Blair's back and buttocks.

     "I love you, baby."  Jim chuckled a little at the beginnings of an
erection poking him in the stomach.  "You're insatiable."  He gave
Blair's ass a two-handed squeeze, bringing a groan out of the younger
man, who answered it with a thrust against Jim.  Realizing that Blair
was a lot more excited that he was himself at the moment, Jim snagged
the lube off the night stand and handed it to Blair.

     "You sure?"  Blair asked, not able to hide the hungry look on
his face.

     "Positive, Chief," Jim responded, kissing Blair's mouth before
turning over on his side and drawing his knees up.  He was content to
just relax and let anything happen.  Two monumental orgasms over the
course of the last three hours had left him mellow and comfortable, and
while he didn't have any objections to a third one, he wasn't interested
in doing anything strenuous.  Just lying there and letting Blair
orchestrate their pleasure was fine with him.

     Blair's heat drew close to Jim's back, soft lips and tongue
nibbling and licking near a shoulder, as one coated finger slipped
inside Jim's body.  Blair took his time giving his lover a languid
internal massage, only adding a finger when he felt complete relaxation
around the first one, then finally, ending with three.   Jim stiffened and
let out a low moan as Blair found his prostate and brushed a devilish
fingertip over it a couple of times before drawing his fingers out and
replacing them moments later with his lubricated length.

     The smaller man reached around Jim and found his shaft,
pumping it in time with his thrusts.  Their groans mingled, strangled
gasps of pleasure as Jim reached his climax first, calling out Blair's
name as his muscles clamped mercilessly on Blair's length.  With a
shout and a few rapid strokes, he filled Jim's body, then came to rest
against his back, now too truly spent to move one way or the other.

     "Did you die on me back there, baby?"  Jim asked, a little smile
in his tired voice.

     "I think I did it backwards."

     "You were going the right way, trust me, Chief."  Jim laughed
at the sleepy, almost incoherent statement from Blair.

     "I went to heaven and *then* I died," Blair clarified as he eased
out of Jim's tight passage.  Jim's little groan was a bit more suppressed
than Blair's when the situation was reversed.

     "Feel okay, mine?"  Blair asked softly, snaking an arm around
Jim's middle, resting his head against the broad, damp back.

     "Feels great.  Still sort of tingly."

     "Mr. Prostate liked it."

     "*Mr.* Prostate?"  Jim repeated.  Blair giggled.  "Go to sleep,
Blair.  You're getting silly."

     "You were going to give me a bath, remember?"

     "That was when I was conscious.  Now you're just going to have
to shut up and sleep sticky for a while.  If I ever come to, I'll hose you
down."
     
     "Gee, that was poetic."  Blair was smiling sleepily against Jim's
back, his sated cock happy to dwell in the warm, moist area between
Jim's buttocks.  His last thoughts were wrapped up in the sense of awe
he always felt when Jim let him top.  They were so truly part of each
other, that there was no place in Jim's body or soul where Blair wasn't
welcomed.  On that thought, he dozed off into a deep sleep.  

********

     "Reference, Virginia speaking," Virginia answered her desk
phone.

     "Hi, Ginny, this is Sandy in Counseling."

     "Oh, hi.  What can I do for you?"

     "Well, I was thinking more about what we could do for Blair. 
Did he talk to you about them canceling the wedding?"

     "Yes, he stopped by yesterday afternoon.  I really feel sorry for
them.  They deserve to be able to get married for real."

     "Well, we can't do that for them, but maybe we could give them
a party.  I mean, when my sister got married, there was an engagement
party, then a shower, and a bachelor party.  Nobody's giving these guys
any kind of party at all."

     "Hey, I know--we could call up their boss--you know, Captain
Banks over at the police department?  He could figure out who to invite
from there, and we could get some people together from here..."

     The two women agreed to meet for lunch, notepads in hand, to
map out their plan.

********

     "Any chance you'd leave it down tonight?"  Jim asked Blair as
the younger man stood in front of the mirror, still wearing nothing but
his towel, with a hand full of freshly blow-dried hair destined for a hair
band.

     "If you want."  He released the hair and went through the usual
little gestures with hands and comb to style it to his liking.

     "New shampoo?"  Jim came up behind him, sniffing at the soft
curls.

     "If you do that now, we'll never make it to be ready in fifteen
minutes."

     "We can be fashionably late."  Jim made a reach for the towel
but Blair was quicker, holding it in place.

     "I told Virginia we'd meet her and Sandy at seven.  I mean, it
was really nice of them to take us out for dinner tonight because we're
not in Hawaii."  Blair didn't bring up the subject that this would have
been their wedding day.  He didn't regret not making the trip, and it felt
right to let their first vows stand.  "It's six-thirty now, and by the time
we drive there--"

     "Okay.  You win."  Jim retreated and finished buttoning the
cuffs of his white dress shirt.  Next he went to work on his tie while
trying to ignore the vision of Blair, now completely naked, rifling
through the dresser drawer for clean underwear.  He gave up on
avoiding feeling aroused by his unabashedly nude partner, figuring that
he'd have to dial down his senses until he was deaf, dumb and blind in
order to accomplish that.

     Blair located his boxers, much to Jim's relief, and then went
about getting dressed in the new plum-colored suit and black collarless
shirt Jim had picked out for him.  He cast an approving eye at Jim, who
was slipping into the jacket of his dark grey suit.  There was something
incredibly sexy about Jim in his "bank president outfit", as Blair had
called it.  Maybe it was the height and build, or maybe it was that
polish and commanding presence that Jim seemed to have whether he
was in his sweats or a business suit.  All Blair knew is that the prospect
of being fashionably late was more and more appealing.

     "I really like this suit," Blair commented, checking his look in
the mirror.  He had been both touched and excited that Jim had insisted
on buying it for him when he spotted it in the window in the mall's
trendiest men's store.

     "Next best thing to your birthday suit, Chief," Jim responded,
picking up his wallet and tucking it in his pocket.  

     "I never would've pegged you as a sex maniac," Blair retorted,
laughing a little.

     "Looks can be deceiving.  We better get moving, sweetheart."

********

      The Heritage Inn was Cascade's most prestigious restaurant and
hotel.  A converted mansion that featured posh guest rooms on the
second and third floors, and palatial dining rooms and banquet rooms
on the first floor, the Heritage Inn was the site for many weddings and
receptions among the jet set.  Jim sighed a little as he contemplated
that thought, figuring that maybe someday, two people who were as in
love as he and Blair were would be able to make a life commitment,
sealed by some legal entity like any other married couple.

     "There's Virginia," Blair said, spotting his friend pacing around
the lobby nervously, checking her watch.  They were right on time, but
she was obviously anxious to see them arrive.  

     "Happy Valentine's Day, Virginia!"  Blair greeted
enthusiastically, hugging her and then stepping back while she and Jim
shook hands, and exchanged friendly greetings, as they had only met
once or twice very briefly before that night.

     "Sandy's already inside," she explained, inclining her head to
the left, in the opposite direction of the main dining room.

     "I thought it was that way," Jim replied, looking toward the area
where a number of well-dressed patrons were gathering and dispensing
with their coats.

     "The coat room is right this way," she advised, leading them
momentarily in the opposite direction of their goal so they could check
their coats.  

     "You look really nice tonight," Jim commented to her, noticing
her elegant dark purple velvet dress and tasteful gold jewelry.  

     "Thank you.  You two look pretty sharp yourselves," she
responded, guiding them away from the dining room and down a long
hallway to a set of double oak doors, tightly closed.

     "What's going on?"  Jim asked, his hearing picking up the
sounds of hushed voices and movements from behind the closed doors.

     "What is it, Jim?"  Blair could tell his partner was picking up on
something, since he had that intense look on his face that indicated he
was focusing on something Blair couldn't hear.
     
     Sensing that their carefully laid plan to surprise Jim and Blair
was about to crash around their ears if she prolonged the suspense any
longer, Virginia threw open the double doors and stepped aside.  The
darkened room came to life with lights and shouts of "Surprise!" as the
stunned couple entered the elegant banquet room, which had been
arranged with numerous dining tables around a dance floor, with a
small stage where a band, having waited for the big moment, began to
play something soft and slow.  Simon and Sandy made their way up to
the guests of honor.  Like most of the men at the gathering, Simon was
dressed to the nines in his dark green suit, and had been sharing a few
laughs with Sandy, who had worn a rich dark green satin dress for the
occasion.  They had reached the agreement that great minds did indeed
think alike.

     "Meet my partners in crime," Virginia said, smiling as
handshakes and hugs were exchanged in all directions.

     "What's the occasion?"  Jim finally asked, draping an arm
around Blair's shoulders.

     "It's really lousy that you can't officially get married, but you've
made vows, and it seems like you were missing a wedding reception. 
This is it," Sandy explained, smiling at their stunned expressions.  

     "This is...wow..."  Blair broke off with a little amazed chuckle. 
Jim smiled down at him fondly.

     "You caught him speechless.  Anybody got a camera?"  Jim
quipped.  On cue, a flashbulb ignited from among the crowd, bringing
a wave of laughter from the party guests.  Joel emerged with the
camera in hand, laughing.

     "I was elected party photographer, guys.  So behave
yourselves."

     "So you and these two beautiful ladies set this up?"  Jim asked
Simon, who had been enjoying Sandy's company while he waited for
the guests to arrive.   

     "They called me with the idea, but once I mentioned it around
the bullpen, it kind of snowballed into a group effort."

     "I think we should get some champagne flowing here," Joel
spoke up, figuring the happy couple had been kept in the spotlight long
enough.  The group mingled into the crowd of party-goers, recognizing
a myriad of faces from both the PD and the University.

     As the evening progressed, guests dined on gourmet foods,
danced to the live music, and finally participated in karaoke as the
band retired for the evening.  There were a few serious attempts at real
singing, a free-for-all or two when a bunch of guys from the PD,
including Jim, Blair, Simon, Joel, Ryf and Brown ended up doing a
very warped version of "Heard It Through the Grapevine", complete
with the most ungodly rendition of Motown dance moves that any of
the guests had ever seen.

     As the merriment continued, Blair made his way up near the
stage, and when Rhonda, Serena, Sandy and Virginia finished their
version of "My Guy", which was in an unofficial talent contest against
the guys' "Grapevine" performance of earlier in the evening, he slipped
up to the microphone.

     "Can I have everybody's attention for a minute?"  He waited a
few moments, and the noisy crowd quieted fairly quickly.  "One of the
reasons that Jim and I decided not to go to Hawaii to get married is that
we weren't going to be sharing the experience with very many of our
friends there.  Thanks to all of you tonight, we got a chance to
celebrate our commitment with the people who mean the most to us. 
So, if Jim's willing to come up here with me, I'd like to, um, say a few
words when all our friends are here to hear it."  Blair waited, a bit
nervously, hoping that his little impromptu announcement was all right
with his partner.

     Jim soon made his way up to join Blair, a soft smile on his face. 
He leaned forward and kissed Blair's lips lightly and quickly, standing
back a little to see what his lover would do next.

     "I was thinking that we had planned to say our vows to each
other in Hawaii today, and since we've got all our friends here, this is
even better.  I know we can't have a legal wedding, but we can have
one in every way that matters."  Blair was talking to Jim, but close
enough to the microphone for the party guests to hear him.

     "You go first, sweetheart," Jim said with a smile, which brought
a laugh out of Blair and most of their friends.  Blair's smile faded a
little and he took a hold of both of Jim's hands.

********

     "A lot of times, you tell me how many things I've done for you
or you tell me how much better your life is with me in it.  When you do
that, it makes me feel...well, I don't know how to put it into words.  But
it makes me feel so much more than I ever felt about anything before. 
When I try to tell you what it means to me to have you, I get this
feeling that you never believe me that I'm as lucky to have you as you
are to have me--probably a lot luckier."  Blair smiled at Jim's little
chuckle and shake of the head.  

     "Jim, you give me something no one's ever given me before. 
You've made me the center of your life.  You always think of me first,
whether it's on the job, or at home...even if you pick out what we watch
on TV, you give in real easily if I'm not happy with it.  When things got
rough for us, you made it clear to me where your loyalties were.  They
weren't where it was easiest, or best for your career, or smoothest for
you personally. *I* was your priority. *I* came first.  Do you have any
idea what an amazing gift that is to give someone?  To put them first,
above yourself?  It's a remarkable gift, and I'm so grateful for it, you'll
never understand how much it means to me."  Blair smiled a little
shakily as Jim reached up to quickly stroke his lover's cheek.  

     "I can take you for granted.  I don't ever want to do that in a bad
way, but there's something very wonderful about having someone in
your life, whose love is so strong and so steady that you can just know
it's there, no matter what.  I don't have to wonder if you'll be there for
me.  I just accept it as a given in my life.  You're there.  If I'm sick, I
don't have to wonder if you'll be able to find time to take care of me. 
You do it.  Period.  If I'm depressed, I know I can dump it all on you
and you'll make it better.  If I'm stressed out or tired, I just *know*
you're going to be there for me to help me relax or to give me the kick
in the ass I need to get moving again," Blair concluded, smiling as Jim
and the other guests laughed a little.  Jim reached up to brush at his
eyes.  Blair became very serious as he made a point to have a moment
of silent, significant eye contact with Jim before he made the next
statement.  

     "I feel safe to need you, and I do, *so much*.  And you never let
me down.  You've taught me what 'home' means, and you're the center
my whole life revolves around.  All the things you do for me...you said
once you didn't think you were much of a romantic--there's nothing
more romantic than wanting to take care of another person you love.  I
get on you sometimes that I can take care of myself, but the truth is, I
love the way you *want* to take care of me--and the way you spoil me. 
And I love your protectiveness, and your indulgence--you always let me
be me, and even if you can't quite figure me out sometimes, you don't
try to change me.  You love *me*, the real one--not the chameleon who
can fit in anywhere.  You love Blair Sandburg just as he really is."

     "Maybe more than anything else, I love the way you love me. 
You make me feel like some kind of rare treasure--"

     "Because you are," Jim cut in, his voice husky as he kissed
Blair's hand.

     "And sometimes we argue or we don't agree, but you don't
attack me personally.  You don't make fun of me or my beliefs, even
when they're totally opposite from yours.  Look at us," Blair made a
gesture with his hands indicating their difference in height, then
grabbed hold of Jim's hands again.  "Do you know you never make
short jokes to me--not even the stuff that's supposed to be 'all in good
fun'?  Do you know what kind of respect that shows me?  I feel ten feet
tall when I'm with you.  There just aren't ever going to be enough
words, or the right ones, but I had to try to explain it somehow.  And I
want you to know that I promise to be with you for eternity--in life, and
beyond.  I'll never love anyone else the way I love you...and I'll love
you that way forever."  Blair looked into Jim's moist eyes with all the
love in the world, and waited for a response.

     "No one could ever really call me a poet--I'm not all that great
with words," he began.  "You're right that there aren't any that are
adequate for us...there never will be.  I planned on doing this later, in
private, but since I've got a karaoke machine to back me up, I should
probably do it now, so I won't sound as pathetic," Jim paused while
Blair and the other guests laughed, and he smiled at Blair's puzzled
expression.  "I was going to steal some words from a song, because it
says so much of what I want to say, and I'm never going to get it right if
I try to say it myself.  But before I embarrass us both here with this
song, I want you to know that you're the light of my life, and the most
beautiful, incredible thing that ever happened to me.  There isn't a day I
don't thank God for letting our paths cross, because just picturing what
my life would be without you in it is too painful."  Jim leaned forward
and placed a soft kiss on Blair's forehead, while the smaller man's eyes
drifted shut at the contact.  When he stood back, Jim grinned.  "You got
that tape cued up, Tony?"  he asked the man who had been operating
the karaoke machine.  With a nod, he handed Jim the microphone and
started the tape.  Jim stood face to face with Blair, still holding one of
his lover's hands.  The first slow chords of the song came through the
speaker system, the lead in to Collin Raye's version of "In This Life". 
Jim surprised himself as much as his audience when his voice sounded
quite good with the tape backing him on the romantic ballad.  

//For all I've been blessed with in this life,
There was an emptiness in me.
I was imprisoned by the power of gold,
With one honest touch you set me free.

Let the world stop turnin',
Let the sun stop burnin',
Let them tell me love's not worth goin' through,
If it all falls apart,
I will know deep in my heart,
The only dream that mattered had come true:
In this life, I was loved by you.

For every mountain I have climbed,
For every raging river crossed,
You were the treasure that I longed to find,
Without your love I would be lost. 

Let the world stop turnin',
Let the sun stop burnin',
Let them tell me love's not worth goin' through,
If it all falls apart,
I will know deep in my heart,
The only dream that mattered had come true:
In this life, I was loved by you.
In this life, I was loved by you.//

     When Jim finished his song, there were very few dry eyes in the
house, and Blair's were certainly not among them, as Jim pulled his
softly crying partner into his arms.

     "I love you, sweetheart.  Everything I am, everything I have...it's
yours.  Now and forever."  Jim concluded his vows with the karaoke
microphone, which he could still speak into over Blair's shoulder. 
After a few long moments holding each other, they were disturbed by
the loud clinking of a fork against a glass.  They pulled apart, smiling
and sharing a quick kiss before turning and descending from the stage.

     "I'd like to propose a toast," Simon spoke up as the crowd
quieted and the guests of honor returned to their places at their table. 
"It's no secret to everyone here that Jim and Blair had a rough time of it
for a while there, when they first got together.  I don't remember any of
us at work slapping them on the backs and saying 'hey, that's great,
congratulations!'  The best they got was, 'this is going to be difficult,
you know', and at the worst, well, there are guys doing time for the
downside."  

     "So I guess on behalf of all of us who are here from the PD
tonight, I'd like to apologize that we didn't think of this first.  We didn't
throw you two any parties, we didn't even say 'congratulations'.   You
had to be happy to just not be harassed in the break room or assaulted
in the parking garage.  Your friends didn't celebrate the good news with
you.  We did all but offer our sympathies.  I'm not proud of that, or of
any of us for letting it be that way.  The upside of all this is that
throughout all of it, I've never seen a love quite like the one you two
seem to have found with each other.  It's the kind that's absolute.  There
is *no* question what's going to come first for either one of you, and
sometimes, that pisses me off a little as your boss," Simon said with a
smile, bringing a laugh out of the group, "but it impresses the hell out
of me as a human being."  

     "I admit to never taking same sex unions too seriously, until I
saw this one.  If any one of us in this room is fortunate enough to find
the kind of love you two have, he or she will be truly blessed, no matter
what form it comes in.  So, to everyone's relief, I'll wind up my little
speech here," Simon stated, drawing a few smiles.  Jim and Blair were
sitting quietly, holding hands, deeply moved by Simon's speech.  

     "To Jim Ellison and Blair Sandburg--a long and happy life
together--you've earned it, my friends."

********

     The two men rode up in the elevator in silence.  Both were
tired, had indulged in quite a volume of champagne, and were happy to
be home.  Jim unlocked the door, and Blair took a hold of his arm.

     "Want me to carry you across the threshold, big guy?"  He
flexed his eyebrows and Jim laughed.  

     "Maybe we should pass on that part of the tradition, huh?"

     "Good idea.  I want my back to be in good shape for more
important traditions."  Blair walked through the open door, and Jim
shut and locked it behind them.  "There's still the little matter of your
Valentine present."

     "Can I unwrap it now?"  Jim asked, sliding his arms around
Blair's waist, pulling them close together.

     "It's upstairs."

     "So's yours," Jim responded, leaning in for a prolonged kiss. 
When he drew back, Blair was smiling, a bit skeptically.  "No, really,
it's upstairs."

     "Guess we better go have a look then."  Blair took his lover's
hand and headed up the stairs.  

     Blair released Jim's hand long enough to rifle through his
underwear drawer and pull out a package the size of a small shirt box. 
He tossed his suitcoat on the bed and opened the neck of his shirt,
while Jim was dispensing with his tie as swiftly and carelessly as an
experienced stripper tossing her g-string to the crowd.  Kicking off his
shoes, Blair sat Indian-style on the bed and waited for Jim to go
through a similar ritual.  Jim retrieved his package from the back of the
closet shelf, which he knew was a safe hiding place, since Blair
couldn't reach it without a chair.  It was a good-sized box, about fifteen
inches square, wrapped in red paper embossed with little red foil
hearts.  Blair's gift for Jim was wrapped in paper that came dangerously
close to matching the stuffed gorilla's boxers.  

     "Wanna go first?"  Blair asked.

     "Sure."  Jim took the package and tore off the paper, then
opened the flat box inside.   He laughed when he pulled out a pair of
boxer shorts--white satin with red hearts.

     "That's kind of a present I get to share.  Your real present's
under them--still in the box."  Blair pushed some of the tissue paper
aside as Jim took out a wrapped bundle.  After divesting it of its
multiple layers of paper, he found himself holding an elegant man's
watch, gold with a black face and gold hands.  "I thought you could use
a nice dressy one," Blair spoke up again.  "Look on the back."

     "'Timeless Love, Ageless Us... Love, Blair'," Jim read the tiny
engraving easily, recognizing the words to a love song Blair had said fit
them perfectly.  A love song he found, of all places, on the soundtrack
to a horror movie.  It was stirring and beautiful nonetheless, and Blair
was convinced it should be their song.  Jim fought a hard battle with
his emotions, and knowing a couple of tears were going to escape no
matter what he did, he let them, and pulled Blair into his arms.  "I love
it, sweetheart.  It's perfect.  Just like you."

     "I love you, mine.  Always and forever."

     "For better or for worse," Jim countered, pulling back and
smiling a little at the face he adored.

     "I do," they said in unison, then chuckled a little at their perfect
timing.

     "My turn?"  Blair asked, grinning as Jim was busily trying on
his watch.

     "Anytime, baby."  Jim watched with a grin as Blair tore into the
package with his usual gusto, finally opening the square white box and
tossing tissue paper in all directions.  With a little indrawn breath, he
removed a substantial brass statue, about twelve inches tall and at least
that wide.  Two swans faced each other, joined head to head and heart
to heart.  "Swans mate for life, angel.  Forever.  Just one perfect mate. 
Like us."  Jim reached out to stroke Blair's hair.

     "I love you," Blair choked out before setting the statue on the
night stand and then throwing himself into Jim's arms, toppling them
both back onto the bed.

     "Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart." Jim squeezed Blair tightly
against him.

     "Happy Valentine's Day, mine.  All mine, forever," Blair added,
returning the pressure of the intense embrace.

     The two men made slow, passionate love under the watchful
eyes of the mated brass swans.

********

The song "Timeless Love" appears on the soundtrack to the movie
"Shocker", and is available on SBK Records.  Lyrics follow, for those
who are interested.  It was written by one of my favorite composers,
Desmond Child.

//Though we'll never live this moment again
The clock is ticking away in vain
Time itself has chased us down
But we've tricked it at its own game
Nothing to keep me from you...

I don't have to see you everyday
Only fools put chains on love
And if I had to live life through
Alone and without you
It wouldn't change a thing...

Timeless love
Ageless us
There's no end
Always was
A timeless love
Heaven born
Ancient vows
Never to be torn

There is no tomorrow in my heart
Only dreamers believe in time
So let's leave no regrets behind
I'll give it all
When I'm with you...

Timeless love
Ageless us
There's no end
Always was
A timeless love
Heaven born
Ancient vows
Never to be torn
There's no longing when you see my eyes
There's no distance when I let you go
'Cause I know a timeless love
On this rock
Take me now
And make a lovebird 
Of the cuckoo in the clock