David looked around his room feeling like he remembered the room being bigger. Now that most of his things were packed the room seemed smaller. All that was left was his desk, dresser, nightstand, and bed. The room looked bare. He couldn't believe he would be leaving to go to college in less than an hour. He still had to go say goodbye to Jack. He had been putting that off all morning. Now he barely had enough time to go over there, stay a few minutes and come back. Someone knocked on his door breaking him from his thoughts. Jack stood leaning against the door silently watching him.

"It looks smaller doesn't it?"

"Yeah." David said walking over to him.

"Mine does too." Jack said pulling him to him.

David buried his face in Jack's neck fighting back the urge to freak out. Now was not the time to do that. Things couldn't be helped now. Jack was leaving for California in the morning. He had changed his flight once already so that he could see everyone going to the city off. Specs had left a few days ago. No one had seen or heard from Dutchy since. He would be the last one to leave because he didn't have to be in Colorado for another few days. They were all worried about him. He had been withdrawn and distant ever since before Specs left. David hoped that it was only a phase. And that he would be back to normal soon. He also hoped that Mush and Blink and Sarah and Skittery knew how lucky they were that they would be together for college. They wouldn't have to deal with being apart from the person they cared for. David didn't know how he was going to handle being around them. He knew that they would sympathetic and try to include him. But he would end up feeling like the third wheel.

"You're not going to freak out are you?" Jack asked pulling away to look at him.

David shook his head not trusting himself to speak. Jack kneeled down to his level making him meet his gaze. Blue eyes met brown making David sigh.

"We'll be fine. I'm just a phone call away. I can be on a plane to New York all you have to do is say so."

"Yeah, as long as it's on a weekend. Or a holiday." David said rolling his eyes.

"I'll take what I can get." Jack said giving him a half smile.

"You two are still saying goodbye?" Blink asked walking down the hall.

"Yes, now go away." Jack said not taking his eyes away from David's.

David pulled him out of the hall and shut the door. Jack went to lock the door but David stopped him.

"I really won't be able to leave if we have sex." He said shaking his head.

He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. Jack knelt in front of him putting his hands on his knees. David looked up meeting his gaze again.

"I love you. You know that don't you?"

David nodded with a smile. They had never told each other that before.

"I love you too."

"I wanted to wait until the time was right to say that. This seemed like the right time." Jack said brushing his fingers over David's knuckles.

"It was." He said smiling.

Someone knocked on the door making Jack stand to his feet. He opened the door and smiled as Esther came into the room.

"It's time to go." She said putting a hand on David's shoulder.

"Can you give us a few more minutes?"

She nodded with a smile. She left the room without saying a word. Jack closed the door behind her before turning back to David. He gave him a worried look before walking back over to the bed. He sat next to him draping an arm over him.

"Promise me something." David asked turning to look at him.

"Anything."

"If you find someone else, be upfront with me."

"No one will ever replace you." Jack said giving him a stern glare.

"I'd feel better knowing that you would be honest."

"What am I gonna do with you?" Jack said pulling him to him.

David wrapped his arms around Jack's neck taking in his scent. He didn't want to forget anything about him. Someone knocked on the door making them pull apart. Jack rested his forehead against David's as the door opened.

"Dad's ready to leave." Sarah said just above a whisper.

"I'll be there in a minute." David said not moving.

Sarah pulled the door closed silently as Jack brushed his lips against David's. The kiss deepened as Jack nipped at David's bottom lip. David opened his mouth letting him in. His hands fisted in Jack's hair keeping him from moving. He reluctantly pulled away hearing someone in the hall. Les opened the door a few seconds later telling him to hurry up.

Blink, Mush, and Skittery's families were all there to see them off. Mayor, Race, Spot and Skittery's older brother were the only ones who were going to help everyone get settled. Casey held onto Blink with tears in her eyes. He was trying to calm her down as Race put a hand on his shoulder. He unlatched her arms from around his waist and knelt down to her level. He said something to her that no one else heard and she nodded her head before wrapping her arms around his neck. He hugged her briefly before Mrs. Bartlett came to pull her away.

Everyone piled into the cars while everyone else stood in the yard watching them leave. David turned in his seat as his dad pulled away. His eyes met Jacks making him smile. Jack smiled back giving him a small wave. He waved back just before the car rounded the corner. He didn't know what was going to happen in the next four years. All he knew was that they would get through it together.

AN: This is the end. It's been a four month labor of love. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Even if most of you didn't send in feedback. That's okay, at least you read it.