A/N: Well, I actually got 3 reviews so, as promised, here is the second chapter! Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing!

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Tom stared wide eyed at the male above him. He laid flat on his back with Huck's arms on either side of his head. Just seconds earlier their friendship had taken a sharp left turn. Huck had kissed him! And it wasn't just a peck. Tom could feel the emotions behind the kiss.

The pallid moonlight shown through an open window and a minuscule beam hit Huck just about the eye, causing a shimmer in them. The gaze between the two had grown intense in the short time that they lay there. Neither knew what to say, and, truly, neither knew what to feel. But Huck had some indication of what to feel. He knew from the kiss.

It was love.

He had known it was something like that for a good, long while. Tom treated him ways that Joe Harper or Ben Rogers or any other person of any sex had never treated him.

"A-are you okay..." Huck asked, breathless and flustered. Tom didn't respond, making Huck all the more nervous. Almost immediately, Huck began to beat himself up mentally. He instantly concluded that he had "burnt the only bridge ever built".

Tom let out an inaudible huff, trying to decide what to do. He supposed he could just push Huck off of him and storm out, but a sore retreat did not a good exit make. Besides, it didn't feel like the right thing to do in such a situation. In stead he just stayed there, seemingly affixed to the ground by some unseen force. This didn't help settle the unease that was starting to grow in Huck's stomach.

"Just say somethin'..." Huck said in a low whisper, allowing the hair to sweep in front of his eyes. There was a stiffness to the air, making it rather difficult to even breathe.

"Somethin'," Tom replied with a shaky smile, doing his best to break the tension. There was a gasping laugh from the other male, as if Huck were choking and laughing in unison. Tom stared at Huck, who was adverting his attention. "Don't be hard on yourself, Hucky."

"O', why shouldn't I be?"

"Because you didn't do nothin' wrong." Tom replied. Huck smiled gingerly before allowing the expression to fade. He moved, cautiously, away from Tom, permitting him some room to sit up. Huck pulled his legs against his chest, Tom let out a long sigh, and the two sat there.

"How 'bout we forget it. I'll keep mum if you will." Huckleberry finally mumbled against his knees.

"If that's what ya really want," Tom replied, mixed feelings of relief and, yet, a strange ping of disappointment filling up the pit of his stomach.

"It is. Was a dumb move. Somethin' I shouldn't have done. I'm a blamed fool."

"I said, don't be hard on yourself."

"Would ya stop actin' like it don't bother you!" Huck suddenly exclaimed, shooting the other boy a tormented glance. Tom could see the pain behind his eyes – This pain was much different then what was normally there; That pain looked like a day out at the circus compared to this pain.

"It doesn't." The words spilled out, earnest and calm.

"Don't lie, Tom. It ain't right." Huck retorted in a shaky tone. Tremors worked their way through his body as he fought back the urge to cry.

"T'ain't a lie... It doesn't bother me a single bit. Yer my friend. Together for the good times... 'Together for the bad times...', right?" He reminded Huck, pulling the now sobbing boy against his chest.

Tom wasn't sure how to react. This wasn't like playing pirate, or Robin Hood. This was real. Too real. And what mad it worse was the feelings that were coursing through his body. One part of him wanted to push Huck away, be disgusted; The other wanted to comfort his friend; Then there was a feeling that mad no sense at all – Actually return the emotion.

Huck wrapped his arms around the torso of his friend, calming his mind of the fear that Tom would leave him. There was a long silence between the two; the only noises were a soft sobbing noise and an occasional sniffle from Huck.

"Look at me, Huck" Said Tom. But the weeping boy wouldn't budge. Between his thumb and forefinger, Tom gripped Huck's face, forcing him to lock eyes. He couldn't handle the pain he saw, it hit a nerve deep inside that he didn't really want to touch. "Please don't cry..." It was little more then a whisper.

"I cant help it..."

"Sure ya can! Just stop blaming yourself for this!"

"But I do blame myself!"

"Well stop that!"

Huck bit his bottom lip and kept the eye contact that he had with Tom. The latter boy just hug Huck tighter, helping the reassurance grow. Huckleberry wanted, so badly, to tell Tom what he had gotten out of the kiss, what he had learned in the brief seconds that their lips had touched but he nibbled at his bottom lip to keep from talking.

The two stayed in that same position for a good lengthy while – The only thing changing was the fact that neither looked at one another anymore – one waiting for the other to make a move, the other not daring to speak. When the silence became too much to bare for Tom, he nudged at Huck's side, causing him to look up at him.

"So how was it?" Tom asked, half jokingly, half serious. Huck stared at Tom, gave a soft smile, then quickly frowned. How does a boy answer such a question? He had just kissed his best friend. His best boy friend.

"Good, I suppose," He nonchalantly replied, giving a subdued shrug of his shoulder. Tom frowned.

"Just good?" Tom asked in a mockingly hurt tone. His attempts at making the situation easier was painfully obvious.

"Yeah. Just good." Huck replied, releasing Tom from the embrace they had been sharing for the best of 20 minutes. Tom let out a small huff, which, to Huck's ears, couldn't be judged as fake. "No more talking, Tom. I want to sleep."

"Fine, fine."

And with that the two boys laid their heads against their pillows, closed their eyes, and, with heavy hearts and tested minds, fell into a peaceful sleep.

--

There was a good two weeks before things were completely back to normal between the duo. Whether playing in the river or in the woods, Huck shied away from Tom, spending more time with the other boys; Any of them that would have them.

And with each time, Tom would feel tormented deep inside. Once when Huck had ran off to play robbers with Joe Harper, Tom had felt the urge to lick Joe something fierce. But he resisted, biting his cheek and going off to find Becky.

Oh Becky! How she bored Tom anymore. Weeks, possibly months, had passed since the last time Tom's heart had fluttered at the sight of her. But what was he to do? Becky loved him, and, for what it was worth, Tom returned the feelings, though with little enthusiasm.

Then it happened. The thing that made Tom realize what was bothering him so. It was late one evening, not late enough for sun to set but late enough to be the hottest part of the summer's day. He, Huck, Joe, and Ben were out fishing when Joe suggested swimming. All the boys removed their clothes and flung themselves into the cool river with squeals of excitement that best became young boys.

After several hours of swimming, the sun began its decent onto the horizon. Ben and Joe had already returned home, leaving Tom and Huck to catch up on things they had missed out on in the last two weeks of avoidance.

"I gotta get home, Huck. Aunt Polly's gonna skin me alive if I ain't home in time for dinner."

"I figured so," Huck retorted with a smile. The two swam back to shore, and climbed out onto the river banks. There was just a glimmer of light that shown through the trees, just enough to give a glow to Huck's exposed skin. Tom couldn't stop himself from staring. There was a lean, defined look to his chest. He watched as Huck slid on his clothes, then Huck noticed. "Something wrong?"

"N-no! I just..." Tom let his sentence trail, embarrassed that he allowed himself to be caught. He threw on his overalls and sat down on the bright green grass to put on his shoes. Huck, who was fully dress by this point, sat beside him.

"Cant remember last time I watched the sun set." Huck mumbled.

"I don't think I ever have..."

"Shame."

"Yup."

Huck was somewhat confused by the content of their conversation. It was awkward and uncomfortable, much like their conversation after the kiss. It didn't seem right. Huckleberry allowed a heavy, yet, repressed sigh move through his lips.

"Hey Huck," Tom had enough, "Do me a favor," He knew what he had to do, "Close yer eyes for a moment," It was now or never.

"Why?" Huck responded, giving his friend a quizzical glance.

"Just do it, would ya!" Tom replied, sternly. A bright smile showed on his face. Huck complied, though, somewhat confused as to his companion's request. With his eyes shut, Huck could do nothing but hear; hear the shuffling of the boy next to him. He felt what body heat that was beside him move to his front.

"Tom, what are you --" His words were cut off by the feel of soft lips pressing against his own. Immediately, Huck's eyes opened wide and with new found excitement. He could see Tom's half lidded eyes stare back into his own with a look of content. Huck smiled into the kiss and leaned into it, deepening it.

The kiss, which at the moment was only lip to lip, lasted a solid minute and a half before Tom pulled back. He had held his breath the entire time, too timid to dare breathe. Huck's smile couldn't be removed as he tried to steady his breathing.

"Still just good?" Tom asked.

"Yeah." Huck retorted jokingly.

A grumbling noise erupted from the back of Tom's throat and he lunged forward, knocking Huck backwards, forcing lips back onto lips. There was a few moments of nothing but lip to lip before Tom licked and nibbled at Huck's bottom lip, begging for entry.

Huck sheepishly opened his mouth.

The kiss became deeply passionate, more passionate then Tom had ever experienced. And "all too soon" the kiss had to end, both needing air. Tom felt satisfied with the events that had just played out; It calmed the uneasy and nagging feeling that had been gnawing at him. He couldn't even remember the name of the girl who he had just that afternoon said "I love you," to. He pulled himself off of Huck and laid down beside the flustered boy.

"And that one?"

But Huck didn't respond. He face was stuck in, what seemed to be, a permanent smile.

--

End.

I was reallyhappy with how this one turned out! I think its so good! But, please, if I'm wrong, tell me! I want to hear from you! Anyway, I'm not sure if I'll do a chapter three... I was thinking about a Yaoi slash type thing. Ya know, a lemon. But if that's dumb, please say something. Remember to REVIEW! No more until at least 10 reviews!
:D