Chapter 12

February 4th, 1984. Jonathan yawned as he woke up. It was Saturday. And not just any Saturday: it was his 17th birthday! Excited, he walked downstairs to grab some breakfast in the kitchen.

''Happy birthday to you,

happy birthday to you,

happy birthday,

happy birthday,

happy birthday to youuuuu!''

Jonathan couldn't believe what he was seeing. In the kitchen were his mom, his brother and Steve, all smiling and singing to him. And that wasn't all: in front of them on the table was a delicious looking chocolate cake with seventeen burning candles.

''Good morning birthday boy!'' Joyce said with a smile. She kissed her son on the cheek. ''Look what we made for you! It's your favorite cake!''

''Yeah, we just felt like you deserved it, you know, since usually you are the one making delicious breakfast for all of us'', Steve added in.

Will interrupted as he jumped on Jonathan for a hug. ''Happy birthday big brother!'' Jonathan cheerfully hugged him back.

''Well hurry up now and blow out those candles, some of us are hungry you know'', Steve jested.

Jonathan happily obliged.

''This really is delicious cake. Thanks mom!'' Jonathan said with his mouth full.

''Watch your manners sweetheart!'', Joyce said jokingly. ''Also, it isn't me you should be thanking. It was actually Steve who did most of the work.''

Steve blushed as Jonathan looked at him surprised. ''So you do know how to cook!''

''Well yeah, but it is just easier when you do it, you know.''

Jonathan shot him a mockingly insulted glare.

''I'm so excited about the party tonight!'' Will raved. ''We're going to watch movies and eat cake and have lots of fun! Mike and Dustin and Lucas and Max and Eleven and Nancy and Barb will all be there!''

''Don't forget Hopper'', Steve said as he shot a naughty grin at Joyce.

She blushed. ''Yes it will be lots of fun!'' She said as she tried to talk over his comment.

''I have a gift for you'', Steve said as he turned towards Jonathan. ''But I'd like to give it to you upstairs. In private'', he said as he glared towards Will and Joyce, who could barely contain their curiosity.

Neither could Jonathan, so as soon as they finished their cake, he and Steve rushed upstairs to his bedroom.

Once they got there, and made sure the door was properly closed and no one was spying on them, Steve began to speak. ´´You know, we have been together for almost four months now. And I just want you to know I am so happy I found you.´´ He blushed. ´´You make me the happiest guy in the world. However...´´ Steve paused for a moment. ´´I feel like there is one more thing I have to do to make up to you for the past.´´

Jonathan smiled. ´´I have forgiven you a long time ago´´, he reassured him.

´´But still, for my own conscience, I´m going to make up to you.´´

Steve grabbed a beautifully wrapped box from under the bed. ´´This is for you. Happy birthday, sweetheart´´, he said as he placed a kiss on Jonathan's lips.

Jonathan carefully unwrapped his lover´s present. He gasped as he saw what was inside the box. ´´Oh honey, you shouldn´t have!´´

It was a brand new camera. A better model even than the one he used to have.

´´Really you shouldn´t have, I could never give you back anything this expensive.´´

Steve quickly put a kiss on Jonathan´s mouth, to stop him from rambling. ´´Shh, I really don´t want to talk about money right now. Besides, I owe you this. I was the one who broke your previous camera. This really was the least I could do. Just enjoy the gift! And make some beautiful pictures of the party tonight.´´

Jonathan looked down at the floor and smiled. ´´Thank you´´, he said softly.

Steve could never resist his boyfriend when he did that: staring down at the floor, smiling shyly, blushing. It was the cutest thing ever. He pulled him in for a tight hug. For a few minutes each silently cherished the moment.

''I think I'm ready'', Jonathan broke the silence. ''You have been so patient and understanding with me. For the longest time I couldn't trust anyone because of...everything that happened. At first I couldn't even handle it when you touched my back. But you have been so kind to me. You never pushed me to do anything. You have always respected my boundaries, even when I never wanted to go any further than kissing for the past months. You were there for me when I needed you…'' Jonathan paused for a moment as he turned to look his lover in the eyes. ''You are the one for me. And I'm ready to...to do more than just kissing. '' He blushed and quickly looked down. That hadn't been easy for him to say.

Steve softly put his hand under Jonathan's chin and lifted it slightly, making their gazes meet.

´´Are you really sure?''

Jonathan nodded. He was nervous, but sure about what he wanted.

''Okay. But we're going to take it slow. And if at any time you want me to stop, just say it, okay?''

Jonathan nodded again, thankful that Steve was being so careful with him.

''Promise me you'll speak up if you feel uncomfortable?'' Steve urged again.

Jonathan raised his head again to look Steve in the eyes. ''I promise'', he said sincerely.

That was all the confirmation Steve needed. He pulled Jonathan in for a kiss, while frantically moving his hands underneath his lover's clothes. Clumsily he managed to take off his shirt. For a moment he slowed down and softly caressed the uneven marks on his lover's back. ''You're beautiful'', he whispered. In response Jonathan hugged him with such fervor that he fell backwards on the bed. For a moment he was too stunned to respond as he felt Jonathan on top of him, kissing him. He couldn't help but smile as he saw him turning red, realizing what he just had done. Jonathan wasn't used to letting himself go, to losing control like that.

'That's okay, I'll teach him', Steve thought with a grin. Swiftly he grabbed Jonathan by his arms and turned him on his back, positioning himself on top of him and pinning him down by his wrists. He kissed him on his neck and slowly started to make his way down. Jonathan gasped as Steve reached his hips and started unzipping his pants.

''Are you sure you want to continue?''

Jonathan nodded eagerly. This was a whole new experience for him. Terrifying yet intoxicating at the same time. He desired nothing more than for Steve to continue, yet was afraid of surrendering to his lover's movements, afraid to let go and let pleasure take over.

Steve sensed there was still a hurdle to be overcome. Slowly he pulled down the other boy's pants and underwear. He started planting kisses on his lower belly and his inner thighs.

Jonathan groaned. He couldn't take his lover's teasing anymore.

''Just tell me you want it baby'', Steve whispered in a hoarse voice.

''I-I w-want it'' Jonathan softly stuttered, blushing.

Not good enough.

''Tell me what you want baby'' Steve spoke between kisses.

''I want…I w-want you t-to…'' Jonathan hesitated. He knew the words but couldn't get himself to speak them. Years of humiliation had built a wall of shame inside him that proved virtually impossible to break through.

''Relax baby. Relax and enjoy.'' Steve softly stroked his inner thighs and began planting kisses at the base of his shaft.

Jonathan moaned in ecstasy, aching for more. He craved nothing more than to feel his lover's lips on him.

''Say it'' Steve ordered again, his tone more demanding now.

''I w-want you to…s-suck my c-cock'', he finally caved in, overcome by desire. His cheeks burned bright red.

Steve grinned. That was much better already. But there was still room for improvement.

''Beg me for it.''

Jonathan lifted his head up in surprise to face his lover. He couldn't be serious, right? He'd already given him what he wanted, and now suddenly the stakes were raised. His indignation was quickly replaced by pure exaltation as Steve raised his head to the tip of Jonathan's cock and slowly traced his tongue around it. Once. He then lifted his gaze to meet Jonathan's.

He raised an eyebrow. ''Still waiting.''

Jonathan felt like he was going to explode. His self-control was faltering, the wall inside was crumbling. He wanted, no, needed Steve's mouth around him, NOW. Nothing else mattered anymore.

''P-please s-suck my c-cock. Please!''

Steve smirked. Those were the magic words. He didn't waste any time taking a shivering Jonathan in his mouth and started to move up and down rhythmically.

Jonathan moaned in delight. Steve felt himself getting more and more turned on by the sounds of his lover. As he fastened the pace, he quickly unzipped his own pants and started stroking himself in the same rhythm.

Jonathan's breathing got increasingly faster. Before he knew it a wave of ecstasy came over him. He felt himself release in his lover's mouth. Panting, he looked down and saw that Steve had come too.

Steve swallowed and positioned himself next to Jonathan. He felt his lover's arms curling up around him and pulling him closer. For a few minutes they lay together in silence, trying to catch their breath and wrap their minds around everything that had just happened.

''You know, if anyone had told me in September that this is what my life would look like now, I wouldn't have believed them'', Jonathan said drowsily. ''All the good things that have happened to me: I actually have friends now. I have a better relationship with my mom, with my coworkers.'' He turned his head towards his lover. ''And most importantly, I found you. Never in my life had I expected to ever be in a relationship with Steve Harrington.''

Steve turns to Jonathan with a smile. He plants a kiss on his lover's forehead and shrugs: ''Stranger things have happened''.

The End