Silvio’s been nothing but understanding when it came to Simon and all his hang-ups. He didn’t pry, simply waited with unending patience for Simon to feel comfortable to explain himself. Knowing that Silvio wasn’t put off by all his baggage certainly made opening up easier. Over many months their friendship evolved, slowly, into something a bit more emotionally intimate.

Could it be that Silvio’s the first person Simon’s actually felt safe with?

That’s how he felt when Silvio whisked him away to his house in the woods. That’s how he felt the first time Silvio took his hand. When every instinct told him to pull away, to conceal everything, Silvio’s kind nature only urged him to open up more. Now they were somewhere in that nebulous place where they weren’t just friends, but they weren’t really together either. That was still too big of a leap for Simon to take.

But he wanted to do something to show his appreciation – no, his affection for the other. So he waited until Silvio was out to set his plan into motion. With the weather turning cooler, curling up by a fire seemed like a wonderful way to spend an evening. Simon’s learned a few things since he started living with Silvio: getting a fire started in the fireplace was one such thing. Surprise! The city boy can be taught! When Silvio returned, the fire was blazing, two cups of coffee sat within reach and Simon waited for him under a warm fleece blanket on the couch.