Wings of Gray Alternate ending

I suggest you read Wings of Gray before you try reading this, otherwise you wont get most of what's going on. Enjoy :)

I hope this satisfies everyone's burning need for a happily ever after, and I hope this also helps people see what would happen IF Alex hadn't ended up the way he did at the end of Wings of Gray.

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alex tried to sit up as Mike came in carrying a tray of food, toast in his mouth.

"You know, I think I'm healthy enough to go eat breakfast downstairs with you guys." Alex smiled.

"I'm not risking it, let me baby you while I can." Mike said, around his mouth full of Alex's toast. "Now drink your milk." He took a bite from the toast and put the rest down on the tray.

"I don't like milk." Alex frowned.

"To bad, drink it." Mike smiled and left the room. 

It was a month ago that Alex had been shot. Randall had missed. He was aiming for Alex's chest, meaning to kill, but instead hit his shoulder. His right shoulder was shattered and it took a team of surgeons to repair it. He had been released from the hospital two days ago, and had come home to Mike's warm parents, and Mikes warmer bed. He had physical therapy in a few months, and the doctors said it would be another three to four months before he would be able to lose the sling. They thought he would get full use of his arm back. It was a miracle. Randall had been arrested and this time Alex didn't hesitate pressing charges. He wouldn't be leaving prison for a long time, since he was over eighteen. 

Alex shifted in the bed again, trying to get comfortable, when Mike came in and rolled his eyes. He grabbed Alex around the waist and helped lift him up, adjusting so his wings would be comfortable in the bed.

"Thank you." Alex smiled.

"Of course, baby." Mike smiled and kissed his lips firmly. Mike had been a wreck when he found out what happened. He was pulled from school for a month to watch over Alex. His parents tried to convince him to go back, but he would leave in the middle of first period to come watch over Alex. He wasn't sleeping well, and would watch Alex like the hawk he was paired with.

"You should get some rest, you didn't go to bed last night." 

"How did you know that?" Mike frowned.

"I know." Alex smiled.

"I'm fine. Besides, I have laundry to do and your bandage needs to be changed, and-"

"Mike. Get some sleep. All that can wait. Don't make me worry about you." Alex smiled and stroked Mikes face. Mike sighed and kissed Alex again.

"Scoot over?" He gave a sheepish smile. Alex laughed and tried to slide over, with the help of Mike. Mike climbed into bed and curled up next to Alex.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked.

"I'm fine, Mike. Stop treating me like a porcelain doll." He laughed.

"I just worry."

"I know you do." Alex kissed him. "I worry about you too." Alex lifted his left arm and wrapped it around Mike's shoulders.

"I love you, Alex." Mike said.

"I love you, too." Alex cooed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex rolled his shoulder as it was removed from the sling. It was painful, and stiff. He grunted and put a hand over his shoulder.

"Physical therapy should help with all of that." The doctor said. He felt Alex's shoulder gently, feeling for anything amiss.

"So he'll have full use of his arm?"

"He should." The doctor nodded. Mike smiled and hugged Alex tightly. Alex spread his wings and wrapped them around Mike's shoulders. Mike loved the feeling of Alex's soft wings. He rubbed his face in the soft feathers and smiled.

"You'll start Physical therapy on Monday." The doctor wrote down the time and Alex accepted it.

"How about some celebratory Chinese food?" Mike smiled. Alex nodded excitedly and the family walked out of the hospital. They were walking down the street to their favorite Chinese food place, when they saw a familiar face.

"Ethan..." Mike glared, and Alex could see the anger in his eyes.

"Mike. Don't." Alex stood in front of him.

"That asshole." Mike stepped towards Ethan."

"Mike, don't do anything stupid." Alex begged.

"He's out here shopping while you're getting out of the hospital!?" Mike was almost shouting. Mike moved past Alex and walked up to Ethan who hadn't even noticed them yet. When Mike was only a few feet away, Ethan looked up.

"Mike..." His eyes got wide before he was met with Mike's fist in his mouth. He fell back, mouth bleeding.

"Mike! Stop it!" Alex stood in front of Mike again.

"Move, Alex." Mike said, eyes focused only on Ethan.

"No." Alex said softly.

"I said move!" Mike turned to him and shouted.

"And I said no!" Alex yelled louder. Mike stopped and looked at him with pained eyes. 

"He tried to take you away from me." Mike's jaw shook before he looked down and tears started falling from his eyes. "They both tried to take you away from me. And they almost did." Mike sobbed. Ethan stared up at them as Alex held Mike's head to his chest. "God, Alex. I almost lost you." Mike cried. "I was so close to losing you!" He sobbed. Alex brought his face up and wiped his tears away with his wing.

"But you didn't." Alex said softly. "And beating Ethan up isn't going to help. The only thing it will do is make you exactly like him." Alex said. Mike nodded. He stood up straight and looked over at Ethan.

"You're a horrible human being. I don't think you even have the right to be called human." Mike said, simply. "If you ever come near us again, even if it's by accident. You better pray Alex is there to stop me." Mike said in a cold whisper. Ethan nodded quickly and watched them walk away.

"I'm proud of you. It takes a strong man to beat the crap out of somebody. It takes a better man to not." Alex stood on his tip toes and kissed Mike's jaw. Mike hugged him to his side, careful of his injured shoulder, and rubbed his head in his hair.Grateful for what he still had.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Christmas was coming up. Alex had spent the afternoon hanging up decorations with Mike and his family, though with his injured shoulder he stuck to decorating the tree with Mike's mother. He sat down once the tree was done and rubbed his sore shoulder tenderly.

"You okay?" Mike asked, sitting behind him on the couch and giving him a massage.

"Yeah, that feels better. You're the best." Alex leaned his head back on Mike's chest.

"I know. You can pay me back in Christmas gifts." Mike kissed his temple, making Alex giggle.

"What do you want for Christmas?" Alex asked.

"It's no fun if I tell you." Mike smiled. "But you haven't gotten me something yet?" He added.

"No, it's not like you've gotten me anything." Alex rolled his eyes.

"Yes I have." Mike said. Alex turned around so fast he could have given himself whiplash.

"What?" He said, worry scribbled all over his face.

"I've already gotten you your Christmas presents." Mike shrugged.

"But I don't even know what I'm going to get you! And Christmas is only a week away!" Alex stood up, and grabbed his keys.

"I need to go shopping!" He was headed out the door.

"Wait, driving will only hurt your shoulder." Mike chased after him.

"You cant come with me! You'll see what I'm getting you!" Alex said, though he had no idea what he was going to get Mike.

"I'll go with you, Alex." Mike's mother smiled and put on her shoes.

"Thank you mom." Mike kissed her. She smiled and nodded and followed Alex out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alex sipped a bottle of water as Mike's mother drove.

"So what are you going to get him?" She asked.

"I have no idea." Alex admitted.

"Has he mentioned anything that he wants?" 

"Nothing. All he does is worry about me." Alex laughed.

"He's definitely a worrier. He gets that from his father." She winked at Alex.

"Do you have any ideas?" Alex asked.

"Hm...Well, get him a nice watch or something." She suggested.

"He doesn't like watches. Besides, he always has his phone with him." Alex shrugged.

"Go to a sex shop and get something for both of you." She said. Alex coughed and spit water everywhere. He choked for awhile until he finally caught his breath. All the coughing hurt his shoulder.

"What!?" He shouted, looking at her like he was insane.

"Oh come on, Alex. Don't you think I know what goes on behind closed doors. I do have a son, you know." She smiled at him.

"What is wrong with your generation." Alex laughed.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one saying that?" 

"I'm not the one who mentioned the-" Alex went silent as she pulled into the half empty parking lot. He stared up at the blinking sign and sighed.

"Oh god, there's no way I can shop in there with you." He blushed and put his head in his hands.

"Oh don't worry, I'll be shopping for my own things." She winked at him and got out of the car. Alex stared after her with a horrified look.

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alex's eyes were wide as he walked up and down the isles of sex toys, magazines, videos, and things he couldn't even name. He looked at the rows of dildo's, anal beads, cock rings, and more with awe. He was blushing heavily and felt like everyone in the tiny store was looking at him, though most of them were keeping to themselves. He picked up a HUGE thirteen inch dildo and set it down again, shivering. He was looking at flavored condoms when something caught his eye. 

He walked over to the role playing costumes and got a small smile on his face. They had never tried role playing. It was something somewhat kinky, but not as scary as a thirteen inch rubber cock. He looked through the many outfits and was considering which one to get when his shopping buddy walked up behind him silently.

"What about the fireman? Mike has always loved Firemen." She laughed. Alex jumped and blushed even harder.

"I don't know, I think I would be to embarrassed to buy anything.

"Oh come on, Alex. Everyone has a kinky side." She smiled at him and began looking through costumes with him. In the end, they bought the fireman costume, a pair of VERY tight orange briefs, and an orange jock strap to match his eyes. He got home, locked Mike in their room, and began wrapping his presents. He hoped Mike would like them. After he had wrapped them, he headed up to see Mike.

"Can I come out now?" Mike looked up over the magazine he was reading.

"Yes." Alex blushed. Mike smiled and hugged Alex tightly.

"I love you." He sniffed his vanilla scented shampoo.

"I love you, too. Merry Christmas." Alex smiled.

"Merry Christmas, baby." Mike hugged him and dragged him back into their bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Christmas finally rolled around and Alex sat between Mike's legs, watching everyone exchange gifts. They sat quietly while his mother and father traded watch and perfume, and other gifts. Finally, his mother picked up a present and handed it to Mike's dad. She whispered something in his ear before he blushed and put the present aside to open later. Mike raised an eyebrow and saw Alex blushing. Alex grabbed his own special presents and handed them to Mike who stuck his finger under the corner of one.

"Wait." Alex said softly. "Open these later...When we're alone." He blushed. Mike raised an eyebrow again, and with a sly smile, put them to the side. He kissed Alex warmly and the couple moved to search through their stockings. Alex pulled out an envelope in his stocking.

"That's your Christmas present, I just worried it would get lost under all the other ones under the tree." Mike smiled. Alex looked up at him with his wide orange eyes before opening the envelope with delicate hands. He pulled out the picture inside. He raised an eyebrow as he flipped over the plain picture and was presented with a somewhat run down house.

"What's this?" Alex asked, beginning to think it was a shitty Christmas present.

"It's our new home." Mike smiled. Alex froze. Home?

"W-what?" He stuttered.

"Mike bought it with his college fund." His mother said from the couch. Alex looked up at Mike.

"You what?" He was still in shock.

"Only half of it. Mom and Dad agreed to help me with the other half since I put in all the money for the college fund." Mike said.

"W-what?" Alex stuttered again.

"I bought us a house, Alex. I want us to move in together as soon as Christmas is over." Mike said, beginning to worry Alex didn't want to move in with him.

"You...You used...bought....," He began mumbling incoherently. "College...House?" Alex choked out the last word.

"babe, we talked about this. English. Real sentences." Mike gave a worried smile. Alex looked down at the picture and looked up and was crying. "If you don't want to move in with me, it's fine... I just thought we had gotten to a point in our relationship where-" He was silenced when Alex tackled him to the ground with a hug. He cried into his chest in large sobs.

"You want to move in with me?" Alex smiled into Mike's chest.

"You're happy?"

"You've made me the happiest person alive." Alex smiled. He looked back down at the picture. 

"That was a few weeks ago. I've been working on it since then. It still needs some work, but it's decent enough to live in now." Mike smiled at Alex.

"God, I love you so much." Alex said. "Oh my god, we're going to live together! Our own home! OUR home!!" He squealed.

"Yep, all ours." Mike kissed him. Alex sighed.

"How the hell was my gift supposed to compare to this?" Alex waved the picture around.

"You agreeing to move in with me is a big enough present.

"Don't worry Mike, I was there when he bought it. I know you're going to love it." His mother smiled and walked into the kitchen to start dinner. Alex turned bright red and his large wings stretched over to cover his face. Mike laughed and began pulling chocolate out.

They sat there, snacking on peppermint and chocolate, watching a children's Christmas movie on T.V.

"What are you thinking about?" Alex looked up at Mike. His feathers were ruffled and he was flexing his wings against Mike's chest.

"Wondering what treasures are hidden in those presents you wont let me open in front of anyone." Mike smiled. Alex blushed and played with Mikes bigger hand.

"When can we move?" Alex asked, the thought of their new home making his heart flutter.

"I told you, right after Christmas." Mike smiled, glad Alex was so eager.

"And it's close enough to the campus that we wont have any trouble getting to classes on time?" Alex worried.

"It's kind of far, but it's near a bunch of bus routes, so we should be fine." Mike smiled. Alex cuddled deeper into his chest.

"Good, it's going to be perfect." Alex said dreamily. Suddenly he sat up, hitting Mike in the stomach as he pushed himself up. "Can we have a dog?" He shouted. "I've always wanted a dog!" Alex's eyes were wide with excitement.

"I don't know, do you think we'll have time?" Mike asked. "I don't want to get one and just leave it at home alone all the time." Mike worried.

"I'm sure we'll have time!" Alex begged. 

"What about a cat?" Mike asked. "Low maintenance." He joked. Alex frowned.

"Right right, no cats." Mike blushed. "Sorry." He apologized, running his fingers down the scars across Alex's back, through his shirt.

"It's okay." Alex said.

"Sure, we can get a dog. Not a big one though, I don't want to have to take it for a run every five minutes and there isn't that big of a yard." Mike said.

"It has a yard?" Alex beamed. "I'm gonna have a garden. With a pond...and Koi fish!" Alex laid back on Mike's chest.

"I'm glad I made you happy, baby." Mike kissed his temple.

"So happy." Alex snuggled into his neck. Mike held him as the movie played in the background, neither of them really watching.

"Mike?" Alex said, quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to go open your presents now?" Alex asked. Mike smiled and nodded. They stood up, and Alex pulled him by the hand, up to their room. He put the presents in Mike's hands and sat down on the bed. Mike smiled and unwrapped the first one. He pulled out the small orange jock and smiled.

"Oh you're going to LIVE in this." He looked up at Alex. Alex blushed and looked at the ground.

"Open the others." Alex urged.

"Alright alright, don't get your jock strap in a twist." Mike winked. Alex buried his head in his wing, embarrassed. Mike opened the orange briefs next.

"Oh man, Merry Christmas to me!" He smiled.

"Which one do you want to see first? I'll go change while you open the third." Alex smiled. Mike held out the jock with a smile. Alex blushed and grabbed it from his hand quickly, before dashing into the bathroom.

Alex stripped quickly and slid on the orange jock that was the exact same shade as his eyes. He looked at himself in the mirror and all he saw was the scars that littered his body. He felt his heart sink. But he knew. He knew Mike saw something else. Something he didn't see. Something beautiful.

"Holy Jesus!" He heard Mike shout from the bedroom, he had unwrapped his last present. Alex exhaled and stepped out into their bedroom slowly. Mike looked up from the skimpy fireman outfit and his jaw dropped. Alex used his gray wings to cover as many of his scars as he could.

"God, you are so beautiful." Mike said, quietly amazed. He put down the fireman costume and stood up, walking slowly over to Alex. He touched his silky wing and pushed it away from his bare chest. He brushed his hand across his naked chest and down to his navel. Alex's wings were unfolded behind him, twitching and jumping with anticipation.

"I don't know how something so beautiful could exist in this world, and still have it be such a dark place." Mike ran his finger across the bullet wound in Alex's shoulder. The look in his eyes made Alex feel amazing. He smiled and fell into Mike's arms. Mike tilted his head up and kissed him warmly, showing him all of his love. Mike began crawling down his body and ended up at his pink nipples. Mike bit and nibbled at the perky nubs and Alex tossed his head back and moaned.

"Mike..."

"Let me have you. You're just so beautiful." Mike begged.

"Okay..." Alex whispered. Mike brought him over to the bed and set him down. Alex laid on his back on the bed, wiggling in anticipation. Mike moved down his body slowly, playing with the light pink peaks, and then down to his navel. He followed the trail of light black hair down to his jock clad cock. He sucked Alex's cock through the tight fabric of the jock and Alex nearly went insane. The wet heat on the head of his cock made him buck and thrust against Mike's mouth.

"Mike... I need you! Please!" Alex whined. His nipples were hard and his cock was harder. Mike flipped him over and exposed his tight asshole. The pink twitching hole looked delicious and Mike couldn't help but dive down and suck and lick the beautiful opening. Alex moaned and bucked against Mike's warm tongue.

"God, you're so hot." Mike smiled. "And so god damn sexy." He bit at the jock strap.

"You like it?"

"I love it. Just like I love you. I love you so damn much, Alex." Mike nipped at his neck and shoulders.

"Take me, please." Alex begged. Mike grabbed lube from the table next to his bed and squirted a fair amount on his cock and Alex's tight pink opening. Without any warning he thrust in halfway. Alex grunted loudly, being filled so suddenly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, please keep going." Alex wiggled his ass back onto Mike's hard cock.

"Damn, I love it when you beg." Mike kissed his ear lovingly. He buried himself in to the hilt before stopping. Suddenly he felt the need to move nice and slow. He pulled out his cock slowly, and paused for a minute with only the fat head of his cock inside Alex. Alex whimpered and wiggled with need. Mike pushed in slowly, a long moan forced out of Alex. He pulled out his cock and rolled Alex over onto his back. He bit and sucked on Alex's shoulders and neck and he fucked him gently and lovingly. Alex was panting and dizzy with need. After awhile of massaging his prostate with his hard cock, they were reaching climax fast. Mike held off as long as he could, making sure their release was beautiful. He grunted one more time before pulling out and cumming all over Alex's chest. Alex moaned loudly and exploded over himself and Mike. He tensed as his balls emptied over their bodies before collapsing back onto their pillows. He was dizzy and sleepy.

"Oh my god, that was so good." Alex moaned, already half asleep. Mike rolled over so he wouldn't crush his lover, but he snuggled up next to him quickly.

"Hell yeah it was." Mike smiled. Alex began snoring softly, still half awake.

"So tired..." He mumbled. Mike placed his hand on the puddle of still warm cum and began rubbing it into Alex's light skin. Alex lazily placed his hand on Mike's. He moaned contently and once all the cum was rubbed across his body, Mike kissed his temple, and began drifting off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alex stretched, feeling the jock strap around his ankles. He moaned and curled back up with Mike.

"Morning." Mike smiled.

"Good morning." Alex grinned.

"Thank you for the Christmas presents. They're fantastic." Mike purred.

"You like the fireman one?" Alex blushed.

"Oh hell yeah, we're trying that out tonight!" Mike laughed maniacally. Alex blushed. "How did you know I had a thing for firemen?" Mike asked.

"Huh? Oh, well..." Alex blushed heavily and buried himself in Mike's armpit.

"What is it?" Mike asked, laughing as Alex peeked out at him.

"Your...uh...your mom, was with me....when I uh..." Alex turned red and buried his face again.

"Holy shit, my mom went with you? Grody." Mike grimaced. Then his eyes got wide. "Is that what all the secret present shit was about? Oh gross!" He gave a horrified look. 

"That's what I said." Alex giggled

"Okay, officially creeped the hell out." Mike laughed.

"Alex hugged his arm tightly. "What are we going to do today?" he asked.

"Well, I thought we could start packing. We have a lot of stuff to go through." Mike said. Alex's heart fluttered.

"God, I can't believe this. It's a dream come true." Alex kissed Mike's jaw. 

"Yeah it is, but first. lets shower." Mike pulled him out of bed, helping him out of the crusty jock strap. Alex smiled as they hopped into the steamy shower, and leaned against Mike's strong chest.

"I love you." He whispered. He thanked god again for letting him survive that gunshot.

~~~~~~~ 

"Oh man..." Alex muttered, reading the paper as he sipped his coffee.

"What?"

"Look at this... Some poor college kid was found dead in his boyfriends dorm room. They said he was beaten to death. They think his boyfriend was abusive, they cant seem to find him." Alex said. "That's so sad. He was infected. He looks so sweet... Almost familiar." Alex mumbled the last part.

"What was his name?" Mike asked.

"Uh...Anthony... He was about our age." Alex said.

"Poor guy." Mike said, before setting a plate of toast in front of Alex.

"That's horrible." Mike said, feeling bad but not really paying attention.

"Yeah, it reminds me of that story we read a few days ago. You know, the one about that kid Chris who killed himself?" Alex frowned.

"After he hooked up with some guy at a club who raped him? Yeah, his roommates partied so much they didn't find him for days..." Mike got a sad look on his face before buttering some toast.

"Seems our school has some bad luck." Alex pondered.

"Yeah, eat your food and then we can start packing." Mike said. Alex smiled and bit into a slice of toast.

~~~~~~~~

They had spent all day packing and Alex was exhausted, but happy. He looked over as Mike closed the hundredth box that day with a sigh.

"Man, we aren't even halfway through." 

"We'll be fine. We should finish by January." Alex smiled.

"And then we can move in together, alone, just the two of us...with a fireman sexy outfit." Mike raised an eyebrow.

"Did you still want to try that out tonight?" Alex blushed.

"I do...But I'm kind of tired...You wouldn't mind waiting for that...would you?"

"Not at all." Alex fell forward, pinning Mike to the ground.

"Lets go to bed, baby. It's been a long day." Mike smiled. Alex nodded and sleepily followed Mike to their bed.

"I love you so much, Mike." Alex mumbled as they collapsed into bed.

"I love you, too." Mike hugged him tight.

"I'm so glad we're moving in together." Alex beamed.

"Yeah, can you believe it?" Mike laughed. "We're going to be a real couple. On our own, in our house, with our furniture, our jobs, our school-"

"Our dog." Alex smiled.

"Our money." Mike laughed.

"Our bed." Alex ran a finger slowly down between Mike's pecs and to his bellybutton.

"Our everything." Mike took Alex's mouth in a kiss. Alex let him take over his mouth and submitted to his kiss. He curled up on his chest, their hands entwining. He looked up at the man he loved, and smiled. He wouldn't have his life any other way.

Wings of Gray Ch.06

Ok here is the last chapter, I really want a lot of feedback for this one because if a lot of people REALLY don't like the ending then I will put out an alternate ending but I hope I don't have too. Thanks to my editor :) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alex put the last of the dishes away and looked around the house again. 

He liked to clean while Mike was at school and he had finished his own work. 

Mike's parents wouldn't let him pay them for letting him stay here so he was glad to help cook and clean. 

Alex walked into the living room and saw the clock on top of the T.V. 

'Lunch will start soon.' He thought to himself. 'I want to surprise Mike and take him lunch.' Alex said. He grabbed Mike's mom's car keys and stepped outside. 

He went to Mikes favorite Chinese food place and ordered Mikes favorite and some rice and chow mien. 

When he was given his food he drove to the school and walked into the building. 

This had been the first time he had set foot on the school property since the attack. 

He swallowed his nervousness and walked into the cafeteria. He spotted Mike eating with a few people Alex didn't know. 

He didn't want to just walk up there and interrupt his conversation. 

He thought about what he should do but before he could decide Mike looked up from the table. 

He smiled brightly and got up to meet Alex. 

He got to the door and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy and planted a kiss on his lips. 

"Hi, baby. What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you." Mike said and kept Alex close to him. 

"I thought I would surprise you with some lunch better then a sandwich." Alex said and held up the Chinese food. 

"Oh, you are far too good for me." Mike said and kissed Alex again. He took the Chinese food and opened the to-go box. 

"Aww, you know my favorites. How shall I ever repay you?" Mike did a fake bow and kissed the top of Alex's hand. 

"I think last night earned you this. You have no debt to me loyal subject." Alex played along, and turned his nose up at Mike. 

Mike laughed and dipped him into a kiss and nibbled at his ear. Alex was caught off-guard and almost screamed. 

Mike giggled when he brought Alex back up. Alex was blushing and looked around the cafeteria nervously. 

No one was watching, except the people Mike had been sitting with. 

"I should go. Lunch is almost over and I need to give you time to eat." Alex said.

"No, please stay. I can share." Mike pouted and hugged Alex closer. 

"I have more homework to do. But thanks for the offer." Alex said. Mike sighed and kissed him again. 

"Ok, I'll see you when I get home." He said. 

"Kay." Alex smiled and walked out of the cafeteria. He strolled down the hall and out the front doors of the school. 

He walked down the steps when he heard the door to the school open behind him. 

"Hey, scum." He heard. He recognized Radialls' voice and turned to tell him to leave him alone 

when he saw Randall pull the gun from his belt. He leveled it with Alex's chest and Alex heard it fire. 

He was shocked by the force of being hit. He fell back what felt like four feet. 

His legs gave out and he fell to the hard sidewalk. His head smacked the ground. 

His head spun and his chest felt like a bomb had gone of inside it. He felt waves of pins and needles flow through his body. 

He tried to inhale and the left side of his chest hurt to bad to breathe. He began suffocating and forced himself to breath. 

He felt blood gurgle up from his throat. He tried to stand and realized he couldn't feel his legs. 

His vision began to fade he choked and blood spattered upwards and fell back down to the sidewalk and back onto his face. 

Waves of excruciating pain like nothing he had ever felt before hit him then. He lost his vision and it came back again. 

Before finally he was surrounded by only darkness. 

'I love you, Mike.' He thought to himself. At the last second before the darkness consumed him. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Mike stroked the feather he held in his hands gently. Careful not to ruin the perfect form of it. 

He wiped away the single tear that fell from his face. He looked once more at the picture of Alex that sat on the beautiful gray casket. 

It reminded him of Alex's wings. He touched the smooth surface of it. 

'Not as soft.' Mike thought to himself. 

His parents stood by the car giving him time to say goodbye. The only thing that compared to the pain he was feeling about losing, 

what he believed, was the love of his life, was the fact that so little people showed up for the funeral. 

Maybe two kids from their school had showed up. One infected person who had spoken to Mike and said he was a friend of 

Alex's from the camps. He had read in the newspaper what had happened and wanted to pay his respects, 

Mike and his parents and a teacher where the only other people to come 

Mike sighed and remembered what had happened when he heard the gunshot. 

He swallowed and thought about that day that seemed so far away but the pain from it was still so fresh. 

The sound of a shot was heard even through the thick noise of the cafeteria. Everyone looked up and around but so nothing. 

Several teacher began walking into the hallway to see what had happened. Mike frowned and followed the crowed of students 

that followed the teachers. When he finally got into the hallways most people were crowded around the front door. 

Several people were on their cell phones. Some telling friends or family what was happening, some, mostly teachers, 

on the phone with the police. Giving them the schools address. 

Mike pushed forwards more and saw the three P.E. Teachers holding down Randall. 

A gun lay a few feet from him. He was laughing and looking at something down the front steps of the school. 

Several teachers were kneeling next to what appeared to be a figure on the ground. 

'Oh God please no.' Mike felt his heart being squeezed with fear. He pushed through the crowd and the group of teachers next to the body. 

'Not a body, please not just a body.' Mike thought to himself. 

He looked down at the ground and saw Alex lying there. His face covered with blood. 

There was a puddle of blood beneath him staining the sidewalk. 

The white shirt he had been wearing was now almost completely covered in red. It was dark black on his chest where the, 

what appeared to be, gunshot bled. Blood leaked from his head as well and made a trail down the sidewalk. 

'So much blood.' Mike thought. 'There's never this much blood in the movies...' 

He didn't know if Alex was still alive then. He didn't know until hours after the accident. 

He had almost no pulse when the paramedics arrived. They wouldn't allow Mike into the ambulance with them. 

Mike met them at the hospital and had sat there for hours staring at a wall. 

His parents sat with him and tried to comfort him but nothing they tried worked. 

Mike held a single feather that was untouched by the blood that had polluted the scene of the shooting. 

He held and twirled it nervously. Every now and then he would begin to cry quietly but most of the time he just 

starred at the wall, or at the door that surgeons would come out of after performing surgery. 

Four hours after they had arrived at the hospital the doctor came out and asked for Alex's family. 

They stood and explained they were as close as it got. The doctor nodded. He looked uncomfortable for a second and seemed to look at the ground for answers. He then raised his head and shook it sadly, Alex was gone. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

When the car pulled up to their house Mike stood up and began walking to the side of the house. 

"I'll be back in a bit." He told his parents before he walked to the backyard. His mother opened her mouth to say 

something but his father put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head silencing her. 

Mike walked through the thin birch tree woods that were connected to his backyard. He spun the feather back and forth between his fingers. 

He didn't watch where he was going, he had memorized the path by now. Especially because of his first date with Alex. 

"We're almost there." Mike said leading Alex through the trees with their hands still firmly locked together. 

"Where is there?" Alex asked. 

"Be patient!" Mike laughed. 

He stepped out of the woods and finally glanced up at the old barn. He looked back down at the feather and continued walking. 

He reached the barn and stepped inside. 

"Beautiful isn't really a word I would use for this place..." Alex laughed. 

He walked slowly towards the ladder that reached up towards the loft. He put his foot on the bottom rung and it creaked under him. 

"Is this really safe?" Alex said testing his weight on the first rung of the shaky ladder. 

He finished climbing up the ladder and managed to not ruin the feather on his way up. He sat on the hay and looked out at the setting sun. 

The grass was brown but still long and beautiful. The winter wind was cooler then it was back in summer when Mike had brought Alex here. 

Mike swallowed his sorrow and held back the tears that threatened to pour over. This wasn't meant to be a sad moment for him. 

He looked back out at the view. 

"It is beautiful isn't it..." 

Alex's voice echoed in his head one more time. He stood and walked to the wooden window. 

No dust had collected on the edge of it where Alex had stood the night Mike brought him here. 

He set the feather gently down on the surface. He touched it one more time before a single tear fell and hit the feather. 

The tear slid down the curled feather like a drop of water rolling off a ducks back. Mike swallowed and turned around. 

He climbed down the ladder and walked across the dusty, hay covered floor. He stepped outside the barn and turned back. 

He looked into the barn. It was dark except for the single beam of light that shone in through the loft window. 

He took one deep breath and shut the door of the barn for the first and final time. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I know it was a sad ending but I felt like that's how the story had to end. I'm sorry if you wanted a happy ending but it 

wouldn't have felt right if I forced a happy ending out. I hope you enjoyed the story Anyways, 

I do have another story coming up soon so keep checking back for more :) it may be awhile though.