Jack couldn't believe he was doing this. It was close to dusk, the temperature dropping as darkness fell, and yet here he stood, by the edge of the lake, with Daniel, feeding the ducks.

An hour ago, they had been home, toasting bread over Jack's fire, and making silly plans about what they were going to do with the rest of their lives. It was a game they played often, especially after difficult missions. They would talk about retiring, discuss what else they were qualified, or not qualified to do, and imagine living together without hiding how they felt about each other.

Each time, they came up with something more and more outlandish. Jack had never learned how to ride, so he would become a rodeo cowboy, and Daniel had never learned to skate, so he would become an ice hockey star. They talked about all the other things they had never got around to doing and Daniel mentioned that he had never fed ducks.

Jack was shocked that his lover had never indulged in such a simple pleasure. He supposed there wasn't much opportunity for it in Egypt, where Daniel had spent most of his childhood. And after his parent's deaths, he had spent a lot of time being passed form pillar to post. Jack had decided there and then, that not another day would go by without Daniel feeding ducks.

And so they stood, side by side, at the side of the lake, Jack holding the bag of torn up bread, and watching the uninhibited pleasure on his lover's face. This had been one of his better decisions. Daniel was smiling, and that was something one didn't get to see too often. His attention was diverted by the arrival of two very loud swans, and Daniel grabbed the bag from him impatiently.

"Quick, Jack. Before those swans scare the little guys away."

Jack smiled indulgently as he watched Daniel trying to divert the hissing white birds. He was in heaven, oblivious even to the man standing next to him, the man wearing the huge sappy grin. Jack dragged his eyes away from the wonder that was Daniel to glance around at his surroundings.

The lakeside was almost deserted at this time of day, most normal people being at home cooking dinner. A lone jogger went by, and Jack tracked his progress along the path until his eyes finally came to rest on the kiddies play park. Taking a final look at Daniel, Jack quietly wandered over to the park.

It was much the same as he remembered it, the same swings and roundabouts, but it seemed strangely eerie in the gathering gloom. He ran his hand down one of the ropes that secured the seat of the swing, and a memory came back to him, stabbing painfully through his heart.

He was pushing Charlie on this very swing, the child squealing with glee, begging to go higher. Sarah was at his side, trying not to sound too nervous, but with a mother's fear for her child's safety, unable to keep the worry from her face. Jack was laughing, pleased that Charlie was enjoying this. He turned to Sarah and grinned. "Lighten up Sarah, the kid has to get used to flying if he's gonna be a pilot like his dad."

Wrenched back to the present, Jack felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He glanced over his shoulder, but Daniel was still preoccupied with the ducks. Jack took off his jacket and laid in carefully on a bench, then went to sit on the roundabout. This had been Charlie's favorite. There had been times where Jack had pushed him so fast that the kid had almost thrown up, but still he loved the roundabout. A soft footfall made him look up.

"Jack?" asked Daniel, concern clearly showing in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

Jack sighed and shook his head a little. Daniel seemed to understand, He removed his own jacket, and placed it on the bench next to Jack's. The he came over and squatted down in front of his lover.

"You brought Charlie here, didn't you, Jack?"

How the hell did he do that? How did he always know exactly what Jack was thinking? It was scary, and yet strangely comforting. Jack managed to nod, but couldn't find any words.

Daniel turned and squeezed himself onto the wooden boards between Jack's legs. They sat like that for what seemed like forever, watching the shadows lengthen, watching the sky turn orange as the sun began to set. Daniel shivered, and Jack wrapped his arms tightly around his lover. Daniel let his head loll back, and turning, pressed a soft kiss to the side of Jack's face.

"I'm sorry, I should have know that this would bring back memories for you." Daniel whispered. But Jack just squeezed him tighter.

"Happy memories Daniel. I can think of him now, and smile."

Daniel twisted further round, trying to see Jack's face, but in the fading light, all he could make out was two glittering pin prinks of warmth.

"Once, I couldn't remember my son without drowning in self- loathing. I couldn't forgive myself, and therefore I never mourned him properly. You gave him back to me Daniel. By loving me, and by trusting in me. By making me feel worthy of your love, I finally forgave myself, and moved on. I'll always miss him Daniel…" Two trembling hands squeezed his own less that steady ones, "…but now I can think of him and smile. You don't know how much that means to me."

Daniel got up and pulled Jack to his feet. It was dark now, fully dark, a thousand twinkling lights above them, the only witness to their tender kiss. Daniel drew back and held Jack's face, thumbs caressing the lips he had just kissed.

"I think I do, Jack. Because it works both ways." Jack pulled him close, wrapping big warm arms around his lover. They were both shivering now in the cooling air. Reluctantly they drew apart and went to retrieve their jackets. Jack cast one final glance at the roundabout.

"The kid took everything I threw at him, you know?"

Daniel took his lover's hand in his own. "You must have been very proud of him?"

The smile Jack gave him was truly dazzling. "No dad was ever prouder."

And the two men walked home, hand in hand, along the lakeside.