Riding in the sunset, both hands on the wheel
Lost in a memory of the way that you feel
Oh am I crazy
Pulled in the parking lot, his car's parked on the street
I forget about those bitter tears when I hear him talking so sweet
Oh isn't that my heart wondering…am I crazy for wondering
Tell me why I keep running back to the heartbreak kid
Step thru the doorway, a hush falls on the room
Everybody here wants to see who'll make the first move
Oh isn't that my heart wondering…am I crazy for wondering
Tell me why I keep running back to the heartbreak
First the fall then the rain - I let the pleasure ease the pain
Across the room his eyes meet mine - I play the fool one more time
Isn't that my heart wondering…am I crazy for wondering
Tell me why I keep running back to the heartbreak kid


What the hell am I doing here? Hunter had asked himself that same question about a hundred time, from the time he accepted the invitation to the moment he turned off the highway and into the parking lot. His life wasn't really going the way he had intended, not by a long shot. One minute he was happy, perfectly content with the way things were headed, then he did the stupidest thing known to man - he fell in love. And to make matters worse, it was with her.

It was over now, much like it had been from the beginning. He could never be what she wanted, he was never designed to be someone's lap dog, jumping every time she snapped her fingers. When she left, she said something that had stuck with him: "maybe you should just run back to him. You know that's where you belong anyway."

He thought about, more than once. And no matter who else had filled his bed, no one else had ever filled his heart. Not like him, anyway. It was so easy to avoid him, especially after he had left to go back home. Sure, every now and then, one of their friends would mention seeing him, or talking to him, and Hunter wanted so badly to ask how he was.

But, that wouldn't have been cool, would it? It would have shown to the world what he had known all along - there was no one else in the world for him, no one he could love as much as him. Hunter had always thought that if you didn't say it out loud, then it wasn't real. But, this was real. Hell, it was probably the only real thing in his life.

He watched with the others that fateful night that he returned. Standing back behind everyone else who was there, so no one could gauge the reaction on his face, he watched. When Kevin introduced him and his music hit, Hunter had smiled, watching every move he made. And the next week when he spoke, Hunter was right there again, hanging on his every word, much as he always had.

Then came King of the Ring. He would be there, in the same town, the same arena, hell, the same hotel even. There was no way Hunter could avoid him, not completely. But, he planned to do his best. Until he was making his way to the ring, and they stopped him in the hall to wish him luck. And when he felt those familiar arms wrap around him, he almost lost it right then and there.

Hunter couldn't remember what happened in his match. He knew that it went according to plan, but his mind was in a fog the whole time. All he could think about was the warmth still in his arms, his chest, his back…and his groin. Forget all the pain they had caused each other, all the words left unspoken. All Hunter could remember was the way they had loved. Suddenly all the bad memories were gone, only to be replaced by that smile, that laugh.

When he woke up from his surgery a few days later, there was a card there, from all his friends. Each had written him a note, something funny to let him know they were thinking of him. But the one that stood out the most, the simplest message in there - "Love, Mike" - was the one that he remembered the most. He had put so much hope in that statement, wanted it to mean so much more than it probably did. But, he was willing to take a chance.

And now, he sat in his car in the parking lot, debating whether or not he wanted to get out, to go into the hotel, and face his dream come true - or his worst nightmare. He had heard what they said - or, more importantly, what he had said - they wanted him back, to rejoin the family, to be whole again. Could he make Hunter whole again? That was what Hunter was counting on as he climbed out of the car and made his way into the hotel.

He walked through the lobby and found the bar, standing in the doorway to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Sean spotted him and walked over, hugging him tightly, then taking his hand and leading him to their table in the back. He was talking a mile a minute, filling Hunter in on everything that had been going on, who was there, anything Sean thought would be of interest.

For a moment, Hunter wanted to tell him to shut up, let him be alone with his thoughts. In another way, he was grateful for Sean's motor mouth, knowing it was keeping him from speaking. He wasn't sure if he had the words, or could even form a cohesive thought at the moment. Because, at that very moment, Hunter looked up and right into the blue eyes that had haunted his dreams for so long.

Hunter was speechless. He stood there, face to face with the only person who had ever given him unconditional love, the only person with whom he could be himself. Sean felt the tension and stopped talking, slowly backing away from the pair, wandering over to Kevin and standing, watching with all the others. In the span of a few minutes, an eternity was crossed.

Without a word, Mike reached out and embraced Hunter, pulling him close. Hunter relaxed, giving in to the pent up emotions he had hidden away for so long. Mike's hand grabbed the back of Hunter's head and pulled him close, cradling Hunter's head in the crook of his neck. Hunter's tears began to fall as Mike whispered, "I'm glad you're here. I missed you."

Hunter pulled back to look at Mike, noticing the tears in his eyes as well. He leaned forward and placed the sweetest kiss on Mike's lips, afraid to speak. He hoped that one simple gesture would convey everything he was feeling. When he felt Mike's tongue press against his lips, Hunter knew that everything would be okay. Moments later, when they broke the kiss and Mike took Hunter's hand, leading him from the bar to the elevator, every doubt either had was totally erased.

Alone, upstairs in Mike's room, he turned to Hunter and said, "I'm sorry." Hunter shook his head. "I'm the one who should be apologizing," he replied. Both started to speak again at the same time, then laughed. Finally, Mike looked at him and said, "just shut up and kiss me again." It was a request Hunter could not deny.

Their hands traveled over each other's bodies as if it had only been yesterday since they had last touched, both remembering the spots that would illicit the soft moans and urgent kisses they desperately needed. Clothes fell in a heap on the floor as each tasted every inch of exposed skin. Hands tangled in sweat dampened locks, pulling the other closer. Lips meshed, teeth clashed, tongues battled for supremacy, as they gave in to years of loneliness and lust.

As they fell back on the bed, there was only a moments hesitation when Mike looked deep into Hunter's eyes and asked, "are you sure?" Hunter's kiss was answer enough. As he sank himself into the tight heat he had known so well, Mike smiled, showering Hunter's face with tiny kisses. As they moved together, returning to a place they had forgotten existed, but should never have left, both knew where they belonged.

When they found their release, both cried out the one truth that had never been far from their minds - and their hearts. Lying in the arms of the man he loved, Hunter found the answer to the one question that had plagued him for months. As he felt Mike's lips press against his one last time before surrendering to slumber, hearing him whisper, "I love you," he knew why he would always return to the Heartbreak Kid.