Jesse wanted to talk to Daniel in private. He slowly made his way up the stairs to his room. Once inside, he put on a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt. He carefully sat down by his computer desk and reached for the phone.

"What do I tell him??" Jesse thought. "I just can't say I'm flying back to my home world. Have a nice life. That would sound really stupid."

As he contemplated this, he thought of the first time he met Daniel and what a meeting it was. Daniel never knew this but he was Jesse’s hero. Daniel had put through so much and to come out the other side with his heart and soul as bright as the sun and stars. Jesse admired this but never told Daniel. How do you tell someone that?

*****

Before Newtown and even before Glenwood, when Jesse was around six years old he and Frank lived in Louisiana for just a short time. Across the street from them lived a very poor family. Jesse remembered this family too well. The mother and her two daughters had bright red hair. The father was dark in complexion and as mean as they come. At first, Jesse did not notice the son. The small boy was shy and scared easy. When Jesse did see him it was for only for a split second.

One day, Jesse saw this boy playing in the rain. He sneaked up behind him. At the same time the boy turned around Jesse saw why he was so shy. Not only was the boy pasty white in appearance, there was a bruise almost covering half of his face.

After that shocking moment all Jesse could remember was that his arm were folded around the young boy. With some kind words, Jesse lured him into Jesse and Frank's small house. Frank's shocked look was beyond words.

"I couldn't leave him out in the rain," Jesse said as he had one arm around the other boy's skinny shoulders.

"Compassion is one of the marks of a true leader," Frank whispered with a smile.

He gently looked over the scared boy with Jesse close the keep him calm.

"What kind of monster would do this?" He said out loud.

"My step daddy," the shy boy whispered. "He said I'm a freak and that he's glad I'm not his boy and that nobody would want a freak like me." He continued as he fought back the tears. "Don't hit me...I won't cry", he pleaded. His pink eyes glazed over with tears.

"Nobody is going to hit you," Jesse said. "We don't hit around here."

As Frank looked over the small pale boy, Jesse tried to make friends with him.

"My name is Jesse Knight and this is Frank, what's yours?" Jesse asked.

"Danny..."said the shy boy as he was really not sure how to react to all this new attention.

"Well Danny...You can come over and play with any of my toys," Jesse said in a 'matter of fact' voice.

"Yes Daniel, you are always welcomed here in our home," Frank chimed in.

"You mean always???" Danny asked.

""Yes Daniel..........always," replied Frank.

*****

Jesse was still holding the phone as the memory slipped away from him. He took a deep breath and dialed the phone. Jesse heard three rings and then a cheerful familiar voice on the other end.

"Kelly's Home of Poor Unfortunate Boys, where you mess them up and we fix them."

"Oh God...." Jesse said as his eyes rolled and he started to giggle. As he did he all most dropped the phone.

"What???" Daniel said. "That has put off many a telemarketer."

"I'm sure it has, Danny Boy," Jesse replied.

"Jess, is that you my friend? Bubba, how's it going?? Miss me all ready? You should really stop calling me all the time. People are going to start to talk. You know, with this whole 'gay thing' going around," Daniel started to say.

"GAY Thing??" Jesse questioned.

"Umm, I had to blow a couple people off and I took them that I was... well... gay."

"WHAT????" Jesse said loudly.

"Then I told them I was seeing someone..." Daniel trailed off.

"Who was your target?"

"Yea well, it was you."

"WHAT?????????" Now Jesse did drop the phone. He made no effort for a quick recovery either, but when he did, "Please tell me you didn't??"

"No, I didn't but I got your blood pumping this morning," Daniel stated as he was trying not to laugh.

"I should have seen that coming..." Jesse said as he smiled to himself.

"Hey, you must really have something on your mind to have your guard down like that and not to mention, calling so early."

"Danny Boy, its 10 o‘clock in the morning," Jesse reminded him.

"Well that's early for you, Bubba, and on a day off, mind you. So what's up?"

"I have to leave town."

"Leave?? Where are you going?" Daniel asked.

Jesse fought with this question but did the best he could. He told Daniel as much as he thought was safe. Maybe telling Daniel that he was a Prince from another world was not a good idea. So he sugar coated it, just for Daniel. He could hear uncertainty in Daniel's breathing.

"I don't want to go but I have to," Jesse ended with.

"I can't go with you?" Daniel asked. This is the most serious Jesse has ever heard Daniel be.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. It's too dangerous," Jesse said knowing full well he was breaking his best friend’s heart.

"You are coming back?" Daniel asked.

"I can't tell you that or even promise that," Jesse replied. "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, you got it..."

He swore he could hear Daniel crying now and this was tearing Jesse up inside. This was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. Daniel was the one person Jesse swore he shared a soul with and now he felt like he was ripping it out of him.

"I need you to take care of my car and tell the others I'm leaving. Tell them that they are with me always. You are the only one who can do this for me. Can you?"

"Yea" Daniel voice cracked. "I love you, Jess."

"I love you too, my friend. Pray for me."

"I will....." and with that Daniel hung up the phone leaving Jesse to listen to a dial tone.

*****

Day 320: As the snow fell, a vision came to me. The white snow turned into a face. A beautiful funny face, that I swear laughter could be heard in the distance. There was a small blizzard today and there were periods of white out.

*****