Normally, Alex would have found out that Michael was here because of meeting him at the train. But they'd all been 'encouraged' to go to the pool party. Between all of the things that had been going on and the fact that it was just so damned hot out, Alex had grabbed his swimsuit and headed down to the pool. There were some people walking around naked - and he was expecting to run across Kyle either without anything or at the very most in Speedos - but Alex was just in board shorts.

He wasn't the person who had dropped their towel, but he whirled when he heard the familiar voice, his chest tightening in a mixture of hope and fear. Hope that it was Michael and also fear that it wasn't. Hope that if it was him, that Michael would remember everything and fear that he wouldn't or that he'd only remember his relationship with Alex.

But then he turned and it was Michael and that was all that really mattered in the end, wasn't it? If he didn't remember the city, that was fine. They'd rebuild things here, all of them.

He walked over as Michael passed back the towel and then grabbed Michael's shoulder, turning him and immediately kissing him.

He always felt like he was home when he kissed Michael.