EVERGREEN (Love Theme from "A Star Is Born") Sung by Barbra Streisand written by Paul Williams and Barbra Streisand. 

Comments on this story can be sent to: cherokeegirl2000@hotmail.com

One Love
by
Cherokeegirl

They were in the Torino on their way to Starsky's. It was late and they were too tired to go out and yet too wired from their recent bust to go to bed. So they decided to go back to Starsky's to unwind.

It had been a long two weeks working on a string of jewelry store robberies. The thieves broke into the businesses shortly after closing, by-passed the alarm systems and took precious unset stones from the safes instead of the more easily recognized jewelry in the display cases. The robberies were clean and quick and obviously the work of experts. No evidence was left at the crime scene to lead the police to the perpetrators. The only clue they had was that the thieves were experienced in fencing jewelry.

When the second store was robbed the thieves apparently didn't realize that the owner and his wife were still there going over the day's receipts. They killed them both with a single shot to the head with a .38 caliber weapon, opened the safe, took the stones and left.

They finally got a tip through one of Huggy's friends that Steinberg Jewelers was the next in line to be hit. They staked out the store for three nights when they finally caught the thieves. One of the thieves was carrying a .38 that they were sure ballistics would prove was the murder weapon. It had been such a high-profile case that even Captain Dobey had been working late. Just as they were getting ready to leave he called them into his office to congratulate them on a job well done and to offer them three days off to make up for the long hours they had put in. By the time the charges were filed, the paper work done and they were through in the Captain's office, it was almost midnight.

~*~

The trip across town was quiet with each man absorbed in his own thoughts.

Starsky glanced at Hutch out of the corner of his eye as he thought, You know it's weird, Hutch, I've known you for ten years and never noticed until this past year how really beautiful you are. You're like a golden angel sitting there and if possible you're even more beautiful on the inside than you are on the outside. You have the kindest heart. It's so easy to love you. I never thought I could feel this way about anyone and certainly not another man. But after all the hurt, heartache and close calls we've been through; you with the plague, me with Bellamy's poison and then Günther's hit men, I realized something. When you find that one true love, the other half of yourself, the keeper of your soul, it doesn't matter if they are a man or a woman. The only thing that should matter is that you've found that one love that will last for the rest of your life. So Hutch I, the die-hard lady-killer, love you with all my heart.

~*~

Hutch sat in the passenger seat of the Torino watching the streets go by through the windshield and casting occasional glances at his partner. He realized that over the last year his feelings for his partner had changed. There was something so special about Starsky; the child-like innocence coupled with the his street-smart savvy, the curly hair, the crooked grin, the way those jeans hugged his body and left nothing to the imagination, the indigo eyes that could turn almost black when Starsky was angry, and Hutch was convinced could turn just as dark with desire, the full lips that begged to be kissed.

Oh yes, there's no doubt about it, Hutch thought. I'm definitely in love with my partner. I haven't had feelings for another man since college and that was nothing compared to the way I feel about Starsky.

~*~

When they arrived at Starsky's they made themselves sandwiches, got a couple of beers out of the refrigerator and sat down at the table to eat. As they ate they made plans to drive up the coast during their time off, talked about the case, the girls they had dated recently and if they would have enough time off to visit their families during the upcoming holidays. But in the back of each man's mind he thought about how much he loved the other and how happy they could be if only they could be together.

The radio was playing softly in the background. They hadn't been paying any attention to it while they were eating. But, Hutch noticed that Starsky was listening intently when the DJ came on and announced the next selection would be Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen".

They sat and listened as the music drifted through the quiet room.

Love, soft as an easy chair
Love, fresh as the morning air
One love that is shared by two
I have found with you
Like a rose under the April snow
I was always certain love would grow
Love, ageless and evergreen
Seldom seen by two
You and I will make each night the first
Everyday a beginning
Spirits rise and their dance is unrehearsed
They warm and excite us
'Cause we have the brightest love
Two lights that shine as one
Morning glory and midnight sun
Time, we've learned to sail above
Time, won't change the meaning of one love
Ageless and ever evergreen

When the music ended Hutch was surprised to see tears glistening in Starsky's eyes.

"I love that song," Starsky whispered. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like, Hutch? Do you ever think about how great it would be to spend your life with that one special love; one heart and one soul, the two of you going through eternity loving each other?"

"Oh yeah buddy, I've thought about it. I've thought about it a lot lately."

"But, you know what really hurts, Hutch? Finding that one love and knowing the two of you can never be together, but you will go through eternity loving them no matter what."

Hutch felt his heart constrict as he thought, Oh God, he's found someone. I'm going to lose him. If he's this much in love with her then it will change everything between us. When he finally found his voice he asked, "Are you telling me that you've found that one love, Starsk?"

"Yeah, but I can never tell them how I feel; it would ruin everything. They could never feel the same about me, and if I say anything it will ruin a good friendship. I couldn't bear that."

"I don't understand. If you haven't told her how you feel, if the two of you haven't discussed it, then how do you know she doesn't feel the same way? Starsk, you're a good man. You'd make some lucky woman a terrific husband. I think you should talk to her, you'll probably find that she feels the same way about you and is waiting for you to make the first move."

Starsky smiled wryly as he got up from the table to put his plate in the sink.

"Would you like to tell me what's so funny?" Hutch asked noting the look on his friends face.

"Do you want to know, Hutch? Do you really want to know?" Starsky asked suddenly. He was tired of the pretense and he needed to know Hutch's reaction if he told him the truth. "I never told you that it was a woman that I was in love with; you just assumed it was."

Hutch was stunned as he sat lost in his thoughts. Is it possible after all these years of knowing Starsky, that I don't really know everything about him? Does this mean Starsky is gay? Do I have a chance after all? What about this other guy? What if they get together, then what about me?

"Well, I see I've shocked you speechless," Starsky said quietly.

"No, I wouldn't say shocked, but I'm surprised. Are you telling me that you're in love with another man?"

"Yes," Starsky said as he came back to the table and sat down. "Does this change things between us, Hutch? Is this going to affect our friendship?"

"No buddy, nothing could ever do that. But, why don't you tell this guy how you feel?"

"Because he's straight and he wouldn't be able to handle it. I mean, after all, what would your reaction be if I suddenly looked at you and said, `Hutch, after all these years I've found that my feelings for you have changed. I've fallen in love with you.' What would you say?"

"Halleluiah!"

"What?"

"You asked me what I would say if you told me that you're in love with me. That's my answer. `Halleluiah.' I love you buddy, I have for a long time. I think I realized it when Günther's hit men... After that we spent all of our time and energy just getting you well. Then, to be honest with you, after you went back on duty I lost my nerve. I kept telling myself that you couldn't possibly feel the same about me and I didn't say anything for fear of losing what we had. So believe me buddy, there's nothing that could make me happier than to find that you returned my love."

Starsky thought his heart would burst with joy at the love he saw in Hutch's eyes. He looked deeply into those eyes and softly replied, "I do feel the same about you, Hutch. I love you with all my heart. I realized it myself when we were fighting over Kira. That's when I realized I wasn't jealous of Kira, I was jealous of you; that she could make love with you when I couldn't. It took me some time to wrap my mind around that one," he said with a smile. Then I was shot. When my heart stopped and I...died I found myself walking toward this bright light. My dad was there and I could hear him calling me and telling me it was time to come home. But I kept feeling something pulling at me from behind; I turned to look and I saw you running into the hospital. You had such a look of both love and fear on your face that it broke my heart. That's when I knew that I couldn't leave without first telling you that I loved you. So, I looked back at the light and told my dad that I loved him but that I couldn't leave you, then I turned and came back."

Hutch rose and took Starsky's hands and gently pulled him to his feet. Their lips met in a tender kiss then deepened as passion lit passion. By unspoken agreement they made their way to the bedroom where they slowly undressed each other.

"Hutch I've never been with another man," Starsky began.

"Just relax, buddy, and let me finally make love to you," Hutch replied softly.

Wrapping his arms around his partner, Hutch tipped them back on the bed, and covered Starsky's mouth with his own, relishing the feel of soft lips parting beneath his, their tongues sliding against each other as the kiss deepened.

Starsky's arms came up around him then, and he moaned in the back of his throat. He was still unable to believe this wasn't a dream, that he wouldn't wake up and find that Hutch wasn't here or sleeping on the coach instead of moving over him, holding him and kissing him.

When they parted for air, Starsky couldn't help but smile.

"What?" Hutch asked, grinning back at him, his hands caressing Starsky's face.

"I thought I was probably dreamin'," Starsky responded.

"Oh no, darling, this is no dream. This is a beautiful reality I've waited my lifetime for." Then Hutch pulled him down for another long kiss.

"I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in this whole world," Starsky whispered against Hutch's lips.

Their lips met again and immediately they were inflamed, their mouths so hungry, their hearts and bodies so needy that both felt they would die before they would ever think of letting each other go again.

Then Hutch finally pulled back, cradling Starsky in his arms he whispered, "I've waited so long for this."

"So have I," Starsky responded pulling Hutch into a tight embrace. "I've dreamed about this every night; what it would be like to finally hold you in my arms, kiss, and make love to you. But, I need to know you're sure, you aren't going to wake up tomorrow and regret this, or that you aren't going to be in some bar next week givin' some sexy stewardess the eye and trying to get her to go home with you. I need to know this is for real and forever."

"Oh, darling, I'm sure. There'll be no regrets, no bars and no sexy stewardess. Just me and thee forever. But what about you? You've been quite the lady's man in your time. Are you sure you won't have any regrets?"

"No more women; no one but you, Hutch. Just me and thee."

Hutch began kissing the firm line of Starsky's jaw then moved down to his throat. He stopped to leave a bright passion mark at the crease of Starsky's throat and shoulder. Starsky moaned and threw his head back in desire.

"You like that?"

"Oh yeah, do that again," Starsky moaned.

Hutch complied leaving another bright passion mark on the other side of Starsky's throat.

By this time Hutch was completely hard and aching with need as he stroked his hand across Starsky's chest. But, this was too special, too wonderful to rush and he took his time exploring Starsky's body. Running his hand along Starsky's chest he noticed the scars from the bullet wounds and kissed each one reverently saying a silent prayer thanking God that Starsky had survived. He licked at the already hard nub of one of Starsky's nipples. Unable to resist any longer he took it in his mouth and tongued and suckled it unmercifully. He could feel the tremor that shook the entire body beneath him.

"Oh, God that feels so good, don't ever stop," Starsky gasped.

Hutch moved to the other nipple and intensified his licking and suckling until Starsky was writhing beneath him with what felt like unbearable pleasure. Suddenly, Hutch stopped, and kissed his way down Starsky's stomach as Starsky tried to get his breath; his body on fire with desire.

This is happening, Starsky thought, lost in the wonder of the moment. This is finally happening. Hutch and me are finally together. He felt his heart constrict with the indescribable joy of the moment. Starsky reached down and pulled Hutch's shoulders up until he was looking into Hutch's eyes.

"I love you," he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut against the tears that threatened as he wrapped his arms around Hutch's neck and pressed himself against his lover holding on for dear life; heart, body and soul absolutely aching for this man.

When Hutch pulled back to look at him, his eyes were lit with love and passion. "I love you, too, with all my heart."

Then their mouths moved together, hot, demanding, as their kisses grew deeper. Falling back down onto the bed, Hutch cupped the rounded cheeks of Starsky's ass. Suddenly Starsky flipped them over until he was on top.

"Oh yeah," Hutch breathed as Starsky thrust their hard cocks together, and their grunts were urgent, unintelligible as they matched strokes. Soon there was only the sound of their need, their half-conscious compulsion for completion, and then Starsky's sounds changed, grew more keening and urgent. He grasped Hutch's back so hard Hutch could feel his nails digging into his flesh before Starsky moaned, "Oh god, I'm coming." That alone was enough to push Hutch over the edge as their cocks shuddered together, then exploded in shots of hot warmth that covered their bellies and legs.

"Oh, God," Starsky moaned, collapsing on Hutch. Hutch wrapped his arms around his lover and pulled him close. Clammy and exhausted, they lay spent from their lovemaking.

After a while, Starsky looked up at Hutch and marveled at their closeness; the intimacy of the position. It felt so right and so good.

"Was I okay?" he asked softly.

Hutch turned sated blue eyes to his, reached up and ran a wondering hand across Starsky's face. "You were incredible."

Pleased, Starsky nuzzled against Hutch's neck. Hutch pulled him closer against him and held on tightly.

Sometime later, Hutch awoke from dozing and found Starsky attached to him, the stickiness of their come acting like glue. He quietly eased out of Starsky's arms, then tiptoed to the bathroom. He washed himself off, then took a cloth back to the bedroom and gently tended to Starsky's soft genitals.

From now on, he thought in wonder. I can go to bed with Starsky, and wake up with him, too. We'll spend the rest of our lives together.

Hutch got back into bed and pulled the warm body tightly against him. Starsky snuggled close and smiled as Hutch began to sing:

"Love, soft as an easy chair
Love, fresh as the morning air
One love that is shared by two
I have found with you..."

End