There was a knock on the study door, and Rafariel paused mid-note, lowering his flute.

"Yes?"

The door opened, and Zafkiel leaned in around the doorframe, a smile on his face.

"You've got mail," he said, waving an envelope at Rafariel.

Rafariel gripped the flute so hard that his knuckles turned white. If he had mail, it could only be from one place. He stepped awkwardly across the small room, and took the envelope from Zafkiel's hands. He turned it over.

The return address read 'Sydney Conservatorium High School'. It began to shake before his eyes, and he realised his fingers were trembling.

"I hope it's good news," Zafkiel's gentle words intruded, and he realised he'd been staring at the envelope, unmoving. He looked up, guiltily, to catch the smile on Zafkiel's face as the older man swung out of the room again, closing the door behind him.

Rafariel sat down on the narrow bed, absentmindedly putting his flute down on the bedside table. He didn't dare open the letter. He'd been auditioned, he'd been interviewed, he'd even had his scholarly aptitude and English level tested, and every part of it had been gruelling; not on his abilities, but on his nerves.

He didn't know if he was really even ready for this 'school' business. And yet... if he didn't do this, what else would he possibly do? He could wait an eternity to feel 'ready', and the feeling might never come. What else but to ignore his fears and step forward anyway?

Before he could lose his nerve again, he ripped open the top of the envelope, and pulled out the neat folded letter within.

Thank you for applying to the Sydney Conservatorium High School, he read. We are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.

He couldn't read the rest of the letter; it was suddenly too blurry for him to see, and he realised with a shock that his eyes were full of tears.

Accepted. He'd been accepted. For the first time in his life he'd tried to do something that he really wanted to do...and they'd accepted him. He was good enough. He was worthy.

Suddenly he was on his feet, and dashing out of the room, full of a weird, crazy, vibrant energy that he'd never felt before: wild excitement.

"Hanael!" he cried, running towards the main room. It was empty. "Hanael!" he spun around, about to try the kitchen, when he heard Hanael's voice answering from the front hall.

He ran into the hallway, where Hanael was removing his shoes, and without even knowing what he was doing until he did it, he threw himself into Hanael's arms. They caught him, sure and strong, and both of them staggered under the force of it.

"I did it, Hanael! They accepted me!" he cried, that wild, crazy feeling inside of him bursting out in his words, in his tears, in his embrace. And Hanael laughed happily, his arms warm and reassuring as they wrapped around his waist.

"Well done. I knew they would, but well done all the same."

Rafariel was crying and laughing all at once, dizzy with confusion at the intensity of the emotions flooding through him. He collapsed against Hanael, and Hanael simply held him, stroking his back gently.

"I did it, I really did," he whispered, and the craziness seemed to let go of him all at once. He straightened up, sniffling, and wiped at his eyes, suddenly horribly embarrassed that Hanael had seen him like this.

"I'm sorry," he said, trying to disentangle himself from Hanael's grasp, but Hanael held on to him.

"I've never seen you so happy. Don't be sorry for that." The scarred man brushed errant hairs back from Rafariel's face, smoothing them out of the way, and then smiled gently as he let go of him. "There's no need to be ashamed of emotions, Rafariel."

"I..." Rafariel blushed, but he couldn't help but smile in answer to the sweet smile on Hanael's face. "Alright. But perhaps I could...have more decorum in future."

And Hanael laughed.

"Perhaps. But this is a once in a lifetime moment. Make the most of it."

Rafariel looked down at the letter in his hand. Accepted. He was accepted! He laughed as well. Make the most of it? He threw himself into Hanael's embrace again, before he could stop and think and chicken out.

"Thank you," he murmured against Hanael's shoulder. "Thank you for showing me the way. And for making me not scared to try."

"You did it all on your own, all I did was point you in the right direction," Hanael said softly, but the strong arms wrapped around him again. And Rafariel closed his eyes and for a moment enjoyed everything just as it was, imagining that this was forever; his happiness, and Hanael's closeness.