Blue eyes met in instant unspoken communication, and turning their backs on the astonished woman, they exited together, arms slung around each other’s’ shoulders. Neither was quite sober.
“Back to my place?” Hutch queried.
Starsky considered, then shrugged. He was tired. One place was as good as another. So long as it had a bed. Or at least somewhere to lie down. He was sure he’d feel better after a good night’s sleep, when the pain engendered by this debacle was behind him.
“Sure.” On automatic, he followed Hutch out to where the LTD was parked, slid into the passenger seat, and closed his eyes…
It seemed only moments before they climbed the stairs at Venice Place and Starsky collapsed inelegantly onto the couch. He sprawled back against the couch cushions and let out a long breath. “Think she got the point, Blintz?”
“She’s not dumb. A two-timing Class-A bitch, but not dumb,” Hutch opined. “Said she loved us both.”
“Yeah. Kept us both dangling like fuckin’ puppets, dancing to her tune.”
Hutch leaned forward, elbows on knees. Not looking at his partner, he sucked in a breath. “Did I say I’m sorry?”
“Only about a hundred times. Doesn’t matter.”
“But it does, Starsk. It does. I… betrayed you.”
Starsky put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “Hutch. Quit it with the guilt thing, okay?” His fingers slipped to the back of Hutch’s neck, petting the soft hair at his nape.
“I didn’t love her. I screwed her, but I didn’t love her. I was… I don’t know, I was jealous… because you did. Love her, I mean.”
“Thought I did, anyway. False coin. You didn’t need to be jealous, babe. ‘S nothing in the world can come between us, don’t you know that? No one’s more important to me than you.”
Hutch looked at him, then. Saw the absolute truth of that declaration in the deep blue eyes. Saw understanding, and compassion, and a love that stopped his breath.
“I… don’t deserve to have a friend like you,” he whispered.
“Don’t go mushy on me, buddy,” Starsky admonished, a thread of laughter in his voice.
Hutch huffed a chuckle. “Sorry….”
“I’d forgive you anything, babe. No more apologies. After all,” he went on, brightening with inspiration, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry. And I love you, Hutch.” He blinked, as if surprised by his own words. “Just surprised you never realized. ‘S okay, you don’t need to say anything…”
Hutch appeared to consider this. “You’re not drunk?”
“On one beer? Get real.”
“How long…? I mean, how long have you felt this way?”
“I think I’d always loved you,” Starsky said simply. “But I never knew I was in love with you. Then, that night when you kissed me after your bachelor party, back in ’70… when you were marrying Vanessa…. You were drunk, I know, but I wasn’t. When you left for the honeymoon the next day… Hutch, I went out and got completely shit-faced. I was in love with you. Buried that knowledge so deep I managed to almost convince myself I’d imagined it. Had a harem of long-legged lovelies to warm my bed. And you as partner and best friend…. I had all I wanted in the world. Except it wasn’t enough. I love you, Hutch. In every way known to man.”
There were no words. Hutch closed the little distance between then, and captured his friend’s mouth with his own.
“…You didn’t need to be jealous, babe. ‘S nothing in the world can come between us, don’t you know that? No one’s more important to me than you….” *** Mmm!! Oh I do so love a good post SvH story and this one made me melt! Thank you so much! What a lovely gift! XX
Now that’s the way we wanted that silly episode to end! Thank you!
Sigh. First kisses, confessions of love never get old. I loved it.
Loved this story. This is how I have always seen them, now they have it all
Now that’s how I like to imagine the follow up to SvH would go. Pure love. Thank-you.
This episode should have ended this way 🙂
A great tummy warmer!
This EXACTLY how Starsky vs. Hutch should have ended. Thank you for setting the record “straight.” 🙂
I’m picturing Starsky’s face during the conversation over the Monopoly game at the end of ‘Starsky’s Lady’ when he kind of shrugs like he’s admitting simplest thing in the world. Terrific story!
Great story. Finally, the right ending!
I love you Hutch. In every way known to man.
*sniff* *sigh* *snufuggle*
Thank you for sharing! Happy holidays!
Wonderful! Great closer-or beginning! Thank you 🙏🏼
This is exactly my head canon when the boys get together. I love this very moving story. Thank you for the gift!
ooh, love the idea of them sharing a kiss at Hutch’s bachelor party. I’m part of the “they could have gotten together at any time before, during, after the series” crowd, and I blam Evolution for that. This gift, of them not putting words to their love until after SvH, makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing!
This is the perfect extra tag to the episode – exactly what it takes to redeem it. Thank you so much for writing and sharing such a wonderful gift.
Now this is the perfect ending to that episode. Happy making story, thank you!
Lovely story and a better ending to that episode.
Aw, Starsky’s declaration was so heartfelt and real sounding.
Sometimes it takes a debacle to clear the way for what’s really important. Great job of redeeming SvH, thanks for sharing!