A Balance of Harmonies: Proposition
Jun. 2nd, 2012 10:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warMy husband and I walked around Portland one evening a few weeks ago with his arm around me like we normally walk when neither of us has full hands. We saw lots of couples (one playing with their kids in the park at 10pm). Two might have been same gender couples (two ladies were walking their little dogs and two young men dressed alike were walking down the sidewalk together), maybe there were more I didn’t notice, but my point is that I became uncomfortable being all lovey with my husband when I saw the men because I felt like I was flaunting something that the two guys felt they couldn’t even show (which might just be my over active imagination). I don’t want the city I want to live in to be a place where people have to hide their affection.
I think couples should touch: hands, arms on the shoulder, elbows, something. In my stories my couples do. I’m even having Hunter need the reassurance that some kids do of seeing his parent’s affection for each other. Then I saw a lesbian couple in the store yesterday (or at least a woman and her androgynous partner) handing hands. (They did the thing were one stops without warning the other and their arms stretch out between them.) They were lovey, the same way my husband and I are. So I paid attention and in the next two hours I saw only one other couple be lovey. Maybe I’m just weird. Maybe other couples don’t hold hands or stand close and touch each other’s arm or back in grocery stores.
So maybe the two couples (if they were couples) weren’t inhibited by the environment, but by nature. Only I hope no one would give Kurt and Emil a second glace (besides at their size/good looks) when they walked down the street on a romantic evening hand in hand.
Title: Proposition
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter seventy-three of lots
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: cookies, drawing, aesthetics, change of target, blushes, questions, answers, love, relief, animosity, annoyance, rumors, compliments, a big smile
Length: about 3,200 words
Summary: Peregrine gets propositioned. Emil is reassured.
Master list
Peregrine took a bite of another cookie. He shouldn’t. He wanted to save some for when he next had Mrs. Matheson’s cookie withdrawals. They were delicious. He pulled out this sketchbook and arranged the open container of cookies she’d given him on Markus’s coffee table. There had to be a few batches in there. He was in heaven.
Markus and Jad could spend as long as they needed putting their kids to bed. Peregrine could entertain himself. He sketched the memory of the boys’ faces when Jad walked in the door and then Markus’s welcome home kiss. That had been in Mrs. Matheson’s living room. Now he was in Markus and Jad’s sitting room that had been an unused bedroom, but Mr. Matheson and Markus had done such a tremendous job on the extension that this room looked just like a living room. Markus and Jad even had their own small kitchen and dining room and both they and the boys had rooms back here although the Matheson house was big enough that sometimes the boys slept in Markus’s old room at the other end of the house.
Markus had muscles from his day job that showed off nicely as he’d wrapped his arms around Jad, but Jad’s muscles were more defined. He looked like he worked out a lot, but he said that he didn’t spend more than an hour a day at the gym. His boys were too important and he only spent that full hour because Markus liked his muscles. Markus had blushed, but he hadn’t denied it. Jad was Mediterranean brown, darker than Emil during the winter, but lighter than he was all summer long, and had Old World features. He was more like Kurt than Emil in that way. Emil was soft and delicate despite being six three. Jad, at six one, wasn’t either, but he had his own strong attractions.
Peregrine looked up from his sketches as Markus returned. “You picked a pretty one. Almost as pretty as mine.”
Markus grinned. Jad wrapped a hand around Markus’s waist. “Only almost as pretty?”
Peregrine looked back at the sketch and added a bit more to Jad’s face. “Well, I’m in love with both of mine, so of course I think they are better looking.”
“You have two?” Jad set a mug of coffee in front of Peregrine and sat on the easy chair.
Peregrine flipped to his latest of Emil and Kurt that he drew after their delicious long distant morning together. Jad whistled. “Are you open? Interested in extracurricular activities?”
Peregrine glanced at Markus. He blushed but he didn’t look upset like one of Peregrine’s men would have been in the same situation.
“You see I had to ask, since Markus has had a crush on you since seventh grade.”
Peregrine nodded. “Thank you for the offer, but no. Sex for me is how I keep my men with me, not an end in itself. And I don’t even do enough of it. Kurt is here to keep Emil satisfied.”
Markus picked up his coffee mug. “Does that work?”
“For us it does. They are both in love with me.” Peregrine told about loving and losing Kurt and then meeting and falling for Emil and the three trying to mesh together. “We are happier now then we were in any other formation. They called me this morning to invite me to bed, long distance of course.”
“So no jealousy?” Markus asked. Jad smiled at him.
“Not after the first little bit. I was scared that they’d fall for each other and leave me, but that’s not how it worked at all. They love me, so I am always on their minds, just like they are always on mine. Plus, as I said, I’m not that interested in sex. I wasn’t even when I was seventeen when all boys are supposed to be horny. I was more interested in fulfilling my future goals than noticing the cute boys with crushes on me.”
Jad laughed and put his hand of Markus’s arm. “I tried.”
“Thanks.” Markus leaned over and kissed him.
Jad grinned. “But while up at the hospital I noticed that Peregrine has an adorable little brother with two equally cute daughters…”
“And he’s much more approachable than Peregrine was in high school, plus he blushes whenever I talk to him.”
Jad’s grin widened and he patted Markus’s hand. “He does the same for me.”
Peregrine held up a hand. “I’m not telling you no, but my dad has spent all Sam’s life telling him how awful being gay is and taught him to hate himself.”
Jad grinned. “We can be patient. We will just need to think of reasons to come over to visits.” He took a cookie from the container on the coffee table. “Do you suppose Sam and his girls might like cookies?”
Markus blushed. Peregrine wished them the best. Spending time with two men, who obviously loved each other and were good parents, might be enough to help Sam see that loving who he wanted to love was really loving himself.
And Peregrine didn’t need to be the one to save everyone as long as the saving got done.
--
Kurt woke up and pulled Emil against him. This was their last morning together. Kurt couldn’t wait until they were all home at last. Emil moved against him, waking him up all the more.
Kurt was going to make this a morning Emil could remember until he was back in this bed in Kurt’s arms.
--
Emil sat across the table from Hunter. “Do you want us to drop your stuff off at Zan’s or do you want to take it with you today?”
Hunter looked down. “What’s it like living with Dad?”
Emil smiled. “I didn’t live their long. Only a month or so between the last foster home and getting my own place and once more for a few days when I was between apartments.”
“Why?”
“Why didn’t I stay longer?”
Hunter nodded.
Emil wrapped his fingers around his warm tea mug. “I don’t know. Dad would have let me stay there forever.” He looked out the great big windows at the morning sky. “I was scared, I think.”
“Of what?”
“Of allowing someone to love me. I wasn’t used to it. People didn’t go around offering me things for free. Everyone had an ulterior motive.”
“Does Dad?”
Emil nodded. “He hurts to see a child suffer, even if that child is grown. He did his best to help me, even when I didn’t ask or when I thought I didn’t want it. He’s a good guy. One of the best I’ve met.”
“Better than Peregrine?”
Emil laughed. “That’s like comparing a watermelon to a banana. They are both fruit, but that’s about it.”
“But is he good like Peregrine? Once when I offered…”
Emil was pretty sure he knew what Hunter was going to say. “Dad isn’t interested in sex with any of us. We are his kids. And I know you don’t understand what that means; I’m not sure I fully understand even yet. But that’s really the only way I can explain it. Dad is in love with Casey. He was in love with Casey before he realized he was bi, before he found out that all straight men didn’t struggle with attraction to other men.”
“And Casey?”
“Casey…” If Emil said Casey was one of the people Dad rescued would Hunter feel insecure? “Casey is only attracted to Dad. I’ve seen him around a lot of other people, but Dad is the only person he opens up to, maybe the only person he ever has.”
“So to Casey Dad is special?”
“Dad is very special. He’s special to me too, but in a different way. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without Dad cheering me on.”
“Does Peregrine cheer you on?”
Emil leaned back in his chair and thought about it. “No. Peregrine loves me for who I am right now. If I change, he’ll love me the way I am then, but he doesn’t… encourage that change. He loved me before he knew who I was, before he knew what I did, before he cared.” Emil picked up his mug. “But I don’t think he cares. I could be anyone and do anything and he wouldn’t care except how it would affect him.”
Hunter frowned. Emil patted his head. “That’s not to say Peregrine doesn’t love me. That’s more to say that if I because a very famous author who spent all his time that he wasn’t writing going on book tours, Peregrine would grumble and ask me when I’d be home for dinner. He’s like a puppy. Don’t pout, I mean it in the nicest way. His love is unconditional. His love is the kind I needed.”
“Needed? What about Kurt?”
“Kurt. Kurt sees me in ways Peregrine doesn’t. I need him too. He lets me fly because he knows I need to. It doesn’t occur to him that I might not want to. And once I taste it, I know exactly what I’ve been missing.” He put his hand on Hunter’s. “I love both my men a tremendous amount, but I hope when you fall in love it’s with someone who has all the qualities you’re looking for.”
“But could you live with just Kurt?”
Emil shook his head. “Peregrine is attractive, like a magnet. I am lost without him. Kurt feels the same way. And he loves both of us and so we are happy.”
The door bell rang. Hunter bounced up and opened it. “Dad!”
Dad grinned. “My son.”
“Dad, Emil said he’d drop off my stuff at Zan and Autumn’s for me. If we leave now, I can show you my favorite statue. If that’s all right.”
“Of course it’s all right.” Dad patted Emil on the shoulder. “See you later, son. Have a safe flight.”
“I’ll call you.”
“Do.” Dad turned. “And where, Hunter, would this statue be?”
Hunter took Dad’s hand. “It’s by the square. Is that too far away?”
Dad grinned back at Emil then looked down at his newest son. “No, that’s no trouble at all.”
Emil watched until they got in the elevator, then he went back inside. Hunter had come a long way in a few short days. He could go back to Peregrine with a clean conscience, knowing one small boy was a step closer to safety.
--
Peregrine sat on the chair across from Dad. “Do you need anything?”
Dad grunted. “You didn’t have to send your mom away.”
“She deserves a break from you. So does Sam.”
“And his girls?”
Peregrine shrugged. “Do you think they need a break from you?”
“Aren’t I corrupting young minds?”
“But if Sam leaves again in a few weeks they will only remember you as the guy in the bandages who sleeps in the dining room.”
“I see them on holidays.”
Peregrine sighed. “I’m not happy to hear that.”
Poor Sam.
“Why?”
“Dad, have you ever been attracted to a guy?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“No!”
“So you just happen to be homophobic without self-hatred?”
“I don’t hate gay people.”
“Well, that nice to know, but how come you act like you do?”
“I don’t act like I do.”
“Dad, if I felt unloved for being who and what I am and I’m not the only one, what else could have caused it?”
“It wasn’t me.”
“So demeaning people like me and calling people names that aren’t manly enough or probably feminine enough isn’t something you could help?”
“But I stopped that. You told me to and I stopped it.”
“And you think it’s just that easy? One week of bowing to my demands makes up for years, decades, of animosity?”
“I don’t hate you!”
“No? It sure felt like that sometimes. Do you need another pillow?”
“No! Get me the remote.”
Peregrine picked it up off the floor. He handed it over with a word. He’d let Dad be the next person to speak. Peregrine was the stubbornness person on earth and he’d prove it.
--
Emil stretched. Working out revived his body. If he was going to spend a few more weeks in California, he’d need to find a way to exercise while there. The area had to have a gym. He’d seen enough men with muscles there who also had smooth hands. Those guys in the hospital certainly didn’t do any heavy lifting.
“Emilio?”
Emil didn’t bother to sigh. He nodded at Heather then switched to stretch out his other thigh.
“I heard you were in California.”
Five, six, seven… “I was.”
“How is Peregrine’s Dad? Did you visit Disneyland?”
“He home now, but he isn’t walking yet. And we weren’t anywhere near Disneyland.” And why would they have gone to have fun while Peregrine’s dad was in pain?
“Too bad.”
Too bad what? Knowing Heather, she probably meant Disneyland.
“Do you need anything?”
“I just… Carly said that if I saw you I should ask if you need anything, so do you need anything?”
Emil shook his head. He could not think of a single thing he wanted from her or her brother or sister-in-law. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
Emil flexed his ankle. “Yes. Kurt has everything covered.”
Heather frowned. “Are you sure? He’s…”
“He’s what?” He probably shouldn’t have asked.
“Carly says he’s just stringing you along until he can break you and Peregrine up.” She frowned like such a thing would break her heart.
“You know what?” Emil stood up. “Carly has seen him, what, all of once in the last dozen years where as I had sex with him this morning. Who would you believe?”
“So he’s not breaking up with you?” She sounded so disappointed.
Emil turned away so she couldn’t see him roll his eyes. “Heather, girl, get yourself some better people to hang out with. Peregrine, Kurt, and I are going to stay together no matter how much anyone wishes we weren’t.”
He grabbed his towel and walked away. That was the truth and no amount of wishful thinking would change it.
--
Peregrine helped Dad into his wheelchair, but let Sam push him into the house. He put his hand on Mom’s shoulder. “How was his therapy?”
She shook her head. “We have weeks, months, ahead of us.”
“And how are you holding up?”
“Fine with you boys here, but you’ll go home and John his say something and Sam will try to pretend it doesn’t hurt until he can think up an excuse to leave. I don’t think I can make it without you, but how can I ask you two to stay?”
Peregrine guided Mom around the house so she’d have a few more seconds without daily demands. “I’m working on Dad.”
“I know you are, but look at Sam, trying so hard to be the perfect son,” Mom wiped her eyes. “He’ll need your help to get John into his bed.”
“Sitting in the wheelchair for a little longer won’t hurt Dad.”
“He hates being in that chair.”
Peregrine opened the back door. “I would to, but until he can walk, he’s pretty much our prisoner.”
“I heard that!”
“You were supposed to. And you spoke to me first so I win.” Peregrine stepped into the dining room.
“What do you win?” asked Sam.
Peregrine tapped his lip. “Dad has to think of something he loves about each of us. We’ll can write them down and I’ll frame them and hang them in here so he can see them every day.”
Sam bit his lip. “What if he can’t think of anything?”
“You don’t have to worry, son. You’re nearly perfect.”
Peregrine held up his hand. “This has to be something the person is, not something they do and saying someone is nearly perfect isn’t a compliment.”
Dad crossed his arms. “So you do it.”
“Mom has the patience of a saint. Éowen is the best helper I ever had. Faramir has a huge amount of energy. Meri is a bundle of love. Sam takes great care of his girls. Gimli,” he hadn’t seen Gimli since he was six. “Gimli can connect ideas. Arwen is very creative. Théoden soaks stuff in. And Tinúviel has the patience and stubbornness to always get what she wants.”
Dad frowned. “Some of those things are done, connect ideas and take care of people.”
“But Sam takes care of his daughter without worrying about how it will make him look, he just thinks about what’s best for them.” Peregrine hurried on before Sam’s blush got any redder. “And do you think Gimli connecting ideas that are so different we could never have seen them as the same, is something he does? I see it as something he is.”
Dad rolled his eyes.
Mom smiled. “Good list, but you forgot your dad.”
“He didn’t forget me. He just can’t think of anything good about me.”
Peregrine took in a deep breath. “Dad tries.”
“That’s all I get?”
“Dad tries when he remembers to.”
“Take that back!”
“Children.” Mom sighed.
“Yes,” said Dad. “Respect your elders.”
Sam hid his smile behind his hand. Peregrine touched his shoulder and then turned to Dad. “I think Mom meant you.”
“Lisa?”
Mom ducked into the laundry room and started the dryer.
“Sorry, Dad, Mom can’t hear you. Why don’t we put you back to bed?”
“So you can run off on me too?”
Peregrine set the brake on the wheelchair. “I thought you’d be tired after physical therapy.”
“Well, I’m not.”
“Too bad because I asked Markus to come over and help us get you into bed.”
“What! No!”
The doorbell rang. Markus had perfect timing. After he greeted Peregrine, he nodded and smiled at Sam. Sam did indeed blush. Then Sam made an excuse to go to the kitchen. He must have had a great few of Markus’s back and ass as Markus did the heavy lifting. Dad was on his best behavior, of course, while they had company.
Markus clapped Peregrine on his back. “Anytime you need me.”
“Every time.” Peregrine grinned.
Markus laughed. “Jad and I want to meet both your men. One of them is coming back soon?”
“Emil, tomorrow.”
The back door closed. Markus watched Sam walk down the side of the house. He glanced at Peregrine. “Later.”
Peregrine let him go. When he looked outside twenty minutes later, Markus was telling a funny story and Sam was wearing the biggest smile Peregrine had ever seen on him as he leaned against his car. Peregrine was glad Dad hadn’t noticed, but Peregrine checked the view from the bed again just in case. Sam didn’t need any more problems than Dad had already given him.
I think couples should touch: hands, arms on the shoulder, elbows, something. In my stories my couples do. I’m even having Hunter need the reassurance that some kids do of seeing his parent’s affection for each other. Then I saw a lesbian couple in the store yesterday (or at least a woman and her androgynous partner) handing hands. (They did the thing were one stops without warning the other and their arms stretch out between them.) They were lovey, the same way my husband and I are. So I paid attention and in the next two hours I saw only one other couple be lovey. Maybe I’m just weird. Maybe other couples don’t hold hands or stand close and touch each other’s arm or back in grocery stores.
So maybe the two couples (if they were couples) weren’t inhibited by the environment, but by nature. Only I hope no one would give Kurt and Emil a second glace (besides at their size/good looks) when they walked down the street on a romantic evening hand in hand.
Title: Proposition
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter seventy-three of lots
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: cookies, drawing, aesthetics, change of target, blushes, questions, answers, love, relief, animosity, annoyance, rumors, compliments, a big smile
Length: about 3,200 words
Summary: Peregrine gets propositioned. Emil is reassured.
Master list
Peregrine took a bite of another cookie. He shouldn’t. He wanted to save some for when he next had Mrs. Matheson’s cookie withdrawals. They were delicious. He pulled out this sketchbook and arranged the open container of cookies she’d given him on Markus’s coffee table. There had to be a few batches in there. He was in heaven.
Markus and Jad could spend as long as they needed putting their kids to bed. Peregrine could entertain himself. He sketched the memory of the boys’ faces when Jad walked in the door and then Markus’s welcome home kiss. That had been in Mrs. Matheson’s living room. Now he was in Markus and Jad’s sitting room that had been an unused bedroom, but Mr. Matheson and Markus had done such a tremendous job on the extension that this room looked just like a living room. Markus and Jad even had their own small kitchen and dining room and both they and the boys had rooms back here although the Matheson house was big enough that sometimes the boys slept in Markus’s old room at the other end of the house.
Markus had muscles from his day job that showed off nicely as he’d wrapped his arms around Jad, but Jad’s muscles were more defined. He looked like he worked out a lot, but he said that he didn’t spend more than an hour a day at the gym. His boys were too important and he only spent that full hour because Markus liked his muscles. Markus had blushed, but he hadn’t denied it. Jad was Mediterranean brown, darker than Emil during the winter, but lighter than he was all summer long, and had Old World features. He was more like Kurt than Emil in that way. Emil was soft and delicate despite being six three. Jad, at six one, wasn’t either, but he had his own strong attractions.
Peregrine looked up from his sketches as Markus returned. “You picked a pretty one. Almost as pretty as mine.”
Markus grinned. Jad wrapped a hand around Markus’s waist. “Only almost as pretty?”
Peregrine looked back at the sketch and added a bit more to Jad’s face. “Well, I’m in love with both of mine, so of course I think they are better looking.”
“You have two?” Jad set a mug of coffee in front of Peregrine and sat on the easy chair.
Peregrine flipped to his latest of Emil and Kurt that he drew after their delicious long distant morning together. Jad whistled. “Are you open? Interested in extracurricular activities?”
Peregrine glanced at Markus. He blushed but he didn’t look upset like one of Peregrine’s men would have been in the same situation.
“You see I had to ask, since Markus has had a crush on you since seventh grade.”
Peregrine nodded. “Thank you for the offer, but no. Sex for me is how I keep my men with me, not an end in itself. And I don’t even do enough of it. Kurt is here to keep Emil satisfied.”
Markus picked up his coffee mug. “Does that work?”
“For us it does. They are both in love with me.” Peregrine told about loving and losing Kurt and then meeting and falling for Emil and the three trying to mesh together. “We are happier now then we were in any other formation. They called me this morning to invite me to bed, long distance of course.”
“So no jealousy?” Markus asked. Jad smiled at him.
“Not after the first little bit. I was scared that they’d fall for each other and leave me, but that’s not how it worked at all. They love me, so I am always on their minds, just like they are always on mine. Plus, as I said, I’m not that interested in sex. I wasn’t even when I was seventeen when all boys are supposed to be horny. I was more interested in fulfilling my future goals than noticing the cute boys with crushes on me.”
Jad laughed and put his hand of Markus’s arm. “I tried.”
“Thanks.” Markus leaned over and kissed him.
Jad grinned. “But while up at the hospital I noticed that Peregrine has an adorable little brother with two equally cute daughters…”
“And he’s much more approachable than Peregrine was in high school, plus he blushes whenever I talk to him.”
Jad’s grin widened and he patted Markus’s hand. “He does the same for me.”
Peregrine held up a hand. “I’m not telling you no, but my dad has spent all Sam’s life telling him how awful being gay is and taught him to hate himself.”
Jad grinned. “We can be patient. We will just need to think of reasons to come over to visits.” He took a cookie from the container on the coffee table. “Do you suppose Sam and his girls might like cookies?”
Markus blushed. Peregrine wished them the best. Spending time with two men, who obviously loved each other and were good parents, might be enough to help Sam see that loving who he wanted to love was really loving himself.
And Peregrine didn’t need to be the one to save everyone as long as the saving got done.
--
Kurt woke up and pulled Emil against him. This was their last morning together. Kurt couldn’t wait until they were all home at last. Emil moved against him, waking him up all the more.
Kurt was going to make this a morning Emil could remember until he was back in this bed in Kurt’s arms.
--
Emil sat across the table from Hunter. “Do you want us to drop your stuff off at Zan’s or do you want to take it with you today?”
Hunter looked down. “What’s it like living with Dad?”
Emil smiled. “I didn’t live their long. Only a month or so between the last foster home and getting my own place and once more for a few days when I was between apartments.”
“Why?”
“Why didn’t I stay longer?”
Hunter nodded.
Emil wrapped his fingers around his warm tea mug. “I don’t know. Dad would have let me stay there forever.” He looked out the great big windows at the morning sky. “I was scared, I think.”
“Of what?”
“Of allowing someone to love me. I wasn’t used to it. People didn’t go around offering me things for free. Everyone had an ulterior motive.”
“Does Dad?”
Emil nodded. “He hurts to see a child suffer, even if that child is grown. He did his best to help me, even when I didn’t ask or when I thought I didn’t want it. He’s a good guy. One of the best I’ve met.”
“Better than Peregrine?”
Emil laughed. “That’s like comparing a watermelon to a banana. They are both fruit, but that’s about it.”
“But is he good like Peregrine? Once when I offered…”
Emil was pretty sure he knew what Hunter was going to say. “Dad isn’t interested in sex with any of us. We are his kids. And I know you don’t understand what that means; I’m not sure I fully understand even yet. But that’s really the only way I can explain it. Dad is in love with Casey. He was in love with Casey before he realized he was bi, before he found out that all straight men didn’t struggle with attraction to other men.”
“And Casey?”
“Casey…” If Emil said Casey was one of the people Dad rescued would Hunter feel insecure? “Casey is only attracted to Dad. I’ve seen him around a lot of other people, but Dad is the only person he opens up to, maybe the only person he ever has.”
“So to Casey Dad is special?”
“Dad is very special. He’s special to me too, but in a different way. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without Dad cheering me on.”
“Does Peregrine cheer you on?”
Emil leaned back in his chair and thought about it. “No. Peregrine loves me for who I am right now. If I change, he’ll love me the way I am then, but he doesn’t… encourage that change. He loved me before he knew who I was, before he knew what I did, before he cared.” Emil picked up his mug. “But I don’t think he cares. I could be anyone and do anything and he wouldn’t care except how it would affect him.”
Hunter frowned. Emil patted his head. “That’s not to say Peregrine doesn’t love me. That’s more to say that if I because a very famous author who spent all his time that he wasn’t writing going on book tours, Peregrine would grumble and ask me when I’d be home for dinner. He’s like a puppy. Don’t pout, I mean it in the nicest way. His love is unconditional. His love is the kind I needed.”
“Needed? What about Kurt?”
“Kurt. Kurt sees me in ways Peregrine doesn’t. I need him too. He lets me fly because he knows I need to. It doesn’t occur to him that I might not want to. And once I taste it, I know exactly what I’ve been missing.” He put his hand on Hunter’s. “I love both my men a tremendous amount, but I hope when you fall in love it’s with someone who has all the qualities you’re looking for.”
“But could you live with just Kurt?”
Emil shook his head. “Peregrine is attractive, like a magnet. I am lost without him. Kurt feels the same way. And he loves both of us and so we are happy.”
The door bell rang. Hunter bounced up and opened it. “Dad!”
Dad grinned. “My son.”
“Dad, Emil said he’d drop off my stuff at Zan and Autumn’s for me. If we leave now, I can show you my favorite statue. If that’s all right.”
“Of course it’s all right.” Dad patted Emil on the shoulder. “See you later, son. Have a safe flight.”
“I’ll call you.”
“Do.” Dad turned. “And where, Hunter, would this statue be?”
Hunter took Dad’s hand. “It’s by the square. Is that too far away?”
Dad grinned back at Emil then looked down at his newest son. “No, that’s no trouble at all.”
Emil watched until they got in the elevator, then he went back inside. Hunter had come a long way in a few short days. He could go back to Peregrine with a clean conscience, knowing one small boy was a step closer to safety.
--
Peregrine sat on the chair across from Dad. “Do you need anything?”
Dad grunted. “You didn’t have to send your mom away.”
“She deserves a break from you. So does Sam.”
“And his girls?”
Peregrine shrugged. “Do you think they need a break from you?”
“Aren’t I corrupting young minds?”
“But if Sam leaves again in a few weeks they will only remember you as the guy in the bandages who sleeps in the dining room.”
“I see them on holidays.”
Peregrine sighed. “I’m not happy to hear that.”
Poor Sam.
“Why?”
“Dad, have you ever been attracted to a guy?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“No!”
“So you just happen to be homophobic without self-hatred?”
“I don’t hate gay people.”
“Well, that nice to know, but how come you act like you do?”
“I don’t act like I do.”
“Dad, if I felt unloved for being who and what I am and I’m not the only one, what else could have caused it?”
“It wasn’t me.”
“So demeaning people like me and calling people names that aren’t manly enough or probably feminine enough isn’t something you could help?”
“But I stopped that. You told me to and I stopped it.”
“And you think it’s just that easy? One week of bowing to my demands makes up for years, decades, of animosity?”
“I don’t hate you!”
“No? It sure felt like that sometimes. Do you need another pillow?”
“No! Get me the remote.”
Peregrine picked it up off the floor. He handed it over with a word. He’d let Dad be the next person to speak. Peregrine was the stubbornness person on earth and he’d prove it.
--
Emil stretched. Working out revived his body. If he was going to spend a few more weeks in California, he’d need to find a way to exercise while there. The area had to have a gym. He’d seen enough men with muscles there who also had smooth hands. Those guys in the hospital certainly didn’t do any heavy lifting.
“Emilio?”
Emil didn’t bother to sigh. He nodded at Heather then switched to stretch out his other thigh.
“I heard you were in California.”
Five, six, seven… “I was.”
“How is Peregrine’s Dad? Did you visit Disneyland?”
“He home now, but he isn’t walking yet. And we weren’t anywhere near Disneyland.” And why would they have gone to have fun while Peregrine’s dad was in pain?
“Too bad.”
Too bad what? Knowing Heather, she probably meant Disneyland.
“Do you need anything?”
“I just… Carly said that if I saw you I should ask if you need anything, so do you need anything?”
Emil shook his head. He could not think of a single thing he wanted from her or her brother or sister-in-law. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
Emil flexed his ankle. “Yes. Kurt has everything covered.”
Heather frowned. “Are you sure? He’s…”
“He’s what?” He probably shouldn’t have asked.
“Carly says he’s just stringing you along until he can break you and Peregrine up.” She frowned like such a thing would break her heart.
“You know what?” Emil stood up. “Carly has seen him, what, all of once in the last dozen years where as I had sex with him this morning. Who would you believe?”
“So he’s not breaking up with you?” She sounded so disappointed.
Emil turned away so she couldn’t see him roll his eyes. “Heather, girl, get yourself some better people to hang out with. Peregrine, Kurt, and I are going to stay together no matter how much anyone wishes we weren’t.”
He grabbed his towel and walked away. That was the truth and no amount of wishful thinking would change it.
--
Peregrine helped Dad into his wheelchair, but let Sam push him into the house. He put his hand on Mom’s shoulder. “How was his therapy?”
She shook her head. “We have weeks, months, ahead of us.”
“And how are you holding up?”
“Fine with you boys here, but you’ll go home and John his say something and Sam will try to pretend it doesn’t hurt until he can think up an excuse to leave. I don’t think I can make it without you, but how can I ask you two to stay?”
Peregrine guided Mom around the house so she’d have a few more seconds without daily demands. “I’m working on Dad.”
“I know you are, but look at Sam, trying so hard to be the perfect son,” Mom wiped her eyes. “He’ll need your help to get John into his bed.”
“Sitting in the wheelchair for a little longer won’t hurt Dad.”
“He hates being in that chair.”
Peregrine opened the back door. “I would to, but until he can walk, he’s pretty much our prisoner.”
“I heard that!”
“You were supposed to. And you spoke to me first so I win.” Peregrine stepped into the dining room.
“What do you win?” asked Sam.
Peregrine tapped his lip. “Dad has to think of something he loves about each of us. We’ll can write them down and I’ll frame them and hang them in here so he can see them every day.”
Sam bit his lip. “What if he can’t think of anything?”
“You don’t have to worry, son. You’re nearly perfect.”
Peregrine held up his hand. “This has to be something the person is, not something they do and saying someone is nearly perfect isn’t a compliment.”
Dad crossed his arms. “So you do it.”
“Mom has the patience of a saint. Éowen is the best helper I ever had. Faramir has a huge amount of energy. Meri is a bundle of love. Sam takes great care of his girls. Gimli,” he hadn’t seen Gimli since he was six. “Gimli can connect ideas. Arwen is very creative. Théoden soaks stuff in. And Tinúviel has the patience and stubbornness to always get what she wants.”
Dad frowned. “Some of those things are done, connect ideas and take care of people.”
“But Sam takes care of his daughter without worrying about how it will make him look, he just thinks about what’s best for them.” Peregrine hurried on before Sam’s blush got any redder. “And do you think Gimli connecting ideas that are so different we could never have seen them as the same, is something he does? I see it as something he is.”
Dad rolled his eyes.
Mom smiled. “Good list, but you forgot your dad.”
“He didn’t forget me. He just can’t think of anything good about me.”
Peregrine took in a deep breath. “Dad tries.”
“That’s all I get?”
“Dad tries when he remembers to.”
“Take that back!”
“Children.” Mom sighed.
“Yes,” said Dad. “Respect your elders.”
Sam hid his smile behind his hand. Peregrine touched his shoulder and then turned to Dad. “I think Mom meant you.”
“Lisa?”
Mom ducked into the laundry room and started the dryer.
“Sorry, Dad, Mom can’t hear you. Why don’t we put you back to bed?”
“So you can run off on me too?”
Peregrine set the brake on the wheelchair. “I thought you’d be tired after physical therapy.”
“Well, I’m not.”
“Too bad because I asked Markus to come over and help us get you into bed.”
“What! No!”
The doorbell rang. Markus had perfect timing. After he greeted Peregrine, he nodded and smiled at Sam. Sam did indeed blush. Then Sam made an excuse to go to the kitchen. He must have had a great few of Markus’s back and ass as Markus did the heavy lifting. Dad was on his best behavior, of course, while they had company.
Markus clapped Peregrine on his back. “Anytime you need me.”
“Every time.” Peregrine grinned.
Markus laughed. “Jad and I want to meet both your men. One of them is coming back soon?”
“Emil, tomorrow.”
The back door closed. Markus watched Sam walk down the side of the house. He glanced at Peregrine. “Later.”
Peregrine let him go. When he looked outside twenty minutes later, Markus was telling a funny story and Sam was wearing the biggest smile Peregrine had ever seen on him as he leaned against his car. Peregrine was glad Dad hadn’t noticed, but Peregrine checked the view from the bed again just in case. Sam didn’t need any more problems than Dad had already given him.
