Category: Flash Fic Friday

**Something like Trust released on Sunday! Join Jared and Brandon as they tell us some more of their story….with dinner on a balcony and a slow dance. Enjoy!**

I knew what Brandon sounded like in all his moods.  And it was my job to give him what he needed.  So when I distinctly heard the strain in his voice—he was trying very hard to hide it—I suggested rather forcefully that he come home for a visit.  Three months was a long time to be away, especially for Brandon.  He’d managed two trips home in that time, and we talked every night, but it wasn’t enough.  My boy needed grounding, needed quiet and stillness, or else his anxiety spiked to dangerous levels.

It was hard for him to live such a public, chaotic life when at his core, he was a consummate introvert.

Brandon couldn’t come home, though, no matter how much we both wanted that.  There was only two weeks of filming left, and despite how much it had been wearing on him, Brandon was actually enjoying himself.  There were rumors that what started out as a one shot miniseries would be given a second miniseries as well, a second season.  Brandon was over the moon, thrilled to be able to portray his character a second time. Even though neither of us wanted to be separated for another six months while he filmed in Vancouver, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

But that was still up in the air, and we would deal with that if it happened.  For right this moment, I was more concerned with my man on the edge of breaking when he still had two weeks left of work.  He couldn’t come to me, so I went to him.

He’d given me his spare key on his first trip home, just in case of emergency, and I used it to let myself into his nice, if not overly fancy, hotel suite.  It smelled like Brandon and I inhaled deeply, taking it in and relishing it.  It had been too long since I had smelled him.

I didn’t linger overlong.  The night before he’d told me it was his early day today, and that meant he’d be home by five.  That didn’t leave me much time.

By the time I heard him fighting with card reader, I was ready.  I pushed open the French doors that lead from his tiny living room out onto an awesome balcony.  I’d set the table with candles, though the wind was trying to blow them out, the music was playing softly, and I had already laid out the meal.  It was his favorite, Zane’s lasagna.  My brother had taken it straight from the oven and packed it up in such a way that after the three hour drive and the forty-five minute wait, it was still warm, but now the perfect temperature to eat.

I was waiting in the living room when Brandon came in, grumbling.  He saw me, and his entire body went stock still.  He didn’t even breathe.  I didn’t say anything.  I didn’t have to.  I just opened my arms and he came running, burying his face in my neck.  I held him to me, squeezing almost too tightly, and he just trembled and sighed, the relief pouring off him in waves.

“N-n-needed this,” he muttered into my skin.  I dropped a kiss on his head, then pulled back far enough to look into his eyes.

“I know,” I said with a smile, and then I leaned down to kiss him properly.  When we finally broke apart, we were both panting.  I tilted my head toward the balcony.  “Come eat.”

Brandon’s smile grew huge.  “Zane cooked for me?”

“Of course he did.  He knew what you needed.”  I gave him a pointed look.  “And so do I.  Which is why I’m here with your favorite meal.” I paused as familiar notes caught my attention.  The British redhead singing about waiting for someone to come home.  “And your favorite song.”

Brandon’s sigh was deep and content.  “And my favorite person.  Dance with me?”

It wasn’t exactly easy to dance to this song, and he looked and sounded relaxed.  Which he hadn’t been in weeks.  I pulled him in close, fitting his body to mine as we began to sway to the beat.  I could do nothing else because I loved him so much.

**I’m going to preface this one with the disclaimer: the Admiral said I could!  Enjoy an end of summer barbeque and an unexpected but welcome kiss.  Also, you can find the Admiral’s version of the story here.**

The barbeque was Katie’s idea.

I wasn’t exactly up to a party, but she deserved to relax and have a good time with family and friends.  My sister was rock star awesome, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better.  So if she wanted to take Labor Day off, and just party all day, then I was not going to stop her.  Everyone else seemed to think it was a good idea, swarming in and bringing so much food I wasn’t sure that it would all get eaten.  Uncle Jimmy was manning the grill, with Uncle Tommy standing close by and assisting.  Katie’s best friend Cindy was flitting around, making sure every dish was full and that everyone had what they needed.  Katie herself was standing in a group of friends and family, laughing her head off at something, and looking radiant in the sunshine.  My sister deserved this, and it made me happy to see her so carefree.

I pulled the afghan a little tighter around me and leaned back deeper into the Adirondack chair.  It was comfortable, much more so than any of the other deck chairs, and I was happy to be sitting in the fresh air.  It had to be at least eighty degrees out here, though it was cooler where I was sitting in the shade of the awning, but I was still cold.  Losing thirty pounds over the course of a couple of months would do that to a person.

Chemo was the devil and radiation was its evil twin.

Being sick sucked so badly I didn’t even have words.  But I was fighting the cancer trying to eat my body.  And my beloved sister was the one to drag my ass to appointments, clean me up when I was too sick and weak to move, soothe me when the pain was too great, take care of me in all the ways I needed.  She was the best, and if she wanted this barbeque then that’s what she got.  Even if all I wanted to do was curl up and take a nap.

“Kate says this round worked.” Trent’s voice startled me, making me jerk, but I found a smile for my friend.  He’d been there, helping us both out, since my diagnosis.  I was lucky to have him, I knew it.  But I was also glad I’d never made my move when I was healthy.  He’d have been stuck with a sick boyfriend, and that just wasn’t fair.  At least now I got the pleasure of his company, and when he helped out, I knew it was because he wanted to instead of because he felt he had to.

“Cam?”

I glanced up at him with a sheepish smile.  He grinned back and perched on the arm of the chair.  He radiated heat, and I couldn’t help but cuddle in.  “Yeah, we’ll see.”

“You don’t sound hopeful,” Trent said, his voice ever so slightly disapproving.

I sighed, and then snuggled in a little more.  “They said it worked last time and I had to have another round so…”

“Yeah, I hear ya,” Trent agreed.  One big hand started rubbing up and down my arm.  “You look better than you did last week though.”

I smiled for him.  “Yeah, I feel better.  Not great, mind you.  Not yet.  But a little better.”

“Good,” Trent said.  Then he cupped my chin in one hand, tipped my face up, and kissed me.

For a second I was so surprised, I didn’t even react.  Trent’s patient exploration didn’t cease though, and a moment later, I made a hungry noise and pushed into the kiss.  He felt so warm, so alive, his lips soft and coaxing, his tongue a wet, hot heat filling my mouth.  I reveled in it, whining just a little as I tried to get closer.  And then I realized I was kissing Trent, and I pulled back with a gasp.

“What?” The kiss was unexpected, but I was definitely all for it.

Trent’s smile was serene, and he was stroking his thumb along my cheek.  His eyes were filled with affection and something more that I didn’t dare put a name too. I wanted it, but I was scared to believe it.

“I’m tired of waiting for you to get better.  I should have done this a year ago, before you got sick.”

Oh, that was a harsh reminder.  I pulled back a little further, but Trent wouldn’t let me go.  I scowled at him.  “T, you can’t—” I made a frustrated sound.  “I’m sick and I might not get better.  I might have months, maybe a year more.  If this didn’t work, then there’s a time limit on—”

He cut me off with another quick kiss.

“Days, months, years–and I’m hoping for a whole shit ton of years–whatever time you have left, I want to be with you.”

For a long moment, I didn’t say anything at all.  I felt like I should be noble, to push him away and save us both from heartbreak.  But he was so warm and alive.  Someday my dick would work again, and I’d be able to enjoy that a hell of a lot more with Trent than by myself.  But even more than that, his smile eased my soul.  It always had.  It was selfish to say yes, to tie him to me that much.  But I’d wanted him for a long time, and he was now telling me he wanted me too.  Sickness and all.

“Yeah,” I said softly and something settled in my soul.  “Okay.  Yes, please.”

**Another prompt to which the Admiral and I both wrote.  Check his out here.  And read two stories about a summer movie in the park and geeks.  Enjoy!**

“We’re almost there, Nate.”

I chanced a glance sideways.  “Almost where?” I asked, knowing it would never work.  The look on Kyle’s face let me know he was disappointed I even tried.

I was bored out of my skull, and he still wouldn’t tell me where we were going.  No matter how hard I pouted or what sexual favors I offered.  He just kept driving, a smug little grin on his face.  If I didn’t trust him so much, and love him so hard, I would have been truly worried.  But I did, so I honestly had no qualms about riding for two hours to some unknown destination. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to pout about it though.

A few more minutes passed, and then Kyle pointed out the window.  “Here we go.”

I turned to look, then sat up straight, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head.  The banner proudly proclaimed “Star Trek in the Park.”

“What?  How? What?” I sputtered.

Kyle laughed.  “I’ve been worried for weeks you were going to find out about this and beg to go, and that would ruin my surprised.”  He pulled into the parking lot.  It was mostly full, but he managed to find a space way in the back where he could park his little coupe.  “Double feature once it gets dark enough. Star Trek: The Motion Picture and then the reboot Star Trek with an intermission in between.”

“I love you,” I breathed, leaning into him and kissing him hard.  This was the coolest thing ever.  What was even better was that Kyle wasn’t into the show.  He didn’t have the love of it that I did.  But he loved me, so he watched.

We got out of the car, and Kyle retrieved a blanket and a small cooler out of the trunk.  It looked like we were set.  I couldn’t stop grinning. It didn’t even falter as I took in all the people streaming into the park from the lot.  A lot of them were dressed in costume to a degree.  I could have easily done the same.  If I had known, that is.  I tamped down the niggling of resentment that tried to work its way into my brain.

“Hey,” Kyle said, drawing my attention to where he was fiddling with something in the trunk.  When I turned, he gave me a wicked grin, then held up a piece of fabric.  It took me a second to recognize it as one of my t-shirts.  The one designed to look like the science uniform worn on The Enterprise.

I threw myself into his arms.  He’d thought of everything.  I’d bet money that my favorite snacks were packed in the cooler.  I kissed him again, very thoroughly, before I stripped off the shirt I was wearing and replacing it with the one that proudly proclaimed my geekiness.

Kyle waited until I was ready, helped smooth my hair back into place, and then took my hand. “Let’s go. Marvin and Lee got here hours ago, and they said they’d save us a spot.  He even promised it wouldn’t be too out in the open.”

I laughed, pleased down to my toes. “So we can snuggle?”

“Or something,” Kyle said with a suggestive eyebrow waggle.  I laughed again, and bumped his shoulder with mine.

We spotted Marvin easily enough, even with all the people.  Mostly because he was literally jumping up and down and waving his arms above his head.  He looked ridiculous, but I adored him for it. Just before we got to the place where they were waiting, I tugged on Kyle’s hand.  When he stopped, and looked at me with a question in his eyes, I just smiled.

“Thank you for this.  It’s awesome.”

“I love you,” he said with an easy shrug.

I kissed him and then we started walking again.  Nothing more needed to be said.

**The Admiral gave me a specific prompt this week.  A summer fling that ten years later becomes more. I took a bit of a different twist with things this time and jumped into a little fantasy.  And!  To make it even better, the Admiral wrote to the same prompt, which was a blast.  You can check it out here and see how we came up with such different stories.  (The similar names are a conscious choice on my part)  Enjoy!**

The air conditioning was rapidly cooling the sweat and cum—both mine and his—that covered my body, but I was too relaxed and sated to move more than my head.  And I only did that so I could see my lover, stretched out beside me with a blissful look on his face.  Spirian didn’t even open his eyes, but I loved just looking at him.  He had the flawless, pale skin, long straight nose, and pointed ears all fae did.  Unlike the rest of the elves, though, he kept his dark hair cut short instead of hanging at least halfway down his back.  It was currently sticking up in odd directions, adding to his sated appearance.

“You are staring at me, James,” he said, still a little breathless and without opening his eyes.

I grinned widely, and a small laugh escaped. “Yep.  I totally am.”

Spir turned his head, and then slowly opened his eyes.  A lot of people thought brown eyes were boring or ugly, but not me, and especially not in regards to Spir.  His eyes were warm, melted chocolate pools, and I could get lost staring into them.

“Why?”

That was it.  Nothing more.  I loved his bluntness. It was the thing that drew me to him in the first place. He didn’t play games and he didn’t beat around the bush.  He didn’t see the need.  Spir did what in his gut felt right, even if it was just a passing fancy or a temporary need.  If he wanted to lie on the forest floor for the afternoon, he did it.  And if he wanted to spend the better part of the summer months in my bed, no matter that he was supposed to be training, he did that too.  And if he got up out of that bed to go sing to trees and not contact me for days on end, it was because it felt like the necessary thing to him.  I respected that need, and appreciated that I knew exactly where I stood with him.

“Because you’re pretty and I like looking at you,” I answered, giving him the same honesty that he would have given me.  He smiled, and I knew I pleased him.

He stood then, and after using a towel to wipe away the worst of the mess, pulled on his clothes.  The long tunic and soft, woolen breaches were also a trademark of his race.  Despite fully integrating into the human realm and no longer hiding in the shadows, the fae still held to a lot of their traditions.  I kind of liked that, and wished I had something that concrete to ground me.

“I do not know when I will return.”  Spir turned to me.  He was fully dressed and a sad sort of smile graced his lips.  I sat up fast, the languor from earlier dissipating abruptly.  He’d never said those words to me.  Always before it had been “I will return when I am able.” I knew instantly that our sweet summer affair was about to come to an end.

“You aren’t coming back, are you?” I felt the sadness like an acute pain in my chest. I’d known all along this wouldn’t last forever, and that helped to easy the hurt somewhat.  Or at least, I conceded to myself, it would have hurt a whole lot worse if this had been a surprise.  Or if Spirian hadn’t looked as miserable and upset as I felt.

He sat on the edge of the bed by my hip, and leaned forward to kiss me softly.  “I would like to.  But I do not see how it is possible.  I’ve already lingered too long here.  And the flora are calls my name.”

I nodded because I knew it, and I couldn’t make him chose between me and the plants.  We weren’t that couple.  There was a deep affection between us, a genuine like and an insane amount sexual chemistry, but it didn’t go deeper than that.  We were both young, and both trying to find out feet in the world.  I cared about him.  I always would.  But I didn’t love him.  I could let him go with a kiss and well wishes.

So that’s what I did.

***

10 Years Later…

I never put too much thought into why, on the eve of my thirtieth birthday, I’d made the decision to quit my corporate job and sink my savings into a rural property with three huge greenhouses and acres of fruit trees.  Five years later, I’d built it into a thriving business. I’d renovated the farmhouse that had come with the land, and made the second floor into my living space, while the offices took up the first floor.  I had been able to hire managers and accounts and assistants to deal with the paperwork.  I spent my days in the greenhouses and out in the fields. Growing and nurturing some of the best produce in the region.  I loved it and I was happy.  Even if the orchids were proving to be a bit more difficult than I’d originally thought.

I’d had the small greenhouse built behind the house. After I converted greenhouse 3 for houseplants, and the response to including them in the inventory was overwhelmingly positive, I decided to try my hand at orchids.  While the phalaenopsis were doing fine, I couldn’t get anything else to continue growing.  The plants themselves were still living, and had healthy beautiful green leaves.  But not a single plant would put out a new flower spike.  I didn’t know what I was doing wrong.  I’d consulted with experts, had dozens of people in, and no one seemed to think there should be a problem.  I was doing everything right, and yet the plants wouldn’t flower.

I was ready to give up.  Have a huge sale, or hell, give the plants away, and admit defeat. I loved orchids, and I thought they were exceptionally beautiful plants.  But if I couldn’t get them to grow, there was no point in keeping them. The loss of profit aside, the plants deserved better. With a sigh and resigned to my fate, I exited the greenhouse and ran directly into another person.

It was weird how the smell of him, long forgotten but still so familiar, was the first thing to register in my brain.  It only took seconds after that for my eyes to catch up and recognize that beautiful elfin face. He hadn’t changed at all in ten years. But of course he wouldn’t have.  Elves didn’t, really. Not when they lived for several centuries.

“Spirian,” I breathed out his name, surprised and delighted all at once.  I hadn’t given him more than a passing thought in years, but it was still good to see him.

“You used to shorten my name.  It was a privilege only you were allowed.” His mouth quirked the smallest amount, like he felt like he should smile but didn’t actually feel like it. I opened my mouth to respond even though I didn’t know what to say, but Spirian cut me off with a shake of his head.  He gestured behind me.  “What is going on in there?”

I shook my head with a smile.  Drawn to growing things.  He always was. “Orchids,” I said softly.  “They don’t seem to like me very much.  Healthy plants that won’t flower.”  I gave a helpless shrug.

He kept staring at the greenhouse for a long moment, before he finally turned those deep, dark, warm eyes to me.  “Would you like me to sing to them, James?”

I swallowed hard.  That voice saying my name was enough to be my undoing.  I cleared my throat.  “If you have the time, that would be awesome.”

Spir finally smiled, and he took my hand, leading me inside.  He left me by the door as he wandered around the small space, lifting a hand every now and then to touch.  Eventually, he drew a deep breath and began to sing.

I’d always loved listening to ancient fae, though I didn’t understand the words.  There was a cadence to it, an ebb and flow, that never failed to affect me deep inside. I unconsciously swayed to the song as Spir’s voice rose and swelled with each verse.  When the song ended, I had to take a deep breath.

“That was beautiful,” I whispered.  Spir turned and graced me with a smile. He spent another minute or two fussing with one of the dendrobiums before padded softly across the floor and stopping directly in front of me.

“Thank you,” Spir smiled and leaned a little closer. “They are happy here, your plants.  They were just confused.   They will produce beautiful flowers for you now.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you.”  My voice was soft and I meant it, but I couldn’t stop staring at the man I never imagined I’d see again. “Not that I’m complaining, but why are you here, Spirian?”

He cocked his head to the side and studied me like he didn’t understand the question. “Though I said I didn’t know when I’d be able to return, that did imply I would come back at some point in the future.”

I shook my head and laughed.  I’d forgotten how matter-of-fact he could be.  “That was ten years ago.  I’d sort of assumed the statute of limitations had run out on that particular promise.”

It took him a minute to understand the reference.  He shook his head, “It has not.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “But why, exactly, are you here?”

He let out an exasperated sigh, and I almost laughed at how familiar it sounded.  “Previously, neither one of us were in a mindset to fully engage in a relationship despite how compatible we were.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I agree.”

Spir took a step closer.  “And now we are.  You have built us a place where we could both be very happy.  I could help you grow such beautiful things. That is all I require in this life, to sing to the flora and to have you close by.”  Suddenly his cheeks went red, and he could no longer look me in the eye.  “If you’ll have me, that is.”

Ten years ago we might have been young and unprepared.  But I knew I was ready to settle down.  If Spirian was even half the man he used to be, we’d be just fine.

I nodded even as I closed the distance between us.  “Yes, Spir.  I’ll have you.”

**A perfect challenge for summer–ice cream and unrequited love…or is it?  Enjoy!**

Getting relegated to working the ice cream stand had been kind of a low blow.  I hadn’t had to do that since high school.  The ice cream portion of the permanent family farm stand was only open during the summer, and there wasn’t much that could get fucked up in there, which was why it was the high school kids’ job in the first place.  But with my brother Jack in charge of the business now that my parents had retired to Florida, and him being pissed I’d been giving loyal customers a break on some of their produce purchases, I’d been kicked out of the stand and over to ice cream.  I felt bad that our best customers were no longer getting a few extra pieces of produce, but I could kind of understand where Jack was coming from, even if he was a big jerk.  So I took my punishment like a man and went to work in ice cream.  It wasn’t horrible, but it was boring as hell, and there was only so much ice cream I could eat before I got sick.

And then he started showing up and I thanked my lucky stars I was where I was.

The first time he stepped up to the window he had his niece perched on his hip, and he was just so dang pretty I forgot how to speak.  I just stared.  He stared back.  Neither one of us said or did anything.  The dark eyed toddler–she was maybe two or three– finally broke the spell, pulling the striped hat over her eyes and yelling out, “Hey, who turned out the lights?!” We both laughed, and Pretty Man turned a sheepish smile to me.

“Sorry.  It’s her new trick.”  He shook his head, and gave the girl a little bounce before pulling her hat off.  “Evs, you want ice cream?”

“Ice cream! Ice cream!” She gave us both a big grin, and raised her hands in the air.  “Woo hoo!”

“Vanilla or chocolate?” he asked.

It was all I could do to keep the laugh inside at the incredulous look she turned on her uncle.  “Chock-lat.”

He turned back to me, his blue eyes bright and shining, and asked for one vanilla and one chocolate, both in bowls. I was struck speechless again for just a minute before Evs hollered for her hat.

Those two ice creams were the most perfect I’d ever made.

That was just the first time he came by.  Over the past month or so, I’d seen him several times a week.  Sometimes he had his niece in tow; other time he was by himself.  We struck up a conversation each time he stepped up to my window.  His name was Trevor, and he worked as a computer programmer.  I learned about how much he enjoyed his job, his niece, and superhero movies.  He was the epitome of adorkable, and I was completely in love.

I anticipated his arrival all day.  I couldn’t wait to see him.  If he didn’t show, I felt supreme disappointment.  I found myself daydreaming about him at the oddest times.  Every time he did show up, my heart started pounding and it was all I could do to keep my nerves from showing.  Every little piece I learned about him made me like him even more, made me long to take him in my arms.  I wanted to know everything about him.  I wanted him in my house.  In my bed.

But I knew he didn’t return my feelings.  We were friendly, and had many a good conversation, but he never flirted back.  Not once.  That didn’t stop me from trying, but I knew I was destined to adore him from afar.  And I was loathing the end of the summer, when ice cream season would end, and the stand would close because I would no longer get to see him. But until then, I would store up as many memories as I could.

A rather slow afternoon had me counting cars as they drove passed and seeing how many times I could kick the counter before my toes started hurting.  I wasn’t the most intelligent of human beings when I was bored.  But when I saw the familiar dark sedan pull into the tiny parking lot, I stood up straight and did a little happy wiggle before he could see me.  When he didn’t reach into the back seat to retrieve his niece, I got even happier.  The little girl was adorable beyond words, and she always brightened my day, but it was easier to flirt with Trevor when she wasn’t hanging on his hip.

“Hey Joel,” he said with a bright smile as he walked up.

“Trevor,” I said with a swoon-like sigh.  I cleared my throat.  I was smitten but I didn’t need to act like it.  “Good to see you, man.  You want the usual?” I reached for a cup before I even finished asking.

“Yes, that would be good.” Trevor’s voice shook and he couldn’t quite meet my eyes.  “And also a date.  With you.  Ice cream and then later, a date.  If you want that is.  I don’t know if you want to.  Or if you even like boys.  I just, you know, like you so–”

“Trevor,” I said, interrupting gently.  He blinked those gorgeous eyes at me.  “I’ve been flirting with you for the past six weeks, of course I want to.”

He blinked again, and then a shaky smile graced his face.  “You have?  Are you sure?”

I laughed.  “I’m sure.”

The smile grew. “Then we should have dinner later.  Since you like me back.”

I grinned too. “I really do.”

**To finish up with Lucas and Aaron…a silly misunderstanding and a renewal of commitment.  Thanks for reading along with these guys.  I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as I have!**

“Since when do you like hunting?”

The outrage in Aaron’s voice made me startle, and I nearly dropped the book I was holding.  We had a rare three days off together, and we’d been enjoying the quiet time at home.  Aaron had been puttering in the kitchen, experimenting with a pie recipe, and I’d been lounging on the couch.  The shouting was completely unnecessary, but it told me how angry he was.  I sat up a little straighter.

“What?” I asked. I was confused and I was certain that I couldn’t have heard him right.  But Aaron was already beyond pissed.

“How could you enjoy that?  Killing innocent animals for sport?  It’s cruel.  How did I not know this about you?  I can’t abide this, Lucas.  I can’t.  And there’s no way in hell I’d ever go do that with you—”

“Baby,” I interrupted as soon as he stopped to draw breath.  “What are you talking about?”

He glared, his eyes narrowing.  “Don’t play dumb with me.  A few minutes ago, you suggested we go hunting sometime.”

I chuckled, I couldn’t help it.  “Camping.  Aaron, I said we should go camping sometime.”

“Oh.”  Aaron cocked his head to the side and let that sink in before he deflated completely.  He gave me a sheepish grin.  “Um.  Those two words don’t sound alike.”

“Not so much, no.”  I let out another laugh, and shook my head.

Aaron’s smile grew. “So I totally heard you wrong there.  Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said, absolving him from any blame.  I held out my arms, and he came jogging over before throwing himself in my lap and burrowing in. I kissed the side of his head and pulled him in tight.

“Camping, huh?”

I laughed even as I nodded.  “Sure.  You, me, fucking under the stars.  I see no bad there.”

Aaron chuckled, and rolled his eyes.  “Such a romantic.  I can feel the love just pouring off you.”

I wasn’t romantic, and we both knew it.  The living room picnic aside, I couldn’t think of one thing I’d done that could even be misconstrued as romantic. But that didn’t mean I didn’t love him with everything I had.

“I love you, Aaron.” The words were out of my mouth before I could give them a second thought.

Aaron tilted his head back until he could see me.  His gaze roamed my face, taking in my expression and trying to figure me out.  I knew I had surprised him with my sudden seriousness.  I let him look, hoping he could see the truth.  Suddenly, his eyes went soft and he leaned into me, snuggling.

“I love you back,” he said quietly.  He squeezed me tightly.  “Don’t worry, Lucas.  I get you.  I understand your reasons and your needs.  It’s all good.  I’m as in this as I was six months ago, and that’s not going to change.  Not as long as you keep loving me like you do.”

“Never going to stop,” I vowed.

Our relationship wasn’t perfect by any means.  And I still couldn’t show him off in public or go to events with him on my arm.  He might be a secret, but he wasn’t a dirty one, and we both knew it.  We were rock solid, and that wasn’t going to change.  No matter what.

 

**Okay!  Back to the boys this week…with an Emmy nomination.  I’ll admit, I took a little liberty with this one and didn’t research how nominations were announced, but this made sense to me.  Enjoy some more Aaron and Lucas!**

It was early, but I was glued to my television screen.  Any second now, they would make the announcement  Any moment and I’d see who was nominated for the prime time Emmys.  I had high hopes. I could feel it in my bones.  This was going to be the year, I just knew it.

Suddenly, between one blink and the next, they began.  I only half paid attention as they started announcing, not caring who was nominated in most of the beginning categories.   I only half paid attention as they announced Lead Actor.  I was uncharacteristically antsy, but I was waiting for Supporting Actor and…there it was.  Just like I knew it would be.  I couldn’t contain the grin.  I was so proud I felt like I’d burst.

I got up from the table and all but ran into the bedroom, scaring the cat badly enough that he hissed at me.  I ignored him and pounced on the bed, waking my boyfriend with a sloppy kiss.  He grumbled and tried to turn over, but I wouldn’t let him.  I released a happy laugh and shook him until he opened his eyes.

“Aaron, baby.  You did it!  You got the nomination!”

He blinked.  Smacked his lips.  Closed his eyes again.  “That’s nice.”

I stared at him in shock and gave him another shake.  “Nice?  Aaron!  You’ve been nominated for an Emmy.  Aren’t you excited?”

I could tell by the way he was breathing, how he held his body, that he was no longer even remotely sleepy.  He was just pretending as he turned his face into the pillow and muttered, “Sure am.”

Okay then. I slid to the side until I could lay down next to him, snuggling up and getting really close.  Aaron carefully didn’t not move until I was right in his face, and then he turned his head, laughing a little and muttering about morning breath.  But I didn’t care about that and he knew it.  I pressed up against him and waited for him to release that sigh that let me know he knew I wasn’t going anywhere.  When it came, I smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Talk to me,” I said softly.  “I thought you’d be thrilled.”

“I am,” he responded just as quietly.  He offered me a small smile.  “And nervous.  And scared.  And overwhelmed.  And a bit sad.”

All of those emotions made sense, except for the last one.  Waking him from a dead sleep, especially after the night we’d had, made it more difficult for him to process them too.  I knew that.  So I didn’t worry about everything he was feeling.  He’d have time to work them all out.  But the sadness?  That I needed to deal with right now.

“Why sad?”

Aaron averted his gaze, and his legs twitched.  I waited, staring at him, knowing that it would make him break faster.  After just a minute or two, he cleared his throat and turned his wide gray eyes to mine.  His voice was barely more than a whisper when he admitted, “Because you can’t go with me.”

My heart squeezed tight even as my stomach dropped.  There was a part of me that wanted to give him what he wanted.  To stand up and proclaim our relationship to the entire world.  But I couldn’t do that. Not if I wanted to keep my career on the path it was.  Not yet.  The world was changing, and it was about fucking time, but it wasn’t there yet.  Someday, I knew I’d be able to be out and proud.  But it wasn’t that day yet.  Even as these thoughts ran through my head, I felt a niggle of anger.  Because Aaron had sworn up and down that my staying in the closet wouldn’t be a problem for him.  Before that feeling had a chance to take root, Aaron rolled into my arms and pressed his face against my neck.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly and full of feeling. “I’m sorry, Lucas.  I didn’t mean that like it sounded. I’d love for you to be there of course, but I don’t blame you for not being able to.”

I cut off his babbling by kissing him hard.  I knew he was sincere, and it was easy to forgive him.  Really, there was nothing to forgive.  Aaron’s body melted against mine and I held him tightly.  Eventually, I pulled back far enough so that I could look into his eyes.

“You deserve this, baby.  And I’m so proud of you.”

He grinned for me then.  “Thank you. You’ll be waiting for me to get home?”

I waggled my eyebrows.  “I’ll be naked and ready to celebrate.  We’ll start a tradition, for every award we win in the future.”

“Sounds like a good deal to me,” Aaron said with a laugh, his entire face just lighting up with glee.  He dropped his forehead until it rested against mine.  “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” I responded, kissing him again.  I put everything I felt into it, making it a silent vow.  Someday I’d stand next to him on the red carpet, and it would make our wins all the sweeter.  Until that day, this would be enough.

**Aaron and Lucas are still in love, and their life is moving along happily.  But how will Lucas react when he gets an unexpected present?  Enjoy!**

“It’s going to be fine.”

It took work to keep the scowl off my face, but Aaron was focused on the road in front of him so he didn’t notice the effort. “I know.”

“It’s really not a big deal at all,” Aaron continued conversationally like I hadn’t spoken.  He rolled to a stop at the sign, then made sure the way was clear before continuing on.  “It’s just my parents.”

“I know,” I repeated, doing my best to keep the tension out of my voice.  Yes, it was just his parents.  But it was the first time I was meeting them.  I’d talked to his dad a few times on the phone, but never his mother.  I’d sat next to him and stared at him in disbelief as he’d had conversations with her.  Truth was, I was sort of terrified of meeting them.

“They’re going to love you.  Just like I do,” Aaron said softly, sparing me a glance and a smile before he pulled into the driveway of a modest home.  I didn’t get much more than a glimpse before he leaned in and kissed me hard.  When he pulled back, he gave me a grin.  “Ready?”

Not even a little bit.  “Yep.”

When Aaron circled the back of the SUV to retrieve our bags, I did the same and within moments we were climbing the steps to the porch.  Our feet barely hit wood when the door swung open and a petite but lanky woman stepped out, flinging her arms wide.

There was no doubt that this was Aaron’s mother.  It was clear where he got his good looks.  Even though Beth Zeller had to be in her late fifties or early sixties, she looked a good decade younger.  Her eyes were bright, the same color as Aaron’s, and her hair was so light blonde that it almost completely camouflaged the gray.  She was stunning.

A familiar chuckle drew my attention to the doorway.  Errol lounged against the frame, an affectionate smile on his face as he took in the sight of his wife and son.  I couldn’t stop staring at the big man, almost amazed at how much of Aaron I could see in him.  And I thought Aaron looked so much like his mother.  As I swung my gaze back and forth between them, I realized that Aaron was a perfect mix of both his parents, taking on the best parts of them.  Both Errol and Beth were aging well, still incredibly beautiful people, and the thought crossed my mind that Aaron had absolutely nothing to worry about when it came to his looks.

“Mom, Dad, this is Lucas.”  Aaron’s smile was huge as he reached out to take my hand. “Sweetheart, meet my parents.”

“It’s my pleasure,” I said sincerely, pretending the nerves hadn’t made my voice shake.  Instead I reached out to take Beth’s hand in mine.  She let out a giggle, and lifted her free hand to her chest.

“Oh my, Lucas Logan. In my house!  I can hardly believe I have a famous actor in my house.  Oh my goodness, wait till I tell Mar—” She cut herself off with a panicked look, and shook her head fast. “No, of course not.  There’s no telling. I know that.”

“You can say he’s here, Mom,” Aaron said quietly, shooting me a quick glance.  We’d talked about this.  “You just have to say it’s because he’s my friend.  Not the real reason.”

Beth cocked her head to the side.  “Well now, isn’t he your friend?  Your father is my friend.  That’s how these things work, you know.”

Aaron laughed, shaking his head.  “Yes, Mom.  He’s my friend.”  He paused and took a deep breath and looked me in the eye.  “But he’s so much more than that.”

I tried very hard not to blush at the emotion I heard in his words.

Errol chose that moment to interrupt, herd us all into the house, and make his own introductions.  I liked Aaron’s dad a lot, and had even before I spoke with him on the phone. He was a kind, jovial sort of guy, with a quick wit and quicker smile.  And he took command of the situation with an easy air that let me know he’d been managing his wife and son for a long time.

Aaron dropped his bag by the stairs, and I did the same, following the group into the living room.  When Aaron sat on the couch, he pulled me down with him, and I let him tuck himself against my body.  This was his family, and if he left the need to be in my personal space, I wasn’t going to question it.  Truth was, I wasn’t sure if it was all for my benefit.

Aaron was good at keeping the conversational ball rolling, keeping his mother from fixating on anything having to do with me, my career or family, and our love life.  Mostly I let the conversation wash over me, only half paying attention so I could answer when a questions was asked of me.

Eventually, Beth got up to start dinner and Aaron kissed my cheek and went to help her.  My nerves returned full force, being alone with Aaron’s dad. Especially with the way he was looking at me and smiling.

“What?” I asked warily.

“Nothing,” Errol said with a chuckle and a dismissive wave.  “I’m just looking at you. Thinking about how much you love my son.”

“I do love him” I said quietly but with all the passion I felt.  “More than I ever thought possible.”

Errol nodded, and then stood.  “I know that.  It’s there in the way you touch him.  The easy way you’re in each other’s space.  That can’t be faked.  No matter how good an actor you are,” Errol said with a grin, looking over his shoulder at me.  When I smiled back, he turned toward the mantel and picked up a small box.  Then he crossed the room and sat next to me on the couch.

“When I fell in love with Beth,” Errol began, his gaze on the box. “Her father sat me down.  Now the thing you have to know was that Beth’s father was a very stern German man, though surprisingly sentimental underneath.  He told me he came here with nothing but a few Deutsche marks in his pocket and a dream in his heart.  And he fell in love and married a beautiful woman.  And raised five beautiful children.  And he never, not once, took for granted their love.”

Errol paused then, and flipped open the lid of the box.  He tilted it toward me so the silver coin could catch the light.  It was a mark from 1930, polished so it gleamed.  Errol’s gaze was fixed on the coin.

“This was one of those coins he had in his pocket, and he gave it to me that day.  He said he could tell how much I loved his daughter just by watching us and that he wanted me to have this mark as a reminder that some sacrifices are worth it, when you do it for the ones you love.”

Errol’s voice was deep and soothing, and I found myself transfixed by his words.  I was so engrossed in his story that it took me a moment to realize that he was holding the box out for me to take.  My eyes went wide, and I looked at him in surprised even as I took the box.

“It’s yours now, Lucas.  As a reminder.  Because I know you’re going to love my son forever.”  Errol patted my shoulder with a big, warm hand, and then he stood and walked away.  I watched him go.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was humbled and touched by the gift, but even more so by the man’s words.

I don’t know how much time had passed before Aaron sat beside me and wrapped an arm around me.

“You all right?” he asked softly.

I swallowed and nodded, then closed the box and leaned into Aaron so I could put it in my pocket.  Then I turned to him.  I kissed him, softly and sweetly, and when I pulled away we were both smiling.

“Yeah, baby.  I’m just fine.”  Then I stood and pulled him to his feet, tucking him into my arms and holding him close.  I kissed his ear and then said softly, “I love you.  And I’m glad we came.”

Aaron’s smile made everything worth it.

**Ooooh.  Okay, so.   The Admiral wanted a private picnic, and so did Aaron and Lucas.  Enjoy!**

I wasn’t the best at grand romantic gestures. That was more Aaron’s purview.  My sweet, loving boyfriend could make dinner from a drive-thru seem romantic.  Me?  I exhausted my romantic gestures when I bought him that ridiculously overpriced pair of slippers.  Which he loved and were totally worth it.  But since then I’d been sorely lacking in the romance department and there was only so long I could fall back on the slippers

The last few weeks had been tough for us.  As we finished filming the last few episodes of the season, we’d barely been able to spend any time alone together.  Publicity tours for me coupled with late nights meant that even when I was home, we could barely do more than fall into bed together and sleep.  I could count on one hand the number of times we’d fucked in the last three weeks.  The number didn’t grow that much even if I was generous and added hand and blow jobs.

It wasn’t all about sex, of course.  But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it.  I’d gone a long time without it. Now that I had Aaron, someone who understood me and my motivations, who loved me as much as I loved him, I didn’t want to go without the physical aspect of our relationship.   Which is why I felt it was important for us to reconnect.  As soon as I saw an opening in the schedule where I’d get home before Aaron, and where Aaron wouldn’t be forced to stay too late, I’d set my plan into motion.  I was just questioning the intelligence of my grand romantic gesture now that the moment was upon me.

I’d just convinced myself it was stupid when I heard the door creak open, and Aaron’s familiar tread on the kitchen tile. Fuck.  There was no turning back now.

“Lucas?”

His voice was soft and questioning, and I took a deep breath before turning to face him, a bright smile plastered on my face.  “Hey, baby.  How’d the rest of your day go?”

Aaron ignored me entirely, his gaze fixed to the living room floor.  I’d gone all out, and paid through the nose to find everything and have it shipped in time, but I had the whole deal.  The red checked blanket.  The two handled woven basket, opened to reveal cheese, crackers, fruit, and finger sandwiches.  His favorite wine and two long stemmed glasses.  All of it painstakingly arranged to look like a magazine spread.  I’d wanted perfection, even if it was on the living room floor.

Now I felt stupid.

But Aaron’s eyes misted just a bit before he cleared his throat and walked toward the blanket.  Optimus gave a thump and a hiss from where I’d enclosed him in the bathroom, knowing his human was home, but neither one of us gave the cat a thought.  Aaron was entirely focused on the spread, and I was focused on him.

“It’s stupid, right?” I asked after the silence stretched long enough.  Aaron hadn’t moved or said anything in a good five minutes.

“It’s awesome,” he breathed, and turned a huge watery grin in my direction.  “What’s the occasion?”

I still felt stupid, so I glossed over the more emotional parts.  “I thought it would be nice to have a picnic, but it’s been drizzling for days, and with our luck, we’d get spotted and tomorrow there’d be pictures in every tabloid.  So, you know, uh,” I stopped and cleared my throat.  “This was the best I could do for privacy.”

Aaron threw himself at me, squeezing me tightly.  “It’s perfect.  We can feed each other.  Get tipsy on the wine.  And afterwards, you can lay me down on that blanket and love me hard and thorough.”

Just like that, I was aching with need.  But Aaron sank down onto the blanket and patted the space beside him, so I sat down too.  He reached for a glass of wine, and held it up as a toast.

“I love you.”

I swallowed hard, and touched his glass with mine. “And I love you.”

Aaron was right.  This was perfect.

**In honor of the SCOTUS’s momentous, stupendous, about freaking time decision, a flash fic.  I’ve brought back Jack and Ryan to tell the tale.**

Jack had lost hope years ago.  He was convinced that, despite the way the country as a whole was leaning, the Supreme Court would never rule in favor of same sex marriage.  My cynical, pessimistic boyfriend was utterly certain he wouldn’t see a nationwide mandate for equal protection and rights under federal law in his lifetime.  Jack was sure we would have to fight for the rest of our lives to be recognized for what we were to each other.  That I would always be his significant other, his partner, but never his husband.   And he thought I was a fool for believing, deep down, that things would change.

Today, Jack was proven wrong in the best possible way.

I’d been anticipating the decision, most of me convinced that there be would positive news.  Though I was scared we’d be once again denied, I just couldn’t let go of that shining hope that finally, finally, it would be as it should have always been.  And it wasn’t just about the wedding, about the marriage.  Jack and I were as committed to each other as any straight married couple could be.  We could have left Montana behind and moved to any number of states if it was just about that, and wed one another.  No, it was about being recognized as equal.  As valued as any other human being out there.  Now that we had that, now that we had the legal protection we’d been so long denied, there was no better way I could think to celebrate than with a proposal.

I’d been planning it for a long time.  Because I knew that Jack would never ask.  And while I would have taken the news at any time, that it was the end of June was perfect.  Because that was when we had met, seven years ago.  I’d been up on a ladder, picking pine cones off the trees.  Jack had wandered down the row to check on our progress.   I’d taken one look at him and I had known he would be mine for the rest of my life.  We’d had our bumps, and a necessary separation, but now we were stronger than ever.

I couldn’t wait anymore.  I grabbed the jewelers box from the back of my sock drawer, and headed out the door.

I found Jack among the Scotch pines.  At least a dozen workers were picking pine cones from the trees, and I ran up the row just as Jack was climbing down from a ladder.  He saw me, and his face lit up for just a second before a scowl and concern replaced it.

“Ryan?” Jack’s voice was full of worry.  “Baby, what’s wrong?”

I shook my head, trying desperately to catch my breath.  It took just a minute or two, and then I beamed up at my beautiful man.  “Did you hear?  The Supreme court ruled for equal protection and a fundamental right for all people to marry.  Everywhere and in every state.”

Jack’s smile was soft, and his gaze was fixed solely on me.  I could see a hint of disbelief there, but mostly relief.  He reached out for my hand, and squeezed it tight, not being able to say a word.  He didn’t have to.

I dropped to one knee, and held up the box with the hand he wasn’t holding.  It only took a flick of my finger for the lid to spring open and show off the two gold rings inside.  Jack’s breath caught.

“I love you.  Always have.  Always will.  Even when we were apart, my heart beat for you.  I never want to be parted from you again.  Marry me.”

There was a long beat of silence, and then Jack simply said, “Yes.”

It was all I needed to hear.