Haven

KyleGranger

Chapter 1

As Jeanie drove down the drive, away from them, it hit Zach that he was on his own now. But then he felt an arm wrap around his shoulder and pull him close. He now felt happy and hopeful.

"You ready?" Shaun asked. Zach smiled at him, glanced down at Cody, and then turned his attention back to the setting sun and the empty driveway.

Shaun patted Cody's back and the two of them headed inside the small house with Zach slowly trailing behind with his hands in his pockets. Cody ran into his room out of sight. Zach walked through the doorway into the small kitchen, staring at the ground. Shaun felt terrible. He walked over to him and put his arms tight around him.

"It's okay," Shaun said softly. Zach sniffled which only made Shaun squeeze tighter and repeat himself. "Come on," Shaun said as he pulled out the hug, grabbed Zach hand and led him to Zach's room. They each sat on his bed. After a moment, Zach spoke:

"So what's the plan now?" he asked. Shaun shrugged.

"Did you want to come out to LA with me?" Shaun asked. "If you don't want to it's fine, I just want you to be honest. I want whatever you want Zach."

There was a long pause. Zach felt like too much was on his shoulders.

"I can't afford to raise Cody and keep this house," Zach said. He started to tear up and cupped one hand over his face to conceal it.

"Zach, Zach, Zach... It's okay," Shaun said softly pulling Zach toward him. "How about you and Cody come stay with me at my parents tonight. Then we'll figure out what to do with the house. You can just do this all in ten minutes. You need time. So go pack up some stuff for the night then we'll head to my place."

After a few seconds to think it over, Zach agreed then went to pack some stuff for him and Cody. Meanwhile, Shaun took a tour around the house. All his life, Shaun has known nothing like this. He's had the big houses, nice cars, and countless vacations. Zach on the other hand to struggle once his mom died. In the living room, on top of the television, there was a family photo. In it was Zach, Jeanie, and both of their parents. Zach had to be at least 15 and this was long before Cody.

Zach and Cody emerged from the hallway behind Shaun.

"Hey," Zach said.

"Hey," Shaun replied. He looked to Cody: "Hey buddy, ready to go?" Cody beamed up at Shaun. The three of them headed for the car and made their way to Shaun's parents house.

When they arrived, Cody went running inside while Zach and Shaun unpacked the car.

"Thanks for doing this," Zach said to Shaun before turning towards the house.

"Zach, I hope you realize how much I care about you," Shaun admitted, "I will always take care of you no matter what." Zach grinned and continued inside.

"Can I go in the pool?" Cody yelled. He was running towards Zach as he was walking through the front door.

"Ask Shaun buddy," he said absentmindedly. The boy went running outside and Zach continued moving into the house. He took his bags upstairs and dropped them in Shaun's room. He sat down on the side of the bed and glanced out the large window. Cody just jumped into the pool and Shaun just stepped to the poolside, sat down, and dipped his feet in the water.

This is the best situation. He knew deep down that Shaun would never desert him and Cody. He really did care. 'I do love him,' Zach thought. He glanced at his phone; it read 4:54. He went back downstairs and out to the patio. He took of his socks and rolled up his jeans, sat down next to Shaun, and dipped his feet into the water. He looked at Shaun and half smiled. Cody was swimming towards the deeper end.

"Cody, stay out of the deep end please," Zach said.

"Okay," Cody said and he maneuvered towards the edge of the pool on the opposite side from them.

Shaun put his hand on Zach's knee and kissed his shoulder.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked. Zach simply shrugged. "I'll just make some pasta. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Zach said. "Cody, you want pasta for dinner?"

"Okay," Cody gurgled. Half of his face was underwater as he doggy paddled over towards them.

Shaun got up and walked inside to start dinner. Cody made it over by Zach and grabbed the edge of the pool with one hand and Zach's ankle with the other.

"Zach?" Cody said.

"What kiddo?"

"Are we going to live with Shaun now?" he asked so innocently.

"Yeah. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah," Cody said.

"A lot of things are going to be changing now. We're going to be moving somewhere else. Shaun has a house about 30 minutes away. We're going to be going there soon and we'll be living there. Okay?" Zach explained.

"Okay. I like Shaun," he said.

"Good."

Zach looked over to the window to the kitchen and saw Shaun cooking dinner.

"Uncle Zach?" Cody diverted Zach's attention to him.

"Yeah buddy?"

"Are you and Shaun in love?" he asked carelessly.

"Er..." Zach was caught off guard. He looked over to the door to the house hoping that Shaun was going to come out or call him into the house. "Um... well Cody, I'm going to be honest with you. Yes, Shaun and I are in love."

"But you're both boys," he said.

Zach was biting his nails now and he didn't even know he started. He glanced towards the door again, and then to the window. Shaun was still cooking in the kitchen. He quickly looked down at Cody who seems to be having the conversation subconsciously because he was playing with a leaf that fell into the pool.

"Sometimes that happens, Cody," Zach said finally. "We care about each other a lot. And we both care about you more than anything. But it's going to be our little secret, okay? It doesn't leave the three of us."

"Okay," he said. Two leaves in the pool now had his full attention.

Shaun pushed the window open and announced that dinner would be ready in two minutes. Zach helped Cody out of the pool and put dry clothes on him. They walked inside and Cody sat down at the rectangular table next to the island opposite the kitchen.

Zach walked into the kitchen and began pouring milk for the three of them.

"You just dodged the bullet," Zach mentioned softly. Shaun looked at him questioningly. "He asked...," he glanced over at Cody who was waiting patiently for dinner. Zach moved closer to Shaun: "he asked if we were in love."

Shaun's eyes widened. He mouthed the word: really? Zach nodded and moved to the table. After they had dinner and did the dishes, Zach was getting Cody settled into Gabe's room. Cody came back from brushing he teeth and changing into his pajamas.

"Codes, you gonna be okay?" Zach asked. Cody climbed into the bed and Zach pulled the covers over him.

"I guess," Cody said frowning.

"Hey," Zach said smiling, "it'll be okay. Shaun and I are going to be just down the hall."

Shaun walked through the door. Zach kissed Cody's temple then stood up.

"You want me to turn the TV on?" Shaun asked Cody moving towards the bed. Cody nodded and Shaun turned on the TV on the dresser next to the door. He set the sleep timer for an hour. Shaun dropped down to his bedside:

"We're just going to be right down the hall, okay?" he said.

"Yeah," Cody said softly, "I know."

"Okay, goodnight buddy," Shaun said, tousling his hair. He walked out of the room with Zach trailing behind.

"Goodnight," Zach said switching off the light and closing the door.

In Shaun's room, Zach told Shaun about the conversation Cody and Zach had in the pool as they changed and got ready for bed. Zach got in bed and watched his boyfriend finish getting ready.

"Well I think you handled it the best you could," Shaun said climbing into bed and turning off the light. The moonlight now softly lit the room.

Zach fell silent for a few minutes. Shaun began to stroke his cheek gently.

"Zach, are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," he said softly, "just a long day."

"I understand," Shaun said. "But I want you to know how happy I am that we can be together now. A little family."

"Me too," Zach said. They fell quiet once again. Zach starred at the silhouette that was Shaun and listened to the waves crashing outside the window above their heads.

"Shaun?" Zach whispered.

"Yeah?" Shaun replied.

"I love you."

"I love you too," Shaun said stroking his cheek once more before leaning in to kiss his boyfriend. He was interrupted by a knock at the door. The door opened and a small figure walked into the moonlit room.

"I can't sleep in there," Cody said. The two men in bed smiled.

"Come here," Zach said.

Cody took a running start and jumped into the bed. He wiggled his way between them.

"Sorry," Cody said feeling ashamed.

"Don't worry about it," Shaun said. "Goodnight little man."

"Goodnight," he said.

"Goodnight," Zach said. After lying there for a few minutes with his nephew and boyfriend sleeping beside him, a small smiled grew on his face.