What Did You Do, Mr. Stokes?

Chapter Two

Nick dropped his keys and wallet on the table inside his front door, slung his backpack on the knob of the hall closet, took in a deep breath and smiled. He recognized the aroma floating in the air, though it had been several months since he'd last smelled it. He pulled his leather jacket off and turned to hang it in the closet after pulling a fat envelope from the inside pocket. When he turned back, he smiled broadly and warmly at the lanky man leaning against the wall with his hands in the pockets of tatty jeans, his legs crossed at the ankles and a wicked grin lining his handsome face. "Do I smell stroganoff?" Nick asked as he hooked his free hand into one of Greg's belt loops and tugging gently. Greg pulled his hands out of his pockets and pulled Nick into his arms, nuzzling his ear with nose and lips. "Happy Valentine's Day, Nicky." he said softly. He pulled back and looked Nick in the eye somewhat shyly. "Yep, it's stroganoff," Greg responded, "That's part of your Valentine's Day present." Nick smiled and kissed him. "Awesome. I love your stroganoff. What's the other part of my gift?" Greg smirked. "A babysitter." Nick's eyes widened in understanding and his smile overtook his face. He laughed and waggled his eyebrows at Greg. "C'mon, Nicky, dinner first." He laced their fingers together and pulled Nick along into the kitchen. He'd set the table and even lowered the lights and lit a few candles. Nick sat down as Greg poured him a glass of wine. "Pretty fancy, Greggo. You sure I rate all this?" Greg smiled shyly and replied, "I know it's not our usual style, but I figured it was sort of a special occasion…" he trailed off nervously. Nick reached for the hand Greg had been wringing nervously around the wine bottle and wrapped it in both of his. "I love it, thank you." Greg smiled and took Nick's face in his hands, looking from one eye to the other. "You are so, so welcome. You definitely rate all this, and more." He kissed him softly before taking his seat and dishing the food. Nick smiled before turning to his food and digging in. He thought back to his conversation with Brass the other day and snorted. "What?" Greg asked. "Brass really liked the sandwich you brought out Thursday. He said he thought you might be a keeper." Nick looked at Greg out of the corner of his eye. Greg stopped his fork halfway to his mouth and smiled. He put his fork back on his plate and surveyed Nick. "Am I?" he asked tentatively. Nick swallowed and looked at Greg seriously for a moment. "Definitely." Greg glowed in response and went back to his food. "I told him the sandwich was nothing, he should try your stroganoff. He asked if that was an innuendo," he snickered. Greg rolled his eyes and snorted. "Only for you, Nicky. The stroganoff and the innuendo."

Once Nick had finished his second helping he rose to clear the table and clean the dishes. Greg followed and dumped his dishes in sink before wrapping his arms around Nick's waist from behind. "Why don't you leave the dishes for later? I kind of have other plans for you at the moment." Nick reached to turn off the water before lacing his wet hands into the back of Greg's and leaning back into him. He smiled as he moved Greg's right hand lower, showing him just how much he approved of that idea. Greg grinned as he bit gently into Nick's neck where it met his strong back. As Nick sucked in a sharp breath, Greg moved his other hand to pull Nick's button down out of his jeans and run his palm up the flat plain of his stomach. Nick let his head fall back to rest on Greg's shoulder and let his eyes flutter closed. Greg nuzzled his nose into the short hairs behind his ear and breathed "Bedroom," into Nick's ear. Nick nodded without opening his eyes, and allowed Greg to lead him by the hand. Once they'd made it to the bedroom they'd shared for the last several months, Nick kicked the door closed with his heel and leaned back against the closed door, watching intently as Greg pulled his shirt over his head and toed off his shoes. He swallowed and licked his lips as Greg hooked his thumbs in his loose jeans and surveyed the man watching him. Nick moved forward to claim the man's mouth as he worked at the buttons on his own shirt.

As clothing dropped to the floor flesh met flesh. When Nick dragged blunt nails gently over scarred back, he marveled at the shivers that ran through the man in his arms. Greg slid palms over smooth skin, admiring flat abs and trim waist and moving up to stroke over stiff nipples as Nick bit his lip and moaned quietly. Greg skimmed his hands up the strong neck to rest behind Nick's head as he looked at the other man from below heavy lids. Nick pulled his head back to look into those lust blown eyes for a moment; Greg returned his look questioningly. "Greg, I know I don't really say it, but you know I love you, right?"

The smile that worked it's way onto Greg's face could have outshone half the lights on the strip. "I know, Nicky. It's nice to hear it, but you show me everyday, in some little way. I love you, too. I think I have for a really long time." Nick raised his eyebrows at that. "Well you don't think we ended up in bed the first time just because of the tequila, do you? Neither of us is that irresponsible. There was something there, simmering under the surface, maybe." Greg lowered his voice and breathed heavily onto Nick's neck, stroking a hand up his bare back, "It was just waiting for an opportunity to explode."

Nick returned his thousand watt smile before claiming his mouth once again. Greg focused his energies on ridding them both of the rest of their clothes. He snorted, frustrated but amused when Nick ended up shackled by the jeans and briefs around his ankles, his heavy work boots hindering his progress. He pushed Nick to sit on the edge of the bed and slowly lowered himself to his knees. He kissed and nipped a path down Nick's toned chest before licking a long stripe from the base to the tip of the heated, hard flesh between his legs. Nick bucked into his mouth as Greg swirled his tongue around the head and lapped at the salty fluid in the slit. Greg smirked as he dropped to the floor to work at removing the boots from Nick's feet and Nick panted at the loss of contact. Boots removed, Greg worked jeans and briefs from around Nick's ankles. A fat envelope fell to the floor as the jeans were finally worked free. "Nicky, this important?" he asked, thinking it might be work related. "Yeah, it is, G, but it can wait 'til later." Nick set the envelope on the bedside table and pulled Greg to his feet. He wrapped his arms around the trim waist and ran flat palms over the perfect cheeks. He began returning Greg's earlier favors by running light fingers down hard flesh before gripping firmly, smearing the collected fluid over the head with a calloused thumb. He circled the base firmly with strong fingers as he took the head into his mouth, taking it as deep as he could and flicking his tongue in random patterns. As Greg began to sag against him Nick moved his other hand back around his waist to support him before releasing the flesh from his mouth with a wet pop. Greg grinned dirtily and pushed Nick further up the bed, straddling him. Greg reached for the drawer of the bedside table as he attacked Nick's mouth. When his blindly questing hand found what he needed he pulled back and looked Nick in the eye as he poured a generous amount of the fluid into his hand. Nick watched dazedly and bucked as Greg applied it to him, slicking him. Nick grabbed at his hips but Greg was already sliding onto him, impaling himself without preparation. "Greg?" he asked, concerned. Greg lowered himself until he was fully seated and Nick bucked against his will. "I've been getting ready for you to come home for hours, Nicky," he smirked. Nick flushed at the thought. "That is so fucking hot, G." He grasped at Greg's hips and lifted him a bit before driving back into him. Greg cried out throwing his head back and began to ride Nick, hard. Nick flattened his feet to gain purchase and gripped slim hips bruisingly. He opened his eyes to look at the beautiful man on top of him, skin flushed, hair sweat soaked. His hands moved to Greg's face and Greg's eyes fluttered open, then shut as Nick pulled him into an awkward, sloppy kiss as Greg continued to ride him. Greg pulled back to look in his eyes from just inches away, "I love you Nicky. So, so much." Nick reached to lick at Greg's bottom lip as his grip on Greg's hip moved to take him in hand, stroking firmly in time with his thrusts. Greg changed his angle just a bit and then froze, tensed, just before spasms rocked him and fluid covered Nick's hand. Nick continued to stroke as he rode out the spasms, emptying his own seed into the man above him.

Greg collapsed into a sticky heap and let out a long, deep breath. "Wow. I think I'm dead." Nick struggled to catch his breath as he wiped sweat out of his eyes. "I hope not. We got a lot of Valentine's Day left." Greg propped himself on his elbows and studied the other man. "Seriously?" Nick smiled and dropped a tired hand on top of Greg. "Maybe. Just let me get my breath back." Greg gave them each a cursory cleaning before throwing a leg and an arm over Nick and resting his head on his chest. Nick took a deep breath and let it out, relaxed and happy. He moved his arm from where it had been stroking Greg's back and reached for the envelope he'd left on the bedside table. He held it for a second considering, bit his lip before holding the envelope up for Greg's inspection. Greg looked at him curiously. "It's for you," Nick started, a bit nervous. "It's your Valentine's day present. Sort of." Thoroughly confused, Greg pulled himself up to sit leaning against the headboard. Nick turned and threw an arm around his waist. "An envelope, how'd you know I always wanted one?" he quipped. Nick merely raised an eyebrow. "What, not even a giggle?" Greg pouted. Nick sighed and drew random patterns on Greg's stomach. "Not your best work, G. And, honestly, I'm a little nervous about this." Curiosity piqued, Greg carefully unsealed the envelope and pulled out a two small sheaves of documents. He scanned each briefly before beginning to read the first more seriously. "Nicky, what is this, your life insurance policy?" he questioned, confused. "Go to the second to last page," Nick instructed. Greg dropped the second document and paged through the first. "You listed me, and the kids, as your beneficiaries?" His jaw slacked as he tried to wrap his brain around it, going back and reading the policy from the beginning. "I don't understand. I mean, I do, but… are you planning on leaving us anytime soon, Nicky?"

Nick wrapped his hand around Greg's wrist to get his attention. "Just the opposite, actually. I just wanted to do something, I don't know, symbolic or important, or something to prove that I wanted you and the kids around long term. And I want to make sure you are all taken care of if something does happen to me." Greg dropped the documents in his hands to his lap and regarded Nick softly, eyes bright. "Nicky, I-" Nick silenced him with a hand, "don't thank me until you read the second document." Greg nodded and complied, flipping through the many stapled pages of the second document. "You put me on your mortgage?" Nick scratched at the back of his neck, looking momentarily uncertain. " And on the deed. Greg, I want this to be our home. If you want to sell it and move somewhere else, somewhere bigger or something, that's fine, but I don't want you to stay at my house. I want us in our house…our home. You, and the kids, you've made this a home to me. I want you to feel like you can paint, or rearrange the furniture, or knock down walls, or whatever. I want it to be yours, too. Yours and the kids'." Greg sat up cross legged resting his chin on his fist, staring at Nick and considering. His silent study of him unnerved Nick. "If it's not something you want, I guess we can just go on as we have been, taking it slow and figuring stuff out as we go."

Nick's heart clenched as he said it, making to get off the bed and put on some clothes. His jaw clenched as he roughly dragged on his boxer briefs and jeans, not looking at Greg once as he headed for the kitchen. Blindly he ended up at the sink, scrubbing at the dinner dishes for something to do with his hands. A moment later, a fully dressed Greg leaned on the kitchen wall. He watched Nick scrubbing at the dishes, frowning at the lines of tension running down his back as he scrubbed the finish off the plates. "Would you have done that, if it weren't for the kids?" Greg asked quietly. Nick put the plate in his hand down and shook the water off of his hands before resting his hands on the lip of the sink and leaning heavily on them, head down. "I don't know. Does it really matter?" he responded tersely. Greg blew out a long breath and buried his hands deep in his pockets. "It's an amazing gift, Nick." Nick waited, silently, back tense, "But what?" he asked, barely turning his head. "But, if it weren't for the kids, you wouldn't have offered it. In all likelihood, I wouldn't be here."

Nick finally turned, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the sink, studying Greg sadly. "I'm sorry you think that. I love you, damn it. I don't understand why you don't get that, or why it matters how we got here. I love you, and yes, I love the kids, and I really thought that maybe we could be a family-" he was cut off by the house phone ringing, sounding overly loud in the stillness of the kitchen. Nick let it to go to the answering machine, regretting the decision when his father's voice rang into the kitchen a moment later…

"Pancho, it's your Dad. Give me a call when you get this. Reggie stopped by because he said you were putting some strange person on the deed to your house…." Nick snatched up the phone. "Dad. Hi. Why exactly was Reggie stopping by?" "Well Pancho, he stopped because he said you were trying to put somebody else on the deed, and wanted to run it by me…" Nick ran a hand over his face and blew out a long breath in frustration. Greg could hear most of the conversation, and found it unfortunately enlightening as he studied his shoes. "Pancho, he was looking out for you. He found it strange that you were putting some man on your deed. Do you need a loan? You're not behind on your mortgage payments, are you? And who the hell is this Greg Sanders person?"

"Your family doesn't know about me? At all? We've been together seven months. Do you see why I'm skeptical?" Greg said, upset. Nick covered the mouthpiece of the phone, "Greg, just give me a second, okay? I can explain…" Greg shrugged and stepped away, giving Nick some privacy for his phone call with his family. He grabbed his keys and his wallet and quietly left, Nick not noticing as he argued with his father. He had a lot to think about, and he needed some privacy of his own.

A few hours later, Nick grew tired of waiting for Greg to come home and frustrated with him not picking up his phone. He thought about where he might have gone and grabbed his keys, taking a chance. Ten miles and ten minutes later, he pulled up next to Greg's Magnum in the parking lot of his apartment building. He shook his head as he pocketed his keys on the way up to Greg's place. He tried the door and found it unlocked as he fought down déjà vu. Greg wasn't at the kitchen table this time, but sitting on the floor leaning against his sofa, contemplating his tropical fish tank. The seemingly necessary tequila bottle was, however, in attendance. The bottle rested on the floor against Greg's leg. Nick moved to stand in front of the fish tank, studying the fish. "We should move this to our place. It would look killer in our bedroom." Greg didn't move as Nick lowered himself to sit next to him. "I'm sorry, I don't have limes this time," Greg said quietly as he wrapped his hand around the neck of the bottle and took a shot. Nick took the bottle from him and took a shot, himself. "He didn't know who I was. None of your family knows about me, about us. You said you wanted us to be family, but your family doesn't even know. How can I take this seriously? I mean what are we to each other, even?" Greg tried to keep his voice even, but failed, the bitterness creeping in. Nick sighed. "I don't have a label for it, G. But it's hard on me, too. When Brandon and Michael started calling you 'daddy,' but kept calling me Nick, it made me wonder what I was to all of you." He took another long draw on the bottle and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I mean, really what am I? Their daddy's fuck buddy? 'Uncle Nick?' I hate to say it, man, but it hurt."

Greg drew his knees up and rested his forearms on them, dropping his eyes to the floor.

"Look, Greg, I'm sorry I fucked this all up. If you had been a girl," Greg looked at him incredulously. "Shut up and give me a second, okay? If you had been a girl, I would have shown up tonight with flowers and a diamond engagement ring." Greg went wide eyed, but remained silent. "But you're not a girl, as you're so often reminding me, and I'm not sure how this is supposed to work."

"You'd marry me?"

"Yeah, if it was possible. Then all this crap would make sense. I'd adopt the kids and we'd be all Brady Bunch and shit. Christ, I shouldn't have had that last shot. Don't let me drive…I have no fucking tolerance for this stuff." Greg turned and regarded the man next to him. "You'd marry me, but your family doesn't know about me. If I was a girl, would they know about me by now?" Nick rested his chin on his forearm. "Probably," he answered. Greg turned and studied the fish tank again. "First time I've ever wished I was a girl," he whispered.