A/n here's chapter 2 hope yall enjoy.

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"Hi Eric," Marisol greeted as she pulled her brother in for a hug.

"Hey Marisol how are you?" Eric asked trying to hide his nervousness.

"I'm ok, but you don't look ok. Is everything all right?" Eric nodded not trusting himself to speak. "Where's Ryan at?" she asked.

"He's having dinner with Alexx," Eric replied. Marisol saw the look of fear and anguish in her brother's eyes.

"You guys aren't just friends, are you?" Marisol asked. Eric gasped and his eyes widened.

"How did you know that?" Eric choked out as he swayed on his feet. Marisol reached out and placed a comforting and steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Hey take it easy, sweetie. I've known for a while. Anytime you talk about your co-workers I can see how your eyes light up when you talk about him," Marisol explained.

"Are you ok with this, Mari?" Eric asked using his nickname for her. Marisol reached out and took Eric's chin into her hands so she could look him straight in the eye.

"Yes I am ok with this. You have the right to love who ever you want."

"You have no idea how much that means to me. I've decided to tell everyone tonight," Eric said.

"Good luck and remember that I love you and support you, sweetheart."

"Do you think everyone else figured it out?" Eric asked worriedly.

"No, I don't think so," Marisol replied. Eric blew out a relieved breath and pulled his sister in for a grateful hug just as his mother walked in.

"Hey their, sweetie," Clarinda Delko said as she walked over and gave her only son a hug.

"Hey their, Mama," Eric replied as he returned the hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Well dinner's ready so let's head into the kitchen," Clarinda said. Eric and Marisol nodded and headed for the kitchen to start what was sure to be the longest dinner in Delko family history.

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Eric was grateful that Marisol had sat next to him. She kept squeezing his hand under the table for support. Even though his Mother's beef enchiladas usually hit the spot tonight they got stuck in his throat and made it difficult for him to swallow. Finally dinner was over and they had just started on dessert when Eric decided it was now or never. He gave Marisol a quick look to which she replied with a smile before taking a deep breath.

"Mama, Pop, I need to talk to you and the rest of the family," Eric said seriously.

"Go ahead we're listening, son. What is it you need to talk to us about?" his father asked.

"Well you remember my friend Ryan?" Eric asked.

"The one your sharing the house with?" one of his sisters asked. Eric nodded.

"What about him?" Clarinda asked.

"Well we're not just friends," Eric said.

"Your roommates?" his father asked.

"No, not exactly," Eric said quietly.

"Then what are you?" Clarinda asked.

"Well, we're lovers," Eric said. Their was a moment of complete silence then Clarinda jumped up and headed around the table towards him.

"What did you say?" she asked horrified.

"You heard me, Mama. We're lovers and have been for six months now," Eric replied.

"Por que mi hijo? Por que tu te gustas un hombre?" Clarinda asked. Eric knew his mother was upset, because she rarely spoke Spanish unless she was upset.

"It's not wrong for me to like a guy. You and Pop always told me to find someone that makes me happy, and, Ryan does that," Eric defended.

"Yes, but, I thought we taught you right from wrong?" Clarinda replied.

"You did, but, it's not wrong to love someone, Mama."

"I didn't raise any child of mine to be a queer," Clarinda spat as her hand shot out and connected with Eric's right cheek.

"Mama! It's Eric's choice who he loves," Marisol cried coming to her brother's defense.

"You support this, young lady?" her father asked.

"Yes I do, sir."

"Well then you're both no longer family. I will not have anyone in my family who is queer or supports a queer.

"Mari, no don't do this," Eric begged as he got to his feet.

"No Eric if they can't support your decision and accept that you're happy then I don't want to be a part of this family," she said matter-of-factly. Eric just nodded as he walked out of the house with Marisol next to him not looking at the rest of his family.

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"Do you want me to drive you home, sweetheart?" Marisol asked softly.

"No I just want to be alone, please. I have a lot to think about, Marisol."

"I understand I love you, just remember that. I support you call me if you need anything ok?" Marisol requested.

"Ok I will and Mari?" Eric called.

"Yes?" Marisol asked.

"I'm sorry," Eric said softly.

"You don't have anything to be sorry about, sweetie."

"But, I got you kicked out of the family," Eric argued.

"No you didn't me supporting you got me kicked out of the family, and you know what?" she asked.

"What?" Eric asked.

"I wouldn't change my mind even if I were to be accepted back into the family.

"Thanks that means a lot to me, Sis," Eric said as his eyes filled with tears. Marisol reached forward and pulled him into a tight hug before letting go and climbing into her car. Eric stood their a moment longer looking at his childhood home. With a last heavy sigh he climbed into his car and tried to fight back the tears so he could drive home safely.

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At Eric and Ryan's house dinner had gone well despite the fact that Ryan didn't eat much. After dinner Ryan and Alexx decided to watch TV. They chose a show called CSI Miami that had characters that attempted to resemble them.

"This show is kinda funny," Ryan commented.

"Yeah it's not bad. I never noticed just how much Horatio takes his sun glasses off, though." Ryan chuckled.

"Yeah neither did I," Ryan said.

"I think they've captured your character pretty well," Alexx said thoughtfully.

"Oh you do, do you?" Ryan replied teasingly.

"Yes, sweet, thorough, and OCD," Alexx finished with a smile. Ryan laughed the description was pretty accurate. His laughter stopped at the sound of their front door opening and closing.

"Eric?" Ryan asked concerned. It was early for Eric to be home unless things didn't go well. Eric walked into the living room, but, made no move to talk. Instead he walked past Alexx and Ryan and headed for their screened-in back porch.

"Eric you ok, honey?" Alexx asked. Ryan drew in a sharp breath as he saw Eric's cheek as he past.

"Tell me that's not a hand-shaped bruise, Alexx," Ryan said quietly. Alexx looked up sharply and her lips pressed into a thin line at the sight of the bruise on Eric's cheek.

"Eric what the hell happened? Who did that to you?" Alexx asked sharply. Ryan's eyes widened, Alexx rarely cursed, and if she was cursing then it meant she was absolutely furious. Her tone softened as she saw Eric flinch. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Tell us what happened, please."

"Just leave me alone, please," Eric choked out as a sob escaped and he fled the rest of the way to the porch. Alexx and Ryan looked uncertainly at each other. They could hear Eric's heart-wrenching sobs coming from the swing on the porch.

"I should go home and let you take care of him," Alexx said gently.

"No don't go, Alexx. I need your help. Come with me, please?" Ryan begged. Alexx nodded and got up and headed for the porch with Ryan right on her heels.

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"I said I wanted to be alone," Eric mumbled from his spot on the swing. He was curled into a protective ball but was in a position to jump up and be defensive if need be. His body was shaking with the force of his sobs.

"I can't do that, babe. I need to know what happened to you, who hit you?" Ryan said as he climbed on to the swing. Alexx nodded as she sat down on the other side of Eric. Despite their best efforts he wouldn't uncurl from the ball.

"My mom," Eric said quietly.

"Your Mother hit you?" Alexx asked incredulously.

"Yes she said she didn't raise any child of hers to be a queer then she hit me," Eric explained. "The rest of my family or I should say my former family agrees with her. Well that is all accept Marisol." Ryan looked over at Alexx when he heard an expletive be muttered under her breath. Even Eric looked up in surprise.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't believe I've ever heard you say that word before," Eric said incredulously.

"Well I'm sorry, but, I am absolutely furious how can a family just disown someone because of their sexual preference? Furthermore, how can a mother hit her own child?" Alexx asked furiously.

"Hey take it easy, Alexx I think their's steam coming out your ears. Don't get me wrong I'm just as angry as you are, but I don't think their's much we can do," Ryan replied.

"They said it was wrong for me to love you, and the only one who supports me is Marisol," Eric said as he began to sob again. This time he allowed Ryan to pull him into his arms and Alexx wrapped her arms around them both and began to rock them back and forth.

"Shh, its ok I love you, sweetie. This Mom loves you no matter what, baby. Just take a deep breath, Eric," Alexx whispered soothingly. Eric tried, but was crying too hard, and his breaths came in short shallow gasps. Ryan was becoming increasingly alarmed. Eric was hyperventilating, and most people didn't know this, but, Eric suffered from stress-induced Asthma.

"Eric you need to try and take deep breaths, babe. C'mon in, out, in, out, that's it," Ryan coaxed.

"Do you have Asthma, Eric?" Alexx asked. She had noticed that Eric's breathing sounded more like wheezing. Eric nodded and tried to speak, but only succeeded in causing himself to cough.

"He has stress-induced Asthma, and it takes a lot to cause it to flare up," Ryan explained.

"Does he have an inhaler?" Alexx asked.

"Yeah it's in the bathroom medicine cabinet in our bedroom, can you get it for me, please?" Alexx nodded and got up heading for the house. All of a sudden the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Alexx called as she let the screen door close behind her.

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Marisol stood nervously at the door of her brother's house. She wanted to check on him and make sure he was ok. She saw his car in the driveway, so she knew he was home. The door opened to reveal Alexx's worried face.

"Marisol," Alexx said coldly.

"I don't agree with my family Alexx. I support him as long as he's happy, honest," Marisol replied.

"Ok I'm sorry I'm just absolutely furious right now and worried about Eric," Alexx said.

"I can understand that, where is he, now?" Marisol asked.

"He's on the screened-in back porch with Ryan," Alexx replied. All of a sudden Ryan's panic filled voice filtered into the house.

"Alexx! Get out here, now." Alexx took off running to the porch with Marisol along side.

"What is it, Ryan?" Alexx asked. Ryan glanced up and saw Marisol standing in the doorway.

"I support you and him as long as he's happy," Marisol said. Ryan nodded then turned his attention back to his lover.

"He stopped breathing!" Ryan cried. Alexx jumped into action and began giving Eric CPR.

"His Asthma flare up?" Marisol asked.

"Yes and Alexx was heading into get the inhaler when you showed up, can you get it?" Marisol nodded and took off running for the house. "It's in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom in our bedroom," Ryan called out as he watched Alexx frantically working over his unresponsive lover.

"Come on Eric Delko don't you give up on me," Alexx said urgently as she blew air into Eric's mouth. Finally after a couple of minutes that felt more like a couple of hours Eric began to cough and wheeze. Ryan let out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding.

"What happened?" Eric asked bewildered.

"You stopped breathing, and Alexx had to give you mouth to mouth, babe. You scared the crap out of me," Ryan gently admonished.

"Sorry. Didn't. mean. To. Scare. You," Eric gasped out.

"Shh, don't talk Marisol's coming with your inhaler," Alexx said. Just then Marisol came running on to the porch with the inhaler in hand.

"Here you go, Alexx," she said handing Alexx the inhaler.

"Here take this, Eric," Alexx instructed handing Eric the inhaler. Eric nodded and took a couple of puffs. Once he had done that his breathing began to become more regulated.

"Feel better, babe?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah a little. When did you get here, Marisol?"

"When Alexx was coming in to get your inhaler. I know this is a stupid question, but, how are you doing?"

"Ok, I guess, but it hurts," Eric said quietly.

"I know it does, sweetheart. Just remember I support you," Marisol said reassuringly as she climbed on to the swing next to Ryan. Ryan stood up.

"Here take my spot I'm going in for a drink you guys want anything?"

"Water, please," Eric requested.

"I'll come help you," Alexx offered. Ryan nodded and gave her a small smile. He had wanted to give Marisol and Eric sometime alone, and, obviously Alexx had realized that.

"Ok be right back," Ryan said. Eric just nodded.

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Eric thought he would have been all out of tears, but he was wrong. As soon as the door closed behind Ryan and Alexx the first tear fell from his eye. Marisol gathered him into her arms and held on tight.

"It's ok, just let go I'm here. Just let it out, sweetheart."

"How can they do that to me, and it's not fair that they disowned you as well," Eric argued as he choked on another sob.

"I know it's not fair, and I know it hurts," Marisol said soothingly.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you, and I'm sorry for crying," Eric said trying to stop his tears.

"Eric Delko! You listen to me very carefully. You. Have. Absolutely. Nothing. To. Be. Sorry. For.! Also it's ok to cry don't bottle it up you know that's unhealthy. Just let it go, sweetheart." Ryan heard Marisol's raised voice and made a move for the back door, but Alexx put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"But, I have to check on him she was yelling at him," Ryan argued.

"I don't think she was yelling at him I think she was trying to get a point across. Just stay here with me for a bit, ok?" Alexx advised. Ryan nodded reluctantly and leaned against the kitchen counter. Back on the porch Marisol could see that Eric's walls were slowly crumbling.

"It's ok just let it go, baby. Don't fight it its ok to cry. Let me be strong for you, Eric," Marisol begged.

"You won't let go?" Eric asked as his voice wavered.

"I will never let go I promise, sweetie." To prove her point Marisol wrapped her arms around him even tighter. She seemed to finally be getting through to him because he burrowed his head against her shoulder and let out all of the pent up emotion in full body sobs that tore at her heart. She looked up as Alexx and Ryan walked back on to the porch.

"How's he doing?" Ryan whispered in her ear.

"I think he's finally starting to let it all out," Marisol whispered back. Alexx held out Eric's glass of water. Marisol took it and tilted Eric's face up.

"You need to take a drink, Eric," she said. Eric nodded and reached for the glass, but couldn't hold it. "It's ok I've got it, just drink, sweetie." Eric gave Marisol a nod of thanks as he drank. When he was done he laid his head back on her shoulder and tried to stop his sobs but he couldn't. The three worried people sat in silence for the next forty five minutes or so while Eric cried his heart out just giving him what protection and support they could. Finally Marisol noticed that Eric's sobs had stopped and his breathing had deepened.

"I think he's asleep," Marisol whispered.

"Ok I need to get him into bed can you guys help me?" Ryan requested.

"Sure we will," Alexx replied. The three of them got Eric tucked securely into bed then turned off the light and closed the door.

"Well I'm going to head home unless you need me?" Marisol asked Ryan.

"No you guys can go home. I think we should be fine. I wish Eric had tomorrow off, but I know that he would want to go to work to keep his mind off of this," Ryan said. The two women nodded and gave Ryan a hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving promising to check on them tomorrow. Ryan locked up and turned off the lights. Once that was done he walked into the bedroom, stripped off his clothes down to his boxers and climbed into bed wrapping his arms around his sleeping lover.

"I promise I'll help you get through this. I love you so much, babe," Ryan whispered into Eric's ear before closing his eyes and falling into a fitful sleep of his own.

TBC?

A/n Hope you all enjoyed this. Here is the translation of what Eric's Mom said to him in Spanish.

"Porque mi hijo?" "Why my child?" "Porque tu te gustas un hombre?" "Why do you have to like a man."