Chapter Eight

"Has anyone heard how Drew and family are doing?" Jordan asked.

"Word on the surgical floor that Syd is babysitting so they can have a date," Scott said.

"That'll do that them good," T.C. put in. "They could use the break from everything."

"No word on whether the gruesome twosome are leaving town," Topher said. He knew everyone wanted to know.

Between work at the base and raising a family Drew was rare sight to the group. The incident with his parents had bought them all to the family's home. T.C. had been trying to control his temper in recent months. If it wasn't for the fact he didn't want to make the newspaper under the headline "Former Soldier Beats Senior" he would have done some damage to Jacob Alister. But if he wanted to help his friend he'd let the law handle Ashley and Jacob.

Rick's P.O.V.

I never met my husband's parents officially and now if I did, well, I'd lose it everything. I understand the fact they can't accept he's gay or that he and I are married.

Maybe.

But I can't and won't let them do is destroy everything he and I built. The look in his beautiful eyes that morning still makes shoot through my veins. We've been in this neighborhood, in this house almost two years and no one has bothered us. Hell, everyone has been friendly like we were any other couple. We didn't know Drew's father had lost his job until he decided to get some brats to vandalize our property, Even without knowing that Drew said he just knew his father had something to do with it. I wanted to know why he would say so but didn't get a chance to ask between the cops arriving to look through the security camera footage and seeing to the little ones. Thank goodness my parents were still there. The kids being so young was and is a blessing as well. This will all be over by the time they are old enough to remember.

But then we'll have to deal with the issue of explaining why their grandparents don't acknowledge their very existence. Or the fact they're Or the fact they're the most precious gift life can offer. Things are settling now. Slowly getting back to normal. The teenagers involved won't be a problem for us I'm sure. One of the guys I know from the station said all the parents told the boys "you knew this would happen. You chose the crime, you chose the consequences. We didn't raise you to act like this! Was your precious coach worth your future?"

At least there's still parents out there who held their children responsible for their actions.


Drew's P.O.V.

I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had Rick and his parents this week. I cried this week several times openly in front of all three and my babies who didn't understand my tears. Trent and Olivia were great people that was apparent the moment I met them. How great and loving they were showed itself when I break down after the cops left.

Trent grabbed me and held me by my shoulders before Rick could reach me.

"Look at me, son," he said. "I know I can't change what happened or who was involved. I know part of you wants your dad at a time like this. I can't do anything to change your dad but you got me. I swear. If my son wants you in his life forever then I do, too," Trent said hugging me tightly. "You're a great man. Don't let anyone or anything make you believe otherwise."

How many people can say their in-laws are so great?

Everyone on the base knew about what happened at Drew's and who was involved. They felt bad that a guy like Drew had such a prick for a father. But he and Rick were good men who deserved to be happy. So what if that were together? They were good together. Besides being so in love, they both lived military life, understood what it was like to see war and lost friends in battle. This helped make military relationships work. Most knew how long the two had been together, since they'd been bunkmates in basic training. They'd had to wait so long for the life they shared now. No homophobic jackass in the form of Drew's dad had the right to ruin it.

"You okay?" Rick asked gently touching Drew's hair. The two lay together watching sports highlights. Drew was usually more talkative even late at night.

"I guess," Drew sighed. "I feel exhausted inside and out but sleep doesn't help."

"Maybe we should get a punching bag for the garage. It might help us both get out some tension without having to go far," Rick suggested. "Believe me, I need it, too,"

"I know. I haven't forgot you're my other, and better half," Drew said looking at Rick with adoring eyes.