"Gupta, I'm not trying to avoid the problem." The Turkish man groaned as he was changing into his complex Ottoman attire. "I just need time to think about raising another kid. I clearly screwed up with Heracles and now you. I mean, I'm dating you for Allah's sake." He had the first layer on. "Don't give me that look, you know I love you. Emil is just here because his family has no where to go and he's a friend."
"Open your eyes." The Egyptian was dressed in his simple cultural attire. "You act like his father. He calls you pops." He crossed his arms. "I want a child around Peter's age at least." The couple had met the English boy when his parents came to visit their extended family. "It's not like I'm asking for a kid Elias' age." He referred to their third grader.
"Gupta, I'm too old and I'm not confident enough to raise it." He got the second layer on. "I just want to retire in piece."
"You want to retire?" He frowned. "That's surprisingly selfish." He snapped. "What about me? I'm too young to retire. I may have HIV but I'm not dying. All I'm asking is for you to try."
"Gupta." The man stopped his dressing, looking at his crying lover. "I'm sorry, Gupta. I don't mean to seem selfish. I'm just thinking of the kid. I am too old to do fatherly stuff and I already lost all my previous children. I'm a horrible father. Heracles would probably make a better dad. Heck, Simon makes a better dad!" The Danish man had proved to be very annoying as his stay with them lengthened. "And he is responsible for a certain bird's death." His outburst really only made Gupta's condition worsen.
"I just want to try." He whimpered from the bed. "I'd be a stay at home mom… You can just support us."
"Guppy…" Sadık sighed and went to embrace him. "I don't want to leave a kid parentless. You're not dying but you are still sick and have risks. I won't be able to walk a kid down the aisle either… I'd die before that happens." His voice was gentle now. "It would be unfair to the kid."
"Could we get a teenager then?" He sniffled.
"Um… I don't know about that. I've had enough of rebellious teenagers." He scratched his chin.
"So… there's nothing that will make you cave?" He buried his face in his knees.
"I don't think there is." He replied softly. "I know you probably hate me now… But you don't have to stay with me. You can find another, younger person." His grip instinctively tightened.
"I don't want another person." He whispered. "I can't hate you… but right now I certainly strongly dislike you."
"Should I stay here then?" He rested his chin on the other man's head.
"No. You have to come. We can just pretend we aren't fighting." He gently pulled away and wiped his tears before leaving for the van, completely ignoring the eavesdroppers in the hall.
Sadık finished dressing, failing to use it as a distraction from his fight. He wished he could make the young man understand but something told him that he did understand the situation. Gupta was too intelligent not to understand his lover's rational feelings. However, he was afraid and the fact Gupta might be able to tell infuriated him a bit. He should show himself to be strong, he was the older one in the relationship after all; the one that supported most of the weight. Gupta was the woman, he was the man. It was that simple for him… he had been raised to think the man decided most of the issues in a relationship.
"Lukas, Sonny, you two make sure Simon behaves. We might be home late tonight. I have leftovers in the fridge so please don't try cooking." He did not wonder why his housemates were in the hallway.
"Pops… Guppy's coming home with you tonight, right?" The Icelander looked concerned.
"O' course. He has no where else to go." The man replied, heading to his van.
"Hey Lukas~" The Danish man whined once Sadık was out. "Can we adopt?"
"No way in hell." He snipped. "I have two kids too many."
The tension in the van was uncomfortable and made concentrating on the road difficult for the driver. He missed their turn twice which resulted in more time spent in that atmosphere. They drove down the driveway surrounded by Sakura trees and parked the van beside Kiku's familiar car. Sadık got out first and helped the other out, much to the young man's aggravation. It was harder to be mad at someone that still treated you nice. He had, on the way, taken deep soothing breaths and reassured himself they would make it through but it was mostly so he would not enter a stress-induced seizure.
They entered the house separately and were greeted by the scarily large Russian man called Ivan. He led them into the family room where several Asian people were gathered, talking mostly in Chinese so their foreign family could not hear their gossip. Gupta was the first to fully enter the room and soon found two hands groping at his chest. He jumped back, into Sadık and glared at the grinning man before him who still had his hands in a groping motion.
"Brother, Yong Soo is groping guests again." The familiar voice of Leon, Emil's friend, sounded from behind them. "Nihao, Mr. Adnan." He shook his hand.
"Nihao." He returned then looked at Gupta. "Do you remember Gupta Hassan?"
"Was he the Greek's ex?" He examined the small man. "But you're his brother now?"
"We found out we were half-brothers, yes." The Egyptian confirmed. "Is he here?"
The teenager nodded and had him follow through the crowd until he reached a bench in the corner. Heracles was there, struggling to stay awake as he was being introduced to all of Kiku's family. Kiku himself was no where to be found though, leaving Sadık to seek him out. Gupta, now alone, sat beside his brother, gently prodding him. A pretty Asian girl introduced herself, glaring quite a bit at the Greek but he brushed it off, already having received those looks from some of his new family.
"Glad you could make it, Gup… but your attire is kinda dull." He smiled a bit teasingly.
"I am sorry for not dressing like a woman." He snapped, surprising the drowsy man. "I am not a woman."
"Okay, what happened?" He crossed his arms. "What did that Turkish dog say?"
"I'd rather not talk about it now." He scowled. "But it has to do with children."
"Oh. That." He sighed and embraced his brother. "I'm sure he'll come around. Until then, enjoy this party."
"Easier said than done." He murmured, nuzzling the man affectionately in hopes to stifle his sorrow. "But for you I will try." He kisses his cheek and got to his feet. "Now can you introduce me to these people?"
"I'll need Kiku to help with that." He admitted, scratching the back of his head. "He got dragged off by Yao before you two arrived… Leon can probably help but he's ticked off because Arthur was invited and when Arthur's not bothering him, he's following his brother Abílio around."
"Arthur is here?" Gupta looked surprised.
"Yes because he raised Leon, remember?" He received a blank look. "Doesn't matter. I'll just introduce you to Ivan's family first."
"Ivan has family?" He looked at the Russian and found him looking rather scared. "What are they like?"
"You will see." He replied rather grimly, pulling him to where the man was backed into a corner by a young girl with a murderous look on her face. "Ivan, I'd like to formally introduce you to my half-brother."
"Irunya, help me…" The man whimpered to a big breasted woman that looked on worriedly.
"Sister, you're not being very polite." She chastised the younger woman whom glared at her but backed, off standing beside the Russian.
"Thank you." Ivan smiled nervously then looked at Heracles. "Sisters, this is Kiku's lover, Heracles and his ex-lover Gupta."
"I'd prefer brother." The two men mumbled in embarrassment.
"You two were dating and you were siblings?" The younger sister seemed intrigued then glared at her big brother. "See!? They dated each other so you can date me too!"
"Natalya, they broke up because of that. It's wrong and gross… Besides, you're my little sister and I'm married to Jao-Jao." He whined.
"I'm Irunya, Ivan's older sister. It's a pleasure to meet you both." The large-breasted woman smiled. "Our little sister, Natalya, can be quite eccentric."
"Oh, Irunya, you're going to love this," Ivan freed himself from his younger sister to arrive at his older sister's side. "Gupta here has HIV."
"How is that good?" The Egyptian huffed indignantly.
"Really?!" The older woman squealed. "Oh happy days. Were you born with it?"
"Um… yes?" He backed up against his brother.
"Really? So you must know how hard it is for a child with HIV to find a home."
"Actually, I don't." He blinked. "My current… lover… raised me." He replied.
"Oh? Well that's good for you but…" She gave a sad sigh. "There are so many unlucky children born with the disease that have it hard finding a good home. It's very sad that they spend their short lives in poor orphanages that can't afford enough medication for them. I run one of those orphanages back in Ukraine…"
"You run an orphanage for children like me?" Gupta tilted his head.
"Yes…" She paused for a moment, pondering. "Would you be interested in adopting one?"
"Of course he would!" Heracles answered for the other. "He's been talking nonstop about adopting a kid."
"Heracles! You know Sadık doesn't want a child with me." The Egyptian snapped at his brother, his chest filled with pain. "He's too old."
"You can never be too old to give joy to a child… no matter how short lived." Irunya whispered gently, reminisce appearing in the siblings' faces. "Perhaps I could talk him into considering it? I brought some children with me from the orphanage… They're slightly more high-maintenance than you might be… but they haven't developed AIDs like most of the others."
"Yes. I'll take you to my father and you can talk him into it. Meanwhile, Ivan… can you introduce my brother to Kiku's family?" Heracles smiled and took the woman's hand, giving Gupta a look that was hard to understand.
"Da. Tell Adnan I would like to speak with him too." He smiled at the Greek and then took the Egyptian's hand in his own. "Come, we will meet the extended family."
And so they went around the party, being introduced to all of the family members they passed while Irunya and Heracles searched for the Turk. They both found him parting ways from Kiku and Yao, his smile clearly forced. Heracles ignored his lover as he passed in favor of punching his former father in the stomach. Sadık became enraged and swung back but stopped himself when he noticed the beautifully large woman beside him. He glared murderously at his former ward and forced another smile at the woman.
"Hello there, Ms…"
"Chernenko. Irunya Chernenko." She replied, shaking his hand. "I would like to discuss something with you in private. Follow us."
She led Sadık away with Heracles taking them to a room on the upper level that was empty of family and guests. Heracles stood in front of the door in case the older man decided to leave early and Irunya sat him on the bed, sitting with him. Sadık's mind was quick to retreat to the gutter, unable to keep his eyes off the woman's bust-he had almost forgotten the appeal of breasts. The location they were in, had the Greek not also been there, was also appropriate for intimate actions. He shook his head at those thoughts, remembering his relationship.
"Mister Adnan, it has been brought to my attention that your lover has the human immunodeficiency virus…"
"So what if he does?" The man glared, making the woman jump a little.
"Shut up and listen, Turk." Heracles scowled from the door.
"I was also informed that your lover was hoping to adopt…" She examined Sadık's face carefully. "He has told me you think that you are too old." She did not give him any room for arguments. "However, the orphans I care for rarely live long. They too have the human immunodeficiency virus but they also have no one to love them but a poor woman that can only afford so much money and time." Tears came to her eyes. "They've had such a hard, ill life and all I wish for them to have is some experience of love and life as it should be before God claims them… no matter how short they have to enjoy it." He was speechless and looked at the Greek in bewilderment. "So I desperately hoped that you, a man familiar with HIV, would be willing to help…"
"Listen, lady…" He rubbed the back of his head. "I'm a horrible father. I raised that man there and he turned into a whore that hates my guts." Heracles glared at the 'whore' comment but bit back an insult, his brother's state of sadness in his mind. "And…"
"And what?" This time he could not keep silent. "What argument could you possibly have now?"
"I've failed the life of another child." He muttered, making the others take on a look of confusion. "Back when we vacationed in Cyprus, your mother gave birth to a son. You remember him?"
"Vaguely…" The young man twisted his expression in thought, trying to remember.
"Well, because of my decisions and actions… He's gone." He choked. "I couldn't protect him."
"What?" The Greek frowned, still trying to remember a baby brother.
"Your mother was mad at me for accusing her of an affair… and she threw him into a river… She had been pretty heavily medicated but I still hated her for it and I stabbed her." He confessed, his hands clenched in his lap. "I wanted to kill her but I loved her and I knew it was my fault. I should not have said the child wasn't mine even if she was cheating on me. Cyrus was my son… He had to have been or she would not have punished me by throwing away our child."
"My mother would never do anything like that!" Heracles snarled at the accusations. "You're just a liar."
"Heracles… It is true. Your mother ran out with our three year old and came back without him. She told me she had drowned him." He pled silently. "I can't let it happen again… I just can't."
"Look, I don't believe your story about mom one bit but I know you shouldn't be afraid of it happening." He scowled. "If you honestly think Gupta would ever do anything like that then you don't deserve him."
"I know he wouldn't, Heracles… But the thought of failing to protect my child… it's painful." He looked hard at the floor. "Allah must hate me because he stole my only child. He would do it again too. Just to deny me happiness as a father."
"You're denying yourself happiness, asshole! Don't blame it on your god." Heracles snapped. "That's a cowardly excuse."
"Heracles." Irunya had stayed quiet through the argument and the story. "Please step outside while I speak with him."
"Fine…" He clenched a fist and left to find his lover.
"Mister Adnan." She waited for him to look at her. "I understand your pain about your loss but that was not your fault. It was your wife's fault as much, if not more, than yours. You have to move on and look at your current life. You have a man that loves you enough to give up his dreams of parenthood even though it kills him. He would be an amazing father and you would be too. Children are meant to be difficult. No one can raise them perfectly but what matters is that you tried your hardest to ensure they have the best life that you can give them."
"Miss Chernenko…" He sighed heavily. "I understand now but I am still very much afraid."
"And that is perfectly normal and expected." She held his hand. "But that is why you have a partner. One that is there for you to support you and assist you while loving all of you."
"I'm supporting him though." He frowned.
"Mister Adnan… A partnership involves equal treatment between the two of you. Neither of you has to be the sole support. You support each other equally." She watched his expression relax. "Now why don't you go and speak with Gupta? Consider my offer… I have children here that would love a home with parents like you." She was crying silently and kissed his hand before getting up and leaving the room, wiping away her tears on her way to find her brother.
Sadık followed her out after composing himself, looking around to find a familiar face. He could see Kiku and Heracles being the center of attention, neither looking all that thrilled about it. Ivan was staying away from Yao and sticking close to his sisters, probably to protect his husband from the little one. Gupta was harder to spot but he found the man slouched in a corner, hugging his knees. The old man sighed and slid down the wall to join him in brooding.
"I didn't expect you to go and tell everyone about our fight." He teased lightly.
"I just told Heracles. Irunya simply overheard." He replied. "I take it you are considering it now and going to apologize?"
"I was going to until ya said that." He received a glare and held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, fine. Pardon." He kissed his cheek. "I should have considered your feelings more. I was being a selfish coward. Now will you apologize?"
"For what?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"I don't know." He replied honestly. "It just feels like you were right when I'm the only one apologizing."
"Well I was right." He smiled. "But aasif." He kissed him. "I should not have snapped at you. I could have just harassed you until you told me all that was on your mind."
"So you know why I'm afraid?" The Egyptian shook his head in answer. "Oh. I don't feel like repeating it." He whined and his lover smiled.
"You do not have to. Now let's enjoy this party." He used his partner's shoulder to push himself off the ground, offering his hand. "The dinner starts in half an hour and we have until then to get acquainted with these people."
They did just that, introducing themselves as a couple rather than separated lovers. Irunya smiled at them but they did not approach her immediately. Sadık was still considering, after all. Instead they shadowed Yao and then Arthur, keeping the black sheep company. He stuck out the most with his messy blond hair and well-kempt suit and so had less company. He complained about his spouse and then his kids, namely Alfred. Once the British man began to bore them they moved on to Kiku and Heracles. The two seemed to be rather busy when they approached though.
"In the middle of a party?" Sadık chided the Greek.
"I don't wanna hear shit from you, Turk." The man snapped in reply.
"Well good, I wasn't talking to you." He lied and hid his hurt. "I was talking to my Kiku."
"Your Kiku?" The other three echoed.
"Yes, my Kiku." He smirked. "He's my best friend. Friends before hos."
"You really want me to punch your face in don't you, stupid ass?" Heracles twitched in anger.
"I would welcome it." He spoke with a severity that chilled the group.
"Then I won't." He huffed. "Did you make a decision yet?" The mood lightened quickly.
"I would like to meet the children first." He replied quietly, looking at Gupta.
"Children?" Kiku looked surprised. "You two want to adopt before you are married?"
"Men can't get married." Sadık laughed. "That's for a man and a woman."
"My brother is married to Ivan."
"Simon and Lukas are engaged."
"That's their life to ruin." He shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Heracles glared.
"It means what it means. Now I'm going to find Miss Chernenko." He took Gupta's hand and led him over to the woman. "Excuse me…"
"Oh, Mister Adnan, Gupta." Irunya gave a smile. "You reached a decision?"
"We want to meet the children you have here." Gupta spoke with a small smile.
She cheered and giggled, pulling both of them back upstairs. They followed her down the hall until they reached a door at the end. It was a large bedroom with several beds and two empty cradles were pushed against the wall. There were four children occupying those beds, aged from five to fifteen. Irunya paused, looking confused as she looked around. She called to a boy and talked to him in Ukrainian but the boy had trouble understanding. She sighed and looked back at Sadık and Gupta.
"I'm sorry. Some of the children don't know English." She explained. "I've been trying to teach them Ukrainian at least but he's stubborn about only speaking Turkish."
"Ah, I'm from Turkey. I can speak to him. What were you asking him?"
"I was asking where his brother went." She replied.
"Kardeşin nerede?"
"Banyo." He answered. "Sesini seviyorum."
"Ah." Sadık blushed. "Teşekkür ederim."
"Merhaba." Gupta crouched so he could greet the boy while Sadık informed Irunya about her missing child. "İsmim Gupta. İsminiz nedir?"
"İsmim…" He hesitated and then changed subjects, "Nerelisiniz?"
"Mısır." He answered. "Nerelisiniz?"
"Kıbrıs." At that answer, Sadık returned attention to him.
"You come from Cyprus?"
"He was found in a Northern Cypriot orphanage." Irunya explained. "Two years after we took him in his brother was brought to us from Cyprus."
"How old is he and his brother?" Sadık inquired.
"The little one here is fourteen and his brother is seventeen." Irunya placed a hand on the boy's hand, only to get it smacked away. "He's at that age too." She sighed. "He really only listens to his brother."
"I can understand that." Gupta smiled. "His brother is all he's had." He held his lover's arm. "Sadık…"
"I like this kid but Guppy, we would need to adopt his big brother too." He frowned. "I'm not good with teenagers. I either make them hate me or get in their pants." He groped the Egyptian to make a point, earning a lighthearted smack.
"Irunya? Who are these men?" A new, quiet voice sounded behind them.
"These are potential new parents." Irunya answered and the couple turned to face him.
"Oh. Hello sirs. My name is-"
"Cyrus." Sadık uttered.
"Yes?" The teenager eyed the man in confusion. "Have we met?"
"Mister Adnan, I am glad that you could recognize him. I was hesitant to draw a connection without being sure." Irunya smiled shyly.
"What's going on?" Gupta looked at his lover and the woman then to the teenager.
"Gupta, this is Cyrus… Cyrus Adnan, my um…" He swallowed. "He is my son that I thought had drowned in Cyprus."
"What?" The Egyptian gasped. "You never…"
"It never came up." He mumbled.
"Irunya, is this man telling the truth?" The teenager went to his brother's side.
"Yes sweetie. This man is your biological father. Isn't this lucky?" She cheered.
"Lucky?" The others repeated quizzically.
"Could I have a moment alone with my father then?" Cyrus murmured.
"Of course. Children, dinner is almost done. Time to wash up!" She clapped her hands and the other three children followed her out of the room.
Now only Cyrus, his brother, and the couple remained in the room. Gupta refused to leave, wanting answers as much as anyone else would. He took a seat on one of the beds and the fourteen year old followed. Sadık looked at the two and sighed before stepping closer to the boy claiming to be his son. He inspected him carefully and looked at his earring. When he reached to touch it he was stopped.
"That's my mother's only memento." He let the man's hand go.
"Yeah. I was personally against letting her pierce your ear. You were only three." He sat on the bed opposite of his partner. "Do you remember that far back?"
"Not really. I remember my mother being angry before she left me in an alley."
"Yeah, she was mad at me for saying you weren't mine." He sighed. "It's my fault…"
"I'm not yours?" He tilted his head.
"No, you are. It's complicated. I found out she was cheating on me…" He scratched the back of his head. "When I confronted her, she said you were mine and that she was going to get rid of you to prove it. She was pretty heavily medicated for some things." He explained. "But I assure you we both loved you… Cause she didn't drown you…" He murmured the last under his breath.
"I believe you because your face is familiar." He pulled his knees to his chest, sitting on the floor. "And I have questions I need answers to."
"Of course. Anything you want to ask, I'll answer."
"Do you have HIV?"
Oh yes I did... Sorry for missing the date I said I would update. Getting registered for college is so stressful but now that stress it behind me. I'll hopefully be going to college this August. So until then I will be trying to get back my desire to write and draw. The next chapter isn't finished yet. Only halfway through. I'll try to have it up by next week at the latest. Sex scenes always take me too long to write cause I'll always hit a snag. I could just omit the scene but I already wrote so much of it... I hope you guys are still enjoying this. I haven't been getting any feedback. Kinda makes me wanna finish this up faster which I don't recommend...
Anyways; Now we have Cyprus and TRNC in the story. So perhaps some family fluff is on the way. I haven't decided yet. What situations would you like to see?
