A/N: Merry Christmas to you all.

This kind of is my 'gift' to everyone of you who still reads my little stories: Two chapters at once. I really hope you will like them and the story still remains exciting.

I wish all of you a merry Christmas and wonderful holidays ^_^


Leo gave it all his effort to only watch at his feet while walking the streets. He'd taken a cab to Diane's apartment, but still had to walk a little to really reach it in the backyard of the many apartment blocks. Even though he'd spent the week literally just staring at the city, being among people within the beating heart of this metropolis made him feel uncomfortable again. But then, he would never have dared to go outside again, if his bad conscience didn't nearly drive him nuts. He knew he shouldn't have screamed her away. It wasn't her fault. Nothing that happened was her fault and maybe, but only maybe, she would find a way to forgive him.

She only meant good and Leo was well aware of how difficult things could get without friends, being in the lucky position of still having some of them.

He reached her door in no time and carefully searched for her name on the doorbells. But apparently, it was hard for him to really push it. He just noticed that moment and stopped with his hand in midair. Then he sighed. He didn't even know what exactly he wanted to say. He almost had to laugh at himself realizing it, but for the first time in many years he was completely aimless and it felt like being lost. An apology wasn't that much though. But somehow he didn't know how to face her. Yet, staring at her name on the doorbell felt like hours.

His eyes hurt. All those questions kept him so much in his head that he'd forgotten to blink.

It was no big deal. He couldn't even define his problem anymore the longer he stared at the little golden circle he was supposed to press. And his heart beat against his chest the longer he stood there. And it grew louder in his world. So much louder with every second.

Leo held his breath. This was silly. She had nothing to do with all the fears crawling up inside of him again after all these years. And even though she was somewhat connected to them, it was the right thing to do. So, he stretched his arm a little and finally pressed the bell, noticing he had his eyes closed doing so.

But nothing happened. Not a sound was to be heard; no answer came. The door didn't unlock.

Leo opened his eyes again. This wasn't at all what he'd expected. So, he pressed it again. And again.

But after a while he knew nothing was gonna happen anyway. Again, he sighed.

"I never thought she might not be here," he thought, leaning his head to the door frame. "Damn it, Leo."

He could easily wait for her. But that could take hours and he didn't really wanted to face the world that long. He lifted his head and looked up to her window, blinding out the sun with his hand.

A screeching noise appeared behind him and Leo turned his head in surprise. Yet, there was no one to be seen. He squinted his eyes once or twice. Maybe he'd imagined it. The street was as gray as it was before. The red brick-stone buildings formed a long alley and on its far end the people were still passing as though nothing had happened.

Leo shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, ready to leave.

His feet clattered on the cobble-stoned street as he made his way to leave the alley, but as soon as he arrived its end, he heard it again. Leo lifted his head. His eyes scanned the street in ever direction he could turn, but all he could make out were the people passing him, who looked down to their feet while walking. It almost seemed like they were simply ignoring it. Once or twice someone flinched when the screams appeared again, but then hurried to get away. It was then Leo was certain they fled from the duty of might helping someone in pain as there obviously was.

Another scream.

Leo turned again. He wasn't imagining it. There it was again. Within seconds Leo's eyes looked at every person who passed him. Why the hell would no one stop? This was unbelievable. He didn't exactly know why, but he needed to do something. If anyone was in pain, there ought to be at least one person willing to help.

Without really noticing it, his steps became faster and soon he found himself running down the street, following that voice.

And then, when he almost gave up on finding something and the thought of his own brain playing tricks on him it appeared again somewhere in the farthest corner of his mind. He turned again and saw the source of the screaming. There was a woman surrounded by three grown men, screaming with each kick she received from their feet.

Leo's eyes widened. This was unbelievable. How could people just pass by? How could anyone ignore?

And as if his feet developed a life of their own he marched towards the little crowd. It was some sort of good fortune he didn't spend one thought about what exactly he was doing that moment or else he might have just run away. Second thoughts would have been the fatal downfall of his intentions. Plus it didn't suit him at all, but in that tiny moment Leo wasn't his own self.

And before another kick could hurt that poor creature writhing on the floor, Leo stepped between them and spread his arms wide open to stop them to reach her once more.

For a second the men stood in front of him flabbergasted, nigh shocked. They surely didn't expect someone to do that. But then they started to laugh in their deep masculine voices.

Leo kept a straight face, just staring back at them, even though he felt the hair at the back of his neck began to stand on end immediately.

"Hey pal, what do you think you are doing here?" one of them asked rather amused.

"Well, someone has to stop you from hurting her," Leo dryly replied without taking his eyes away.

They laughed again, this time even harder.

"Her?" the second guy smirked. "Ha ha, Buddy, you need some pair of glasses."

"What?" Slowly Leo let his hands fall.

"Well, pally," the first one said, patting Leo on the shoulder and turning him slowly around. "Though your intentions are noble, you will find there's absolutely no need to make a fuss about it. In fact, 'she' deserved what she got!"

Leo stared at the woman lying on the street, sobbing. Her skirt was ripped apart and her make up was smeared all over her face, drawing long black lines on her cheeks whenever a tear left her eyes. There were bruises all over her body and small strings of blood were forcing their way down her legs. And then, all of a sudden Leo's eyes widened. Her supposedly soft face didn't appear as soft and smooth as he thought at first. And her whole being was much larger than he'd expected. In fact, she was not at all that women-like as anyone would think. She, in fact, was a He.

"You're a drag," Leo whispered, still staring at this picture of misery in front of him.

He lifted his head weakly and for a moment their eyes met. Leo felt a shiver running down his spine. So this was how it went these days; how people treated each other. And in that split second he understood that all of this had never been far away. It had neither been far away when Carmen got attacked nor when he was trying to hide from Pembroke and his vigilant eyes. He was in the middle of all this. Now more than ever.

And suddenly the image of Max sprung into his head again. He quickly shook his head to get rid of it. He wasn't like him. He wouldn't let anyone down just because it was too dangerous for himself. There was no way he would hide any longer. And surely he wouldn't let that happen in front of his eyes. There was no turning back.

"See buddy?" the unpleasant voice next to him said once more. "A fairy that's all this one is. They don't feel. It's just a freak. We're just teaching him a lesson."

Leo had his eyes closed. These words echoed through his mind and he felt an unknown anger crossing through his whole body.

"No," he whispered before slowly opening his eyes.

"Come again?" the second guy asked disbelievingly.

Leo now turned to them determinedly and spread his arms before the stranger on the ground again, this time even wider. He stared back at them angrily.

"You won't hurt him," he said quietly, causing them to laugh even harder after the first shock of his actions vanished in their faces.

"Seriously? You want to take sides?" The third one now grinned wickedly.

"This is wrong and you know it," Leo said now a little louder. It was a good thing he didn't have much time to think about it though. He surely would have freaked out and get his bum out of there as fast as he could when the men came closer. And they surely weren't laughing anymore.

Leo backed away a few steps and got closer to his unexpected protege. But he didn't take his arms down.

"Turn your face away," Leo whispered to him from the corner of his mouth and knew in an instance the young man down there looked at him questioningly. "Just do it!"

Leo didn't take his eyes away from his aggressors, but he knew the stranger did as he was told. And even though he wasn't sure if anyone would still see it wasn't a woman lying on the floor, he had to dare it. Without any warning he took his arms down and started to scream down the streets.

"Help! Anyone! Please, my wife...she collapsed," he didn't believe his own words and sent a prayer up above someone would react before it was too late. "Please!"

Fortunately, when he looked around there were a couple of people running towards him.

"Oh my God, what happened?"

"Are they bothering you, Sir?"

"What happened here?"

Leo surely didn't expect that. Usually people didn't care much about anything, but as soon as a couple gets attacked they seemed to notice immediately. So his only choice was to keep playing along.

"They threatened her," he knelt down next to the stranger and softly touched his shoulders, while pointing at the men in front of him. "Please, they just won't let her go. She fainted and still they wouldn't stop... Please! Think about the baby!"

A gasp ran through the crowd around them.

"She's pregnant?"

"They pushed her."

"Did they do that? How horrible!"

The three guys in front of him looked around terrified and finally backed away a little.

"We...Don't believe him," the first one said. "This abomination ain't his wife, for God's sake..."

Leo listened to the crowd throwing insults and accusations at them, while they tried to defend themselves. It wouldn't take long though until someone found out. He had to hurry. He bent over to the boy while still staring straight ahead, making sure it was only him who'd hear his whisper.

"Can you run?"

From the corners of his eyes he saw the boy nodding through his arms, which still covered his head perfectly.

"Listen," The second man in front of them roared all of a sudden, causing the crowd to shut up for a second.

"This," he pointed at Leo and the boy. "This ain't no woman! Take a closer look. How long do you want to tolerate these sickos dancing around the streets, I ask you?"

The crowd murmured. And suddenly the more daring of them stepped a little closer. Leo's heart hammered against his chest. He held his breath. They were too close. Way too close. Just a little more and they'd find out...

"Now!" he screamed, pulling the boy up to his feet.

To his surprise he was much taller than Leo was and although his body looked shattered and must hurt badly, he moved quicker than anyone he had ever seen before. They ran next to each other, forcing their way through the crowd without thinking whom they were pushing aside or making fall. All they had in mind was not stopping until they were safe and sound. Leo knew the men were following them. He heard their screams and he heard the surprised crowd; like a hiccup in the constant rattle of the city. But he didn't dare to turn. He looked straight ahead and ran as fast as his feet could carry him.

"This way," he heard the stranger next to him. He felt him grabbing his sleeve and the next moment, Leo was finding himself in yet another alley. The boy was quick. Very quick to be exact, which was amazing since he wore high-heels. It was hard to catch up, but Leo knew perfectly well, they'd most likely kill him if he stopped now. His lungs hurt. And after a while he wasn't even sure if they were still following them or not. His unknown friend on he other hand kept dragging him through the city; grabbing after his arm whenever Leo would tend to fall behind.

He couldn't even remember how many turns and small lanes they'd taken by now. All Leo knew for sure was, that he had no idea anymore where they were. Only their footsteps on the stony streets were to be heard.

And just when his feet didn't seem to wanting to carry him any longer, they stopped.

Leo bent forward and leaned his arms to his knees to catch his breath again. He dared to peek behind but there was no sign of any of their pursuers anymore. He moaned out of breath and let his head fall again. His hair fell into his face and he honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd felt that alive all of a sudden. Quietly he started to laugh as he slowly raised his body again.

"Thank you," he said, still breathing deeply.

The strange boy stood only a few inches away from him and was also breathing hastily. He seemed to be around Leo's age. And just now Leo noticed how much taller he really was. He had to lift his head slightly to look into his face, which now that he wasn't whimpering on the ground looked very defined and fine featured despite all the bruises and a deep cut right above his left eyebrow. His dark hair fell in small curls into his face and on his shoulders. The long Make-up lines were still running down his face, but the little pearls of sweat made them disappear slowly. His body was rather slender though and even though his yellow skirt was ripped, he still wore colorful tights underneath it to cover his long thin thighs. A dotted blouse was tied to a know on his waist and a bright green scarf hang loosely around his neck. He smiled too and reached out his hand in Leo's direction.

"I have to thank you," he said and Leo was surprised how tender and pleasant his voice sounded although it probably was a little deeper than the tone he chose to speak in. "Not many people would do something like that."

"Sad though," Leo replied, shaking his hand. "I hope they didn't damage too much."

He shrugged. "Nothing I'm not used to. The police does this every other day."

"They do?"

He nodded. "Time's are shitty. Thank God there are some people not having lost their minds."

Their eyes met again and both smiled at each other. It was then Leo knew, he had done the right thing.

"I'm Leo," he grinned at him.

"Nice name. Lawrence!" the boy didn't take his eyes off of him and never once lost his smile. "Friends call me Clara though."

Whatever people feared in them Leo would never understand. Clara was clearly a very nice person to be around. And actually, if it wasn't for the face no one would instantly notice he wasn't a woman. On the contrary he was pretty somehow. In a very different way than what he'd seen before. Roger used to wear dresses from time to time too but it was no comparison to Clara.

"What were you doing there anyway?" Leo asked. "I mean walking around like that might not be the best idea. At least not in that part of the city."

"I don't think that should be a problem," Clara answered.

"Well, no. I didn't mean...," Leo started quickly, but was cut off by him.

"Ah but you see, this is me," Clara pointed at himself. "And I don't fucking care what they think. Even if it means I have to wipe away my own blood every second day."

Leo nodded. He understood perfectly. It was an attitude he knew too well himself and all of a sudden he strangely felt like talking to a mirror.

"I hope you don't get this wrong, Leo," Clara spoke again. "But why exactly did you help me? You could have spared yourself a lot of trouble just ignoring it as anybody else does."

"Because it's just wrong," Leo fired away. "I can't believe people really act like that and I've witnessed it way too long now. It's enough. And if no one will do anything about it..."

"Yeah you're damn right. No one will!" the tall drag interrupted him. "Not even our own people. It's either the powerlessness in the face of people fearing anything that's different or their own fear something will happen to them. That's why it strikes me even harder that it's one of us who dares to stand against them first."

Leo looked up at him in shock. Clara smiled at him, even though his eyes were piercing Leo. The pure echo of these words felt like a punch in the face. And within a mere breeze of the hot summer air, everything Leo had tried to put behind him was back. Every word, every look and every situation. He immediately thought of Carmen and Roger; of Diane and Pembroke and worst of all...of Max. And he could feel that deep pain crawling up his body again and instinctively crossed his arms in front of his chest and turned away.

"Are you not?" he heard Clara's voice.

Leo didn't answer. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't even want to be out here and he never again wanted to feel like that. It was like suffocating while seeing everyone around taking deep breaths.

"Hm, I see," Clara said again and Leo turned his gaze at him again. "No one knows, hm?"

"How do you know?" he asked shyly. What an odd situation. No one noticed. Never. Or so he always thought. But maybe it was written in his face. And another question crossed his mind. Had people always seen this in him? Or had he changed that much over the years he spent with Max? He wasn't sure.

"Oh please," Clara grinned. "Don't insult me. It's obvious."

"Is it?"

Clara nodded. "So, denial or hiding?"

Leo lowered his head, looking to the ground. "Hiding..."

He knew the man in front of him nodded and instantly hoped he wouldn't ask any more. He didn't feel like sharing his story with a perfect stranger, yet it felt strangely relieving to talk to someone who understood. Someone who didn't know him or Max or whatever happened. He even thought about telling a little more, when he felt a hand softly patting his shoulder. Leo looked up and his eyes met Clara's, who smiled. Not the smile strangers give each other on the streets whenever they were forced to share a few words but a compassionate and caring smile.

"Come with me," Clara said, taking Leo's hand again. "You need to free yourself from whatever's holding on to you."

Leo thought about it for a moment, until he kind of gave up his doubts. It couldn't hurt, could it? So, he let Clara pull him along softly and without really controlling it, his feet just went along.

….

It was hard to follow rehearsals that day.

Max was restless and try as he might he simply couldn't get his head clear and concentrate. Time didn't pass somehow and he kept staring at the date on the little pocket diary which lay open in front of him all day. The twenty-eighth of June it said. The bold written black letters seemed to mock him whenever he tried to turn away and always magically screamed for his attention, forcing him to look at them again every other minute.

"What are you planning?" Max thought.

Pembroke hadn't said much that morning, yet Max could feel his gaze on him every time he dared to move a bit. He tried his very best to act occupied.

Diane was watching him from the corners of her eyes and he knew that too. She hadn't dared to speak to him again after their talk the other day. And as hard as he tried until now he couldn't forget that look on her face. He knew these eyes and that shock that was literally punching him in the face without her having said one word. It was the same look Leo wore when he heard all those atrocities Max had bombarded him with.

He leaned his head to his hand. And again, he thought about Leo. Always Leo. This just wouldn't rest. He wondered if it really had been wise to tell Diane what he did. What if she couldn't shut up? But then again, she wasn't exactly the kind of person to let Leo run into his ruin. No, there were too many emotions involved. And even though she denied it, Max remembered her looks when she talked about his former partner. How desperate she had been, trying to set things right; to help him with all her might.

The idea of her having feelings for the one person that meant something to himself made him sick. But the worst thing was, he couldn't even blame her.

Max closed his eyes. Both his hands, leaned on his elbows, were holding his head now. He felt so tired. He tried to blind out the voices around him and the lights.

"Look at you," he thought. "Weeping about your own life, when it was yourself who brought this upon you."

He opened his eyes again a little shortly afterwards. He'd forgotten the reason why he didn't do that if he could avoid it. The images of that fateful day appeared in front of him whenever he would dare to exclude the world around him. He remembered it as if it had been only moments ago. The sixteenth of June. Bloomsday.

He turned his head a little to stare at that diary again and nearly started to laugh at the absurdity of it. How ironical. How cliched. And how unintended. The day he had met Leo for the first time about ten years ago was the exact same day he decided to abandon the most precious thing in his life.

Max noticed the tears about to welling up in his eyes again and quickly shook his head to forget about that little discovery. As fast as he could he turned the pages of the diary around.

"Hm," he heard a soft voice next to him, but didn't really care about whoever wanted something now. The more surprised he was when he found Diane standing next to him; her arms pressed closely to her body and carefully avoiding to look directly into his face. Max looked at her and simply waited for whatever she wanted this time.

"I...ugh...could I talk to you for a minute?" she asked almost not audible.

"Be my guest," Max replied almost as silently. He gestured towards the chair next to him in a minimalist way. But Diane just shook her head once.

"No. I mean...alone."

At first Max wondered why she suddenly talked to him again. But then he simply nodded and stood up as silent as it was possible. He didn't want to draw Pembroke's attention on the both of them. She turned without another look and Max just followed her.

She led the way behind the stage. They walked silently and neither of them said a word nor looked at each other more than a second whenever they turned or crossed yet another room, until Diane seemed to be satisfied of having wandered far enough. She looked around once or twice to make sure no one could eavesdrop on them. Then, she turned to Max again, which caused him to almost jump back a little. Her looks had changed. If he didn't know better, he'd have said she was angry with him.

"Listen," she started. "I thought about all you said. And I really think you shouldn't act like that."

Max blinked once or twice. Of all the things he'd expected, that wasn't on the list.

"What?" he asked a bit taken aback.

"You should stand behind him, now more than ever," she continued. "Hell, if all you told me is really true, you all should stay together. Leo and you as well as Roger and Carmen. This brings you nothing."

It took Max a moment to reply. He jeered shortly. "What do you know about that?"

He was about to turn his gaze away, but much to his surprise Diane took his chin with one hand and forced him to look her straight in the eyes again. He was so perplexed that moment, he didn't even fight it but stared at her with wide eyes.

"Don't you dare turn away from me," she continued. "I understand why you did what you did. I wasn't able that day, I admit. But I thought about it and you were right all along."

She let go of him and her voice turned back to a much softer tone.

"Whatever you said to him... What you were forced to do is understandable," she said. "But you cannot keep anyone safe by letting him stumble out there all alone."

"He's not alone," Max tried to stay calm, rubbing his chin. "He's got Roger and Carmen."

Diane shook her head. "They don't dare to stand up against this cruelty. I saw it. Heaven's, Carmen even denies to think about Pembroke might being the one behind all this. But you are right in one thing: They got each other. And Leo clearly understood what you were not able to."

"What do you mean?"

"He sticks to the ones he loves. That's the very reason he cared about them when you tried to hide every connection you ever had in fear something might happen to the one you love. But you see," she stopped shortly. "Your love contains everyone you care about. It's not just you and him. And once you'll get that into that head of yours, you'll find that there surely are other ways."

Max swallowed his first anger when he heard her words. They didn't take their eyes away from each other for another couple of minutes. Then, he sighed and shook his head slowly, turning to the small window in the room. But he didn't dare to move. The world outside appeared behind the bars of the transparent wall and once more Max felt more caged than ever before.

She was right. Strangely enough, he wasn't able to say anything against this.

But then again...

"He'll never forgive me," he whispered. "And as long as Pembroke's around, it is better for him to remain where he is."

"Which brings me to what I wanted to tell you," Diane spoke again, avoiding the topic. Max turned to face her. He noticed of course.

"I found out about Pembroke's son," she started anew. "It wasn't really easy, but I was able to find a few information."

"What?" Max didn't believe his ears. "How?"

"There are some people who still remembered the story from years ago. Pembroke stemmed himself against it, but the papers printed it anyway. Yet, he tried to make people forget he's ever had a son. Although he never said much about the incident. But apparently, you were right. The boy was one of them. The dresser worked for him already when it happened and he told me he heard them screaming at each other one day after a show. Pembroke kept his son away from his work a lot. He said the old man always seemed ashamed about him. So, I invested a little more. Pembroke's wife died in childbirth. So, it was him raising his son alone."

"Well, how could he have been able to hide him from the public with his name in the papers every other day?" Max asked disbelievingly.

Diane on the other hand shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Hm," Max thought about it. "So, he heard them screaming at each other? 'Bout what?"

"He said it sounded like his son was caught by him strolling around Christopher Street after nightfall. Pembroke forbid him to go there again and he wanted him to never mention it to anyone."

"Ha. Perfect," Max cheered. "So he's done it more than once? Well, he must have. According to that clipping he died there too. Which means Pembroke wanted no one to know his son was queer."

"Yes. So it would seem," Diane answered. "What exactly happened and how he died no one knew though. The ones who remembered only knew what was written in the papers."

"Did you find his name?" Max asked.

Again, she nodded. "Scott."

Max nodded. This was it. He could easily hold something against Pembroke if he knew that name. Everyone had a weak point somewhere. And he'd bet everything that was left over in his life, Pembroke's was his son. It wasn't even that special. The head of the most popular Anti-Gay movement in the city had had a homosexual son. If there was one thing that could bring him down, it was that little fact.

"Maybe this can stop him," Max thought, walking up and down slowly. "Scott Pembroke. So maybe the pure knowledge of him can stop him doing whatever he is up to."

"I've given this a good deal of thought too," Diane interrupted his thinking.

Max stopped. "What?"

"I'm coming with you," she said. "To that Inn."

"Like hell you are," Max laughed. He wouldn't let her come along. He had no idea what was gonna happen. Whether Pembroke planned something or simply spied on the people there again, it was too dangerous.

And he would ever admit it to Diane, but he knew Leo cared about her. Plus, even if this sounded weird, she was a woman. There was absolutely no way he could possibly allow something happening to her as well.

"I've made up my mind," she crossed her arms. "I won't let you go alone. Take me with you or I'll show up there anyway. You cannot stop me."

"No," Max stopped. "Do you have any idea what this will be like? What could possibly happen?"

"No, but neither have you," she replied dryly.

"Well forget about it," Max turned around, ready to leave. "This ain't your problem."

"Well, you've made it mine too by telling me what happened," she argued. "And now you're expecting me to close my eyes before it? I've got news for you. This ain't gonna happen. If he is the one threatening a friend, then someone has to stop him."

"Does Leo even know?" Max stopped. "Does he know you care that much?"

"I..."

He laughed. "I thought so. What do you expect? It doesn't matter to you at all if he is safe and sound where he is. With Roger and Carmen and all their freakin' mates. You should go there instead. Try to convince him he's better off with you. Try to stand by his side. But don't bring me in the situation of causing him more pain than I already have by letting something happen to you."

"What?" She didn't understand.

"Don't you see that?" Max sighed. He looked into her eyes and that desperate look was back in his eyes. "You're the one who can make this easier for him. It's as you said, he needs people around him. And obviously he's trusted you enough to tell you that much. So please. Don't let me do this again."

Diane looked at him in surprise. Then she smiled, causing Max to feel more confused than before.

"What?" he asked a lot quieter now.

"He was right!" she didn't lose her smile. "You are not at all as dark and moody as you appear."

Max jeered again, but this time out of uncertainty. Then he turned and marched towards the door again.

"And I think..."

Diane was quick. She stood behind him and gently put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.

He looked at her again. She just wouldn't give up. In a certain way he understood why Leo liked her.

"I think you care a lot more than you are showing," she said.

Max chose not to reply.

He thought about what to do now. If only he could make her understand.

But then, something crossed his mind. And maybe this was the only possibility there was. So, he sighed again.

"Okay alright," he said softly. "Come to my office this evening. We'll go together, but only if you are careful."

….

Clara had taken Leo into a rather old building on Christopher Street. It was a bit strange to be here, but Leo understood why this was the only place Clara could have taken him to. After all, there weren't many areas in New York where a drag could walk around freely. And there were plenty of other people, drags and queers alike. No one seemed to be bothered by Leo walking down that street too. Probably because Clara was beside him and he talked to him a lot. Or maybe because Leo indeed was more obvious than he thought. He tried hard to make out what it was, but ever since Clara noticed it that easily he wasn't sure anymore about how to act. But then again, this is what he'd always wanted. No more hiding.

They climbed up the steps of the stairway until they reached a shabby green wooden door.

Clara opened it without any hesitation and Leo seriously started to wonder whether he lived here. This didn't look like an apartment complex really, but then there were many doors and pictures on the walls and in a far corner he even spotted a clothesline in the middle of that corridor.

And even though all this appeared rather strange to him, he followed Clara inside.

It was only a small room and a small additional closet plus an old door frame leading to a tiny bathroom. The whole place looked pretty rotten and run-down. A mattress lay in the middle and a blanket carelessly rested on it. There were no signs of curtains or anything alike and Leo was able to see Clara had hung up some ragged coats over the windows to keep at least some light out. There was no furniture except for a small table and a chair, where he obviously kept all his colorful dresses and skirts and small tubes of make-up plus one bottle supposedly containing some kind of perfume. It was shaped like a diamond and stood out of all the rubbish around it. Not least because of the sunlight that still found its way around the coats and shone on it, making it sparkle brightly.

"Do you live here?" Leo asked a little confused. Everything around was an indication of his suggestion to be true and it made him feel shocked a little. He'd never imagined someone lived like that. But then again, he could be Clara as well. If it hadn't been for Carmen and Roger, he also would have nothing left.

"You can't be picky," Clara answered and threw his scarf on the pile of clothes on the chair. Then, with one elegant movement he pulled off that bloodstained blouse he wore and looked at the red spots with disgust. "Damn it. This goes into the garbage now."

Leo didn't dare to say anything. Clara seemed to notice his bias though and smiled.

"It was my favorite," he added. He let go of it again and Leo watched it falling to the ground. Leo lifted his head a little. Clara was standing in front of him with his bare chest and still smiled. The bruises on his chest and stomach looked even worse than those in his face and a cut on his back caught his attention quickly.

"Holy shit," Leo said, now moving closer and examining it. "You need someone to take care of that."

Clara jeered. "And pay that with what? Don't worry. It's not the first time something like that happened. It'll be gone in no time."

Leo looked at him again sincerely. "How can you take it just like that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this has got to stop!" he answered. "What kind of world is this where people have to hide because of who they are."

"You mean what they are," Clara corrected him. "We're a plague that came upon humanity, never forget that."

"I've heard that before," Leo shook his head in disbelief. "But fact is, if we don't stand up against it no one will."

At first Clara looked at him a little shocked, but his face soon melted into a handsome smile. He stepped a little closer and took Leo's face into his hands, leaning his forehead to Leo's, who had to look up to focus his eyes again.

"I envy your enthusiasm," he said. "But not everyone dares what you did today."

"If I can do it, everyone can," Leo answered without moving.

To his surprise Clara didn't lose his smile. He shook his head shortly and then bend forward a little more, pressing his lips to Leo's. It happened so suddenly, he didn't even have time to react in any way. But as soon as he realized it, his eyes grew bigger. Quickly, he struggled himself free, pushing Clara away and looking at him shocked.

"I'm sorry," Clara smiled. "Just needed to check if you are real."

"What?" Leo didn't understand.

"The last time we heard someone talking like that was when Scott Pembroke was still around," he said. "He was one of the first to tell people to fight this injustice."

"Pembroke?" Leo didn't trust his ears for a moment. "As in Arthur Pembroke?"

"The Broadway-guy?" Clara smiled. "So you have heard of him, hm? Why yes, his son was a great fighter of anything trying to cut something he called 'gay-rights' back these days."

"Wait, I don't understand," Leo said quickly. "He's had a son?"

Again, Clara nodded incidentally. He walked past Leo, grabbing a yellow shirt from his chair and gently pulling it over his body. He tied its ends to a knot in front of his stomach and turned to face Leo again.

"You've never heard of him?" he asked. "He was legendary."

Leo shook his head. He didn't believe it. This changed a lot. Everything Pembroke did or said made sense all of a sudden.

"What happened to him?"

"It was many years ago," Clara said and leaned to the window-frames, staring outside. "He had run away from home. As far as I know Pembroke Senior wasn't too good a father. And with a son turning out to rather be among us fairies than inherit that empire his Daddy built over the years it surely came more like a shock. I didn't know him personally. But that one night there was a fight. The police attacked a group of our people on this street, right there."

He pointed through the window down to the street. Leo stepped a little closer and pushed the coats away a little to look outside too. The street looked pretty harmonious in the sunlight. A few trees in the middle and a lot of colorful people, chatting and laughing. They stood here and there in little groups or sat on the stairs of yet another house, drinking from small bottles or simply watching another group. It gave the impression nothing bad could happen to them. They seemed to get along. All of them.

Leo's eyes wandered a little further. One of the buildings on the other side of the street wore a chain of electric lights, which were turned off during the day. A huge sign was attached to the wall and it wasn't hard to read the words on it.

"The Stonewall Inn?" he asked pretty unimpressed.

Again, Clara nodded.

"There were a lot of rumors that day about something might happening," he continued. "And in the evening the police crashed over us. It happens every other day, but it was different then. They were brutal, hitting everyone they could reach. It looked more like a cleaning than the usual ID-controls and chicanes they usually do. People said it was Pembroke, who incited it. He wanted Scott home. He shouldn't wander around at night and especially not with any of us. But his idea of a free life was different and he chose to live among us. From what I heard he was a normal young man. Not different from you or me."

Leo almost chuckled hearing that notion. He knew pretty well most people never described them as normal.

"But well, that day went wrong," Clara spoke again. "They've arrested a lot of our friends. And some said Pembroke was there too. I have never seen him though and I guess it's the same with every story. People add a lot to rise the suspense. Scott on the other hand stood against them. He tried to fight them and a lot of people followed him."

"So he was among those who got arrested?" Leo assumed.

"No," Clara shook his head and his eyes met Leo's again. "From what I heard a huge group of officers got him. And they are not exactly gentle when it comes to beating the shit out of a fag."

Leo's eyes grew bigger.

"So, they killed him?" His question was a mere whisper.

"We suppose so," Clara said. "No one ever fond a body. But there is no way he could have survived that without anyone noticing. And he has never been seen on Christopher Street again."

It took Leo quite some time to realize what Clara had just told him. To really let it sink in. So, there had been someone who dared to fight them. And he had failed. Maybe that's why no one dared to do anything. For a moment he wondered whether Carmen and Roger were familiar with that story too. It would explain why they were so determined there was nothing they could do and chose to stay inside their sanctuary for better or worse.

"But," Leo started and he knew Clara was looking at him again. "This had only been a few of us. If...if we stand together. I mean all of us combined, there might be a chance to change something."

"Give up Leo," the taller man laughed. "There are some trying to do it. But they never achieved more than weekly meetings and printed flyers. You'd need every single queer in town to achieve that."

"So, it is possible," Leo grinned at him.

Again, Clara had to laugh. He looked at the man in front of him for a long time.

"You never give up, do you?" he asked. "Well, I guess you should get to know the people you want to convince then."

"What?"

"Oh please," he said. "You don't exactly look like you've spent a lot of time on Christopher Street before. Come on!"

He marched towards the door, nodded towards the corridor again and held the door open for Leo.

….

"He is where?"

Carmen almost fell from his space on the couch, looking at Roger in disbelief. He could feel his own blood draining from his face. He noticed in an instance how unbelievably different he must look for Roger was already jumping by his side. As quick as he was able to Carmen freed himself from his arms though and stepped back.

"He's on Christopher Street?" he asked again without noticing how high-pitched his voice sounded all of a sudden. "What the hell is he doing there?"

"Carmen relax," Roger said as sympathetic as he could. "He just called. He's in the Stonewall. You know, that shabby old dump. All he asked was if we'd like to join him."

"What?"

"I guess he's trying to start living again," Roger added quickly.

"But why there?" Carmen almost screamed. "Why on Christopher Street? Why the hell not anywhere else? It's dangerous. He cannot..argh... What's gotten into him?"

"Relax," Roger said once more. "I know it's dangerous out there. But at least there are plenty of kindred people. Chances are very low something will happen to him there."

"Are you crazy, Rog?" Carmen asked. "The police roams that street every other day. They will find him."

"Then, why don't we go there and make sure nothing happens?" Roger asked and grinned at his partner. He knew perfectly well, Carmen hated that street and the locations there. But all the same he knew he won that little discussion the very same moment.

Carmen simply moaned angrily and then, without another word, followed Roger to the door.

….

Max stood on the huge french windows in his office. It was getting dimmer outside. He took a deep breath. Soon he would find out what Pembroke meant. He didn't even know why it made him that nervous all day, but he sensed something about whatever the old devil wanted to show him wasn't right at all. And the fact that he was still expecting Diane didn't make it any better.

And for the first time in a long while he somehow thought about Carmen and Roger. He wished he could talk to them and was astounded himself by thinking it. But actually, he had to admit it was true. They surely would have had an idea about what he should do. They always had after all. And they were a lot better in seeing through a masquerade the way Pembroke loved to play it. But he knew it was impossible. He was on his own now. And as hurtful as it was; as it had been all the time; he knew it was the only way to keep them away from Pembroke. Who knew maybe he was even able to convince Pembroke to stay away from them in any way. It was a chance.

He flinched when a shy knock on the door echoed through the silent room. He turned his head in its direction and for a moment dreaded to find Diane in front of it. He doubted his plan would succeed but had absolutely no idea what else to do.

He strutted to the door and took a deep breath before opening it.

Diane looked at him with her huge blue eyes and he simply nodded once before she entered the office. Quickly, he closed the door behind them.

Diane looked different in a way. Her blonde curls were tied together in a casual ponytail and she wore a long dark hooded jacket.

She looked at him determined and slowly took the hood off her head.

"Are you ready?" she asked in a cocky way.

Max held her stare for a moment with a blank face. Then he nodded.

"I need you to see something before we go," he said and passed her without another word. On the door frame to Max's former room he stopped and opened the door, turning to her again.

She didn't know what he wanted her to see but she figured it must be important. She followed him after a second and stopped beside him.

"Come on," he said, entering the room. He knew she was close. Quickly he switched on the lights and illuminated the pictures on the walls. It was overwhelming in a way. She's never seen so many frames and posters in one place. There were titles on the posters. So many plays she'd never seen. And then there were photographs. Literally tons of them. A large part of them showed Leo as well as Max. Diane remembered some of the magazine clipping from some years ago too.

One picture caught her attention though. A small frame showing only Leo. He looked different on it. Younger of course, but also his hair was a little shorter and he didn't look like a producer at all. He wore a shy smile in the corner of his mind and his eyes were turned to the ground. A bluish gray suit and a mouse-gray coat covered him and she was able to detect a little blush on his cheeks. It looked almost as though he was embarrassed to be photographed.

Diane had to smile seeing it. She turned to look at Max, who stood a few inches behind her with his eyes closed. He looked sad though. And immediately Diane felt sorry for him somehow. He'd been blocking all of this out. She knew that now. It must be painful to see these memories on the walls again.

"He looks so different here," she said softly, trying to sound as though she didn't notice.

Max opened his eyes again and nodded.

"It's been taken ten years ago," he said without taking his eyes away from the old photograph as well. "We had just met and he had agreed to work with me on 'Springtime for Hitler'."

"That Comedy?" she asked amazed. "You...you just met?"

Max nodded. "He was an accountant before he became a producer. That's why he looks different."

"It's not just the outfit," she interrupted him. "It's his whole appearance. Just look at his eyes. He seems shy. Almost as if he never really trusted anyone."

Once more, Max nodded.

"Until you've changed it," she said, turning around to him. Their eyes met.

"And disappointed him again," Max added quietly.

"You did it for a good reason," she smiled at him and witnessed Max trying to hide how his mouth lifted to a weakish smile as well.

"I want you to have it," he said, pointing slightly at the picture.

Her eyes grew wide. She looked at him in amazement and didn't ask anything for a couple of seconds. It was only when she saw his eyes again and swallowed for a moment, she finally felt able to reply anything.

"You...You're giving it to me?" she asked. "Why?"

Max didn't move but looked into her eyes.

"Because he needs you," he almost whispered. "And I want you to remember how much he had accepted in his life to be who he is now."

"Well, you could...," she started but Max cut her off, shaking his head.

"Diane, we've been through this before," he said. "What I have done is inexcusable. I only played with him. I threw him out and deserted him when he needed me most. You said it yourself."

He sighed and leaned to the door frame, rubbing his eyes with one hand.

"And I know this is only a disguise," she replied, causing him to look up again. "I still think you shouldn't have done that but I know why you did. After seeing all this," she pointed around. "I completely understand. You loved him so much, you even put the pain of living without him first instead of leaving him in danger. If that's not love I don't know what it is."

Max didn't reply.

"The only thing I don't understand is why I need to remember what he's achieved," she said.

Max looked at her again while still leaning in the door frame. The light from the office made almost only his silhouette visible.

"Leo needs someone to be there for him," he answered calmly. "Someone other than Carmen and Roger. He needs someone who knows what he's been through and understands. And I believe you are the one to give him exactly that."

"What?"

"I don't know what is going to happen," Max said. His tone had changed. Diane almost shivered listening to him. "And maybe I won't be able to do anything. But you will get the chance. Believe me, he will talk to you again and with that picture you will never forget what it takes to make everything you ever wished for come true. And then...I really hope you will forgive me."

Diane blinked once or twice. She mouthed a silent "What the..." until she suddenly realized what he was up to.

"No..NO!" she screamed and jumped in Max's direction, but he was much faster. He stepped outside the room in the blink of a moment and slammed the door shut. She heard the lock turn before her full body rammed the door with a loud bang. In no time at all she got up again and hammered against the wooden door with both her fists.

"You cannot do this," she screamed. "Max! MAX! God damn it! Please, don't do this!"

She tried to turn the doorknob but it was no use. She was trapped.

"I'm sorry," Max whispered, still standing in front of it. "Please, I cannot let anything happen to you."

Thus, he turned and went out of the office, switching the lights off and closing the door behind him.

….

Pembroke didn't seem surprised as Max approached him. He stood outside his dark limousine near Christopher Street and wore a smile that made him look even more devilish. He wore a dark coat as well as Max did. He found it more inconspicuous than running around in a white shirt, especially since he knew the road would lead to Christopher Street and he was well aware they would stand out.

"I knew you would come," Pembroke said delightedly.

"Did I have a choice?" Max asked.

Pembroke chuckled.

"You are ready that's why you came," he replied. "I guess a little curiosity swings in there too."

Max tried hard not to let his nervousness show. He still feared this was not about spying on someone, but after all Pembroke was alone.

They walked silently beside each other until the lights of Christopher Street illuminated the environment and turned it into an almost day-like illusion. The laughter and talk of people was clearly to be heard and music played clearly along the street. When they arrived there, it felt like entering the land of Oz in a way. Colorful lights and posters were literally everywhere and flags, which were attached to many windows waved in the warm wind of night. On every corner another music played and people hardly payed attention to them as they casually strolled down the street. From time to time one or two of the boys and the fancy drags there would turn their heads as they passed. There were people kissing on the streets or simply sitting together, talking. You could hear the noise of parties from every other building and Max found it highly fascinating. He'd never really been here after nightfall and it felt indeed like a whole new world.

He started to wonder if Carmen and Roger spent time here too. After all this looked just like the place they both would enjoy. But as hard as he tried he couldn't remember any of them ever mentioned it before. Well, at least Roger never did. He'd never really talked to Carmen about any of that.

"We're there," Pembroke's old voice cut through his thoughts.

Max stopped as he did, looking up. The Stonewall lay directly in front of them. A shabby old building and, from what he heard, not the best location to party all night. A small crowd of people, men and women alike stood in front of it, not caring about the bottles of obviously alcoholic drinks in their hands. They held them without hiding them behind paper bags or even behind their bodies. They drank and smoked without hesitation.

It wasn't as easy to get in there as far as Max could see. They either were there every night or had to pay the doormen. Max had heard about other ways to get in though too. But he couldn't tell whether that was real or not.

"What are we doing here?" he asked Pembroke after a while.

"We're waiting," Pembroke answered dryly.

"For what?"

Pembroke turned his head and nodded down at the street, grinning. When Max followed his gaze he saw a couple of cars arriving in the street too. They parked around the old Inn and about twenty men dressed in black got out of them. They quickly surrounded the Stonewall and everyone around them was pushed away harshly. No need to say they weren't exactly prudish in using their truncheons whenever someone answered on a too cocky way or just wouldn't step aside. Max flinched each time another one of the boys got to feel it.

Then suddenly they stopped, although they were almost at the huge black doors. One of the disguised officers, a rather short guy with a grumpy look in his fat face, turned and looked directly over to them. Max's eyes wandered to Pembroke. The old man didn't move. He just stared back at him.

A shudder ran down his spine when suddenly he nodded to that fat dwarf. He answered the nod and in the fraction of a second they entered the Stonewall brutally.

Max was shocked. He could see the bigger picture. It was all so clear now. That's what Pembroke meant by 'cleaning'. He knew what he was up to...

~To be continued~