Chapter Twelve: Fear of Love
"Honey." Jean Sanders cheered as she ran down the steps towards her youngest son that she had missed so much since the last time he came over. Greg flinched as his mother threw her arms around his shoulders, bringing him into another one of her famous bone crushing hugs. She wrapped her arms tightly around his body even tighter a few seconds later, trying not to let out any tears as she gasped, "Oh honey, I've missed you so much baby."
"I miss my oxygen too." He pretended to start choking so she'd pull back and give him room to breathe. "Jeez mom, I wasn't gone that long." He winced.
"Sorry." Jean finally pulled back from him, immediately looking off towards the car behind her son, looking for Nick. "Where's your friend?" She asked curiously, wanting to meet the man she knew her son was deeply in love with.
Greg scratched his head as he saw the look in her eyes, knowing that Connie had told her everything by the look in her eyes. "Oh... well his daughter AJ was being a little bit excitable... and I didn't think dad wanted that around him his first day out of hospital..."
"So, where is he?"
"Mom." Greg sighed heavily as he folded his arms across his chest, looking up at her. "Connie told you didn't she?"
Jean bit her lip as her sons eyes burned into her. "Yes, she told me." She confessed. "But if it means anything . . . I actually already knew you were gay sweetie. Why didn't you tell me you have a boyfriend?"
"How did you already know? And I'm not gay mom, not one hundred percent anyway. I've been with more women than I have..." Greg stopped talking as he spotted their neighbour walking off down their driveway to take the trash to the side walk. "And actually I've only just got my boyfriend, that's while I didn't tell you."
"Since when?" She questioned him.
"Shortly after dad went to the hospital." Greg sheepishly admitted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "And I was going to tell you. I just didn't want to do it over the phone. And how is it you already know?" He demanded again as she never answered him.
"Because... a mother knows her son baby." She smiled widely at him. Greg rolled his eyes at her, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "I'm sorry that I found out before you could tell me honey. Why don't you just tell me yourself now then?" She suggested. "C'mon, pretend that I don't know anything." She took a step back, waiting for him to speak. "C'mon sweetie, tell me." She urged him on.
Greg rolled his eyes at her again, giving her a slight smile. "But Mom, you already know."
"Know what?" She acted clueless.
Greg smiled as he uncomfortably placed his hands on his hips. It made it easier knowing that she already knew what he was going to tell her. "Okay Mom." He anxiously scratched his head before he spoke. "Mom, I'm not completely gay. But I just wanted you to know that I have a boyfriend, and he's going to be spending a few days here with me."
"How can you not be completely gay?" She immediately questioned him.
"I don't know." Greg shrugged; confused about it himself as he had never fallen so deeply in love with a man before Nick came along. "But for him I would be. Don't tell him I said that." He warned her. "So there you have it . . . I'm gay, and I have a boyfriend Mom." He sighed in relief as he had finally managed to tell her.
"Oh really?" She gasped, pretending to act completely surprised. "And what's this boyfriend's name then?"
Greg smiled wider as he shook his head at her. "Nick Stokes."
"Oh, that's that cute Texan guy." She smiled, pulling him back into her arms for another warm embrace. "Well done honey." She smiled proudly, gently patting him on the back to congratulate him.
"No mother on this earth would ever react like this." Greg giggled as she clutched him tightly. "That's why I love you mom."
"Aww, I love you too honey." She pressed multiple kisses to his forehead before she finally let him go. "So when do I get to meet him?" She asked, brushing the lipstick from his forehead with her thumb.
"He's gonna call me later. He took his daughter AJ off to the park then he's gonna take her out for some food to tire her out."
"He can bring her here for dinner. I don't mind cooking for him and his little girl." Greg rolled his eyes as his mothers eyes lit up when she said the words 'little girl.' "How old is she anyway?" She queried as she led her son off inside the house.
"Six."
"Ooh." His mother's eyes lit up even more as she looked around at him. "That's a cute age. So are you adopting her?"
"Mom!" He scowled at her. "I've only been dating him a couple of weeks, days even. We're not even living together yet; don't you think it's a bit soon to adopt his daughter?"
"Never too soon." His mother shook her head at him then made her way off up the stairs with Greg in tow. "Did he ask you to...?"
"Mother, please stop!" He snapped at her. "I'm dating him, and he just happens to have a kid. Do you think all single people who date a single parent automatically want to adopt their child?"
"You don't?" She asked, not even listening to what he was telling her.
"I never said that Mom, but I don't even know if Nick likes me enough yet."
Jean stopped on the stairs, turning around to face him. "I'm sure he does honey. Who couldn't like you honey?" She gave him a warm smile then continued off up the stairs towards her husband's room, finding him screaming at the television.
"Oh c'mon, that was a lousy call!" He shouted, throwing one of his crackers towards the television set.
"Honey, the doctor said no stress." Jean warned him again.
"This ref is completely blind! Greg!" He smiled surprised as he saw him in the doorway. "Get over here boy and give me a hug." He ordered, opening his arms to him. Greg smiled widely as he made his way over to the bed into the welcoming arms of his father. "I missed you son." He whispered as he hugged him tightly. Greg closed his eyes as his father wrapped his warm arms around him, burying his face in his neck as a single tear spilled from his eye. "Hey . . . hey, it's okay boy. I'm not going anyway . . . you know I'd never leave you."
"S-Sorry." He choked out in a barely audible whisper, sniffing back his tears. "I missed you too dad." He finally spoke up once he found his voice. Daniel gave his wife a smile as he hugged their youngest son tightly, gently smoothing his palms up and down his back to sooth him.
"Single father?" A young woman holding a young baby asked Nick as she joined him by the benches of parents outlining the park. He looked around at her surprised, raising his eyebrows slightly as he didn't expect anyone to talk to him. "Sorry if I offended you, just you don't see that many fathers out here this time of night unless their single." She smiled as she sat down with her bouncy baby on her lap.
"Oh, well I am a single father... but I'm datin' someone." He quickly told her before she started hitting on him.
The woman laughed at his reaction then pointed to the wedding ring on her finger. "I wasn't hitting on you, relax. I'm Susan, this is Oliver," She indicated to the baby in her arms. "And there's my daughter Katie." She pointed to a young girl on the swings with plaited pig tails.
"I'm Nick, and that's my daughter AJ." He pointed off towards AJ hanging out on the monkey bars, heading towards the climbing structure as he shook Susan's hand.
"Aww, she's a cutie. How old?" She asked him curiously.
"Six."
"Aww, that's a cute age. My daughters eight now, she has a right temper tantrum if she doesn't get her own way." She chuckled softly. "AJ, looks just like you."
Nick nodded as he watched AJ jumping off the climbing structure and joining him by the benches. "Nick, when's Greg getting here?" She asked him curiously.
Nick looked at the surprised expression on Susan's face as his daughter called him by his first name. "Um, he's not comin' here actually. Are you hungry yet?" AJ gave him a shrug. "I am, let's go get somethin' to eat then we can go see Greg." He suggested, reaching out for her hand to walk her off out the park. "Nice to meet you Susan." He waved as he head off towards the gate.
"Sure, bye Nick." She waved, giving him a curious frown as she watched him quickly hustling away with AJ running along behind him trying to keep up.
"Nick, I have to go bathroom!" She shouted as her hand slipped out of his.
"Again?" He groaned, turning round to face her. "Can't you hold it? The steakhouse is right up here." He pointed off up the road.
"I really have to go!" She moaned doing a little dance to show how much she needed to go. Nick sighed heavily as he looked around for a shop or something. He noticed a bar with flickering lights, but he wasn't about to take her in there. "Nick, I have to go!" She complained again.
"I know, I know." Nick lifted her up into his arms, heading off back to the park. He sighed in relief as he saw Susan still there, hoping she wouldn't think he was too weird from the way he rushed off.
"Nick, you're back." She smiled round at him.
"Yeah," Nick awkwardly scratched his head. "Do you know where there's a bathroom round here, for AJ?"
"Oh sure, you don't wonna go in any of the public places. I live nearby; you can come over mine." She suggested then turned towards her daughter. "Katie, c'mon honey, we're leaving."
Katie jumped off the swing, running over to her mother by the benches. "Mom, can I have an ice cream?" She asked her.
"Not now honey, we've gotta help out Nick and his daughter AJ real quick." Susan loaded Oliver into his push chair under much protest as he kicked and screamed, still wanting to be held. Nick watched as Katie held her mother's hand, following them off out of the park towards a row of quaint little houses.
Susan unlocked the door of the second house in the row, leading her children off inside before she pointed out the bathroom to Nick. He looked at the halls decorated with family photos and the floor decorated with toys and a large basket of laundry at the foot of the stairs; nothing like his house. You couldn't even tell he had a child in his house.
Nick thanked Susan as he led AJ off towards the bathroom door. He stood outside while she went in, looking at the photos on the walls while he waited.
"Can I get you anything to eat or drink Nick?" Susan asked him.
"No, I'm fine thanks." He smiled at her, watching Oliver crawling around across the floor with a wide smile on his face.
"So, how is it a single father takes his six year old daughter to the park and doesn't know where the nearest bathroom is?" She smiled widely at him.
"Well I don't live here. I'm from Vegas; we just drove over with a... friend. I'm meetin' up with him later."
"Oh." She nodded curiously. "You know I'm from Vegas, not originally, but I only just moved out here after Oliver was born for his father's work. He didn't think it was a very safe environment for our children to grow up in." Nick nodded in agreement. "Are you sure I can't give you and your daughter a lift anywhere, Nick? It's no trouble at all."
"No, we'll be fine." He shook his head at her then turned around as the bathroom door opened and AJ emerged. "Thanks Susan." He smiled at her, taking AJ by the hand as he led her off towards the door.
"Bye Nick, bye AJ." She waved off after them. AJ waved over her shoulder, wrapping her tiny fingers around Nick's thumb as she struggled to keep up with him again. Susan watched her trotting along behind him then sighed heavily before she closed her front door, returning to her children again.
"Where's Greg?" AJ asked a few minutes later as she trotted along behind Nick, trying to keep up with him, but his strides were too wide.
"He's with his mom and his dad. I told you that like twenty minutes ago." He smiled round at her, waiting for her to catch up to him before he started walking again. "Do you not like hangin' out with me then?"
"You walk too fast." AJ moaned stopping in the middle of the path as Nick carried on. "I wonna go home." She complained.
Nick spun round on his heels to look at her, watching her folding her arms across her chest as she refused to move. "Well we can't right now, we're goin' over to Greg's parent's house. C'mon AJ." He reached out his hand to her but she refused to move still. Nick walked back towards her, lifting her up into his arms as she refused to walk any further by herself.
"What happened to no carries rule?" She cheekily asked him.
"That rule only applies if the person bein' carried is too tired to walk and the one doin' the carryin' wants to get in before it rains."
"How do you know it's gonna rain?" She asked him curiously.
Nick smiled at her then pointed up at the sky. "You see those clouds there?" AJ nodded to him. "My granddad told me those clouds are rain clouds. They bring the rain with them."
"How did he know?" She asked him curiously.
"I don't know. But whenever you see those clouds . . . it always rains." Then like clockwork it started to trickle down with rain around them. AJ smiled to Nick as she reached out her hand, feeling the rain drops splashing against her arm. "See, told yah."
"My mommy said it rains when somebody's sad."
"My Mama told me that too." He smiled at her, zipping her coat up higher so she didn't catch a cold. "C'mon, we better get inside before it starts to pour down."
"Where are we going?"
"The Steakhouse like I told you." He smiled at her again. "And this is the most you've ever talked to me. You like me now huh?" AJ responded with a shrug. "Almost there." He grinned at her, finally spotting the restaurant he was looking for in the distance. "C'mon, you still hungry for steaks?" AJ gave him a smile leaning against his shoulder as he carried her off towards the entrance.
A waitress seated them at a table in the corner with a booth. Nick slid in first, watching AJ crawling across on her knees to sit beside him. The waitress handed them a menu each then gave them a warm smile as she walked away. Nick used one of the spare napkins to dab the rain off AJ's forehead. He then unzipped her jacket, hanging it over the back of one of the chairs for her to let it dry off while they ate.
AJ looked at her menu with a frown then placed it on the table, looking up into Nick's eyes. "You can't read can you?" He immediately noticed.
"Some." AJ nodded, leaning against the booth beside him.
"Well there's a grilled pork chop with apple sauce and mashed potato. Angus beef ribs..."
"Why's his name Angus?"
Nick looked at her confused. "No, his names not Angus. It's just the name of where it's from."
"Why don't they tell you where the steak is from?"
"I have no idea." He shrugged giving her a slight smile. "There's a grilled rib eye steak with French fries and onion strings..."
"How do they know the fries are French?"
"Because that's where they came from." He smiled down at her as she had a question about everything. "There's a steak Diane..."
"Why did they give that one a girl's name?"
"Are you goin' to ask a question about every steak, or have you decided which one you want?" AJ shrugged up at him. "Well there's also some Pizza's. What's your favourite type?"
"Chicken."
"Chicken." He smiled at her then looked for the different flavoured chicken pizzas. "There's barbeque chicken, chicken and mushroom..."
"Barbeque." She interrupted him. "It's my favourite."
"Mine too." He gave her a smile then called over the waitress to order their pizza.
"I don't get it." Greg groaned again, throwing some popcorn back into his mouth while he sat on the bed beside his father watching the game.
"I've explained this to you hundreds of times." He laughed, poking his son in the side. "Just my luck to end up with two sons who know nothing about sports."
"Maybe you'll have better luck with your son's boyfriend." Greg smiled round at him. "He used to play football in College and baseball in High school, and he never misses a game on TV."
"Ooh, when does he get here?" He teased him, laughing as Greg rolled his eyes at him.
"I'm getting the feeling you and mom only want me back to meet my boyfriend."
"Of course we want you back Greggy." He smiled at his youngest son. "Mark won't even pretend to like football and sit with me."
"Well thanks a lot." Greg laughed, throwing some more popcorn into his mouth.
"Where's your mother?"
"Planning my marriage to Nick no doubt. She already thinks I'm adopting his daughter." Greg licked his buttery fingers, feeling his phone vibrating in his pocket. Daniel held the bowl of popcorn for him while he lifted his hips to pull it from his back pocket.
"That him?" Daniel asked then watched the wide smile on his son's face, immediately knowing the answer was yes. "What he say?"
"You and mom are so nosy." Greg laughed.
"I just wonna know." His father smiled at him. "I have to meet this Nick sometime; see if he's good enough for my boy."
"I think it's me who's not good enough for him." Greg went to crawl off the bed but Daniel grabbed his wrist, pulling him back.
"Greg . . . don't let the others know this . . . but you've always been my favourite. Nick's a lucky guy to have you, don't let anybody tell you different."
"Thanks dad, but I really don't need a pep talk right now." Greg gave his father a quick hug before he climbed off the bed, heading off down the stairs to say goodbye to his mother before he head off to get Nick. "Bye Mom, I'll be back in a bit."
"Do you have a child's car seat in that big ol' truck out there?"
"Yes mother, that's how we drove all the way over here. I'll be back soon." He shouted as he ran off out the door before she spoke to him again.
Nick lifted a finally sleepy AJ into his arms as he left the steak house, zipping her coat up again as it was starting to get colder outside. He smiled as he watched her sleepily rubbing her eyes open, resting her head against his shoulder. "Finally gettin' sleepy huh?" AJ shook her head but gave out a wide yawn straight after. "I'm sure." He smirked, gently brushing back the hair from her face so he could see both of her beautiful eyes. "You have barbeque sauce all over your chin." He smiled as he gently brushed his thumb across her chin to get rid of it for her.
"So do you." She pointed out to him.
"I do?" Nick wiped his chin with the back of his hand, noticing the barbeque sauce on his hand. "All gone?" AJ checked his chin then nodded. "Good." Nick smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder again. Her eyelids gradually began to close over her eyes and her thumb instinctively found its way to her mouth.
Nick looked outside seeing the rain had stopped and the sun had completely set now. He lifted AJ slightly higher in his arms, taking a short walk across the path as he waited for Greg show up.
Within a few minutes Greg arrived, giving Nick a wide smile as he pulled up to the curb. Greg climbed out of the driver's seat, pulling open the back door to help Nick with AJ. "You managed to send her right off to sleep?" Greg whispered to him.
"Yep, she's like me. Long walk and somethin' to eat and she falls right asleep." Nick whispered back as he carefully strapped AJ into the car seat.
"You wonna drive?" Greg asked holding out the keys.
"Yep." Nick gave Greg a wide smile as he went to reach for the keys from his hands.
Brushing his fingertips across the top of Greg's hand, he curled his fingers around the keys, watching Greg licking his lips as he did the same. They both knew what the other wanted, but it was too public to share an intimate kiss right now.
Nick climbed in the driver's seat while Greg ran round the other side to climb into the passenger seat. Nick waited for Greg to strap himself in before he anxiously head off towards Greg's parents house.
"Don't worry Nicky, they love you already." Greg assured him, pecking a quick kiss to his lips. "You don't have to worry about pleasing them, because you already have." He smiled then climbed out of the car to help him AJ.
Nick carefully lifted AJ from the back seat, trying not to wake her as she had only just fallen asleep after a very long journey. Greg quietly closed the doors of his truck, locking it up then led Nick off towards the house, not noticing his mother at the front room window, watching them like a hawk through the gap in the curtains.
"My mom already set up one of the guest bedrooms for her." Greg whispered to him once the door was open. Nick nodded as he looked around the grand lobby of the Sanders household filled with pictures of the Sanders children. He noticed a few of Greg; the baby of the family, just like him.
Greg poked his head through the door of the front room, noticing his mother stood directly behind the door. "Mom, you can come out from hiding now." He smirked at her, folding his arms across his chest.
"I wasn't hiding." She looked around the room trying to think of an excuse, but she wasn't too good at thinking on her feet. "Okay, maybe I was hiding, but I did it because I was nervous." Greg smiled at her then tugged her out by the arm to come and meet Nick.
"Nicky, this is my mother, Jean. Mom, this is Nick... and AJ. Don't talk too loud, he's only just got her off to sleep." Greg warned her.
"Okay," She whispered quietly, extending her hand to shake Nick's. "It's nice to meet you Nick . . . again. I believe we met at the hospital after Gregory..." Greg loudly cleared his throat to stop her from complaining about the attack he endured again; being reminded about it all the time by his mother wasn't helping him get over it anymore. "Well that's a beautiful daughter you have there Nick." She tried to change the subject.
"Mom." Greg hissed softly before she brought up the adoption thing again, embarrassing him in front of the first boyfriend he ever brought home.
"Sorry, would you like to get AJ off to bed then? I don't have a child's bed in the house, but I'm sure she'll be plenty safe on the softest mattress in the house." Jean assured him. "I set up a guest bedroom for you too . . . unless you want to sleep in Greg's room." She slyly suggested, winking at her son.
"Okay, good night mother." Greg gently pushed her off towards the kitchen then led Nick off up the staircase.
"I was just saying." She whispered off after them. "No strict rules in this house. You can do what you like."
Greg clutched his head in his hands as he led Nick into the guest bedroom. Nick gave him a smile as he watched his face blushing bright red, carefully setting AJ down on the mattress. "Don't worry about it G." He whispered to him as he gently untied AJ's trainers, setting them down on the floor then carefully pulled her jacket off for her.
"She's so embarrassing." Greg whispered as he lifted the covers as Nick tucked her in, watching AJ sleepily readjusting herself against the pillows. "You don't have to sleep in my room if you don't want to, you don't have to listen to her."
"Relax G." He smiled up at him, carefully tucking the covers around AJ. He gritted his teeth together as he watched her softly stirring, hoping she wouldn't wake up as he himself was exhausted and he didn't have any more tricks up his sleeve to send her off to sleep. AJ rubbed one of her eyes, rolling over onto her stomach as she stuck her thumb back in her mouth, falling fast asleep once again.
Nick and Greg quietly crept out the room together, carefully clicking the door shut before they smiled to one another. "Did you already eat?" Greg whispered to him.
"Yep, did you?"
Greg shook his head. "Not hungry." He assured him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You wonna go watch a movie? My mom's going to bed soon so she'll totally leave us alone."
"Okay." Nick slipped his hand into Greg's as he led him off down the stairs towards the front room. Nick collapsed back on the sofa, making himself comfortable while Greg set up a movie.
"Goodnight boys." Jean waved them off.
"Night." They both chimed in together, watching her heading off up the staircase with a wide smile on her face.
Greg sat on the edge of the coffee table as he set up the DVD, waiting for it to load. He selected the right language then waited through all the trailers until he could finally play the movie.
"Aren't cha gonna sit with me?" Nick asked him.
"One second." Greg rushed over to the light switch, dimming the lights in the room before he rushed over to the closet, grabbing a blanket sat on top of the board games that they always used to snuggle under as a family.
Greg collapsed into Nick's welcoming arms, spreading the blanket out across them both to keep them warm. Nick wrapped his arms tightly around his younger lover's warm body, breathing in his strong scents before he pressed a soft smooch to the back of his neck. "How's your dad then G?" He whispered.
"Fine, he seems like himself again," Greg leant back into Nick's warm embrace, gently trailing his fingertips across his bicep around his chest. "Except the being bound to the bed and resting part."
"It's not permanent G; I remember when my granddad had a heart attack. He was bed bound for a couple of weeks then he was back to his old self again." He tried to comfort him. Greg rolled onto his back in Nick's arms, smiling as he looked up into his eyes. "What?"
"Nothing," Greg softly bit his lower lip as he shook his head. "How'd it go with AJ today then?"
"Pretty good." Nick nodded, trailing his fingers softly down the side of Greg's cheek. "I think we're gettin' along more now. We've got the talkin' thing down." He smiled at him.
"That's good." Greg smiled up at him, noticing the slight look of sadness in his boyfriend's eyes. "As soon as she gets used to you . . . she might start calling you dad Nicky."
"It's not that G . . . I still have to tell my mom and dad about her."
"You still didn't tell em?" Nick shook his head. "How could they be mad at you?"
"My Mama wouldn't . . . but my dad will be. When we get back to Vegas I've loads to do. I have to child proof my house, buy her some things; what kind of father would I be if I never bought her any toys? I'm gonna have to get her in school, hire a nanny or somethin' . . . and tell my family."
"I can help you Nicky." He suggested. "You're not the first father to suddenly have a new child in his life that he wasn't prepared for." Greg smiled softly. "But I really suggest you tell your family first."
"I know . . . I shoulda done that first huh?" Greg nodded up at him. "I'll call em later." Nick hooked his leg around Greg's, pressing a moist kiss to his lips. "Right now we're technically on vacation though G." He smiled as he seductively slid his hand down Greg's chest beneath the blanket.
"You don't wonna watch the movie?" Greg asked as Nick's lips touched his jaw line. Before Greg got his answer Nick covered his mouth with his own, giving him a tender soft kiss as he slid his hand down his side towards his hip.
Before the opening credits had even come to an end, they were both already breathless from the tender loving kisses to one another's lips. They each pulled back for a gasp of air, staring lovingly into one another's eyes, both thinking the same thing, but too afraid to say it in case the other didn't feel the same way.
The story of their relationship!
They snuggled up to one another again, clutching the blanket tightly around them to keep them both warm while they watched the movie together. Greg soon fell asleep in Nick's arms, receiving soft angel kisses to his eyelids from his loving boyfriend.
"Good Night Gorgeous." Nick whispered as he gently brushed his fingers through one of his bleached spikes. He watched the rest of the movie by himself, holding Greg tightly in his arms until he dozed off to sleep himself.
Greg awoke a few hours later, smiling softly as he saw Nick fast asleep on his chest. Gently pressing his lips to his forehead, he tried to gently shake him awake but he was in a heavy deep sleep. Greg looked round at the time, noticing it was three in the morning and he really wanted to sleep in a soft bed instead of the hard couch.
"Nick," He softly poked him in the ribs, trying to wake him up again, but there was still no response. Greg softly tickled his fingertips across Greg's sides, watching Nick's eyes slowly opening.
Nick softly smiled as he saw Greg lying beside him, rubbing his eyes open. "What's up bud? Can't you sleep?"
Greg shook his head. "You wonna move to the bed?"
"Sure." Nick rubbed his eyes as Greg climbed out from under him, pulling him up with him. Greg clicked off the TV, leading Nick off up the stairs by the hand. "How big is this place?" Nick whispered to him.
"It's not that big." Greg whispered back to him, pulling him off towards his bedroom. Nick stopped at the guest bedroom before he followed Greg off down the hall, pressing his ear against the door to make sure AJ was still asleep. He couldn't hear anything from the outside, but he really wanted to check to make sure she was still alive and well, and he didn't dream having a daughter.
Greg watched as Nick carefully clicked the door open of the guest bedroom. A satisfied smile soon spread across his lips as he saw her still fast asleep, only now she was further in the middle of the bed with one of her pig tails all messed up.
Greg gently slipped his hand into Nick's as he stepped up beside him, giving him a wide smile. "She'll be okay Nicky."
"I know." He smiled back at him, quietly clicking the door shut again. "I'm just worried about her. She's been through a lot."
"Yeah, but she has the best daddy in the world. After mine of course." He cheekily added. "Every kid thinks their daddy is the best daddy in the world."
"Not every kid G." He whispered back to him as they head off towards Greg's room.
Nick looked at the room in awe as Greg clicked on the lights, leading him inside the time capsule of Greg's life. "Don't laugh." Greg warned him as he started looking at all the photos of Greg as a child everywhere.
"I wasn't gonna laugh." Nick smiled round at him, picking up a framed photo off the desk of Greg in Highschool. Greg blushed as he pulled it from his hands, setting it back down on the desk face down. "Don't be embarrassed, you're cute Greg."
"Am not." Greg threw himself back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling above him. "My mouth was full of hardware and I had the dorkiest hair cut ever."
"You are adorable G." Collapsing onto the bed beside him, he gently trailed his fingertips down the side of his face. "You're so adorable. And there's not a single guy in the world I would ever say that to . . . but you G."
"What about AJ?" Greg slid his hand towards Nick's hip, looking up into his dark lustful eyes. "She's adorable."
"True, but she's not a guy." Nick smirked.
"Are you keeping her then? Become her fulltime daddy?"
"Well, technically . . . I am her fulltime daddy, no matter what I decide Greg." Hooking his leg around Greg's, he brought their bodies a little closer. "Do you think I can do it?"
Greg nodded. "Do you even know how her mom died though?"
"Nope," Nick shook his head, surprised at himself that he had never thought about that for himself before. "I can't believe I never thought of that. I barely know anythin' about her. I don't know if she has any allergies, what her favourite colour is . . . or if she even likes me."
"She likes you, who couldn't Nicky?" Greg smiled at him, wrapping his arms around his body.
"You like me too huh?" Smiling down at Greg, he pressed a kiss to his warm lips.
Greg nodded as they pulled apart. "More than like," Weaving his fingers through Nick's soft hair, he brought their hot wet mouths together again, engaging in a deep passionate kiss that left them both breathless. "How come we never got together before?" Greg suddenly asked.
Nick shrugged, teasing his fingertips beneath the fabric of Greg's t-shirt. "We only slept together after the..." Nick stopped himself before he said attack. He didn't want to bring up more painful memories for Greg or dwell on the past. "I've always liked you though. I never knew if you... were like me though."
"Like you as in bisexual you mean?" Greg queried. "You coulda asked."
"Well yeah . . . that woulda been easier." He smirked, brushing his thumb across Greg's jaw line. "Do you regret not bein' with me before?"
"Like I had a choice," Greg smoothed his fingertip across Nick's manly jaw, studying his face with hungry eyes. "You're the one who decided we were sex buddies. I have to admit the first few times . . . were a little weird."
"Weird how?"
"You know what I mean. We were friends, best friends for like seven years . . . then we slept together. It's not every day that you get to sleep with your best friend . . . let alone the office hotty." He smiled widely at him as he stared deeply into Nick's eyes. "I think it was mostly weird because we acted like nothing was going on between us at work."
"Well that's the way it has to be G."
"I know. Still," Trailing his fingertips down Nick's strong bicep desperately made him want to feel more of his body against his own. "It kinda sucked having to climb out of windows and hide in closets while you pretended nothing was going on with your girlfriends."
"I'm sorry." Nick never realised how much his lifestyle had affected Greg before now. "Do you hate me for doin' that to you?"
Greg looked into his eyes then shook his head. "What I wonna know is... why'd you sleep with me in the first place. You still never asked if I was bi... you just assumed."
"Well if you weren't before... you are now." Nick smiled softly, sliding his hand south to cup Greg's crotch in his palm. "Truthfully, I didn't actually mean to kiss you that first time. I was so worried about you . . . then when I saw you after, I couldn't stop myself . . . I knew Greg Sanders would have a unique taste to his lips, but I never knew you would be this addictive." Nick moved closer for another taste. "That and you were an amazin' kisser, so I had to kiss you again." Nick smiled against his parted lips.
"I'm so glad you grew your hair back." Greg changed the subject as he so desperately wanted to say 'I love you', but he didn't want to ruin what they had now. Weaving his fingers through Nick's hair, he advanced closer to his lips for a sweet sensual kiss, leaving them breathless and hungry for more. "The first time I kissed you, you were bald." Greg giggled, gripping handfuls of his boyfriend's soft hair.
"I remember. You're hair was more shaggy too."
Greg nodded, remembering how he just grew it out after he was attacked. He didn't style it or cut it in any particular way for a while. "Do you prefer it like this?"
"I love your hair however you have it." Nick pressed kisses to Greg's hairline, caressing the side of his face with his fingertips.
"Don't ever cut your hair again Nicky." Greg whispered softly.
"Never." He promised him. "Unless I go grey." He quickly added.
"Nuh uh." Greg giggled softly. "We can always dye it for yah. I recon a nice chestnut brown with soft highlights would look good for your old age." Greg teased him, cheekily giggling as Nick tickled him.
"My dad didn't go grey until his late fifties, not until then will I let you anywhere near my hair with dye."
Greg smiled, sweeping one hand through his boyfriend's soft dark brown hair once again. "You think we're gonna be together that long?" He queried.
Nick nodded doing the same to Greg's bleached spikes. "I do . . . if we're not still boyfriend's . . . then we'll still be friends. Don't you?"
"Uh huh, but I'm thinking longer." He added with a sweet little smile. "I'm think we'll be little old gray men with a walking cane and glasses pressed on the end of our noses. We'll have to take our false teeth out to kiss."
"Ew." Nick cringed and laughed at the same time, tickling his fingertips across Greg's stomach. "That's a horrible image."
"Why? It'll still be us." Greg cheekily giggled. "At least I didn't say anything about our old shrivelled balls."
"Okay, you've put me right off sex now." Nick cringed again, rolling over onto his back.
"I was kidding. For starters no one in my family has ever had glasses, and do you really think we're gonna live to the ripe old age of... I dunno, seventy onwards?"
"I think we might." Nick nodded. "And both my parents have glasses. My Mama's near sighted and my father's far sighted. So I could go either. Three of my sisters have glasses and my brother, but he won't wear them."
"Why?"
"They make him look like a dork."
"Why doesn't he get contacts?" Greg asked him curiously. Nick shrugged as he turned his head to look at Greg. "You realise you're gonna have to tell AJ about us eventually right." Greg changed the subject again.
"Like she hasn't already figured it out? She's always askin' for you when you're not around. She asked me why you don't live at my place and at dinner today she asked me if we were married." Nick truthfully told him. "She's perfectly okay with you, she really likes you. And I don't think she minds us bein' together. She hasn't complained or looked at us funny."
"She's six, she doesn't know any different. That the amazing thing about kids. They don't judge and their parents are their gods."
"Exactly, and that's how I want her to be raised."
"Her parents as gods?" Greg questioned him with a cheeky grin.
"No G." He laughed, poking him in the stomach. "To accept people for who they are, not what they look like, who they love . . . not anythin' like my father... homosexuality, lesbians, transsexuals, sex before marriage and so on... we were all taught they were a sin. He made me hate myself when I was younger, thinkin' there was somethin' seriously wrong with me. I don't want AJ to ever feel like that."
"See, you'll be the best dad ever." Greg sweetly smiled up at him.
"With you helpin' me . . . I'm pretty sure I will be." Nick smiled back. "How'd you get so good with kids anyway? You're the youngest in your family just like me."
"I used to babysit my cousin when I was in Highschool. Her mom died at a young age too and her dad was always working. She was like my little sister."
"How come you never mentioned her before?"
"She died." Greg softly spoke. "She was only twelve at the time. She got hit by a car on her way home from school . . . I was in college at the time. My mom always wanted to adopt her, but birth parents have more rights over children so she never could, but she was always a little sister to me."
"What was her name?" Nick asked curiously.
"Samantha. She liked Sammy though and she called me Greggy."
Nick smiled softly, wrapping an arm around Greg's body. "Why didn't you ever tell me before?"
"Because I lost her . . . she was my best friend and I lost her . . . that's why I was afraid to lose you too."
"You won't lose me." Nick assured him, resting his head against his as their warm bodies merged closer together. "I'm here to stay. If you'll have me?" He whispered the last part against his ear, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as a cold shiver tingled down his spine.
Smiling widely, Greg turned his head to return the kiss to Nick's delicious lips. "I'll make a deal with you. You tell me everything you've said to me in Spanish . . . and I'll keep you." He cheekily grinned up at him.
"Nope can't." Nick rolled onto his back with a smile on his face, knowing just how to torment Greg.
"That's so unfair." Greg pouted. "I'm sure my mom has a Spanish phrase book around here somewhere."
"No G," Nick laughed, pulling Greg back towards him as he tried to get off the bed, wrapping his arms around him tightly. "I'll tell you one part of it . . . Pienso en ti tod el tiempo . . . which means I think about you all the time."
"You do?"
Nick nodded, hugging him tightly. "You can't translate the rest using that Greg." He smirked as he saw him trying to work it out in his brilliant mind. "Let's just go to sleep. I promise I'll tell you later."
"Fine." Greg kicked his sneakers off, fiddling with the belt around his jeans. "Last one undressed has to get the light." He declared, quickly shedding his clothing.
"That's unfair, you started before me." Nick pouted back at him. Greg giggled as he crawled towards the pillows, lifting the comforter as he crawled underneath the warm covers. He watched Nick climbing to his feet, quickly undressing then getting the light and joining Greg under the covers. "Why's it so cold out here?"
"Because we're not in Vegas anymore and its winter." Greg smirked at him. "Hey Nicky." He whispered softly a few minutes later.
"Yeah?"
"Jeg tenker pa deg hele tiden altfor." Nick looked at him confused. "Yeah, you're not the only one who speaks another language mister." He giggled softly.
"You never told me you spoke Norwegian. Are you keepin' secrets from me already?"
"That's not a secret. My Papa Olaf spoke Norwegian all the time, he barely knew any English, so I had to learn. I've told you hundreds of times about my Papa Olaf being Norwegian, so I thought you knew."
"Nope. I never knew that you spoke Norwegian. It's like I barely know you at all." He smirked.
"Well there's some stuff I don't know about you." Greg leant back into Nick's embrace as he spooned him tightly.
"Ask away." Nick whispered against his neck. "I'm an open book."
Greg thought long and hard about his first question then came out with, "What's your favourite colour?"
"That's you question?" Nick chuckled softly.
"C'mon, I don't know my own boyfriend's favourite colour. That's pretty lame."
"Blue. Now you know my favourite colour, can you tell me what you said to me in Norwegian? Otherwise I'll have to ask your mother, and if its embarrassin'..."
"It's not." Greg giggled softly, turning slightly to face Nick. "I said . . . I think about you all the time too."
Nick felt warmth running throughout his body. He held Greg tighter, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "G'night G."
"G'night Nicky." Greg closed his eyes against the pillow, entwining his fingers with Nick's on his chest. "Nicky . . . Jeg elsker deg." He whispered softly.
"What does that mean?" Nick queried. Greg smiled to himself as he got comfortable against the pillow, leaving Nick to wonder as he tried to get to sleep. "G, what's it mean? Greg?"
Extra long chapter for you guys, I hope you enjoyed it.
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