Candela belongs to dappled-catboy and Everett belongs to reveries-shadow (AKA lukas-circus). Check out their blogs to learn more! :)

Thanks to my Beta-reader, and co-writer for this chapter, ItIsShadow for his review and his help writing a special scene in this chapter! Love ya, bud.

Of note, I'm trying a new way of separating sections in my chapters, called an asterism. It looks like this: ⁂. :) I will still use horizontal lines to separate out author notes at the beginning and end of chapters!

WARNING: strong language and discussion of human sexuality (sometimes a bit intense!) ahead. Reader discretion is advised.

The boys sat on the bed, in silence; Greg had turned off the music a minute ago. Connor was laying back with his head on Greg's chest and Connor was idly running his fingers over Greg's hands. The boys were content. The energy from a few minutes ago had slipped away from them, and they were left in a thick mixture of emotions and diminishing physical urges. Connor looked at Greg and said, "So."

Greg smiled at the blue-eyed boy laying on his chest. "Yeah..."

Connor mumbled, "That was… Intense." He brought Greg's hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly before hugging it close to his chest.

Greg quietly replied, "Yeah. I..." He paused and gently guided Connor's head upward with his free hand. Once Connor had sat up enough, their eyes met for several seconds. "Again... But softer."

And Greg kissed him again. This time without the raw emotions from earlier; just a simple, tender exploration of each other's mouths. They made small noises back and forth as their tongues prodded around. It was easier to focus on the feelings, the tastes, and the smells; they were all much more comfortable to explore this time. Greg quickly realized that Connor tasted sweet.

Greg broke the kiss after several seconds and hugged Connor close to him. The intense, passionate feelings from earlier were coming back, but Greg fought them off for a few seconds before saying, "Connor."

Connor had Greg's arms around him, and his head was beside and in front of Greg's head. Without looking, he replied, "Yeah?"

"I'm not… uh." He swallowed; his mouth had started to dry out. He eked out, "I'm not straight… Am I?" Acknowledging it felt scary. Greg had that thought a few times in the last few weeks, but here he was, having just finished making out with his best friend. And it felt so good.

Connor moved his foot up and down Greg's leg, and replied, "I mean… Did you enjoy what we just did?"

"A lot more than I thought I would, yeah." Pause. Greg moved a hand, and Connor shivered as Greg traced one of his fingers along his ear, and he felt the boy's warm breath as he whispered in his ear, "D-did you enjoy it? Finally getting to kiss a boy?"

Connor gently replied, "Yes. My first kiss was my best friend. And you were so tender and sweet to me." He turned and looked at Greg, "Are you okay?"

A confused look had settled into Greg's eyes. "Yes, I… Just, have been looking at boys since that one night with Ryan and Kevin while you were at the hospital and I… Wanted to see if I liked kissing a boy, and I knew you've been thinking about Rider a lot."

Connor sat up and said, "You sound like the one who needs cuddles, now." Connor laid back on the pillow next to Greg and beckoned to him. Greg looked apprehensive; he was giving up his control of the situation that he had earlier if he did that. Connor motioned again, and Greg laid over on the boy's chest. "Why are you feeling weird?"

"My mom just walked in on me making out with you. I-I-I've gotta tell her something."

Connor ran his hand through Greg's hair. "I mean. Do you still like girls?" Greg nodded. "And… You like boys?" Connor nervously waited until Greg nodded. "Well, I mean, uh… Does bisexual sound like a good term?" Connor was having flashbacks to the talk he had with Waysa back when he was in the coma.

Greg nervously said, "Yes."

Connor kept on messing with Greg's hair. "Can I ask you something?" Greg nodded. "Are we… an item, now?" His heart swished around again, like a fish swimming through the sea.

Greg sighed. "I mean… I'd rather be your friend. I know you're crushing on Rider." Pause. "Maybe go try things out with him?"

Connor nodded and felt relieved. He was scared to date Greg, for some reason. "Okay."

Greg sat up; Connor listened anxiously as Greg added, "Maybe we can try it one day?"

Connor smiled. "Yeah. I like that idea."

Greg smiled back and looked away. "I'm sort of scared to talk to my mom."

Connor laughed. "Really? Where's that boy who kissed me 10 minutes ago to a song he planned out ahead of time?"

Greg felt himself blushing. "I did do that, didn't I? I mean, I had a plan with that."

Connor rolled his eyes, "Come on, dude. Just… Be confident. You gotta talk to her about it anyway!"

Greg smiled again. "Will you hold my hand?"

Connor grabbed Greg's hand and smiled. "Dude, you don't even have to ask me. I've got you."

Greg sighed. "God, you're going to make me do this right now, aren't you?"

Connor nodded. "Might as well. Then we can come back upstairs and find out where Finn learned that swear word."

Greg's eyes focused suddenly. "You won't let me go ask him first? He's probably crying in his room. No way he didn't get a spanking for that one."

Connor shook his head. "No way, Lizard Boy. Gotta go come out to your mom, first."

Greg stood up quickly; he was on a mission, now. "Let's do it, then."

As he descended the stairs, Greg felt his heart pounding so hard in his chest it ought to explode. Holding his hand, Connor whispered in Greg's ear, "It'll be okay, Greggy, I promise."

Linda's head perked up at the slight groans the stairs gave off as the boys collectively strode down them. She paused the television, watching the door for the moment they'd walk in. When they did, she said, "Heya Greg, Connor. Everything okay?" She asked, wanting to get the first word in.

"I-um," Greg started, "I wanna talk to you about, well, what happened earlier."

"What I walked in on?" Linda questioned, not thinking much of what happened, but nonetheless happy to talk about it.

"Y-yeah, um," Greg kept on stuttering, but Connor being there, and his mum not blowing up, helped to calm him down. "I think…, I think I might be bisexual."

Giggling, Linda responded, "Yeah, I had guessed that much, dear! Honestly, though, I don't have a problem with it, just like I don't have a problem with Connor being gay. I'm sure your dad won't have a problem either."

"Uh, okay. T-thanks, momma. I love you," Greg mumbled, still feeling quite funny about the whole conversation.

"I love you too, sweetie," Linda ended with a smile, and she looked back at the television show she was watching.

Greg and Connor walked upstairs towards Finn's room. Connor said, "See? Wasn't that difficult, was it?"

Greg was still feeling woozy from the experience. He hadn't thought that the afternoon could turn out this way, but he was glad it did. He held Connor's hand and said, "I guess you're right." At least he wouldn't have to worry about getting caught now.

As they walked through the hallway on the second floor, Connor taunted, "You hadn't planned out that part, huh?"

Greg looked over at Connor. Greg admitted, "I was just thinking that same thing." Connor smirked, and Greg let go of Connor's hand with a laugh and knocked on Finn's door. "Finny! Can we come in?" Silence. He knocked again. "Finn!" After a few seconds, Greg raised his eyebrow and exchanged a concerned look with Connor. He opened the door. "Finn?"

The preschooler was laying on his bed. Greg walked over toward him and saw that Finn's eyes were glowing golden through his eyelids. He poked the preschooler. "What in the world? Dude, look at his eyes."

Connor examined him and said, "He's still breathing."

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Finn looked around Connor's house. He'd been here for a few minutes, but he wasn't sure why or how he'd gotten here. He walked into Connor's room, finally, and saw a large, shimmering blue cat sitting on the bed. "Juliet?"

The cat's tail twitched. With a gruff male voice, it said, "No." Pause. "What are you doing here, small one?"

Finn's mouth hung open. "YOU TALK!"

Waysa winced at the loud noise. "Yes, I talk." He stood up and jumped off the bed, strutting toward Finn. "Why are you here, child?"

Finn suddenly felt scared. The cat was as long as he was tall and looked muscular. "I don't know." He took a breath. "I was in trouble and layin' on my bed, and wanted to run away and use the swing set in Connor's back yard…"

Waysa paced around him and said, "You've been here many times, but this is the first time you neglected to bring your body with you." Waysa stopped in front of him and gazed at the boy. "Are you aware of that?"

Finn looked at his hands, and, for the first time, noticed they were slightly see-through. "But I still have a body?" He reached toward Waysa, to touch the cat.

Waysa batted Finn's hand away gently with a paw and hissed, causing the 4-year-old to spring away from the cat. "I did not give you permission to touch me, Sparky." He licked the paw gently. "It is rude to touch another person's spirit animal without asking permission from the spirit."

Finn blinked and frightfully said, "Oh. I'm sorry mister… what's your name? I'm Finn."

The cat gazed at Finn, and once he finished cleaning his paw, replied, "I am Waysa. And you do not have your body with you, despite what it appears, Finn. You are here as a bare soul."

There was a bright green flash, and a giant green lizard appeared in the room nearby. With a strong female voice, the lizard shouted, "Waysa! Did you just attack him?"

Finn looked on amazed at the shimmering green lizard as Waysa replied, "It was only a warning strike. I did not use my claws."

The lizard glared at Waysa. "He is just a child, Waysa. This is his first Soul Walk! Must you always be so harsh?"

Waysa sat down and licked his other paw. After a few moments, he replied, "This kitten is not my responsibility to teach, Lizard. There are rules he must follow, and it is your job to teach him, not mine."

Finn heard a voice yell his name, "Finny!" He looked around for the source of the sound, but couldn't find it.

The lizard glared at Waysa for a few moments. "If you ever strike him again, I will retaliate, cat." Waysa twitched his tail at the threat and bared his teeth at Koozye for a few moments before disappearing from the room in a blue flash. Koozye looked over to Finn, and she seemed friendly. "Hello, Finn. I am Ogehàwashkoozye – your big brother's spirit animal." She stepped over to him. "I am called Koozye, though. You may touch me if you wish."

Finn nervously said, "H-hi." He was a bit scared now. "What's happening?"

Koozye replied, "Nothing scary, little one. You are Soul Walking; it is an extraordinary power. Your spirit animal is inexperienced with the Soul Walk, so I am to be your mentor." She padded over to him, her claws making a clacking sound against the floor. "Your body is still at home, in your bed. Your soul has left it behind so you can explore the world, as your mind desired. No ordinary humans can see you in this form."

Finn looked at the Lizard's green eyes; they looked a lot like Greg's eyes. "Why?"

The disembodied voice sounded again, "Finn, wake up!" He looked around frantically.

Koozye stepped toward him. "I will explain it all later. For now, you must go home. Greg and Connor are trying to wake you." She blinked and continued. "Tell Greg that Koozye said hello, okay? He will know what it means."

Finn nodded. "O-okay." He was scared. Why was this happening to him?

Koozye said, "The next time you Soul Walk, I will be there, little one. For now, awaken." She tapped Finn's leg with her claw, and the world flashed around him.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Greg stood over Finn with a concerned look. He said, "This has got to have something to do with his eyes glowing. Maybe we should ask Kooz–"

Finn's eyes snapped open, and he jerked upright, startling Connor and Greg; they both jumped away with a yelp. Like a possessed person, he took a deep breath and blankly looked at the two teenagers with a ghastly smile. "Koozye says hello, Greggy." His irises were still shining bright gold like a lightbulb was behind them.

Greg and Connor were holding onto each other, both terrified of the child – was Thunderbird back? Greg's heart was in his throat. He weakly stuttered out, "Wh-what?"

Finn rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. His eyes were no longer glowing, and his voice was much more relaxed. "Koozye. She said for me to say hi to you."

Greg and Connor shared a confused look before they cautiously let go of each other. Greg said, "I… how did…. No, no, just… Where were you at, Finn?"

"I was at Connor's house." Finn yawned and stretched. "There was a mean cat there. He glowed blue. And my hands were see-through." He looked at his hands and was pleased to see that they were back to normal.

Connor raised an eyebrow. "What was his name? Waysa?"

Finn nodded, and Greg said, "Wait, wait. Did you meet Koozye–a big glowing green lizard? And Waysa?"

Finn nodded again. "Yeah. Koozye was nice. She's going to be my teacher."

Connor said, "Teacher of what?"

Finn shrugged. "She called it Soul Walking."

Greg bit his lip, thinking deeply. "I… So, it's a power… and she told you to tell me hello?" Finn nodded. Greg looked at Connor. "Koozye probably wants me to contact her about it then…"

Connor nodded. "Yeah. I'll have to ask Waysa why he was so mean, too."

They all stood there quietly for a moment. Finn looked like he wanted to say something. After several seconds, he blurted out, "Why was you two kissin'? Connor got your cooties, now, Greg." The little boy was genuinely concerned.

Greg sighed, and Connor laughed madly. "Finn, the cooties are not real, we have talked about this."

Finn shook his head, "Connor said you lied because you was embarrassed!"

Connor's laughter redoubled, and Greg grumbled, "Connor, I swear to God. Tell him now."

Connor finally stopped laughing and sat down on the bed next to Finn. "Okay, Finn, buddy. Look, the cooties aren't real."

Finn looked ready to cry. "Are you sure?"

Connor nodded. "I'm sure, kiddo. I told you a lie. I'm sorry." Connor hugged him and got popped with static electricity when he touched the little one.

Finn quietly rebuked, "That was mean. Lying isn't nice, Connor."

Greg snapped, "HA! I told you, Connor! He hates it when people lie to him. You should've told him months ago that it was a joke."

Connor pouted. He hadn't thought this far ahead. "Look, Finn, I know. Won't happen again. Now, Greg has a question." He turned the preschooler around and sat him in his lap.

Greg eyed Finn. "Where did you learn that bad word you said earlier? I know it wasn't Connor or me."

Finn looked around; it was his turn to feel shameful now. He mumbled something.

Greg said, "huh? Who?"

"Everett and Candela…"

Connor looked at Greg with a slight smile. "No surprise, there. Everett is Romeo's kid."

Greg agreed, "Yeah, and Candela is related to you, even if it's an alternate universe you." Before Connor had a chance to be offended by that implication, Greg looked at Finn and said, "Well, you listen here, Finn. You tell Everett and Candela that GREG said you're not allowed to use curse words and they don't need to teach you any other curse words either. Understand?"

Finn nodded with a pout. "Okay…"

Greg smiled. "Now, come on. Do you wanna play a game with us? I've got some news for you while we're at it."

Finn nodded and jumped out of Connor's lap. "Okay! Uh, what is news?"

Connor laughed, and Greg sighed, explaining, "News is when something… new happens, and people tell you about it. Anyways, the news is, I like boys and girls now."

As they walked, Finn said, "Oh, like Connor?"

Connor added, "Not quite. I only like boys."

When they got to Greg's room, Finn said, "Okay, whatever." He dashed over to the controllers on Greg's bed and grabbed one. "Who wants to get their butt kicked first?"

Greg and Connor eyed each other. "That was a lot easier than coming out to Mom was," Greg remarked.

Connor smiled. "I call first dibs, Finn."