On Monday morning Hunter was back to school. Tiny, Lola and Shay were standing on top of the stair before the entrance when the three Hollingsworth siblings arrived. Lola and Shay went down the stair to greet them while Tiny watched them for a moment. When he wanted to follow them he heard some other students whispering close by.

"It´s all over facerange that he was in the nuts house", a guy said, who was standing close by with three other guys.

"I always thought he was a freak anyway", another one said.

"They better wouldn´t have send that psycho back to school", a third one said.

Angrily Tiny stepped in between them. "What´s your problem, huh? I´ve been at their house for the musical all the time and Hunter´s always been there." He was speaking the truth because he hadn´t been at the house while Hunter had been in hospital but he didn´t intend on telling that.

"And why wasn´t he at school then?", one of the guys asked.

Tiny snorted. "Cause he´s been sick, dumbass."

"With what?", another one challenged him, but Tiny just shrugged crossing his arms. "None of my business, man."

"Yeah, sure", the same guy said, "why are you protecting that little psycho anyway? You´re not more to them than their black stage hand aka slave anyway."

Now, that was too much for Tiny. He wanted to give the guy a good punch to the face, but Maya´s voice held him back. She had appeared with Zig on the stair. "Tiny, stop it!"

Tiny put his fist down with a sigh. "You´re lucky that she´s here or you wouldn´t be standing", he said to the guy he had wanted to punch.

"You don´t know how afraid I am", the guy taunted him.

Tiny wanted to raise his fist again, but now Maya had come up the last steps of the stair followed by Zig and put her hands on his arm. "Leave them, they are not worth the trouble." She gave the guys a look. "They are only slaves to whoever posted those stupid things on facerange in the first place."

"You better watch your mouth, blondie", one of the guys said. Now Zig who was right behind her looked as upset as Tiny. But before they could blow up Damon appeared on the other side of the group. He knew those guys. "Lay off", he told them, "and don´t blame your jealousy about not being invited to the Hollingsworth´s on people who are."

One of the guys snorted. "Since when are you hanging out with them? Played your charm on the rich girl?"

Damon shrugged. "At least they are better to hang out with than you are."

By now Lola was beside Tiny and had an arm around him. "We for sure are", she said with a nice smile, "and by the way Tiny and me are a team as stage hands and we are proud of what we´re doing."

At this moment Simpson appeared out of nowhere. "What is going on here?"

"They", Lola pointed at the four guys, "were talking bad about Hunter and called Tiny a black slave."

Simpson frowned at them. "Okay, the four of you to my office, immediately." He pointed inside and they followed rolling their eyes.

When they were gone Simpson looked at everyone else. "I´ll speak to you later", he said. Then he looked down the stairs to the three Hollingsworth and Shay. "You´re mother already called me. I want to see the three of you by lunch to talk about how things are going."

They nodded and then Simpson went inside. Hunter was obviously upset about the whole thing. Miles put an arm around his shoulders. "We´re having your back."

Shay turned to him. "Yeah. Just stick to us today."

By know the group upstairs had started to come down. "It´s just", Hunter started, "you shouldn´t have to deal with my mess."

Zig put a hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy."

While Frankie gave Damon who had stayed a bit behind the rest of them a grateful smile Maya added: "Yeah. I posted today on the musical account that you´ve been taking care of the ticket selling. I hope it gets shared often enough that people realize that you couldn´t have done that from psychiatry."

"And till then you tell us whenever someone is giving you a hard time", Tiny said.

"And don´t you dare to keep quiet", Lola said, "only would make us feel like lousy friends."

Hunter couldn´t help but smile. Maybe he should do them justice by starting to call them friends as well. "Okay."

In the end they got through school just fine. Maya´s post helped calming down the rumors. And everyone could see him socialize with the musical group. He didn´t seem like the odd one out anymore. Some people even came up to him to buy tickets in person and he handled it even though he didn´t have any with him.

###

On the next day Grace looked up in surprise when Maya flopped down next to her in the lounge obviously upset. "Why are you going on a double date with Tristan and Miles without us? We could have made it a triple."

Grace sighed and closed her notebook. "Listen, we decided to do it tomorrow night to take both their minds off the hearing on Thursday. But we wanted to keep it small and calm. Not to many people."

That was something Maya could understand. She sighed. "I am really happy when Tristan has the hearing past him. I mean he tries to act normal but I don´t really believe it."

"Me, too", Grace answered, "that´s why we want to keep his mind off it. Last night before the hearing must be hell." She knew it had been for Zoe.

Maya nodded. "Okay, then maybe we go for a triple date another time?"

Grace grinned. "Sure."

Now Maya was taken aback. She didn´t expect Grace to make it this easy for her. "Really?"

Grace just shrugged with a grin and Maya was really happy.

###

On Wednesday evening Zoe and Grace had made reservations at an in place in town that Miles and Tristan didn´t know yet. It was a small restaurant where mostly young people hung out.

They had thought about going to a movie afterwards but then Grace´s parents had announced that they wouldn´t be home till late and so they decided to move the party to Grace´s house.

Miles and Tristan didn´t know what to expect there till Grace came down with the Twister game. Tristan grinned. "Seriously?"

Grace grinned back. "Seems like we have our first volunteer."

Tristan rolled his eyes while Grace set the game up and turned some music on. Then she waved her hand for Tristan to come. He looked at Miles for help but Miles just grinned at him with a shrug kissing his throat and letting go of his hand.

"Come on", Grace said, "you´re going to have your chance to laugh about us later." Tristan rolled his eyes and went to the mat while Grace used the spinner and they got started.

Zoe came in with a bowl of popcorn and watched Tristan trying to make the best of it with a grin for a few seconds before putting the bowl on the table and sitting down on the couch next to Miles.

Zoe was watching Tristan and Grace in amusement, but Miles had become thoughtful. Finally he turned to Zoe. He lowered his voice. "Does he talk to you about... about the Yates thing?"

Zoe looked at him, now serious as well. "Not since we talked about it that night at Zig´s place."

Miles sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. He somehow had wished that Tristan would at least talk to Zoe. Zoe put a hand on his arm. "I got through it and so will he."

At this moment Tristan crashed on the mat with a squeak. Grace grinned triumphantly. "That was weak, Milligan."

"I´m looking forward to your performance", Tristan answered with a grin and stood to straightened his clothes. Then he looked to Miles who had a smug grin on his face. "You´re next."

Miles just rose good-naturedly and stepped in front of the mat while Tristan took the spinner from Grace who sat down with Zoe to enjoy the show.

They were having a fun time, laughing even harder when the seam of Miles´ shirt ripped. Finally Miles crashed down and stood up with a grin. Without a word he got Tristan´s face between his hands to kiss him.

"Maybe you should get a room", Grace suggested after a while, "but not mine."

Zoe snickered and Miles pulled back and Tristan turned around so they could both look at the two girls while still having their arms around each other. "We can change the sheets afterwards", was Miles´ cheeky reply.

Grace threw a handful of popcorn after him. "Smartass."

Zoe rose. "My turn." She went to the mat while Tristan sat down.

After their first round as warm-up they played a second round. And while Tristan was torturing Zoe Miles and Grace watched together.

"You´re worried about him not talking about Yates?", Grace finally asked him in a low voice.

Miles turned to her in surprise realizing that Zoe must have told her. "Yeah." He nodded.

"Give him time", Grace said, "maybe he has to get the hearing past him first."

"I try to", Miles answered, "but it kinda freaks me out to think that if he goes on keeping it inside he´ll blow up like Frankie and Hunter did. It´s just... I don´t know if I can catch him right now."

Grace gave him a sympathetic smile. "You won´t have to catch him on your own, okay. We´re here."

Miles flashed her a grateful smile. It felt good to talk it out and not feel all alone with it. But Grace could see the fear in his eyes and put her hand on his arm for a second. "You just need to call, okay?"

Miles nodded. "Thanks."

When the second round was over they decided to play two against two. Couple against couple. It was hilarious. After Zoe and Grace crashed to a heap of arms and legs Miles and Tristan took over.

It didn´t take them as long as them to crash. But they were laughing while they disentangle themselves and Zoe took her phone to take photos. Finally they were laying free on the floor with their heads still on the mat. Zoe waved for Grace to follow her and the two of them laid down with their heads on the mat as well. Then Zoe held her phone up to make a selfie.

Afterwards they just stayed like this and talked. Whatever came to mind, just not about the hearing. Miles had taken Tristan´s hand and they laughed at Zoe´s suggestions for a series of flashmobs in the Degrassi hallways.

Later after leaving when Miles and Tristan were sitting in Miles´ car the laughter was gone. They weren´t really in a bad mood but they´ve become quiet. Tristan had his hand on Miles´ leg, needing the contact and grateful that Miles had gotten his mother to allow him to stay over. He had pointed out how Tristan had been there the night Hunter had blown up and that he wanted to do the same for him. He had even gone through an awkward sex talk with her to have her allow for Tristan to sleep in his bed.

By the time they hit the pillow they felt tired and wide awake at the same time. They didn´t even know who initiated the kiss or whose hands wandered southward first but afterwards they felt more at peace.

At peace enough for Tristan to ask a question that´s been following him for some time. "What if I can´t let you sleep with me because of... what happened?"

He lay on his back and didn´t dare looking at Miles. But Miles turned to him with a serious face putting an arm around him. "I can still let you sleep with me."

Tristan looked at him in surprise. He had always assumed... But for Miles the thought didn´t seem that new. "I always thought...", he started.

Miles shrugged with a smile. "I´m curious about both." Tristan didn´t know what to answer and Miles went on. "We only do what you´re ready for, okay?"

Tristan froze. It was this moment that the difference to what happened with Grant became crystal clear. He had pushed him to do something he hadn´t been ready for. He had only cared for himself.

Tristan started to tear up and Miles pulled him closer stroking his side. That was enough for Tristan to really start crying now and Miles just held him silently. In a way he was relieved that the dam had finally broken.

It took Tristan a while to finally calm down and use the handkerchief Miles had given him for a last time. "Sorry."

Miles made a face. "Well, I think I haven´t apologized yet for calling you after Hunter´s break down."

"You don´t have to...", Tristan started and then ended with a small smile when he understood where Miles was coming from. "Then I guess - thank you."

Miles pulled him close with a smile and kissed his temple. "You´re welcome."

Tristan snuggled up to him with a small smile and tiredly closed his eyes. That way they finally fell asleep.

###

Tristan was getting ready in the bathroom the next morning when someone knocked on Miles´ door and came in. It was Frankie. She saw that he was in his clothes already because he had promised to be at court when Winston had to testify in the morning. Tristan´s turn was in the afternoon.

"You can slow down", Frankie said after greeting him, "Hunter and I are going to support Winston."

Now that surprised Miles. "But I promised..."

Frankie shook her head. "I called him yesterday and we talked for quiet a while. He now knows a bit of what has been going on here and he understands that you´re at your limit. Just spend the morning with Tristan, relax - if possible and let us take care of Winston."

"What about school?", Miles asked.

Frankie shrugged. "Mom already called to tell them that we´ll miss a few classes in the morning. And she´s going to court with us."

"You sure it´s a good idea with Winston being your ex-boyfriend?", Miles asked.

Frankie shrugged again. "We grew up together. This is more about being old friends than each other´s exes."

But Miles wasn´t finished asking questions. "Do you think Hunter´s up to it?"

"I am." Surprised they looked to the open door where Hunter now was leaning against the door frame. "I just see it as training for the hearing against dad."

Miles looked to and fro between them with a small grin. "You´ve figured it all out."

The twins grinned and Miles took a step forward to hug Frankie. "Thanks, Franks."

She returned the hug with a smile. "And tell Tristan if he needs something he can tell me."

Miles let go of her. "Okay."

With a smile Frankie put a hand on his arm for a moment then she left the room.

Miles met Hunter´s eyes. "You´re really okay with this?"

Hunter shrugged. "It´s not me who has to tell them that some pedo has groped them."

Miles gave him a thin smile. They would have to tell their own story in a hearing soon enough.

Hunter rose his hand. "Take care - both of you." With that he left the room.

Miles texted Winston and was undressing when Tristan came back into the room and watched him in confusion. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Frankie and Hunter will be supporting Winston. So I was thinking about getting another few hours of sleep", Miles replied, "you in?"

Tristan had been tired till he had woken up half an hour ago so he readily complied and started undressing as well. After texting Owen and setting the alarm they both laid down in the bed again and soon were fast asleep.