CHAPTER 69

"So no hanging out tonight after the gig?" Shane asked Nick, smiling what he must have thought was his sexiest smile.

"Again, no, but thanks. Jeff's coming tonight and you know we're together, so I'm not sure why I have to keep reminding you…or why you keep asking?" Nick said tersely. Normally he tried really hard to be civil, but he was getting so tired of the pick-up lines and the same old harassment he'd been getting from Shane since the blonde had started working there. He wasn't a bad looking guy, and could probably have his choice of guys in the bar…or on the street outside for that matter. Blonde, blue eyed, well built, and the way he dressed screamed money….but he always harassed Nick and, wow, was he getting tired of it.

"I don't know why you bother with him, really…." Shane muttered out, wrinkling up his nose. Nick glanced up and gave him a look that should well have been a grave warning. Ron, fooling with the sound board, saw it for what it was and threw a look to Finn and Joe, motioning with his eyes for them to pay attention. He didn't want anything broken, and there were way too many people there already for them to start something on the stage in front of everyone.

"Don't finish that sentence, Shane. I'm in no mood for it. You don't even know him, so don't open your mouth again about him." Nick warned.

"Back off, dude, he's taken, not interested." Finn said, distracted with his cymbals and their placement.

"He's supposedly 'taken' by some skinny ass pansy looking twink who probably doesn't even shave yet…." Shane pushed on, running his fingers down Nick's chest provocatively. Nick's tempter snapped. He grabbed Shane's wrist where it rested way too close to his own chest and squeezed it harshly, his eyes blazing.

"Nick….hey, man, not here…not on stage…" Joe hissed. Nick gave a gruff laugh, jaw flexing, never losing eye contact with Shane.

"I…will not…ask again. Drop it." Nick barely managed to get out without growling. At Ron's warning glance, he forced himself into a mockery of a pleasant smile, the scene looking for all the world to anyone watching that it was just a playful conversation between friends.

"And if I don't?" Shane smiled back, wiggling his fingers against Nick.

"You'll be piecing bones back together if you touch me like that again, mark my words." Nick said, his smile still stretched evilly over his teeth.

This is the sight that greeted Jeff as he walked into the Dive with Trent and Thad. His boyfriend was standing on stage, his fingers wrapped possessively around another man's wrist while said man was running his fingers down Nick's chest. Trent followed his line of sight when he stopped dead in his tracks and watched with eyes wide at what appeared to be happening on stage…in front of everyone and God.

"..'the hell?" Thad muttered when he caught on to what they were watching.

"Trent…" Jeff whispered, barely even audible, but Trent heard him and slipped an arm through his for support. "W-what's….what's he doing?"

Jeff knew, then, what it meant when people said they felt the blood drain from their face. He felt like there was ice water running through his veins and he wasn't pleased with it. His breathing felt off and every hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He suddenly felt very sick to his stomach and knew it was just a matter of time before everything he'd eaten for dinner was on the floor of the bar. Deep breaths, Jeff, he repeated in his head.

"Jeff…." Thad said, flanking him on the other side. "Look….look at Finn's face….look at the sound guy. No matter what it looks to be, it's not a friendly chat. Don't get all wound up yet…just stay calm."

"..'m not…not calm…" Jeff said, visibly shaking now. "He…he's touching Nicky….Trent…?" Jeff muttered out, ready to snap any second. "Why's he touching my Nicky like that? I think it's pretty clear he's not asking if he needs a helping hand with his guitar strap."

"Ok…it looks bad, but Jeff, you know damn good and well Nick would never-"

"Fuck NO, Nick would 'never' but it's not keeping that asshole from touching…my…boyfriend like he's a well fed piece of prize winning beef…what the fuck!"

"You're trembling, Jeff!" Thad hissed. "You have to calm down, man."

"When you're ready to shred someone, Thad, it's not trembling anymore…it's more like vibrating with fury at this point." Jeff said softly and with enough menace to scare the boys with him. He hadn't taken his eyes off the scene on the stage for one second….that guy needed to remove his hand before Jeff offered to assist him.

"What's the twink have that I don't, Nick? I know your dad detests him…isn't that right? In fact, if what I've heard from my dad is correct, it's all your doing that the Feds are after your dear ol' dad, isn't it? And it all started over that skinny ass gold digger, huh?" Shane pushed on…and Nick snapped.

His fake smile impossibly bigger, he grabbed Shane by the arm and dragged him, bodily, backstage. To the innocent bystanders on the dance floor, it clearly looked like sexual tension and that something was about to go down backstage. A few hoots and catcalls could be heard as Nick hauled him behind the stage curtains and into the hall that led to the break room. Joe and Finn followed quickly, but kept their distance, pretty much wanting Shane to get his due. Ron stayed on stage and opted to play some techno song that he hoped would drown out the chaos that was soon to start.

Out in the crowd, Jeff had seen enough, and he was going to find out what the hell was going on. Getting to the door at the side of the stage was a nightmare because of the crowd, and he had to dodge so many people it was insane. Finally he gave it up and opted for moving straight ahead. He found himself on the stage in one graceful vault to join the fray. Ron saw the body leap up on the stage and almost yelled at him to get lost until he realized who it was, then he was after him in a heartbeat to make sure the boy was ok.

As Jeff approached the back rooms, he was held back by Joe and a preoccupied Finn, who was literally grinning ear to ear and recording the proceedings with his phone. Out of Shane's line of sight and behind Nick, they all waited behind the stage curtain quietly, listening and secretly thrilled.

SLAM! The thud and rush of air from Shane's lungs could be heard out on the stage, he was sure of it. Nick shoved the taller man up against the wall in the hallway just outside of the break room and barely managed not to hit him.

"The fuck is your problem, Shane? Who the hell do you think you are, anyway? I'll tell you who you are, you're a cocky son of a bitch who thinks he should get anything he wants. Oh, don't give me that look, I know what your game is, and I know why you're here, you lapdog! I know your dad works with my dad, I know they sent you to see what was going on, and I think it's pathetic that you accepted the order. Don't you have anything more important to do than spy on me?" Nick boomed.

"Your dad would be happy, at least, if you were dating me instead of the gold digger!" Shane bellowed back.

"Don't you dare….don't you DARE call him that again. I'm going to say this one time, so you listen up, ok?" Nick hissed, up in Shane's face, barely able to control his rage. He was shaking, sweating and his face was red with fury. His hands were balled into fists at his side, just waiting for Shane to make a wrong move.

"I love Jeff. I. LOVE. HIM. And he loves me. I allowed my dad to get to him and run him away from me once before, Shane, but that will never happen again, because I can't survive without him. I don't want to…ever. He is the picture of compassion and elegance. He's so fucking intelligent he makes me feel illiterate some days and he's so talented in so many fields that I am astounded by his capacity to grasp so much and to be GOOD at all of those things! The man works with children, for God's sake, and his heart is so achingly large that it's a wonder it fits inside his fucking chest, which, I might add, looks as if it's chiseled out of beautiful, pale marble after some Greek god.

He is graceful and kind and accepting of all of my flaws, of which I'm sure there are many, and most of all, he loves me for me, not for what I have or what I can give him or what connections I have. If I gave every dime away tonight, he wouldn't budge. It doesn't matter to him, Shane. He loves me…..just me.

And for good measure, let me tell you what a fucking astounding lover he is, Shane…unselfish and strong, patient and oh my fucking GOD that boy's hips and the way he moves. He is grace, he is bliss, he is ecstasy, he is passion, and most of all, he is mine, and I am his….everything that I am, everything I do, everything I'll ever be, I'm his. He's is my boyfriend, my lover, my best friend, and there is no way…NO WAY, Shane, that a lost little boy like yourself could ever, in a million years, ever measure up to the man that he is. So you know what, I'm going to tell you now, in front of God above and whoever can most likely hear me bawling you out, that if you so much as touch me again, or if I hear one more sour word about Jeff from your nasty little mouth, I will end you. Do you understand what I'm saying, Shane, because if you don't, I'd be happy to say it again!"

Shane stood against the wall shaking with fury. Yes, it was true that he was sent to check up on Nick, but he hadn't planned on wanting the man when he got to know him. Now he was being told, in no uncertain terms, that he wasn't good enough, and basically that he should fuck off. Well, that wasn't gonna fly.

"Fuck you, Nick…you and your little gold digging twink! I'm giving your dad an earful, believe me!" he snarled. "You don't get to talk to me like this!" he spit out as Nick laughed in his face and turned to leave.

"I'll talk to you in any way I please! I have to keep repeating things because you're too damn dumb to listen to what I'm saying and leave me the fuck alone! I have a boyfriend, what's not getting through?!" Nick boomed again. He gave a dismissive half wave at Shane and turned to walk away, seeing Jeff standing around the corner of the curtain, his eyes wide and glassy. Surely he'd heard every word, and Nick didn't mind at all.

"Hey baby…" Nick said softly, his smile blinding now, pulling Jeff into his arms. "Sorry you had to witness all of his ignorance….and I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable?"

"God I am so in love with you, Nicky…." Jeff grinned and whispered into his man's ear as he leaned in to kiss him full on the mouth.

"Oh look, Nicky's little-" Shane began, but Nick cut him off.

"Don't….Shane, don't…." he growled.

"S'ok Nicky…" Jeff smiled and moved away from him toward Shane, his stance firm. "He's nothing to us…he's just jealous."

And then it happened. Before anyone knew what was going on, Shane walked up to Jeff and started running his mouth….and he shoved him…hard. Jeff stumbled back a few steps, a short, humorless laugh tumbled from his mouth…certainly not funny at all…and Shane came back for more. Shoving Jeff again, he started fidgeting around, taunting him, berating him for only wanting Nick's money and power.

"What are you going to do, you skinny bitch? Shove me back?"

"It's only fair to warn you that it's not a good idea to touch me again…" Jeff barely bit out, wanting so badly just to retaliate, but he felt he owed the idiot a warning.

It didn't help.

Jeff turned to move back to Nick's side and Shane stalked up behind him and shoved him for a third time… and that was that. In a blur of motion, Jeff turned and executed a series of sharp, agile motions that left a bruised and battered Shane on the floor of the hallway in a lump, moaning like a dying animal. Nick was a little stunned...and a whole lot turned on.

"Nobody touches him like that, Shane, and you don't get to call him Nicky. He's MY Nicky…"

Nick's breathing had gone from huffing because he was mad to panting because he'd never, ever wanted Jeff as badly as he did in that moment. He was in awe of the beautiful man standing before him, looking for all the world like an innocent school boy instead of a deadly weapon who'd just leveled a larger man in less than 10 seconds without breaking a sweat.

"Jeff…" Nick breathed out, his name like a whisper on a cloud, his eyes wide and awestruck, his breathing heavy and aroused.

"Oh, I'm…'m sorry…" Jeff started, looking unsure. "Did you wanna do it?" he asked, glancing unsurely at Nick then at Shane's prone form.

"Oh my god…" Nick snickered, grabbing Jeff's face and pulling him in for a heated kiss that left everyone around them blushing and adjusting. "That was oddly hotter than hell, and I'm so unbelievably turned on right now…"

"Show me?" Jeff whispered, eyelids heavy as Nick marked his neck and he mewled, needing more.

"Do something with that?" Nick asked, looking at Finn and the rest of the band who had gathered to watch Shane get his due. He gestured with his head at Shane and shoved Jeff into the break room, turning the lock.

"Hey! You're ruining the end of my video for Klaine!" Finn bellowed. "You're lucky I can't get my phone under the door you two!" he laughed.

Eli sat in his room, staring at his laptop screen. There was a large chunk of change conspicuously missing form his bank account this month, and he needed to make a phone call to remedy that. Sneering, he dialed the number and waited for an answer.

"What do you want?" the voice on the line asked harshly.

"I think you know what I want. Where's my money?" Eli hissed, in no mood for shenanigans after all the bullshit with Kurt that evening.

"I sent your damn money! Get off my phone line you-"

"Watch your tongue, Senator…we wouldn't want certain pictures to be seen in the papers or online or something tragic like that, now would we?" Eli said sweetly.

"Fuck you, I transferred your damn money! Check again!" the Senator replied, a hint of distress in his voice now.

"I'm checking now, refreshing, and whadda ya know, no deposit from Senator Layton's personal account. You have until tomorrow morning to fix this. Until then, I think I'll go visit my favorite student this evening and see how she's doing?" Eli said, tormenting the man on the other end of the line. "I bet she's so lonely….I fixed that once, I can surely do it again…." Eli trailed off.

"Touch my daughter again, you son of a bitch and I will make sure you're a dead man come morning." The Senator growled. "I already have one bastard to take care of thanks to you!"

"She begged for it. And you'd be surprised what I can get her to do with the mention of Tyler's name…she loves that kid endlessly, did you know that? She'll do anything to protect him. You have some really great kids, Layton…." Eli said jovially.

"You leave Maddie and Tyler alone! I'll find out what happened with the money, but you leave them the hell alone. As soon as I hang up I'm calling her to make sure she's ok and all locked in you prick! "

"I suggest a quick call to your banker before you do anything else, Senator. A lot is depending on it." Eli said before disconnecting the call and sitting back with a smirk of satisfaction on his face.

If he couldn't have Blaine tonight, maybe he could coerce Maddie into some fun. He'd surely learned his lesson with virgins last time. Didn't mean they couldn't get pregnant….wow, what a mess that turned into. But, on the positive side, the good Senator was willing to pay well to protect his daughter's name, and that was pretty lucrative for him. Soon he'd have enough to take his son and disappear. Until then, he'd play mind games with Maddie, fuck with her father and keep racking up the money in his bank account. Life was good.

Jeff sat, fidgeting (let's face it, his ass was just plain sore now) with Trent and Thad watching the band play, but mostly watching Nick and smiling. They'd been delayed in starting by having to remove Shane from the premises, as well as waiting on Nick and Jeff in the break room…and holy shit was it worth every minute of Finn banging on the door yelling for them to "get their damn pants on and get out here!" Nick wasn't lying when he said he'd been turned on. He had Jeff over the table while he lay across his back and took him fast and hard. Jeff had been reluctant to be the least bit verbal in public, but between Nick pounding him relentlessly and the stunning pleasure he was feeling, he loudly screamed in ecstasy when he came across Nick's palm stroking him beneath the edge of the table. He was so lax at that point he could have fallen asleep standing up and leaning over the table with Nick collapsed on his back panting. But no…there were things to do, songs to play and, for Jeff, conversations to be had later.

Well, the time had come, he told himself. It was now or never. No chickening out.

They started walking from the club, but Jeff stopped him and smiled, kissing him softly, and asked if they could stay at Nick's tonight. Nick was obviously curious, but he wasn't going to question it. They grabbed a cab and headed for Nick's place.

Terrance met them at the door and had the biggest smile Nick had seen on him in ages when he saw Jeff.

"Mr. Sterling, how very wonderful to see you again, sir!" he beamed, holding his hand out to shake.

"Terrance…how the hell are you, man?" Jeff said, swatting his hand away and hugging the older man tightly. "Been taking good care of my man, keeping an eye on him for me?" Jeff grinned.

"I try, I try, Mr. Sterling, but you know how he is….stubborn, just like his father." He smirked.

"Compare me to my father again, Mister, and we're gonna have issues! Them's fightin' words, Terrance!" Nick grinned.

"I shall endeavor to compare you only to your beautiful mother, then, sir."

"Much better…" Nick laughed. "Have a good night!"

"And you as well, sirs." Terrance said, giving Jeff a wink as they approached the elevator.

"He's awesome…." Jeff grinned as Nick turned the key for the penthouse.

"He is…and you need to meet Louise. She's doing much better with her treatments and they think she may be in remission. He's been on cloud nine."

"I'd love to meet her." Jeff said as the chime sounded softly and the door slid open.

Jeff stood in the foyer as Nick passed him and just looked at everything he could see…the floor to ceiling glass in the living room looking out over New York's night lights…the state of the art kitchen, the beautiful, expensive furniture….and Nick. Nick belonged here. It was his place, and he noticed some personal touches that weren't there when he had come the first time. There were a few framed photos of the two of them on shelves and end tables as well as a goofy doodle Jeff had drawn of the two of them dancing that was hanging on the refrigerator. It was much less "spotless" and much more lived in than it had been a few months ago, too. He figured that was due to Nick actually being here more often, and not at some stuffy office working for his dad.

He ran his fingers over the quartz counters in the kitchen, and smiled to himself remembering that first morning with the coffee and taking Nick's towel hostage. Man, he was beautiful…..

"Penny for your thoughts?" Nick said, startling him. "Aww…sorry baby. Where are you, so far away suddenly? He smiled.

"I was thinking of our first morning here…with the Danish and the coffee and…and you. Lots of you." Jeff smiled at him.

"I remember. Mostly I remember the panic that rose in me when I woke up to find you gone. I was so terrified that I'd done something to make you want to run. When you came back…it was one of the happiest moments of my life." Nick beamed, but blushed as well. "I just love having you here…in my space. Not that there's anything at all wrong with your space, it's nice…less private now with the guys there, but they're good guys." He smiled.

"About that…." Jeff trailed off.

"Yeah? Did they say something? Did we really freak them out the other night with the ceiling fan thing?" he snickered.

"No, they wouldn't say anything at all, even if they wanted to." Jeff laughed. "I was just thinking that…well, Blaine's always called it 'our place' ever since I've been there…and even after he left for Westindale and the guys moved in…I've never felt like it was my place, you know?"

"But it is…your stuff is there…you were there first, man. It's your place as well as theirs now, even when Blaine moves, he said you could stay there if you wanted, right?" Nick asked, confused a bit.

"He did, yeah….said I could just stay in whatever apartment they didn't take…it's just that…I don't know…it's a lonely existence being at home alone…when David would travel, I'd go nuts. That's why I spent so much time at Trent's place…that big moron!" He laughed.

"I can hang with you more if you want? Stay a few more nights or something. I don't want you to be uncomfortable, babe. Or, you could stay a few nights here, too. You're always, always welcome. I mean you know how I feel about it. I wish you'd just stay forever, but I know you have issues with it." Nick offered. He leaned down now, elbows resting on the counter top and his chin on his palms, staring across the counter at Jeff with a grin.

"What if…what if I've sort of told my issues to screw off?" Jeff asked, studying the colors and the sparkle in the counter.

"What do you mean? You want to spend more nights here with me?" Nick beamed.

"I thought…I mean, I was thinking maybe…." Jeff faltered. "What if I spend…um…more of…or…all of my nights here with you? And all of my mornings?"

Jeff hadn't looked up from the sparkles in the counter top and Nick moved around to stand next to him, heart pounding out of his chest and his breath uncertain if it was going in or out just now.

"Babe, don't mess with me, here….my heart's beating a mile a minute and I don't want it to be wrong…"

"Not messing with you…oh…unless that's too much…me being here all the time?" Jeff asked, unsure.

"You…are you saying you would consider…would you stay with me? All the time, Jeff? Like move in permanently? Please?" Nick said, begging like a little puppy.

"I don't want to intrude or anything, and I can give you what I was giving Blaine for rent because it's only fair that-" he began but Nick caught his face in his hands and layed one right on him.

While Jeff's body might be a weapon, Jeff had concluded that Nick's tongue was his own weapon. One sweep into Jeff's mouth and he was putty in his hands. Anything….he'd do anything for this man for one kiss like this.

"Please….god Jeffie, please…please just tell me you'll stay every night…every day. Forever. Just be here with me?" Nick pleaded.

"I thought we might give it a go, if you were still up for it. I can see that you are." He laughed.

"I want nothing more than to have you here with me at all times, so yeah, I'm up for it. Yes!" Nick fist pumped, doing a silly little hop, jumpy jig around the kitchen. He laughed, the sound so joyous and fun that Jeff laughed too, and they found themselves a few minutes later, still laughing and tumbling into bed.

"God I love this stupid bed!" Jeff moaned, wallowing around in the sheets like a pig in mud.

"I'm having second thoughts. If you're just staying for the bed, I have something to say about that!" Nick said, leaning in to poke him in the side and tickle him.

"No, it's not that, it's just so comfortable, and it…it smells like you and that's what I love best, Nicky. So yeah, I love your bed, but I love you more." He grinned.

"It's not my bed anymore though…it's our bed now. From this night forward…anything and everything within these walls is yours as well as mine…..ours, Jeffie."

"The HELL happened to you, Smythe?" Jimmy asked him the following morning at work.

"Fuck off…" was Seb's answer as he walked into his office and threw his suit jacket over the wooden tree in the corner near the door. He flopped down into his desk chair and waited, knowing that Jimmy would be through the door in 3, 2, -

"YOU fuck off, jerk….what happened to your eye, man? Don't' make me black the other one, dickweed." Jimmy smirked at him. "Things get a bit too frisky with Hunter? Or did you…shit, Sebastian, you didn't cheat on him, did you? Because so help me, if you did, I'll back the other eye myself just on principle!"

"I didn't cheat on him! Jesus, why does everyone freakin' assume….you know what. I'm back to 'fuck off', Jimmy!" Seb said, shaking his head and yanking out the cereal bar he'd grabbed on his way out the door, late as usual, but this time for a good reason.

"So who nailed you in the socket?"

"Hunter did, ok?!" he bellowed out. "Now go away, I'm in no mood to discuss it with the likes of you!" he smirked. The grin was there now, so Jimmy knew, whatever happened, it ended well.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me. I've got all day, your highness, so start yappin', baby", Jimmy sassed as he leaned back in the chair opposite Seb's.

"You know, for being my boss, you sure get in the way of me doing my work an awful lot. What the hell, man, go find something to do!" Seb bellowed at him, a full on mega-watt smile gracing his face now. He refused to look up at his boss, though, and busied himself with a stack of file folders in front of him. Jimmy just raised his eyebrows, crossed his arms over his chest and waited. After 5 minutes had passed with his boss simply staring a hole through is skull, Seb finally had enough and figured he'd give Jimmy answers and maybe more. He'd enjoy watching Jimmy squirm a little, and maybe it'd keep him out of his hair for a while.

"Still here…" Jimmy said, checking out his fingernails and cuticles closely.

"Fine. You're so fucking annoying!" Seb groused. "But remember this…you asked for the story, so sit back and shut up while I tell it!"

"Listening!" Jimmy grinned, sitting up a bit and smiling widely. "Anything that ends with Hunter socking you in the face is a story I wanna hear!" he laughed.

"Oh…it doesn't end there…" Seb mumbled under his breath, snickering.

"Do tell…" the other man said, motioning with his hand for Seb to go on.

"We went out to dinner last night, Hunter and me….we both had a heavenly filet mignon with béarnaise, grilled asparagus and although he wanted a salad, I got a baked potato…" Seb began.

"What the…what does that have to do with-"

"Shut the hell up and listen, you wanted the story…." Seb began, slamming his hand down on the desk in front of him. Another co-worker was standing in the doorway now, and as Jimmy turned to look at the guy, Seb winked at him conspiratorially.

"So, as I was saying, we had a superb dinner, then walked home and watched TV for a while, snuggled up on the sofa under a blanket. He likes that show about all the singers and the judges and all that shit…." He went on. "Anyway, he was headed home and was halfway out the door when he turned to kiss me goodnight and somehow, I'm not sure what happened, but-"

"He head butted you and knocked you out? Tell me that's what happened!" Jimmy smirked.

"Not exactly….. Actually, the kiss morphed into me dragging his jeans down around his ankles and pounding the shit out of his ass in the hallway and praying none of my neighbors came home while I was bending him over the railing on the landing, jerking him off through the banister…" Seb said, as if it were the most common conversation in the world. Looking up, briefly, he saw that Jimmy's eyes had gone wide and he was a little flushed…his face a bright pink now. A slight sheen of sweat shown around his hairline.

"S-so…how'd the eye…your eye…" he tried, wiping sweat from his forehead. The doorway was filling up fast, too. Sebastian messing with Jimmy was something of an office "thing" and everyone loved to be in on it.

"Oh, well, I couldn't send his ass home dripping, now could I? So, he came back in and we had a nice long shower, and the shower wasn't the only long thing about it…" he said, looking up distractedly and smiling at Jimmy.

"I hope he poked you in the eye with his-"

"Now now, James….that's not the case. If anyone was poking someone at that point, it was me. But…all good things must come to an end….so we retreated to bed… for round 3."

"Th….THREE?" Jimmy stuttered.

"Hunter's sexual stamina is something they should do medical testing on….he's a fucking God…" Seb sighed, long and loud, the heel of his hand pressing down over his zipper for a moment. He was, again, not paying much attention to Jimmy, but shifting his things around on the desk, marking files, putting them in the cabinet. Jimmy was a wreck. It was a well-known fact that he claimed to be as straight as a pin….but Seb would bet his next three paychecks that he would consider experimenting a little…if he hadn't done it already. He'd bet dollars to donuts that, within 30 seconds of this conversation ending, Jimmy would be in the men's room with the door locked.

"How'd…um…your eye…"

"OH! Sorry… I get off…the track, that is…off track." Seb snickered. "Anyway, we were laying there, covered in sweat and…other things….and Hunter asked me if I was ok with him staying and I said I was fine with it, I love it when he stays there and all that, and I'm not sure what happened…OH! That's right, he mentioned something about once a month, we could go out and each take someone new home to keep our relationship fresh. I'm not going to tell you the details, but the conversation got a bit heavy then-"

"Hunter would never say that seriously…he was joking, wasn't he?" Jimmy said, finally managing a full sentence.

"Well, I didn't know that!" was Seb's retort. "I was thrown off…I was-"

"So fucking jealous you flipped your shit, yeah?" Jimmy snickered.

"I wasn't happy with the suggestion, douchebag!" Seb hollered at him. "ANYWAY….so we talked until I felt like I couldn't breathe and I was getting to the point where I thought I was having an anxiety attack or something…cold sweat, shortness of breath, having doubts about my ability to have a long term relationship, wondering what the hell I'd do with the same guy forever….and then it dawned on me. I had to set him straight and get on the same page. What we were doing…how we were going about things wasn't working for me."

"You're a fucking idiot, Sebastian!" Jimmy bellowed, up out of his chair now and leaning into Seb's face. "What the hell, you fucking coward! How could you do that to him? He's the best damn thing you'll ever have! He's perfect, he's smart and kind and handsome and he tolerates your stupid ass and there's nothing more you could ask of him! What the hell were you thinking?!" he said, nearly screaming now. Half the office was now outside of Seb's door. "You blew him off, didn't you? You broke up with him, you ass!"

"Seems everyone thinks they know the outcome of the story but me…Hunter was running along those same lines, Jimmy….but he was wrong as well." Seb said, calmly.

"So you didn't break up with him?"

"Hell no, you moron, he's a perfect fucking angel. I'm not the smartest guy, but I'm not stupid!" Seb replied. "I asked him to marry me, jackass!" he smirked.

The whole room held its breath collectively, and Jimmy leaned in, eyes wide again.

"And he punched you?!" he asked, a grin beginning to pick up the corners of his lips.

"He was…less than accommodating at first." Seb snickered. "He did, he hauled off and punched me right in the face. He'd been laying there while I went to the can and he was certain I was breaking up with him. I think I caught him off guard a bit. The ring seemed to help soothe him, though."

"And? AND?" Jimmy urged, everyone still silent.

"And he's now wondering if he wants to be Doctor Smythe-Clarington or Clarington-Smythe." Seb smiled, and the room broke out into cheers, hoots and hollers.

"Awww, good job!" Jimmy said, slapping him on the back as he came around the desk to hug him properly. "Good man, Seb. I'm happy to see you settling down!"

"Who said anything about settling down? We went in for round 4 after that and I haven't slept yet. It's amazing what putting a ring on a guy's finger will do for his stamina and his kinky side." Seb winked at Jimmy, whose eyes went big and questioning.

"His k-kinky….kinky side?" Jimmy choked out.

"Yeah. His new favorite thing is for me to suck on his ring finger…with the ring on, of course, while he sucks on me…and if I open my mouth at all, he stops, and-"

"Ok, well, that's all good and now everyone back to work. Make way…I need to use the facilities right quick before we all begin our day…" Jimmy said, very red faced and busting through the crowd at the door. As he left, Seb raised his eyes to everyone still standing there and they all turned to see Jimmy hustling down the hallway to the restroom, his pants tented conspicuously, and they burst into fits of laughter as the restroom door closed behind him…Seb laughing the hardest.

From Sebby: Jimmy has a crush on you, love. *smirk*

From Dr. Clarington-Smythe: And this came about….how?

From Sebby: I see you've made a choice? And then screwed around with MY PHONE, Hunter! LOL I like Smythe-Clarington better.

From Dr. Clarington-Smythe: So you told me several times this morning. *snort*

From Sebby: He wanted to know what happened to my eye. I started from dinner and told him…in detail….and he's probably still in the bathroom cleaning up after himself. He needs his ass pounded something fierce.

From Dr. Clarington-Smythe: I'm down with that, as long as it's not you or I who do it.

From Dr. Clarington-Smythe: does not share well with others.

From Sebby: will personally castrate any man you try to "share" with. Mine. *insert possessive growling here*

From Dr. Clarington-Smythe: that goes double for me, Seb. No more sharing. I gave you my heart…keep it safe for me.

From Sebby: ditto

"OH MY GOD!" Kurt screamed, laughing at the top of his lungs.

"I'm up, I'm awake...what!?" Blaine said, groggy and half out of it. "What time is it?" he said, bleary eyed and rubbing the sleep way with is fists.

"Oh Jeff...God, how pissed am I that we missed this! Blaine! You do not even know..." Kurt laughed. "Watch this...sit up here, Blaine, you're totally missing it! I'm going to watch this a hundred times, I swear!" Kurt laughed, and Blaine smiled at Kurt's joy, wondering what had him so excited.

"Ok, ok, show me..." he said, settling in to the pillows fluffed up behind him.

"K, so Finn sent me this really late last night...and this morning I got it. Shit did, indeed, hit the fan last night at The Dive, and holy SHIT, Blaine...just watch!" Kurt said, finding the arrow and clicking it.

They watched in amusement as Nick slammed Shane against the wall and then went off on his verbal tirade, noting that at some point, Jeff also showed up with Finn, who swung the phone around to show a snickering Joe, a fuming Jeff and a cautious Ron.

"If he doesn't kill him, I get first dibs!" Jeff stage whispered, but it was totally missed by Nick who was ranting tirelessly about his love for Jeff, his marble-like chest and what a god he was in bed.

"Ooooh, Jeffie, I think someone loves you, baby!" Finn teased the blonde, who ducked and smiled, blushing 8 shades of crimson.

"Shut it, Finn!" Jeff responded, grinning. "It's because he knows how much I love him...that I adore him more than life itself."

"Sickening..." Joe muttered. They all snickered.

When Jeff had finally had enough and taken Shane to the floor in a few swift movements, Kurt and Blaine both cheered and Kurt was nearly in tears he was so proud of his friend.

"I'm so calling him when it's not 6:30 a.m.! That was the best thing I've seen in a long time!" Kurt smiled, laughing.

"Is that so? Well, then, I might have to step up my game. I've got something to show you this morning if you're up for it?" Blaine teased him. "I mean, since you woke me up yelling and everything, I think the least you can do is play with me?"

"Well, if I have to..." Kurt teased, before setting his phone on the nightstand and rolling over to wake Blaine properly.

A/N Ok, so Christine is busy...her mom isn't well, and she's been staying there this week and I don't want to rush her, so here it is, in all it's un-beta'd state of...well, whatever. Anyway, all mistakes are mine, so don't shoot me! This is a shorter chapter, but it was either give you what I had time to write, or not update at all, and I didn't wanna wait...so...here! :)
Finishing one quilt and beginning another, so my writing time is sporadic at best. Sorry :(

OH! and I've stumbled across some (by me) untapped goodness this week. I think you should check out anything by Dual Wielding on . Tell her I sent you and you're visiting with hugs and love from me :) Maybe she'll update "You Belong To Me" faster! LOL Good stuff, guys...get on it! Have a great week!