God's in 7th Heaven, All's Right with the World

By Cypher

Chapter 4: Dinner

            Simon made it home by dinnertime, carrying the books Terry had given him in a small book bag that Terry had loaned him.  He felt a great deal better, both having talked of his problems, and of learning that God didn't necessarily condemn him for his feelings.  As he approached his house, however, he felt nervous.  If they found the books, or he said the wrong thing, his world could come crumbling down.  He stopped walking and stared at the ground, thinking.  He was only ten feet from the door, but to Simon it felt too close.  He felt the need to go elsewhere, to study the books and return when he was sure he could sneak them in.

            "Hey there." 

            Simon mentally groaned.  He hadn't even heard Robbie come up behind him.  "Hey..."  He held the bag closer, making sure the books were covered.

            "Whatcha doing out here?"  Robbie stepped up next to Simon and looked at the house, putting his hands in his pockets.  "Watching the paint peel?"

            "Just...thinking.  That's all.  It was a heavy review session, and I kinda got lost in thought.  I just forgot where I was going."

            Robbie shook his head and put an arm around Simon's shoulders.  "Simon, you know your family stinks at lying, right?"

            Simon looked at the hand on his shoulder.  "What makes you think I'm lying?"  He pushed the arm off.  "Besides, what is it to you?  You're not mom or dad.  If I don't want to tell you something, that's my choice."

            Robbie held up his hands and backed up a bit.  "Hey, just trying to help ya, that's all."  He lowered his arms.  "You're like a brother, Simon.  I just wanna make sure you're okay and not in any trouble or anything."

            Simon's shoulders slumped.  "Sorry, man.  It's...I'm just dealing with a lot, and these extra studies are making me tired."

            "Maybe you should stop.  It's not like you really need it.  You're doing great in school."

            Simon ran a hand through his hair.  "I need it."  He headed for the house, Robbie right behind him.

            "Hey, you made it for dinner.  We were starting to worry."

            Simon nodded at his mother.  "Yeah.  I'll be down in a few."  He headed up stairs.

            Annie waited a moment or two.  "Well?"

            Robbie leaned on the counter and shrugged.  "Whatever it is, he's attributing to extra studies."

            "But Simon doesn't need any extra studying.  He does fine in school."  Annie grabbed the silverware.

            Robbie grabbed the plates and headed for the dinning room.  "That's what I said, so I think he's hiding whatever it is.  But he doesn't want us to know about it, at least, not me."

            Annie sighed.  "Alright.  Thanks."

            Simon came back down, having dropped the bag in his room in a place he was pretty sure Ruthie wouldn't find it.  "Oh, Mom?"

            "Yes?"  Annie faced her son. 

            "Are we doing anything next Friday?"  Simon rested his hands on the back of a chair.

            "Lucy or Robbie might get dates, but otherwise, I don't think so, why?"

            Simon rubbed the back of his neck.  "Well, Terry wants to bring over his family for dinner, so that you'll feel more comfortable with him.  But if you don't want to..."

            Robbie and Annie exchanged glances.  Robbie raised his eyebrows, while Annie turned back to Simon.  "That sounds fine.  Tell him dinner's around six."
            "Okay, I will."  Simon tapped fingers on the back of the chair, looking as if he was about to say something else.  After a minute, Simon seemed to change his mind and headed for the stairs again.  "I'll help dad get the twins."
            "Alright.  Thanks Simon."

            Simon nodded and left.

            "Matt and I still think this Terry guy knows what this is all about."

            "Well, you and Matt can ask him next Friday."  Annie went back to the kitchen.  "Help me set the food, would you?"

            "Sure thing, Mrs. Camden."  Robbie followed her.

~*()*~

            "So, I was just thinking that for one or two Sundays I could visit his church.  That's all."

            Eric was carrying one of the twins, Simon picking up the second.  "And the reason for this would be...because you don't like my sermons?"

            "No, no.  Nothing like that."  Simon shifted his hold on the twin, making himself more comfortable.  "He invited me because he thought I might like to see it, plus his family and friends go there.  Please?  It's not like I've ever asked this, and you'd let Matt go to a girlfriend's church."  Simon suddenly bit his lip.  "I mean..."

            "Is this about a girl, then?  Because if so, Simon..."

            "It's not about a girl.  I just want to see where he goes.  He's new in town and doesn't have many friends at our school.  Maybe if I understood his religion better we'd have more to talk about and I could help him find new friends."
            "You're not going to convert, are you?"

            "Dad."  Simon lifted Sam up a bit in his grip.  "Dad, I just wanna be friends with this guy, and he invited me to his church.  One Sunday, is that too much to ask?"

            "Let me think it over."  Eric headed for the door.

            Simon followed.  "Well, he's coming over next Friday with his family.  After you meet them would it be okay?"
            "Maybe."  Eric headed downstairs.

            Simon sighed and headed down as well.

~*()*~

            "You're sure it's Dax that's coming over?" 

            Ruthie nodded.  "Next Friday.  He's brining his family, too."

            "Great.  Once he gets to know my family maybe he'll want to go out."

            "I don't think he's going to go out with you, Lucy.  He turned you down, what, two times now?"

            Lucy tilted back and forth a moment.  "True, but third time's a charm, right?  And I've got a whole week to prepare to meet his family."

            "I wonder if they're as weird as he is."  Ruthie sat on a bed.

            "He is not weird."  Lucy crossed her arms.  "And how did you come to think he was?  You've never even met him."

            "I've heard things."  Ruthie nodded. 

            "What things?" 

            "Well, he's always moving, he spends all his time in the library, and he disappears after school."

            "And you come to the conclusion weird how?"  Lucy raised an eyebrow.

            "I also heard he's got red eyes."

            Lucy rolled her eyes and stood up.  "He's got brown ones.  I've seen them myself."

            "Maybe you just think you've seen them.  He could be tricking you."

            "Why would he want the world to think he had red eyes?  That's just dumb."

            "Say what you want.  He's got red eyes."

            Lucy let out a frustrated sigh and headed downstairs for dinner.

~*()*~

            Another week came and went, Simon's nervousness growing as Friday approached.  What if Terry decided to tell his family about his own preference?  Or if his brother let it out that Terry was gay, and that Simon was thinking about it?  What if his mother was a total nutcase, or what if Matt figured it out?  Friday after school, however, Terry pulled Simon aside and gave him a little pep talk, reassuring him everything would go fine.  Simon felt more relaxed, deciding Terry probably knew what he was doing.

            Annie spent the day preparing a special dinner, leaving the table cleared until they knew how many people would be joining them, though she predicted four, she tripled the recipes instead of doubling them as she usually did.  Lucy spent the majority of the day looking through her closet, deciding what to wear, how to ask Terry out, when would be the right time, and other such details.  Matt and Robbie planned their own little party, something where they could gang up on the teen and find out what was going on with Simon. 

            As six rolled around, Simon went to the living room, listening for the doorbell.  When a motorcycle died down outside his house, he furrowed his brow, wondering what was going on.  Opening the door, he saw Terry get off his bike and take off his helmet.  Simon found himself staring as Terry tossed his hair a bit to un-mat it.  He snapped out of it when his parents came up behind him.

            Terry walked up to the door, helmet in hand.  "Hey Simon.  Mr. and Mrs. Camden, it's nice to meet you again."

            "Ah, hi...Terry was it?"  Eric shook Terry's free hand.

            "Call me Dax.  It's easier to remember, after all."  He bowed his head to Annie.  "You look lovely."

            "Oh, thanks."  Annie looked outside.  "I thought you said your family was coming."

            "Ah yes."  Terry stepped inside and looked for a place to set his stuff.  Simon took it from Terry and placed it on a table.  "Mom and dad can't make it, but Jordon will try to."  He shrugged.  "I'll explain over dinner, if you're ready."

            "Of course."  Annie and Eric looked at each other before heading for the dinning room.

            Simon bit his lip and glanced at Terry.  "You said-"

            Terry patted Simon's hand.  "I'll explain over dinner.  I'm starved."

            Simon blushed slightly and headed for the kitchen.

            Lucy bounded down the stairs and walked up to Terry.  "Hey there."

            "Oh, hey Lucy.  Oh, by the way," Terry took off his coat and put it with his helmet.  He dug into his pockets and pulled out a piece of paper.  He handed it to Lucy.  "This is for you.  He's a friend of mine, about your age, and he's very interested in meeting you.  Mind giving him a call?  He's really nice, I promise."

            Lucy's grin faded a little.  "Oh...well, thanks."  She took the paper.  "I was gonna ask you out again...but it seems-"

            "Lucy, you're a great girl.  But I'm afraid I'm just too busy, and to be honest, you're not my type."

            Lucy's eyebrows rose.  "I'm not your type?"

            "You're too old for me, and though age doesn't really make a difference, I want someone I can share education with."  Terry patted Lucy's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.  "But if you'd like to just be friends, I'd love that."

            Lucy sighed, pocketing the paper.  "Well, so much for third time's a charm."

            "I'd say that number I gave you is quite a charm for you."  Terry winked.  "He's an underwear model."

            "You're kidding, right?"

            Terry shook his head.  "He's pretty smart too.  He's just modeling for college money, but he's smart enough to get a partial scholarship."  Terry headed for the dining again.

            "An underwear model."  Lucy stopped walking after him.  "Wait, he's not gonna try-"

            "He's a devoted Christian, won't have anything like that until after marriage.  Believe me, I've heard many a story from him about upset women who couldn't get him to...you know."

            Lucy nodded and headed for the kitchen.  "In that case," she kissed Terry's cheek, "thanks." 

            Terry grinned and went into the dining room.  He faced the Camden clan.  "Thanks for having me over, by the way."  Terry took a seat next to Simon.

            "No problem."  Eric made sure the other kids were present.  "You don't mind if we say a prayer-"

            "Go ahead.  It's tradition in our family too."  Terry closed his eyes.

            "Oh, well, you want to do it for us?"
            Terry blinked his eyes open.  "You sure?  It's your house and all..."

            "Ah, go ahead."  Eric waved his hand.  "Let's hear what your blessing sounds like."

            "Alright."  Terry closed his eyes again and put his hands together.  "Itadakimasu."  Terry opened his eyes.  "That's it."

            The Camdens exchanged glances.  Simon shook his head, beginning to worry again. 

            "What was that?"   Annie tilted her head.

            " At our house we usually say prayers in one of two languages, depending on whose night it is to say them.  I tend to use informal Japanese, while my brother switches between English and Osaka dialect."  Terry began eating.  "This is very good.  You'll have to give me the recipe."

            Annie nodded.  "Thanks."

            "Osaka is Japanese too, isn't it?  It's the same language, right?"

            Terry looked over at Robbie.  "Actually, it's different.  The Osaka dialect is more informal, the American equivalent of slang or lazy speaking."  Terry ate a bit more.  "I don't believe I've met you.  You are...?"

            "Robbie.  I live here."

            "Cool, nice to meet you."  He turned towards Ruthie.  "You must be Ruthie, and the twins are Sam and David?"
            "Yeah."  Simon nodded.

            "So where're your parents?"  Ruthie asked, eating a bit.  "I thought we were going to meet your family."

            "Ruthie."  Simon gave his sister a warning look.

            "It's alright."  Terry put his fork down and thought a moment.  "Dad's in New York, working with some particle accelerator.  Mom's in...I think she's in the Ukraine today.  And my brother had to pull an emergency shift where he works.  Like I said, he'll try and make it."

            "Ukraine?  Why would your mother be in the Ukraine?"  Annie frowned.  "And what does your brother do?"

            "And what do you do?  I heard you have a job, but no one knows what it is."  Matt rested an arm on the table.

            Terry shook his head and ate a bit. 

            "Guys, stop with the third degree.  I mean, he's my friend."  Simon patted Terry's back.  "So some things came up.  What's the big deal?"

            "I wanna know how you know a model."  Lucy ate a bit more.  "Much less got his number."

            "Fine, fine.  I should be used to this, anyways."  He leaned back in his chair.  "Mom's in the Ukraine because she's an international reporter.  Dad's a nuclear physicist who rarely sees me, much less is in the same state as his family.  My brother is an assistant to some astronomer a couple towns over.  And as for knowing the model and what I do after school..."  He tilted his head and crossed his arms.  "Well, basically, I'm a model too.  Whatever they need me to do, I do.  For a book cover, a calendar, ads."  He shrugged.  "It's good money, though time consuming."

            "No way, you're a real model?"  Lucy pulled out the phone number and stood up.  "Excuse me, I've got to go make a phone call."  She headed upstairs.
            The Camden family blinked, watching Lucy run upstairs.

            "Didn't any of you see me in last Sunday's paper?  It was for a sweater at Sears, I think."

            "I thought that guy looked familiar."  Annie ate her salad a bit.

            "Are you guys satisfied, yet?"  Simon looked around the table.  "He's just a normal teen."  Simon took in the looks from his family and shrugged.  "Kinda."

            "Yeah, normal except that he's a model and has red eyes sometimes."

            "Red eyes?"  Eric looked from Ruthie to Terry.

            Terry coughed.  "Those are my contacts.  Though I shouldn't need them much longer.  I'm getting my eyes lasered in about a month."

            "Lasered?"  Ruthie made a face.  "Doesn't that hurt?"

            "That's what I thought, but apparently it's quite painless, even afterward."  Terry cut into his chicken.  "But I decided it was time to move on from contacts.  I mean, I have to get a new pair almost every month since I lose them.  It just seemed easier and more cost effective in the long run." 

            "Well, I hope it goes well."  Eric raised his water glass a bit.

            "Thanks." 

            "So how do they do it?"

            Terry laughed and shook his head at Ruthie.  "After dinner I'll tell you what they told me.  I want to make sure your family is satisfied with me."

            "Satisfied?"  Matt raised an eyebrow."

            "With all the questioning going on, I figured you're just sizing me up to see if I'm alright for Simon to hang with."  Terry munched on some vegetables.  "To be honest, I'm probably the most normal one of my family.  Jordon is a science nut, and is constantly looking at things from a scientific standpoint.  My dad lives a solitary life moving from lab to lab doing whatever research, and my mom..."  Terry tilted his head, chewing.  "My mom is...unique.  When you meet her, you'll understand.  There is no real way to describe her in a way that does her justice.  Can you pass the pepper?"

            Simon grabbed it and handed it over.  "Thanks for hanging out this long."

            "My mom's a reporter.  Getting questioned to death is something I'm used to."  Terry peppered his chicken.  "But I try and have a normal life."

            "And you're taking AP classes?"  Matt sipped his milk.  "Why aren't you taking ordinary classes?"

            "I thought Simon told you everything."  Terry smirked a bit.  "I told him already."

            Matt put his glass down.  "Well, I know why, but I figured the rest of the family..."

            "Putting that thought aside," Terry finished his plate and rested his arms on the table, leaning forward a bit.  "You're a reverend, right Eric?"

            "Uh, yep.  Yeah, that's right.  For my church."  Eric shifted a bit, uncomfortable with the informal address Terry had used.

            "You and I are going to have fun debating religious views on modern issues."

            Eric sat up a bit.  "Oh really?"

            "It's one of my favorite things to do with my brother when I'm bored.  One day we'll have to have a debate."  Terry leaned back and turned to the side, coughing.  "Sorry."

            "Hey Dax, thanks!"  Lucy hurried down the stairs grinning.  She went behind Terry and hugged him before returning to her seat.  Simon felt himself envying his sister for a moment. 

            "No prob, Lucy.  Just call if you need another, I've got a ton of single guys who can't get a date.  They can't find a girl interested in stuff beyond looks." 

            "Did," Eric looked at Annie, then Lucy and Terry, "did we miss something?"

            "Nothing important.  I'm sure Lucy will tell you later."

            Annie ahemed and picked up her glass.  "So Terry, where do you go to church?"

            "A little place, about a mile out of Glen Oak.  It's the only chapter of my denomination there is."

            "And that denomination is?"  Eric leaned forward.

            "Does it matter, really?"  Terry smiled at Eric.

            "Well, we're kinda curious."  Matt crossed his arms and leaned them on the table.

            "It's a generic Christian group, but it holds the same views as my last church." Terry held up his hands.  "And we can discuss the finer points of it another day.  I try and avoid religion the first time I meet a family.  It can get people off on a bad foot."

            "Exactly."  Simon pushed his chair back and grabbed his plates. 

            "Oh, let me.  I'm the guest and I'd feel terrible if I didn't help."  Terry made a move to stand.

            "No guest of ours is going to do dishes."  Annie stood up and grabbed his plates.  "That would be inhospitable of us."

            "I insist, you made this wonderful dinner-"

            "No."  Annie headed for the sink.

            "It's best to just go along with what she wants, Dax."  Eric whispered.

            "I heard that."

            Eric winced. 

            Terry relaxed and put his hands together.  "Well, any other questions?  Even trivial?"

            Simon came back and sat in his seat, having been kicked out of the kitchen by his mother.  "Well, I kind of wonder why you and your brother's names are so...different."

            Eric nodded and pointed to Simon.  "That's a good one."  He put his hand down and looked at Terry.

            Terry turned a bit red and bit his lip.  "It's kinda embarrassing."

            "What, you mean after everything else, THIS is embarrassing?"  Robbie shook his head. 

            "Well, Jordon's first name is Bruce because at the time mom really liked Batman, so...she named him after that."

            "So why do you have two names?  Unless Bruce-"

            "He likes to be called Jordon, Matt."

            "Right.  So does Jordon have a middle name?"

            "No.  You see, my birth was a lot more...painful for my mom.  So they had to give her some morphine for the pain." 

            Annie came back and leaned on the back of her chair.  "I know what that's like."

            Eric scooted his chair away from his wife. 

            "Well, after my birth, she was really kinda outta it, and she told me that she was hallucinating dinosaurs because she had just covered a major paleontological find.  She said 'pterodactyl' but it came out more like 'Terry Dax.'  So that's what the nurse put down."

            "And your father didn't object?"  Eric blinked.

            "To be honest, he was on morphine as well."

            Annie frowned.  "What for?  He didn't give birth."

            Terry nodded.  "That's true, however, mom crushed his hand."

            "She what?"  Eric suddenly found himself very grateful, despite the pain Annie had put him in.

            Terry sighed.  "She broke four of his fingers and dislocated his wrist, and to this day, the doctors say she sounded like a possessed woman when she said 'you touched me.  You will die!' to him."  Terry shrugged.  "Like I said, mom is unique." 

            Simon was staring, as was the rest of the Camden family.

            Terry looked around and held up his hands.  "I tried to tell you it was embarrassing.  But she hasn't broken his hand or sounded possessed since.  It was just the pain."

            "Were you sideways or something?  I mean," Annie tried to picture the scene, and somehow found she could with Eric.  "Why was she in so much pain?"

            "My brother damaged something coming out, and they didn't find out until it was too late with me.  They fixed it so she can have children still, but I don't think she's going to for a while."  Terry scooted away from the table and stood up.  "Pardon, but where's the bathroom?"

            Simon snapped himself out of his daze and stood as well.  "I'll show you."  He headed upstairs, Terry on his heels.

            "Wow..."  Eric sat there staring at the chair Terry had been sitting in.  "Four fingers.  Poor guy."

            Annie whapped his shoulder.  "What about her?"

            "I think his family sounds weird."  Matt faced his parents.  "I mean, she sounded possessed?  I've seen pregnant women sound pissed, weepy, angry, just about everything.  But possessed?"

            "He probably thinks our family is weird, too."  Lucy pushed around the cold meat on her plate.  "He only has his brother, and here's this huge family.  I'm sure he's wondering how we handle it."

            "Lucy's right.  He may seem strange to us, but we're probably strange to him."  Eric leaned forward and rested his head on his hands.  "Still, crushing four fingers..."

~*()*~

            Terry stepped out of the bathroom.  Simon was leaning on the wall next to the door, thinking over the dinner.  He gave Terry a worried look.  "I think you told a bit too much."

            Terry smiled and squeezed Simon's shoulder.  "Nonsense.  Besides, they can think I'm weird, but to me, this huge family is kind of weird.  I mean, you have nine people living here.  That's enormous compared to what I'm used too."

            Simon nodded, putting his hands in his pockets.  "Yeah, it gets a bit crowded, especially with so few bathrooms and only one phone line."

            "Only ONE?!"  Terry's jaw dropped.  "You have only ONE phone line?!"

            Simon nodded.  "Yeah.  How many do you have?  Two?"

            Terry closed his mouth and thought a moment, rubbing his upper arm.  "Five.  Plus two cell phones."

            "Five?  You only have two people there."  Simon headed for the stairs.

            "Well, there's the house line, my personal line, Jordon's personal line, the internet line, and the fax line."  Terry hesitated before following.  "Only one."  He shook his head. 

            "You kind of get used to it.  Five would be a huge luxury."  Simon went to the dinning room again.

            "Five what?"  Lucy looked up from where she was clearing her place. 

            Terry stepped up behind Simon.  "Phone lines."

            "You have five phone lines?"  Lucy faced her dad.

            Eric, his arms filled with plates, nodded for the kitchen and scurried away.

            "What do you need five phone lines for?"  Matt grabbed the silverware.

            Terry sighed.  "Fax, internet, two personal, and home."  Terry looked at his watch.  "Not necessarily in that order."  He pulled out a cell phone and headed for the living room.  "Can you excuse me a moment?"

            "Sure."  Simon started to help clean up as well. 

            "Wonder who he's calling."  Robbie started clearing the table of placemats.

            "His brother."  Ruthie helped Robbie.

            "You shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations on the phone."  Simon glanced at Ruthie.  "Especially guests."

            Terry came back in.  "Oh, I don't mind.  I'll just talk in Japanese."  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.  "My brother's not going to make it."

            "S'okay.  Hey, how do you know Japanese?"  Simon pushed open the kitchen door with his shoulder.

            Terry walked over and held the door open for them.  "My brother lived there for about two years, then he took me to visit for a month or so, so yeah.  It kind of rubbed off on me.  It was also my second language in grade school."  He looked down at Ruthie.  "You wanted to know how they're going to laser my eyes?"

            "Yeah."  Ruthie put the napkins in the dirty laundry basket.

            "Come on, I'll tell you about it in the living room."  He headed there, Ruthie following.

            Simon set his dishes by the sink and leaned on the counter, sighing.  It was not going as smoothly as he wanted, but it wasn't a disaster, either.  Thank goodness for small favors.

            "Well, he seems nice."  Annie washed dishes, Eric drying them.  "And he's a recent transfer to your school?"

            "That's how I met him, yeah."  Simon rubbed his forehead.  "He's really a great guy, honest."

            "Oh, he's a great guy."  Eric nodded, agreeing.  "Still, be careful around his family.  Especially his mother."

            "I will.  He's warned me of their quirks."  Simon pushed himself upright and stretched.  "Where are Matt and Robbie?"

            "I think they went to listen to the eye laser thing."

            Simon frowned a bit.  "Thanks."  He headed for the living room.

~*()*~

            "And zap, they're done."

            "Cool.  But why'd you get red contacts?  I mean, your eyes are fine the color they are."

            Terry smirked.  "Shock value, to add a mysterious aspect to me.  Take your pick."

            Ruthie nodded.  "Can I have them after you're done?"

            "Fraid not.  They're too big, prescription, and would really irritate your eyes."  Terry patted her head.  "But maybe for Christmas I'll get you a pair of normal colored contacts, eh?"

            "Thanks."

            "Hey Ruthie, Lucy wants to see you upstairs." Matt entered, followed by Robbie.

            Terry nodded to Ruthie.  "You best get going.  Don't keep your sister waiting."

            Ruthie sighed and headed for the stairs. 

            Matt stood a few feet away from Terry, arms crossed.  Robbie was slightly behind him, standing in the same position.  Terry broke the silence first.

            "So ask what you want."

            "What's wrong with Simon?  Ever since he met you he's been...different, and we want to know why."  Matt stood taller, trying to look imposing.

            "I thought Simon told you everything."

            Robbie looked to the ceiling a moment.  "Please, we're just worried about him."

            "If there was something wrong, he'd tell you.  Everyone goes through at least one depression during high school.  First month of APs I was so down my brother got me to a psychologist to make sure I was fine.  This is just Simon's time, probably."

            Matt shook his head and pointed at Terry.  "No, no it's something else.  Camdens don't go through depressions in high school."

            "He seems fine to me, guys.  Why don't you ask him what the problem is?"

            Robbie stepped up next to Matt.  "Because he just says it's school work, and we know he's lying."

            Terry met Robbie's eyes.  "And how do you know he's lying?  Do you really know him so well that you can definitively declare that?"

            Robbie nodded.  "And if I can't, Matt can.  He's been Simon's older brother his whole life."

            Terry moved his gaze to Matt's eyes.  Matt met it, then began to waiver.  Finally, he looked away.  "Something's wrong with Simon, and we know you know."

            "Simon seems fine to me.  Maybe you two are reading too much into things.  Besides, isn't Simon's life his own?  You two shouldn't poke where you don't belong."

            "Let me tell you-"

            "Matt! Robbie!"  Simon pushed past the two older guys and stood in front of Terry.  "He's right, you know.  It's my life and I'll tell you if something is wrong.  So just stop bothering him."

            Matt stepped forward.  "Simon-"

            "Leave him alone.  I'm fine, I'm just having a hard time with schoolwork and he's helping me, okay?  So just knock it off."  Simon's hands curled into fists a moment.

            Robbie noticed and stepped back. "Alright, Simon.  We were just worried, that's all."

            "Well, I'm fine."

            Matt gave Terry a warning look, then stepped back.  "Sorry, Simon.  We just wanted to make sure you weren't hanging around with the wrong guy."

            "I think I'd know if he was trouble.  You've pretty much set me straight on who's good to hang out with."

            Matt nodded.  "Alright."  He turned and left, Robbie following.

            Simon sat down next to Terry and sighed, closing his eyes.  "I'm sorry about my family.  Thanks for sticking around so long."

            "You think my brother doesn't grill my friends?  Once I caught him doing a background check using mom's connections.  We all have our paranoid siblings.  They're just looking out for us, that's all."  He took Simon's hand and squeezed it.  "Don't worry about it.  Tonight went great."

            "I'm glad one of us thinks so."  Simon opened his eyes and looked down at their hands, blushing slightly.  "Sorry your family couldn't make it."

            "Eh, I don't think your parents would've withstood mom.  She's intense."

            Simon chuckled.  "Sure sounds like it."

            Terry let go of Simon's hand and glanced at his watch.  "It's time for me to go.  I've got an early shoot tomorrow."  He stood and stretched. 

            Simon stood as well.  "Um, thanks for coming over and withstanding my parents."  He shifted from one foot to another.

            "You already said that."  Terry ruffled Simon's hair and went for his stuff. 

            Eric caught sight of him and stepped into the entryway.  "Going already?"

            "Afraid so.  Early shoot."  Terry put on his coat and held his helmet in one hand.  The other he held out.  "Thanks for having me over, and tell Annie to send me the recipe.  It was really good."
            Eric shook it.  "I'll do that."

            Terry smiled and turned, heading for the front door. 

            "Hey Te...Dax.  Why don't you come to my church Sunday?  Since you invited Simon to yours."

            Terry opened the door and stood there, thinking.  "I'll call tomorrow to tell you.  It really depends on my brother, since we go together.  But I can probably talk him into it."

            "You don't have to talk him into it if he doesn't want to go."  Simon moved over towards Terry, aiming to deal with the door for him.

            "He doesn't like to get up early, so I have to talk him into church anyways. I don't mind, really."  Terry stepped out, Simon grabbing the edge of the door.  "So I'll call tomorrow with an answer.  Later."  Terry put on his helmet and headed for his bike.

            Simon waved, wishing he had some more time with the teen.

            Eric watched Terry drive off.  "I'm not sure I want you riding that with him.  Motorcycles are dangerous."

            "He's never gotten a ticket or been in an accident."  Simon closed the door and stood there, staring at the wood a few minutes.  "Dad?"  He turned to face his father.

            "Yes Simon?"

            Simon leaned against the doorframe.  "Do you think something's wrong with me?"

            Eric nodded towards his office and went in.

            Simon sighed and went in after him.

            Eric closed the door and moved to sit behind his desk.  "We all know something's different about you.  You're not really yourself.  You seemed happier with Dax here, and we all wonder why."

            Simon collapsed in a chair and rested his forehead against a hand.  "Terry's really helping me through a tough time at school, that's all."

            "Is it something we can help with?  Or that I can help with?"

            Simon shook his head a bit.  "No."  Simon went quiet for a few minutes.  "Can you just reassure everyone I'm going to be fine?  Terry's helping me, and all of you pressuring me to find out what it is isn't helping."

            "Okay.  I can do that.  But you do know we're here for you, right?"

            Simon closed his eyes.  I don't know.  If you knew what I was exploring, you might condemn me.  Nonetheless, Simon nodded slightly. 

            "Alright."  Eric tilted his head down to look at Simon's face.  "You look kind of tired."

            "I feel it."  Simon stood up.  "Goodnight, dad." 

            "Night." 

            Simon walked out, arms swinging at his sides.  Annie came in, following Simon with her eyes.  "So do you know?"

            "He won't tell me.  But he said that it's something Dax's helping him with and to reassure the family that he's going to be fine and to stop pressuring him."

            "You didn't tell him you would, did you?"

            Eric leaned away a bit.  "Yeah, I kind of did.  It's what he needs, I think."

            "So we just let him do whatever until he comes to us?  What if he's turning out like Mary?"

            "I don't think that's it."  Eric put a finger to his chin and tapped it.  "It's something else, something far more personal."  He looked at his wife.  "And to be honest, I think Dax will tell us if it's something really bad.  He seems like a good kid."

            "Great, so we just let our teenage son listen to his peers for advice?"

            "I think it's all we can do.  He's refusing to talk to any of us."

            Annie let out a frustrated sigh and left, shaking her head.

            Eric slowly sat back into his chair, thinking everything over.

~*()*~

            Simon opened up the book Terry had given him.  He was nearly done with it, and thus far no one had noticed it, or had noticed it and neglected to ask about it, which he was thankful for.  After tonight, though, and the feelings that welled up when Lucy hugged Terry, as well as the loneliness after he left, Simon needed reassurance that he wasn't making a mistake.  The book had helped him identify his feelings, and some of the interpretations of the Bible had comforted him.  But he had yet to come across a definitive reassurance that God was okay with this.  He also had yet to reach the chapter regarding family and homosexuality, mainly due to the fact that he skipped over that chapter.  Tonight, though, he opened to that chapter and began reading.  He never noticed how the time passed as he read, and by midnight, he had fallen asleep, his head using the book as a pillow.

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Translations: Hey, it's your author again.  As Japanese is a dominant part of Terry and Jordon's life, there will be phrases and even entire sentences where it's romanji.  Translations will always be at the bottom of chapter (hey, if it were TV, you might not even GET a translation…going for quasi-realism from the viewer's POV). 

Itadakimasu: While there is no LITERAL translation, one translation is "thank you for this food, now we're eating."