Finally, another chapter! I know, I know… I had such a case of writer's block. Just couldn't write a thing. But I'm back, on this at least.

Thanks to Amy for the chapter title and the pre-posting feedback.

Chapter 11: Discussions & an Outburst

I open my eyes to see that I am still alone in bed. But not in the apartment, since I hear music coming from another room. It's nothing that I recognize and I figure it must be Hunter's since I can't understand it either. But whatever it is, it's rock-ish. I decide that since I've slept so much over the past few days that I need to stay awake. So while I change out of my sleep clothes, I suddenly realize that Thanksgiving is coming up.

I think about Jessie and my parents, and the likelihood that this Thanksgiving would be the first holiday that we wouldn't be all together. But I won't subject myself to their scrutiny, and completely wreck Jessie's holiday. I have no idea what to do.

I also have no idea Hunter and Blake are going to do.

Well, it seems that my first holiday without my family could be my first with him. I finally find the silver lining in that black cloud. Here's hoping I don't wreck their holiday either.

Exiting the bedroom, I find Hunter in the kitchen, washing some dishes while singing along to whatever song is on. I listen for a few seconds, then move in behind him. I place my thumbs in the hip pockets of his jeans, and rest my chin on his shoulder.

"Was the music too loud?" he asks, turning his head slightly towards me.

"Nah. I think I've just slept enough."

"You've needed it."

I dry the dishes he washed, and then help him put them away. We talk motocross, about Blake's date with Tori, and as we move into the living room, about his music collection.

He smirks, sitting with one leg tucked under him. "It's German."

I sit next to him, leaning against him as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. "You never told me you knew another language."

"You never asked."

"Never knew I needed to."

"You don't, really," he shrugs. "I just never really thought to tell you. But I will, if you want."

"Of course."

"I don't remember much about my birth parents, just images. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is crashing down around me, I can hear my mother singing like she used to. She would sing to me in German all the time, sometimes talk to me in German. At the time, I had no idea what she was saying. Now I wish I could remember what she said, now I'd know. I learned German a few years ago. I gave up motocross for an entire summer so I could travel there and learn the language."

"What happened to your parents? Why didn't they teach you?"

"They never got a chance to. I was four when they were killed by a drunk driver. With no other family, I went to an orphanage. I was adopted eight months later. Blake and our parents didn't know German, so I didn't learn then. We were at the academy when I decided it was something I needed to do. Everyone understood, and Blake even began learning with me."

"He knows it too?"

"Some. He stuck it out for a while, but I was more into it then he was. So he stopped, although sometimes we talk in German, just to practice."

I could feel the sadness radiating from his heart. I didn't need to ask if he missed his family, I know he does. I guess this is how he stays connected to them. I sit up and see that a few tears had fallen, so I pull him against me. We sit in silence for a few minutes, until Hunter becomes restless. I let him up, then watch as he heads into the bedroom. When he doesn't return after a few minutes, I follow. He's sitting on the edge of the bed with the bear in his hands.

"This is all I have from them," he whispers.

I'm assuming he means from his birth parents. How it's here and not on Lothor's ship is something I don't think to ask about until now. And now isn't the time. I sit next to him, a hand on his shoulders.

"You can't lose your parents. You have no idea what life is like without them," he tells me.

I sigh. "I don't want to. But I can't change who I am, I won't. I shouldn't have to…they should accept me for who I am."

"I won't let you lose them because of me."

I swallow a sudden burst of anger, but it only comes right back. I jump from the bed, jolting him in the process. I turn, he's still sitting with a look of surprise and confusion.

"This isn't about you! It's about me!" I yell. "They don't want me around because of the gender of who I love. They can't stand the fact that their only son loves another man."

I grab my coat and storm out the door, leaving Hunter on the bed in a state of shock. Not only do I not know what Thanksgiving going to bring, I don't know what the rest of the day is going to bring.