[A/N: *glomps Lolliepop*Okay for those of you who don't know what that means. It means that I'm giving my best friend a big, huge hug because she reviewed my story. Hey, she did it to Andrew, and we all know that he hates it when people touch him. Anyway I hope you guys have liked it so far. I'm sorry it's been forever since I updated, but I do have an excuse. I had the show and midterms, which are both over now. I write the stories on my laptop and then transfer them by floppy-discs to my desktop (my extremely old, temperamental computer, the only one with and internet connection), which has now decided it doesn't want to work anymore. See excuses are good.]

Disclaimer: I just realized that I haven't done a disclaimer since the first chapter, so I decided that I need to do one now too. And I brought along a friend to help me. *points to Evan*

Evan: *crosses arms* I don't want to.

Me: Too bad. Do it.

Evan: But-

Me: If you don't I'll make you suffer in the story.

Evan: Fine. She doesn't own anyone. Are you happy?

Me: Not quite. Tell the nice people who I do own.

Evan: *mumble mumble*

Me: What?

Evan: I said you own me.

Me: Who else?

Evan: Um…

Me: *whispers in his ear*

Evan: Oh right. And Wendell's family.

Me: Good boy. *pats him on the head*

Evan: Don't do that. I'm older than you. And I bite.

Me: However I am the author so I rule all. Plus, I bite back. I think this is the longest disclaimer I've ever done.

Chapter 7: Family Matters

After giving Evan the aspirin Ephram went back to bed. Finally at 4 he got up to call Amy.

Amy was sitting in her room watching a re-run of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on Bravo when the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" she called out into the empty house.

"Hello?"

"Hey Amy."

"You know when you said that you talk to me tomorrow, I sort of thought it would be before 4 in the afternoon."

"Sorry I just got up. Well got up again. I woke up early so I could Evan the aspirin before he woke me up looking for it."

"Why would he need the aspirin?"

"Well that's sort of why I could called you. He came home totally plastered last night. Do you know why?"

"Yeah, that's my fault. I asked him if he thought that Delia could take care of herself if she was only ten. And then I asked if he could take care of himself at ten. And then he launched into a big long story about him and you and your mom."

"Oh no. You didn't really bring her up did you?"

"Yeah. Was it bad?"

"Amy, Evan has a darker past than he lets on to most people."

"What do you mean?"

"That's not for me to tell you. If, and when, he wants to tell you, that's how you'll find out, but I can't tell you. I'm sorry."

"Okay. Bye." Amy was totally confused. What in the world was he talking about?

Ephram hung up then went upstairs to get ready to go out. As soon as he had showered, changed, and spent fifteen minutes getting his hair to do what he wanted it to, he went into Evan's room.

"Hey, I'm leaving. I'll be back around 7. I'll bring pizza."

"Stop yelling."

"Still feel like crap?"

"Yes. I've thrown-up four times and I still feel sick."

"Okay that's way too much information." Ephram turned and walked down the hall. "Delia I'm leaving. Make sure Evan doesn't hurt himself. If you need anything I have my cell. I'll be home around 7. I'm bringing pizza for dinner."

"Okay. See you later."

"You're still leaving?" Evan shouted

"Yes."

"Jackass."

"Evan, you're 16 and I'm leaving Delia with you. You should be able to manage."

*****

"So you left you're brother, who has a hangover, and you're little sister at home, just to come see me?"

"Yeah. I'm evil huh."

"Actually I think it's sort of cute."

Ephram and Wendell were sitting on Wendell's back porch watching the sunset. Pretty soon the stars began to appear.

Suddenly Wendell pointed up into the sky. "Look. The star."

"THE star? Try thousands."

"Shut up. I'll kill you."

"No you won't."

"Oh really, and why not."

"Because you love me."

"Yes, but I never denied that."

Ephram laughed and put his head on Wendell's shoulder.

"Wendell, I'm hungry."

Wendell didn't even bother to look over at his little sister standing in the doorway.

"I don't care Heather. Go bother Lily. Or Tom."

"But Lily's on a date. And Tom's out with his friends."

"Then go through the cabinets."

"I'm not tall enough."

"Wendell, get you're sister some food," Ephram said.

Wendell stood up and started towards the door. "Alright fine. Where's the baby? I might as well feed you both."

"Thanks Ephram," Heather said once Wendell was inside.

"No problem kiddo. As your brother's friend, it's my job to make him do things." Heather laughed and they both went inside.

"Ephram, can you get Katie for me. She's up in her room. Heather, come here. What do you want?"

Ephram left the kitchen listening to Heather and Wendell argue about what she could eat. He walked to the staircase and looked down at the large dog that had sprawled itself at the bottom.

"Tank you're going to have to move if I'm going to go upstairs, which I am." The big black lab looked up at him. "Come on move it." He lightly nudged the dog with his foot. Slowly it stood. And began to walk off towards the kitchen, where you could hear water hissing and something smelled as if it was burning. "Thank you." The dog licked Ephram's hand as he walked by on his way up the stairs.

He climbed the stairs to the top, and then walked down the hallway to the room Katie shared with Heather. He turned on the light and saw Katie pretending to sleep in her bed.

"It's okay Katie. It's me, not Wendell." For some reason the baby was afraid to let Wendell see her not sleeping when she was supposed to be.

"Eph!" Being only 2 Katie couldn't pronounce Ephram's name, so he let her call him Eph to make it easier.

"Hi sweetie. Wendell's making dinner for you. You want to go get some?" Katie made a face. "Yeah, that's what I thought. He's not a very good cook is he?" She shook her head. "Maybe he'll order out." He walked over and picked her up and placed her on his hip. He had to walk almost on a tilt to keep her there, but it was the easiest way to hold her.

He was almost out the door when Katie stopped him by poking him the shoulder.

"What?"

"Kitty."

Ephram looked back into the room and saw the brown tabby curled up on Heather's bed. "Rocket." The cat looked up at him with murder in its eyes. "Come on. Let's go." It put it's head back down and went back to sleep. Ephram placed Katie on the floor and walked back into the room. He picked up the cat, which was obviously annoyed with being disturbed during its naptime. "Oh you lazy thing." He turned off the light and closed the door. He put the cat down on the floor next to Katie. It sauntered off down the hall towards the stairs.

Katie pointed at the cat, "Kitty."

"Yes. Kitty. Very, very lazy kitty. Shall we follow it?"

Katie took his hand and walked with him downstairs and into the kitchen, where Wendell was dishing slightly burned macaroni and cheese into our bowls.

Wendell looked up at them. "Ah yes. Ephram Brown, uber baby-sitter. Gets Tank, Rocket, and Katie to come downstairs."

"Actually Tank was already downstairs. I had to nudge him out of the way so I could go upstairs. Rocket was upstairs with Katie. By the way, what on earth are you feeding these animals. They're both fat and lazy."

"So is the fish," Wendell added around a mouth full of food.

"You have a fish?"

"Al. Alpha. He's a beta fish."

"Oh that's clever."

"It's better than Lunch. That's what Lily wanted to name him."

"Actually that's pretty funny."

"Want some food?"

"I think I'll pass. I have to go anyway. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll walk you to the door." The two of them walked in silence to the door.

"You know you really didn't-" Ephram was cut off by a kiss from Wendell. "Have… to… do… this…" he muttered.

"Shut up. You take all of the fun out of it when you talk." Wendell smiled at his boyfriend, who looked embarrassed. He wrapped his arms around Ephram's waist, and pulled him closer. "You're so sexy when you're all embarrassed. Are you sure you have to leave?"

Ephram wrapped his arms around Wendell's neck. "Yeah. I promised Delia I'd be home around 7, and Evan is sick, and I have to get pizza for them for dinner."

Wendell kissed Ephram. This kiss more passionate than the last. Ephram wanted to stay so badly. But he couldn't. And he knew he couldn't.

"Wendell, you can't seduce me into staying."

Wendell reached down between them to the bulge in Ephram's jeans, which were continuously getting tighter. "Oh, can't I?"

Ephram almost gasped at the touch. "Wendell… not… now."

Wendell withdrew his hand. "Alright fine. I'll let you go. But you had better make it up to me. You still have to make up for yesterday too."

"I know." He kissed Wendell quickly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Ephram smiled then turned and walked out the door. As he was walking to his car he spotted Lily. He waved to her, and then continued walking to the car.

"You've been here a lot lately."

"You're brother's my best friend, I want to hang out with him. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah. It's fine me. I just wonder when you're going to move in."

Ephram laughed. "I'm not here that often. By the way I hope you ate already."

"Yeah, I did. Why?"

"Because Wendell tried to cook."

"Oh God. When is he going to learn? He can't cook. He needs to stop trying."

"Try telling him that. Listen I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

And then Lily kissed him. He was caught off guard. When Lily felt him not respond she broke away.

"What you don't like me?" Lily put on her puppy-dog face to try to convince him. It worked on the other boys.

"I… I'm gay." Ephram turned and walked to his car in a daze. She was the first person he had told, besides Wendell. It felt good to tell someone. He felt almost relieved.

*****

[A/N: And that's it for this chapter. I hope you liked it. I'll try to get the next one up as soon as possible. I promise.]