Bleu Soliloqui

by cypheroftyr

Billy always thought he was an only child, and his father was a nice and decent man who'd never hurt him, was he ever wrong. After finding out about his father's past and the truth about his family, his world is turned upside down and inside out.

13. Family for better or worse

Bleu Soliloqui

Chapter 13?

BleuWoulfe & Cobalt-Blue

Fair warning, Slash, A/U versions of some of our rangers. Rated R for language and angst.

Thanks to Cobalt Blue for the inspiration for continuing, and for contributing to this fic and to my growth as a writer. From chapter 12 and on, I'm naming him co-author… since we've collaborated so much on the last few chapters.

Meg waited quietly until Lance returned from outside where he was dealing with an understandably upset Billy. She couldn't believe what her son had said. She knew she'd raised him to be more open-minded than that. She was deeply disturbed by Dante's actions.

Lance looked up at his wife, sighed inwardly at the difficult task they now faced. "…well, want to be the bad cop or good cop?" he half-joked...

She gave him a wan smile and said, "I'm not a cop, I'm worse than a cop. I'm his mother..."

"Yeah, I think a cop may have more mercy on him right now. Do you want me to even go in? I don't think he'd listen to me"

She shook her head, "I think that maybe we need to do this as a couple. We dealt with Alex and Billy as a couple and we shouldn't set a precedent of only one of us dealing with a particular boy."

He smiled, and kissed her delicately. "I knew there was a reason I married you. Ladies first." Lance motioned to the stairs as he took an opportunity to observe his wife ascend the stairs. 'Bad Lance, now isn't the time' he mentally chided himself, but stared at her anyway.

Climbing the staircase, Meg made her way down to Dante's room. With a single knock on the door, she entered without waiting to be asked to come in. "Dante, I think we need to talk about what you said downstairs." She turned and faced Lance, "All of us."

Lance nodded to Dante before sliding into a chair and leveled his gaze at the boy.

"Dante, I'm disappointed and hurt at what you said to Bill and Alex. Unless you missed it, you managed to piss off your step brother within an hour of meeting him."

Dante gave his mom a sheepish look and then turned to face Lance with only a mild sense of surprise. He shrugged, "So, it's not like I'm worried about makin' 'em mad. What are they going to do, redecorate my room?"

Lance eyed the boy... he curbed his tongue until that remark slipped out of Dante's mouth. "Billy is nearly a black belt and Alex is a Black Sash in Shaolin Kung fu. Not that they'd stoop to such barbarism, but I suggest you watch what you say to them. They've been through a lot and dealing with that kind of discrimination in their own home won't be tolerated."

Dante looked surprised, "A black belt?"

"Yes... in karate Dante. Billy is no limp wristed faggot and neither is Alex." Lance stopped, he was pissed again and he caught himself as he realized what he had said... maybe Dante needed to hear his bigotry reflected back at him.

Meg raised an eyebrow at her husband's use of profanity. "I don't think I would have put it quite that way Lance, but you have a point." She gave Dante a long look, "And you shouldn't have to be told that either."

"But ma, what will my boyz say? Especially once they find out I'm living with a couple of cocksu-" whatever else Dante was about to say was summarily ceased by a hard slap to the face.

"Dante! That is enough of that garbage! You will not use that term to refer to ANYBODY! Do you understand?" Her voice suddenly became low and threatening as she closed face to face with her son. "I don't know where this attitude is coming from son, but you had better lose it now." She growled at him, "I know I have taught you better than that." She stood and walked across the room her hands shaking, "And I don't care what the boyz," she raised the first and second finger of each hand to make quotation marks in the air," think about it." Then turning to face him, "You've only been here a week, how can you have boyz yet?"

Dante sat there stock-still. His mother had only been angered into slapping him a couple times before. "From LA, a couple of them moved close to here. I figured I wouldn't have any friends in the middle-of no-where-ville Angel Grove." He rubbed his face, and considered his course of action in order to leave his hide intact.

"Well, I don't know what kind of friends you've got here, but I can tell you this much. If they have problems with Billy and Alex being gay, they probably aren't the kind of friends you want to hang around here." She gave him a hard look, "And as far as this being the middle-of-nowhere-ville, you better get used to it. It's the kind of environment that I want you in, not running around with some half formed gang in LA."

Lance sat back and watched... getting in the middle of an old battle between mother and son was no place for a new stepfather to wander into. Dante grunted at his mother's words. "Dante, if I ever hear that noise out of you again I will smack the living shit out of you, especially when I am trying to get a point into that fool head of yours."

"Yes, ma'am," Dante replied looking carefully at his mother. He shook his head, "I still don' like it. It ain't natural. There's no tellin' what they're doin' in that room when they're by themselves!"

Lance stood up... he caught himself before he let his hand speak for him... His voice lowered to a dangerous timbre, and he stood in front of Dante with a murderous rage flickering in his eyes.

"Dante...you will NEVER intimate that my sons are involved in such deviant behavior. Them being gay isn't unnatural. You even suggesting that they are doing something as perverse as to be sleeping together is dangerous to your well being..."

Meg gave her husband a look of understanding. She had no idea what had gotten into her son. Wheeling on him she said, "Dante, let's get something perfectly clear." Her voice became low and even, "Billy and Alex are your step-brothers, and you will not refer to them in anything other than polite terms. You have to live with the situation." She walked over to him so that she was staring directly into his face, "What you suggested was beyond rude, it was downright disgusting and completely out of line. Do you understand me?"

Dante knew he had crossed a line with his mother and stepfather, since Lance Cranston couldn't be said to be an intimidating man... he was radiating menace and looked to be about a hair's breadth from throttling him. "Yes ma'am. Perfectly"

"Good," she told him. "Now I want to know where all this nonsense is coming from. This isn't like you; it's not the way I raised you."

Dante looked down at the floor, which had suddenly become fascinating. "You know from people."

"What people?" she demanded. "What people have you been talking to that put this kind of garbage in your head?"

Dante was cowed by his mother's anger. "Ya know, my boys, dad when I saw him... a couple of folks at school."

She took her son by the shoulders and looked into his eyes. "Well, you've been listening to the wrong people. For God's sake Dante, you're better than this. I taught you better than this." Sighing she sat down on the bed and thought for a second, "Do you really believe those things you just said?" she asked in an almost desperate tone. "Have I really failed you that much?"

Lance touched her shoulder gently and let his hand rest there. He knew too well what it felt like to feel as if you'd failed your offspring.

"I... yeah I believe it ma. Why shouldn't I? If you're sick enough to lay with other men, then who---" Dante stopped at the murderous gleam in his mother's eyes and Lance's matching glare. "Yeah, I do and no one has proved me wrong yet."

"Dante, what do you mean sick, lay with other men...," she fought to control her voice. What kind of garbage had people been telling her son?

Dante looked up at his mother, steeled himself and spoke up. "Mah, it aint right. How are humans supposed to keep going if people keep choosing that life? I mean, at our age tell me it's not a choice ma? Why would you want to be with another man or another woman? I don't get it."

Lance finally spoke, rage in every clipped syllable. "Dante, do you think someone would choose a gay life? People like you and others who would harm them for merely existing should deter anyone from the choice of a gay life. I will not have you slander my sons, not to mention your stepbrothers because of your narrow views. I don't know who has fed you such idiocy, but you are the bigger fool for swallowing it hook line and sinker. If you stopped and thought about it... are either of them wearing makeup, prancing around like girls? No! I suggest you step back and think before you speak Dante. There's an old African proverb that says a chatterer will always lead the dogs to meat. Think of what you could do if you spread your hate to others."

Meg took a deep breath, "Tell me something Dante? When did you choose to be straight? At what point in your life did you decide that you liked girls? At what point in your life did you decide to have brown eyes? At what point in your life did you decide to be Black?"

"I didn't mom. You act like I had a choice in my race, eye color or the fact that I'm normal and like girls."

"And you act like they have a choice in who they love," she told him. "I've got news for you son, most of the research I've seen on the subject says that sexuality is genetic."

Dante looked at his mother... had she just said being a fag was genetic. "How, neither you or Pop is gay."

Meg made to reply, but Lance cut her off, "Most of what I've read suggests that it's not a single gene but a combination of genes. My sons are what they are because that's the way nature, the way GOD made them, Dante. And I love and support them no matter who they love." He gave the boy a hard look, "But I want to point something out to you. Be careful about assumptions about who is and who isn't gay."

He sighed and went over to the window, "I've watched Billy and his boyfriend slowly fall in love for the past several years, and there is no way anyone can convince me it is anything but natural, and beautiful."

Dante sighed. He knew he wouldn't win this fight, not today at any rate. "Fine, if I agree to be nice will that be enough for now? I have to think about that Lance and it will be a long time before I'm comfortable with them, if ever."

"Dante, I know this is a big adjustment," Meg told him. "It is for all of us. You've been yanked out of your old neighborhood and friends, and put in a new school with a new family. Lance and I are still feeling around the edges of what it's going to be like as a family. Alex and Billy have had several major disruptions in their lives lately and they just did one of the hardest things in the world a gay child can do. They came out to their family." She chuckled, "Even I'm having to adjust." She shook her head and smiled, "I'm the only woman in a house of four men. I'll be lucky if that toilet seat is EVER left down."

Dante smiled at that, glad that some of the tension had gone out of the room. "Let me try ma, just let me try to understand."

"What is it you don't understand, Dante?" Lance asked as he sat down in the large overstuffed chair. "We want to help you, but you've got to meet us half way. What is the real reason for all this anger?

Dante shook his head. How could he explain this to a stranger, a man he barely knew? A man, who'd suddenly invaded his life, not took away his life, and his mother. He was out of his league here and he knew it. After his dad left, he'd gotten used to growing up in some of the rougher neighborhoods in LA. His mother wasn't poor by a long shot, but she was only one person, and that meant that he didn't live in the best of areas, or went to the better schools. Now he was in a rich kids' house, in a rich neighborhood, and would be going to a rich kids school. He was out of his element and didn't like it. He looked at Lance and asked, "Why couldn't YOU have moved to LA? Why did we have to come here to monster central where everybody's going to be looking down their noses at me?"

Lance tipped his head curiously at Dante. He blinked then slowly understood what Dante was getting at. "No one here is a snob Dante. No one is going to look down his or her nose at you as you put it. You and your mother lived in an apartment, and I already had a house. Logically it made sense Dante. Would you feel better, like you were in charge if the situation were reversed? Do you think this was done to spite you? News flash Dante, this isn't all about you, your mother or dropping you in the middle of an ocean with no life preserver. Its what made sense and no matter how you twist it, no one here is out to get you or ruin your life."

Dante shook his head, "I'm not trying to twist anything. I know I'm not going to fit in, so why try? Billy has his friends, Alex has been here less than two weeks and he already has a... uh whatever this Adam is... All I got is one guy I used to run with a few years ago in LA, and he acts like he's too good to run with me now."

"Then maybe you should try to meet new friends Dante. Billy's friends are very accepting, even with someone as charming as you. Now I suggest you get your act together. If you don't try, you've failed before you've begun. I will not accept this attitude from you, nor will I accept this defeatist attitude when you haven't even tried to understand anything. Tomorrow, at least try to meet them half way, that's all I'm asking... and I know it's more than I have a right to ask."

Meg shook her head, "No it's not more than you have a right to ask. It's what he has to do. No son of mine is going to be a quitter," she told both of them. "So you have to move; big deal. You're in a safer neighborhood, at a safer school that offers you more opportunities. So quit acting like a little girl and start acting like the man you always say you are."

Dante rolled his eyes and waited for the smack to come. "Fine mom, I'll be a good little boy since that's all you want now that you've gotten what you wanted: A house in the burbs, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. If I may be excused, I think I'm all talked out."

"No you may not be excused!" Meg said. "I don't know what has come over you, but you will NOT speak to me like that!" Meg felt her fury rising. "There is no excuse for you to act like that, Dante and I'm not going to put up with it." She gave him a long hard look, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it."

That finally cowed her child. Dante shrank back and nodded, as he finally listened to the voice in his head had been telling him to shut up for about 20 minutes now. He blinked slowly as he waited for his mother to obliterate his existence. The lines had been crossed and there would be hell to pay.

"It's time you grew up, Dante. You are not the only person in this world, in this country, in this state, or even in this house. You are my son, and are the most important thing in my life, but I'll be damned if you're going to sully the happiness Lance and I have because you're too selfish to deal with reality." She took his chin in her hand and turned his face to hers, "This is the reality Dante: I love Lance, I married him and he and his sons are part of OUR family. Grow up and stop acting like my getting married was just to spite you!"

Dante wisely swallowed his retort and answered like he had a modicum of common sense. "Yes ma'am. I'm sorry for my behavior today. I'll work on my attitude and work on being friends with Billy and Alex."

She let go of his face, and stood up, "If I thought for a second that you didn't mean it, Dante..." she warned. Then she turned on her heel, "Good, Now supper will be ready in about two hours. I want you to thing about what we've discussed."

"Yes'm"

Lance stood in the doorway of hallway and he looked at Dante, since he didn't believe one word the boy had uttered in the last minute. "I'll send Billy up to get you, that way you can make good on your promises."

Dante watched his mother and step-dad leave the room as he sat there quietly and thought about what had been said. This was going to be difficult, but he realized he'd better a least appear to make allowances. When Billy came for him, he'd definitely be at least polite.

Dinner that evening was a quiet but somewhat tense affair with Dante on his best behavior and Alex and Billy dancing carefully around each other, trying to decide how to best to deal with their recent "outing". By the time it was over, they'd all turned in early to avoid any further conflict.

Kim looked around the park as she and Tommy walked along the path. She'd been really pissed off at him but was willing to listen to what he had to say. Finally he looked over at her and said softly, "I'm really sorry for the way I acted Kim," he said softly.

"Well, you should be," she told him crossing her arms. "You've been acting weird lately, Tommy. I mean saying Billy disrespected you? What do you think the Rangers are some kind of gang?"

"Um.. no, what makes you say that?"

"Because gangs worry about being disrespected. Friends worry about how to help each other. You've never acted like this before. Because it seems like you're more worried about what people might think about you than the idea of Billy finally coming out of his shell."

"But… his double hurt me.. i mean my double. He was acting like he was in charge...' Tommy stopped his rant mid sentence. He realized how dumb he sounded
"It was HIS double, not HIM," she told him. "Plus he was trying to find a way to help another Ranger Team keep the Machine Empire from taking over their world. He was putting personal doubts aside to do what needed to be done. Me, nor you were giving us any options. He was in charge because you decided not to be."

"Nothing I can say Kim. Besides I'm sorry, i was acting like a child not a leader and I let the fact that he was wearing Green get to me. Think he'd take an apology?
Kim smiled at him, "I know you are sorry, Tommy. It's just that sometimes I think you get caught up in the whole testosterone thing with Jason that sometimes you forget that not all guys play that game." She chuckled and reached out and touched his hand gently,

"I think he might take an apology, if it's heart felt, and if you give him a little time to settle things with his Dad, his brother, Adam, Aisha, and Jason."

"Good, I'll apologize to William although I doubt he'd believe me...the important thing to me is, do you forgive me Kim"
She looked over at him, "Do you mean it? I mean do you mean that you're sorry? Do you really want to make things right with Billy?" she asked.

"Yes. I've never been more sorry in my life."

She grinned up at him, bounced once and kissed him on the cheek, "Then of course I forgive you. I could never stay mad at you."

"Could have fooled me. I thought you were going to tear me to pieces the other day."

"I was the other day. But Billy and I had a talk. He convinced me to give you another chance." She grinned up at him and added, "He did tell me though that if you kept up the gang talk, and took it too far that I should hand you your manhood."

Tommy blanched at that and winced inwardly. "Why do I have the feeling that Billy isn't someone I should mess with or have pissed off at me?"

"Because he's not," she grinned at him, "And I'm not." She kissed him again and took his arm in hers as she sat down beside him. "However, I think you really need to talk to him."

"I know. I've been unfair and mean to him in word and deed. I'll talk to him tomorrow if he's around. If not, I'll catch up with him at school."

"That's good. He likes you Tommy. He thinks of you as a good friend, he's just going through rough patch right now."

"I know. I let that Alpha male part of me take over... I forget his spirit animal is a wolf. 'Cunning and swift Dulcea said.'

"And loyal too."

"Yes, and loyal. I don't want him coming after me if we argue again do I?"
She shook her head, "No you don't." Sighing she guided him toward the path they usually walked to talk. "But I don't think that's going to be a problem."

"So when do you want to talk to him?" Kim asked as she looked out over the park.

"How about later this morning at the Youth Center? Around ten-thirty?" she suggested.

Tommy smiled, "I'll be there."

"Thanks for coming Billy," Kim told her friend. She'd seen her genius friend down before and she'd seen him overworked. However, she'd never seen him hit this hard with both. To be honest, he looked like Hell on a Hotplate. She smiled over at him, "Thanks for coming over Billy," she told him.

He glanced up at her with a smile, "No problem Kim. I needed to get out of the house anyway."

"Things still rough with your family situation?" she asked putting a comforting hand on his.

He nodded, "Yeah, it seems like as soon as I manage to reconcile one altercation, another appears."

Before she could reply, Tommy came up and nodded to both of them with a sheepish smile, and then nodding to both of them he sat down with three smoothies, "Peace?"

Looking at each other, they both shook their heads, "I think this calls for chocolate?" Billy said. "What do you think?"

"Definitely chocolate?" Kim replied.

"Chocolate it is, a mere smoothie won't cut it."

"Godiva?" she suggested.

"No, Dove. Godiva's more expensive, but Dove is better," he smiled.

"As you wish my friend. Dove it is," Tommy acknowledged before becoming serious. "Look guys, I'm sorry. I was way outta' line." He then nodded to Ernie who brought over three double-dipped chocolate sundaes. With a smile he added, "Consider this a down payment." With a smile he began, "Look, I was upset about William and crew. I know it's no excuse, but I've sort been having a rough patch at home and I guess I'm on edge right now."

Billy arched and eyebrow at the rough patch at home quip. "As am I Tom. You need to know I'm not going to be pushed around or bullied because you're having a bad day."

"I know, Bro. I'm sorry about that." Tommy looked down guiltily. "It's just that there's this guy moving in town who I used to run with in LA. Before the Mom and Dad adopted me. He's giving me a hard time about trying to hang around, and I really don't feel like dealing with his shit."

"I can understand...," Billy said. "Dante is turning out to be a real bastard. He's managed to piss me off, and just about everyone else with is attitude. Seems like he's really mad about our parents getting together. He's even more pissed that I'll still have my lab once we move"

"Dante? Dante Fitzpatrick?" Tommy asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Billy replied, "Know him?"

Tommy banged his head on the table. Billy and Kim were unsure if he was laughing or crying. "Yeah Bro, I know him."

"Um, Tom...what's the deal with this guy? Seems like you're about to break into hysterics?" Billy asked.

Tommy looked up at his girlfriend and his friend, "He's the guy I used to run with in LA."

Billy nearly choked on his sundae when Tommy said that. "Wha?" sounding inarticulate at the news of such things was starting to become a bad habit with Billy. "You're kidding? Please tell me your kidding."

"How do you know him Bro?

"He's my step brother."

"Your step-brother!" Tommy exclaimed in surprise. Then something seemed to hit him and he blushed deeply. Finally leaning back in his chair he says, "Boy are we a fucked up bunch or what?"

"Tommy!" Ernie said from nearby. "Watch your language."

"Sorry Ernie"

"Its ok, you beat me to it."

Tommy grinned, "So the guy's who's been giving me so much shit about running around at two in the morning, is your new step bro?" He shakes his head. "This is going to cause major problems for the Rangers before it's over I bet."

"In what way?" Billy asked curious about the blush that Tommy managed to will away.

"He's irritating, loud and a dumb jock for lack of a better word?"

"He's NOT going to let up, guys." Tommy said. "He's basically a good guy I guess, but he's had a lot of the wrong influences."

Kim smiled over at him and patted his hand, "Kind of like someone else we know?" She grinned at him, "He seems to be doing a good job of turning around his life." She winked over at Billy, "After we convinced him to stop hanging around with evil sorceresses trying to take over the world."

"He'll let up Tommy, one way or the other." Billy said darkly as he leveled his gaze at Tommy.

"True... wonder how much convincing Dante will take to stop being an asshole?"

"Billy! Lanuguage!" Ernie shouted.

"Sorry Ernie," Billy blushed.

Shaking his head, Ernie grinned and mumbled to himself, "Twice in one day. Must be something major messing with them right now."

Billy shook his head and looked over at Tommy, "Look Tom, I'm sorry I've been short with you." He grinned at the thin teen, "I realize you've had it rough, but I'm not going to be pushed around. Not by Bulk and Skull, not by Dante, and not even by you, oh fearless leader." He smiled down, "I get the feeling that from here on out, school is going to be even rougher for me than it has been in the past, so I'd appreciate a little slack."

"What do you mean? How could school get rough for you, the resident genius of Angel Grove High."

"Because of me," Jason's voice suddenly cut through their whispers as he sat down between Billy and Kim. He reached out and put his hand atop Billy's and said to Tommy, "We need to talk Bro."

Tommy looked at their hands, which fit so perfectly together. While Tommy wasn't a genius it didn't take rocket science to figure out what Jason could be talking about.

"There's nothing to discuss, anyone gives you two a hard time... I'm sure you'll handle it."

Looking over at her two best friends and then at her boyfriend, Kim asked carefully, "Does that include you?"

Tommy blushed, yes that includes me. I know I've been an idiot a grade A insufferable S.O.B. lately. So you have carte blanche to kick my tail into next week if I do that again. Deal?"

Jason smiled and leaned back, "Deal bro."

Tommy grinned, "You know, when you told me there was this blond you had your eye on, I should have realized it wasn't that biker chick."

Billy looked up with a smirk. "I didn't know you were the leather type Jase," Billy teased.

"I'm not!" Jason said.

"So, what are you going to do about your step brother?" Kim asked.

Bily sighed..."Besides kick his ass to make him stop being a wanker...try to talk to him. See if I can get past his shell?"

"You need to stop watching so much Brit TV Bill, it's rubbing off on you. Why don't you try talking to him and see what happens? After all. you, him and Alex are stuck in the same house till at least you two go off to college," Kim said.

"Eh, blame it on Harry Potter. I started reading the books again. That and watching too much Monty Python is to blame, as long as I don't affect a Surrey accent we're fine. I'll try talking to Dante, but he's a tough nut to crack, kind of like ... me." He smiled, "As for talking; I'm trying, I'm trying," he said. "It's just difficult having a conversation with someone who refuses to stay in the same room with you and mumbles slurs under his breath."

"What kind of slurs bro?"

"You know what kind, fag, faerie, queer..."

All three Rangers looked shocked at his words... "But, how would he know? Did you tell your dad already?"

Billy blushed, "It kinda slipped out," he said. "Megan, my step mom wanted to meet mine and Alex's girlfriends. Alex grumbled we don't have girlfriends, we have boyfriends, and then all hell broke loose."

"I can imagine..."

Bill smiled, "The look on her face was priceless though. The look on Dante's face however killed any humor I had about the situation immediately. He called us fucking fags, and his mother promptly slapped him. That look was a Kodak moment."

"How'd your dad take it?" Kim asked the question she knew Jason wanted to ask. She knew he was afraid that Mr. Cranston might try to separate them.

"He asked who they were," Billy replied.

"What did you tell him?" Tommy asked.

"I told him I was seeing Jason."

"What did he say then?" Kim asked.

He just grinned and said, "At least it's someone I know who'll be good to you." Billy blushed deeply as he looked over at Jase.

Jase smiled warmly and squeezed Billy's hand.

"What about Alex? Did he fess up?" Tommy asked as he took a chance and reached for Kim's hands to hold them.

Billy nodded, "The real problem is the sleeping arrangements at the house." He sighed, "We've only got one guest bedroom. Dante gets that one but he keeps complaining that...," Billy blushed deeply, "... he keeps intimating that Alex and my relationship might not be entirely appropriate for siblings." Then looking over at Tommy he said, "You better believe it. There was no way he was going to get away with outing me and not himself."

"Don't tell me he's trying to say you two... are ... that's .. gross. You're brothers!"

Billy nodded, "Yeah, he got it from his mom again over it. Still, it bothers me. I'll be glad when Dad closes on the other house."

"Of course THAT'S another source of irritation."

Tommy rolled his eyes... "Typical Dante. What he didn't get the biggest room in the house so now he's mad?"

"No, I'll still have my lab; matter of fact the new house is huge. We shouldn't have to cross paths except for meals and maybe school. Then again he's younger than us... so we'll be out of high school before him"

He's upset because you get to keep your lab?" Kim asked in shock, "What's his problem with your lab?" Then she leaned forward, "You're not moving out of Angel Grove are you?"

"No, actually Dad got lucky. The house 8 blocks south of us was on Crawford Street. It's much bigger, more modern and best of all a pool. I'm not leaving Angel Grove for a while." Billy said.

"Good," Jason said. "I don't want to lose you."

Billy smiled back, "I don't want to be lost either." All three smiled and leaned back letting the tension of their arguments wash away. Kim sighed content to be surrounded by three of the most important men in her life.