Title: Tastes of Home

Writer: Azure K Mello

Part: 8

Feedback: Please! I wait for it like a trained dog, plus I like to know what people are thinking, it's reassuring.

Disclaimer: I don't own many things including but not limited to: Everwood, a Fender, Operation Ivy, or Boy Meets Boy a web comic. There are only very vague references to the comic that you won't notice unless you've read it. . . mainly it's all about guitar raping.

Other notes in prior parts.


Sitting down at the piano Ephram tried to think of something to play. The song he had been planning on practicing wasn't any fun and he wasn't in the right mood to sulk anymore. He thought for a moment and then started playing an Operation Ivy song that they had both obsessed over.

"The position being taken is not to be mistaken. For attempted education or righteous accusation. Only a description just an observation of the pitiful. Condition of our degeneration." Jackson sang, "Good song. I always did like "Room Without a Window," best."

"I know you did." Jackson sat down next to him and cracked his fingers. Smiling Ephram asked, "Are you going to play me a song?" Without a word Jackson started to play chopsticks. They both laughed softly and then Jackson started to play a Bach tune. "Nice."

"Recently I've been focusing on the bass, but I left the Fender at home. I got a 1978 Precision for Christmas."

"And you didn't bring it!" Ephram hit his arm lightly.

"I'll bring it next time. I was afraid you would take advantage of it."

"I raped one guitar! And have I ever lived it down? No." They both smiled at the joke, Ephram should have never been left with the instrument. He had tried to play it (pitifully) and had been told he was "raping" the art form. The group had henceforth referred to him as the guitar rapist.


Upon tucking Delia into bed Madison was ready to leave. Coming down the stairs she saw Jackson laying with his head on Ephram's chest while they watched TV. The show they were watching was about medical breakthroughs. "Do you find it odd," he said slowly, "that Prozac and prosaic are so similar?"

"Yeah, but prolific kinda fits in too." Ephram arched his back to stretch and asked, "Aren't you tired? There's a time difference of two hours between here and New York. Plus you drove so far."

"I'm comfy right here."

Madison smiled and then said, "Ok, I'm going." They turned and smiled at her. "Have a good night. Oh, Ephram, a quick word on the porch?"

Grimacing he slid out from behind Jackson. "Stay. No eavesdropping."

"Would you like to throw in, 'bad dog,' for good measures?" asked Jack with a smirk.

Closing the door behind her, Madison began to speak, "Ok I'm not begging for details, parse. I just want to know what happened between hating life and cuddling on the couch."

Ephram rolled his eyes and sighed, "I got hit on a little bit while we were out and he went into jealous, over protective mode."

"And?" she asked with a sneer of confusion as if to say, "that's not it right?"

"And that's all. I missed unfounded jealousy. I missed everything and we're gonna be ok. I know we will be."

"Ok," she smiled and then frowned, "and why are you watching the Discovery Channel?"

"Making uncharitable comments about people with obscure diseases," he shrugged and nodded, "you know me and vitriolic statements."

"It's nice that some things don't change."


As Jackson made up the trundle bed Ephram laughed. "Is that really necessary?"

"You kick." He shrugged. "Besides, I don't want anything to happen between us until you're really sure that this is what you want. I wouldn't want. . . well ya know." He shrugged again and ran a hand through his loose curls. Falling into bed he shrugged off his shirt and jeans. "I am so fucking tired."

"I love you." Ephram smiled at the boy who was already nearly asleep. Leaning over he kissed Jack gently, "You've come an awfully long way today. And come to think of it, so have I."