Title: Tastes of Home
Writer: Azure K Mello
Part: 15Rest found here: http/ I haven't even watched Everwood this season because no one is acting like themselves.
Other notes in prior parts.
Thank Viridiana for the update because it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't asked (see the power of feedback)
Oh Christ, he thought, Phram will be angry: I just threatened his best friend. He tried to rationalize it to himself. Light had been trying to break them up, it was his right to be angry. Even Jackson knew he was making lame excuses for himself but he hoped Ephram would forgive him. The blond had been concerned about his friend's welfare and Jackson had goaded Bright into attacking him. The only thing on his side was that Shiny had started it and yet still had an unbroken nose.
He had to work quickly, recover the ground he had lost. Seeing the train station he gritted his teeth and walked into the building. Upstairs he saw an older woman and he feigned a smile. "Hi," he said making a lot of eye contact. Why was he so desperate for these people to like him when he didn't want anything to do with the town? "Could I please talk to Dr. Brown?"
"You're a new patient?" asked Edna as she looked over the redhead. "There are some forms you'll need to fill out."
"No I'm a friend of his son's," Jackson smiled. Yeah, he was Ephram's friend. "I sort of need to arrange something with the good doctor."
"Well, go right in!" she said with a warm smile.
He knocked and was promptly told to enter. Andy smiled at him as he walked in, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Well, I wanted to talk to you alone about your Thanksgiving plans," he sat down in the patients' chair in front of the man's desk.
"I don't really have any," said Andy feeling a little bewildered. "I just thought I'd do a quiet dinner with the kids."
"Well, I was thinking. Julia used to have awesome Thanksgivings with the apartment full of people and music. What if you had all of your Everwood friends over and I brought some of Ephram's old group? We kids can cook. I think it would be great."
Andy smiled, "What's the catch?"
With a polite laugh Jacks said, "Well, we'd be using your kitchen, you'll end up paying for most of the bill, and the city kids would be very grateful, I'm sure, if they could bunk down at your house. You won't have any problems with the cops," he added, "no one will be getting up to their old mischief."
Looking taken aback Andy said, "That's not a bad price. I think the kids will be really happy. We have the room and if not some people can sleep here." One thing that could always be said about Dr. Brown was that he was never mean with money.
"Wow, great! I'll arrange everything. Is there anyone you'd like us to bring from New York for you? Jay has a huge SUV."
"Thanks, I'll think about it."
"Ephram and Delia will be thrilled. You should tell them over dinner."
Confused Andy said, "It was your idea. You should tell them."
"No," he smiled, "I think they'd like to hear it from you." Getting up he smiled again, "I should go and start the arrangements. Have a nice afternoon."
"Clo, hey, it's me," he said standing in a phone booth.
"What the hell is going on? Are you on your way home? Tell me that Eff didn't take those knuckledusters out of retirement."
"Retirement?" he laughed. "He only used them the one time."
On the other end of the phone he could hear her sigh, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, Chloe, we're back together," he paused as the girl let out an inhuman shriek, "I'm staying the week."
"How the hell did you pull that off?"
Smiling Jackson said, "By being totally honest."
"Whoa, novel idea."
With a second audible smile Jackson said, "Seriously. I need some help from you though."
"Yeah?" The girl was always willing to be of assistance. He told her about the conversation he'd had with Dr. Brown and asked her to phone around and see who could come. "Sure. Who am I calling?"
"Jay, Jax, Andy, Janet, Dave, Olivia, Danni, Catherine, Maria, and Spence."
Making a gagging noise she said, "Are you sure about those last three? You know they got kicked out-"
"For dealing heroin," he interrupted, "I know. But Ephram likes them."
"Only 'cause they gave him shit for free."
"Yeah, well, they don't touch it themselves and they won't bring any with them. They're nice and Ephram likes them."
"Ok. Ok. Fine."
"I'm gonna order a turkey in this godforsaken town. I'll call you later."
With another sigh she said, "Is it really godforsaken?"
The bile raised in him, "It's a hole, it's tiny, desolate, and he doesn't have friends 'cause they're all so goddamn backwards. And if I can't bring him to the city I will bring the city to him. He seems lonely and his family is playing at "Little House" and that makes him happy but. . . the Great Ephram Brown only has one real friend here and I don't like it." The rant finished as he swallowed.
"You're really back together aren't you?"
"I just don't want to fuck up again, I hurt him once already. I can't mitigate that, but I can try to make things better for him now."
"I'll call everyone. Take care of your boy for me."
As he walked towards the house he saw Ephram on the back porch. The boy was pacing, smoking, and looking generally agitated. So, he'd heard. The blond himbo must have called him.
"Phram," he said softly as he walked up the steps, "I'm sorry."
"For doing it or for me finding out?"
"For you finding out."
"Well, at least you're honest. You sprained his wrist."
"No. I rotated it, there's a difference. Did he tell you what happened?"
"He said he lost his temper and almost hit you."
"Oh. Well. He tried to bully me into leaving into leaving you and when I refused to be scared he got angry."
Somewhat shocked and subdued Ephram asked, "What?"
"I know he's your friend and was trying to protect you but he's a bully. And when he got a taste of his own medicine he "lost his temple" and earned himself a rotated wrist. So I'm sorry you're upset but he's an asshole."
"He tried to run you out of town?" Ephram said still in shock.
"Yeah," Jack stole the smoldering fag from between his boyfriend's fingers and took a drag. With a mock pout he said, "It reawee hu't my feewings."
"Poor thing," said Ephram with the shadow of a smile. "Please don't rotate any more of my friend's wrists. Ok?"
"Scout's honor."
"What else did you do?"
"I started to arrange a surprise with your dad-"
"What!"
"-you will learn more at dinner. Phoned home, and picked this up from the car." He held the bag outstretched to Ephram.
"What is it?" he asked.
Laughing Jackson said, "Take the bag and see. It was supposed to be a peace gift."
Still not moving the younger boy said, "You didn't have t-""Phram, take the fucking gift. You'll like it."
The boy finally took the bag and looked inside. A new wave of shock washed over him and he said, "Jesus."
"Good?"
"How did you get them?"
"Ebay, some guy in Europe sent them to me."
Looking at the five manga comic books Ephram breathed, "Wow, these aren't being published over here for another year."
"Glad you like them."
Ephram leaned up to kiss him. On the back porch. In daylight. Anyone could have seen. "You can be so awesomely thoughtful."
"I try," agreed Jackson.
With a small Ephram said, "I'll talk to Bright. Ignore him."
"I never give into bullies," the older boy assured his lover. "You said something about mini-golf?"
