SIN

Thank You: (Crazy) BoxieRoxie and Dark Magician Fairy for ALL the info that you gave me on Herbie (or should I say Herbert). It was helpful and I'm grateful. Since his last name and hair colour still isn't known, I'm going to make it up. Thanks for all your help.

Chapter 14: Going out and Staying home

(4pm at DCFDTL Mansion)

Taylor brushed his hair and straightened his suit. Father was going to have a celebratory function at the mansion and he knew automatically that he had to look his best. His black suit complimented his trim and non-muscular figure. He was rather strong but decided long ago that he wanted to be known for his brains not buffness. Lenny was slightly muscular but you couldn't see it because whenever he was inside or outside the house, he was always fully covered. You could only see it if he went swimming. And he never swam in public. Lenny always used the private indoor pool at the mansion or the outdoor one in the secluded section of the mansion where only family was allowed along with a few trusted servants. Taylor wondered sometimes why Lenny covered himself so much. The boy wouldn't even wear shorts! But he just decided that it was Lenny's way. Plus Lenny often liked being invisible knowing what he was and Father's hatred towards him for it. Sometimes Taylor pitied him but not enough to ever think that Lenny's sexuality was right or even moral.

Strangely he was having Greta was his date at the function. He had asked her out and Greta accepted with open surprise. Lenny decided to not have a date and Alexander opted to 'play the field'. He (Taylor) found her rather below him but still decided to ask her out. The girl wasn't meant for the high-class life. He knew. He remembered passing by her room many times and heard her sniffling or crying. She was from a high-class family both in money and name, and name also added stature and power. His family wasn't higher than hers. But he knew that he himself was higher than her. His family lacked power but they still had money, name and stature. His family was always renowned in the business world and law. Few entered politics unlike Greta's family and even fewer made it far if anywhere. Looks were everything in Greta's family while in his it was important but mainly in clothing and attitude instead of physical figure. Though it would be unlikely in his family for a male to marry a wife as 'porky' as she was.

Taylor cleared his throat and straightened his navy blue tie. Greta had told him that she'd be wearing a light blue dress and Taylor had opted to wear the black suit and navy blue tie instead of the dark blue suit he was going to wear a week before he asked Greta to be his date; which was last night. He felt that dates dress colours shouldn't be too close in colour. Not that they should look outlandish. But dates that wore the same coloured clothes looked like they had checked out each other's closets. He found that personally disturbing.

Taylor took one last look over of himself and was satisfied. He left for the ballroom and soon saw Lenny in a light brown tuxedo. Surprisingly he wasn't wearing his red helmet.

"Father instructed me not to wear my helmet today," Lenny explained and Taylor nodded in understanding, "why does he have a problem with everything that I do?" he asked himself but Taylor heard and could only shrug, "I might as well head to the ballroom," he said with a sigh.

"That's where I'm going," Taylor told him and they went there together, "how did Father feel about you not having a date?" he asked knowing fully well that Father would be upset.

"I didn't even want to go to this stupid thing," Lenny spat bitterly, "Father threatened to burn my bike collection and take away all of my helmets," he revealed, "I submitted but only on the condition that I could choose who I wanted as a date," he said and a grin played on his lips.

"And you took no one?" Taylor asked incredulously, "you're gutsy Lenny," he said and Lenny chuckled.

They entered the ballroom and looked around. It was elaborately decorated and Lenny and Taylor headed straight for the chairs in the corner and sat down.

"Who's your date?" Lenny asked and Taylor looked away, "who's the girl?" he teased and poked Taylor in the ribs.

"NONE of your business," Taylor responded in annoyance and boxed Lenny's hand away, "who are you going to dance with?" he asked pointedly, "You know that Father won't have you standing by the exit," he added.

"I'll just dance with a couple of girls and smile for the guest," Lenny said dismissively, "all Father wants are exemplary children to show off."

"This isn't a secular flimsy party," Taylor said frankly, "I wouldn't want rowdy children around if I were Father," he said.

"Things would be better if you were," Lenny muttered.

"Will you and Father ever get along?" Taylor asked him.

"The day that I'm straight and I remove every facet of my personality that makes ME Lenny," Lenny told him, "so no," he added.

Taylor sighed and shook his head.

(Meanwhile in Nigel's bedroom)

Fanny laughed as Herbert (Herbie) Johnson and Nigel Uno blushed and stood centimetres apart in their black tuxes.

"I never would've guessed!" Fanny cried as she laughed hysterically in her wheelchair, "you Nigel and you Her…," she continued but broke into more hysterical laughter.

It had been ten minutes since Fanny had entered and caught Herbert and Nigel making out on Nigel's bed (not having sex!). She had been carried up the stairs and placed back into the wheelchair by Nigel's Father. She was to be Nigel's date to the function that Father was having. They weren't going with the intention of being boyfriend and girlfriend. Alexander had invited Nigel specially, as a surprise and Nigel told Fanny about it. It had intrigued Fanny and they soon came to the decision to go as dates to the function. Little did she know that she'd be catching her date with the guest that he was allowed to invite making out with each other. They were horrified when they saw her but instead of getting angry after her initial shock, she burst out laughing and that absolutely terrified the two teen boys.

"Fanny," Nigel whispered but the redhead kept laughing, "close the door Herbert," he instructed and after a moments hesitation Herbert obeyed, "you aren't angry Fanny?" he asked her.

Fanny shook her head. Her laughter finally subsiding.

"I just never suspected," Fanny said, "so are you gay or..?" she started to ask.

"Bi," Nigel responded, "but I only romantically date guys now," he added.

"So what's wrong with girls?" Fanny asked with a hint of offence.

"Nothing," Nigel said, "I just go with guys now."

"And Herbie's your boyfriend?" Fanny asked a grin playing on her lips.

"We plan to go out," Herbie said sheepishly, "and it's Herbert," he told her.

"Herbie's his nick name," Nigel added.

"Oh," Fanny said, "so when did you…?"

"Before we became friends," Nigel summed up and Fanny nodded.

"Well I'm not telling anyone or anything," Fanny said quickly, "so uh," she continued, "does Herbert have a date?"

"No it's just me," Herbert said.

"So have you two um done….it?" Fanny asked and Nigel nearly fell over.

"Hem, no," Herbie responded while Nigel seemed bugged out and speechless.

"Yes, the answer's no," Nigel finally said after he recovered.

"So you two want to continue…?" Fanny started to ask but stopped.

"Continue what?" Nigel asked slowly.

"Making out?" Herbert asked excitedly then went bright red, "not that I'm in a hurry to…uh…um…yeah," he said then started to stare at his feet.

"You're joking?" Nigel asked Fanny.

"No," Fanny said and shook her head; "you guys can do it in the limo."

"We can!" Herbert cried.

"Gregory won't say anything," Fanny said dismissively, "he keeps the 'Vegas' policy," she told them.

"And what 'policy' is that?" Nigel asked almost sarcastically.

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," Fanny responded.

"But we're not in Vegas," Nigel pointed.

"Vegas is the name of his limo," Fanny explained.

"I'll do it," Herbert said suddenly.

"No way!" Nigel cried, "I thought you had more class than that Herbert," he said pointedly.

"You had an orgy in an underground club!" Herbert retorted, "you want to tell me about class?"

"A what!" Fanny screamed.

"Why don't you tell everybody all my secrets Herbert!" Nigel exploded, "tell them that the person I regularly go out with is Alexander!" he shouted then realized what he shouted and covered his mouth.

"You never told me that," Herbert said and Fanny had become silent.

"Um yeah," Nigel said softly, "he's the one who'll get sent away if it gets out," he added.

"The Alexander who was with you and Fanny at the hospital," Herbert said and Nigel nodded, "I had a feeling that the guy who you regularly dated was rich if his parents could send him to a foreign country," he deduced, "so he knows about me?"

"No," Nigel said, "it's really none of his business," he said frankly.

"Thank God!" Herbert shouted.

"What does that mean?" Nigel demanded.

"You know who his guardian is right?" Herbert asked Nigel nodded, "Father is a staunch anti-gay activist or more like bully," he told Nigel.

"I know," Nigel said seriously.

"Well doesn't it scare you?" Herbert pressed, "Father's injured people for less!"

"And you're worried that he'll fry me if he found out that I'm with someone in his care?" Nigel asked, "I'm not exactly turned on by the idea of being attacked by a hateful adult 'fire man'," he said frankly, "but I'm not going to stay away from Alexander because of him."

"Well he still scares me," Herbert said, "just be careful okay," he said to Nigel.

"Don't worry," Nigel said and lightly touched Herbert's worried face, "I'll be careful," he told him and kissed him; "sorry about what I said…." he started to apologize.

"It's all right," Herbert interrupted, "besides," he continued, "I already went with someone in a car before," he added.

"Who?" Fanny asked suddenly and the boys nearly jumped at the sound of her voice.

"There was Def, Henry, Junior, Marlow, Marl, and this guy who wants to keep it a secret," Herbert listed and both Fanny and Nigel looked shocked, "those are just ones who I've had sex with in a car," he protested, "what!" he demanded when they looked even more shocked.

"So you've done other things with guys in cars?" Nigel asked.

"Well underground clubs aren't exactly legal," Herbert countered, "it's called underground for a reason," he added.

"I know that!" Nigel retorted angrily, "I believe I'm worth being fucked in a club bed instead of the backseat of a car!"

"Who said it was always in the backseat," Herbert said superiorly and Nigel's mouth fell open.

"You did not just say that?" Nigel asked.

"I'm going to go home," Herbert said with huff, "Good bye Fanny," he said and headed for the door.

"Wait," Nigel said and grabbed his shoulder, "maybe we should just go slower," he suggested, "it's obvious that we disagree on some things," he added.

"Things?" Herbert asked incredulously, "you practically think I'm a whore because I have had sex in a car!" he shouted, "I've had sex in other places too," he said pointedly, "and I have fucked a guy in a bed before thank you very much," he added remembering Nigel's comment about 'I'm worth being fucked in a club bed'.

"That was definitely not the right thing to say," Nigel said with a sigh, "let's just start over."

Herbert chuckled.

"I'm Herbert, but you can call me Herbie," Herbert said and extended his hand.

"I'm Nigel," Nigel said with a laugh and shook Herbert's hand, "but you call me my last name at special times," he added with a wink.

"I'll call you Number One when I see it," Herbert responded and Nigel cried 'hey!' and nudged him, "all right, all right!" he conceded and they both started laughing.

"We're going to have to leave soon," Fanny spoke up and Nigel suddenly had a mischievous look on his face, "what?"

"The limo's pretty big right?" Nigel asked a grin spreading on his face.

"Duh it's a limo!" Fanny cried.

"You might want to sit up front with the grin that's on Nigel's face," Herbert suggested.

"Well since Greg keeps a 'Vegas' policy," Nigel started, "maybe we shouldn't let it go to waste," he added.

"You sure?" Herbert asked, "you never seemed crazy about the car idea," he reminded Nigel.

"I've done it in a car before," Nigel protested, "just only if we couldn't get to a bed," he added and Herbert laughed.

"If you two weren't my friends I'd be so grossed out right now," Fanny declared and they laughed after her.

(Meanwhile at the Gilligan's Residence)

Hoagie lay on his bed thinking. He felt bad about what he had said to Abby but he knew that he felt that he wasn't fully obligated to apologize. Or at least not apologize alone.

Abby destroyed my face! I had to lie to my Mom that I had intentionally got into a fight and now I'm grounded. She said bad stuff too and I didn't hit her or ruin her face! (Hoagie's thoughts)

"Call for you Hoagie!" Mrs. Gilligan cried, "person said it was important," she added.

Hoagie hurried to the nearest phone. His mother had disallowed him calling or speaking to anyone on the phone as part of his punishment. He wondered who could've gotten her to give him a temporary reprieve. Not even Mary Jane could succeed.

"Hello," Hoagie said anxiously.

"Hello," Lizzie responded coldly.

"Oh, you," Hoagie said without any enthusiasm.

"I'm just calling to let you know that no one's telling Wally of the incident," Lizzie told him.

"Am I supposed to be grateful?" Hoagie asked.

"I'm just delivering a message," Lizzie responded, "I could care less how you feel about it," she added.

"You're still upset because I called you a fatso aren't you?" Hoagie asked her.

"I delivered my message," Lizzie said instead of responding.

"So you feel Abby had every right to pulverize my face?" Hoagie asked.

"Absolutely," Lizzie said simply.

"Do you know that I'm grounded?" Hoagie asked as he tried to keep his cool.

"I'd ground my kid too if he went around calling lesbians dykes," Lizzie said harshly.

"That's not why I'm grounded," Hoagie snapped, "I told my mother something else," he explained.

"Ashamed?" Lizzie asked.

"No!" Hoagie exploded.

"No surprise there," Lizzie said cuttingly.

"You guys going to hold a grudge against me?" Hoagie asked.

"Call it whatever you want," Lizzie said, "Good bye."

"Wait," Hoagie said before she hung up, "I'm sorry," he said suddenly.

"About what?" Lizzie asked.

"Everything," Hoagie admitted, "you call to tell me that none of you are telling Wally and I treat you like crap," he continued, "I'm sorry that I called you a fatso and a bi in a rude way, I'm sorry about Kuki and that I called Abby a dyke."

"Apology accepted," Lizzie said after a moment of silence, "sort of," she added.

"What do you mean sort of?" Hoagie asked.

"Well I'm still angry about what you said," Lizzie told him, "especially about Abby," she said softly.

"Oh come on!" Hoagie cried, "sorry should be enough!"

"It's not for me," Lizzie said firmly, "did you know that you made Abby cry?" she demanded.

"What?" Hoagie asked almost hoarsely, "she cried?"

"You hurt her that much Hoagie Gilligan," Lizzie said almost loudly, "I can never forgive you that," she hissed and hung up.

(Four Hours Later at the DCFDTL Mansion)

The celebratory function was in full swing. Lenny was surprised when he realized that Greta was Taylor's date. But she looked awesome in her blue dress, shoes and her raven hair in a bun. Mary Jane wore a bubble gum pink dress, shoes and silk scarf. Alexander became her escort after her date Max Junno was a no show. Lenny had danced with a few girls and chatted with some guest to ensure father couldn't call him a wallflower. But what had surprised him was that Alexander had invited Nigel who came with Fanny. It was a surprise for Taylor since he was a fan of their soccer team. Taylor actually screamed when he saw them. They were also his favourite members of the team. A guy named Herbert was with them as their guest, and Lenny had to wonder if former KND members were going to totally flood his life soon. He recognized Herbert as Herbie a.k.a. Numbuh 63.5 a former Code Red messenger who used to work for the KND. As if Nigel wasn't more than enough.

"Hello Lenny," Father said suddenly and Lenny nearly jumped, "follow me to my study," he instructed and Lenny obeyed.

"You think I'm stupid don't you?" Father asked Lenny after he was seated while Lenny opted to remain standing, "that I just sit on my money and criticize you?"

"You're a great man Father," Lenny said automatically, "that's why you've achieved so much," he added.

"Oh stop reciting like I gave you a book that line from," Father said with disgust, "I know about you at that underground club, Nigel and Alexander, and of course that disgraceful orgy you got into the night before I returned," he said as Lenny now looked absolutely horrified, "I found it all out this morning after I finally got the file from the investigative team that I hired to watch all you for the past month," he revealed, "one month Lenny," he added pointedly.

"I never planned to be in the orgy Father," Lenny said, "I swear."

"I know," Father told him, "how could you think I wouldn't find out?" he asked.

"I don't know," Lenny said in a cracked voice, "are you going to tell Alexander's parents?" he asked Father.

"No," Father responded, "he's not my child," he added.

"Yeah," Lenny said softly, "so can I go back to the function?"

"No," Father said, "you're grounded."

"Wha…?" Lenny started to ask.

"You snuck out of the house that night," Father said formally, "you're grounded," he repeated, "I'll let Alexander know my findings tomorrow," he told Lenny, "you're the one without a date," he added when Lenny looked ready to protest.

"Good night Father," Lenny said instead and left the study.

"Good night Lenny," Father responded with a sigh.

I'm going to kill that Nigel. (Father's thoughts)

Done

Death's Soulmate: Thank my mother for the late update. I'll leave it at that (I'm just completed this only because she's not here, time: 3:40pm and date: Tuesday May 10th). Thanks to those who have me info on Herbert a.k.a. Herbie, it was helpful. Well this chapter wasn't short. Wonder why Taylor took Greta on a date? Will Hoagie ever work it out with Abby and the other girls? What will Father say to Alexander? Wait until future chapters. Review and tell me what you thought of this chapter. And yeah Erica, I believe it's wrong too. Look out between tomorrow right up to Friday for updates.