=Hayden's POV=
(Saturday, July 18, 2020-10:30 am)
[Raseri Home]
Having sex for the first time was a feeling I honestly couldn't describe, and I'm glad I got to do it with Troy. My boyfriend was slow and made sure I was okay with each thing before continuing. Troy stopped as soon as I told him to and ensured I was alright afterward. When it came to the intercourse, Troy didn't do anything unless I said what I wanted. Troy was gentle and made it passionate. It didn't feel like sex, it made me think of what we see in movies between two people where it's slow, sensual, meaningful. Troy and I didn't have sex; we made love, and it was incredible. I really hoped we would be able to do it again before leave was up. Troy and I were set to leave on the 26th. We would take the ferry to the central island, then we'd catch a commercial flight to Syria. As far as I knew, someone would be by to pick us up from there and take Troy and me into the Archian Outpost and drop us off in Section Myrkur. Thank the Gods there were only seven months left, and the tour would be over. Sadly, I still couldn't shake the feeling from Thursday that something was wrong and I'd be learning about it very soon.
"Hayden?" Troy's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am, babe. Just thinking," I replied.
"Anything you want to talk about, or maybe I can help with?" Troy questioned.
"Not really. I feel like I should make an attempt to my former friends; they didn't do anything wrong last Sunday, and they've been trying to make up for what happened. Maybe forgive my parents too. I know everyone was just confused and wanted to know why I had that gun, and you told me once before that I couldn't run from it forever," I stated.
"Well, we go back next Sunday. I assume you want to wrap this fighting up with them before then?" Troy asked.
"Not so much fighting. I don't hold grudges, at least not long ones. Yeah, they pushed me to want to kill myself, but you saved me and gave me a new reason to keep going no matter what happens. As far as I'm concerned; the truth is out involving everything, and now that it's had time to sit; everyone can put it behind them and perhaps start over," I said.
"Seems reasonable," Troy agreed. "How about you invite them over? All of them. Your ex-friend and parents? Even Gabriel, and talk things out with them?"
"You think your parents would mind having so many extra people here?" I wondered.
"I doubt it, but you're welcome to ask them," Troy smiled and kissed my cheek. I blushed then got up from the couch and went upstairs to talk to Rachel and Dustin.
. . .
=Normal POV=
(11:15 am)
Hayden didn't want to go back to Syria without making things right with everyone. Dustin and Rachel didn't mind Hayden inviting over his ex-friend and parents. Gabriel was always welcome, though, and it was decided that the Raseri's would grill up burgers, hot dogs, and chicken on the grill as it was easy and would be enough to feed everyone. Hayden was upstairs with Troy and the others, Gabriel had already arrived. Hayden saw a few cars pull into the driveway as Hayden took a deep breath and saw everyone coming out and headed for the door, opening it to meet them.
"Hi, Hayden," Avery greeted.
"Hey. Come inside," Hayden invited. Everyone walked in and saw the Raseri's, minus Cole, and Gabriel sitting in the living room. "Introductions, just to get them out of the way. "This is Dustin and Rachel Raseri. Their eldest son and my boyfriend, Troy. You all know Gabriel. Babe, Dustin, Rachel, this is my family and…friends," Hayden wasn't sure what to call them, but he settled on what they would be when this was over. "My parents, Spencer and Vivian Haddock. My friends in order; Avery Hofferson, Fisher Ingerman, Drew and Hailey Bazirk, my cousin Shane Jorgenson, then the twins, Rylee and Tyler Thorston,"
"Pleased to meet you," Rachel said.
"You as well," Fisher replied.
"Alright, I'm gonna take them downstairs to talk," Hayden stated. Troy came next to Hayden, holding his hand and kissing his cheek.
"Want me to come?" Troy asked.
"Nah, I think I'll be okay. Thank you, though," Hayden smiled as he turned his head and kissed Troy on the lips, then broke it before letting go and leading the group of nine towards the basement.
. . .
[Basement]
Hayden brought them downstairs and saw Cole relaxing on his side of the cellar in a chair.
"Hey, bro," Cole chuckled. Yeah, they weren't really brothers, but Cole liked Hayden as if he were one.
"Sup?" Hayden asked.
"Trying to beat this level," Cole muttered.
"Want some help?" Hayden offered. Cole nodded and handed Hayden the controller. Hayden restarted the level and zipped through it with ease as it was a shooting game. The segment ended and gave the message; Stage 5; Cleared! Rank; A. Level Up; Sniper Shooter.
"Haha! You're the best! I've been trying to get that for two weeks!" Cole cheered.
"Hayden doesn't have an Expert Shooter level in the Marines for nothing, lil bro. And screw you that you say Hayden is the best. I made expert too! Dick," Troy mumbled as he walked next to Hayden.
"You never offer to help me," Cole retorted.
"You're never out here gaming," Troy stated.
"Because I don't want to accidentally come out or down here and find you two fucking like on Thursday," Cole said.
"We were in the bedroom with the door shut. Stop being so dramatic," Troy rolled his eyes.
"That doesn't do anything when I could hear Hayden moaning from the kitchen upstairs!" Cole mentioned.
"Don't be jealous that I can please my boyfriend better than you can your girlfriend," Troy smirked. Cole's eyes widened.
"How'd you-," Cole started as Troy ruffled Cole's hair.
"Maybe you don't leave the condom box out on the nightstand when mom is collecting laundry?" Cole's eyes widened again. "Relax, little brother. Mom and dad don't know you're having sex because like the awesome older sibling I am; I told her that they were mine and I left them in there by accident when I was getting your charger for you the other day,"
"Okay, I take it back; you are the best," Cole said.
"I know I am. Hayden thinks so too," Troy chuckled. Hayden laughed a little and shook his head. "Come upstairs for a bit so Hayden can talk to his family and friends. Mom's orders," Cole nodded as he paused his game and then went with Troy. Hayden brought the group to his and Troy's side of the basement near the stairs.
"First off, not a word about anything you just heard," Hayden began as he saw they were about to ask questions. "Secondly; I didn't bring you over to talk about the past. Mistakes were made, and there are regret for things said and done. Yes, you all hurt me in different ways. It bothered me to no end seeing how fast you were all willing to walk out of my life and didn't even give me a chance to explain things. You didn't care, or believe me. I felt like I lost everything. Friends, job, love, and respect of my parents. I got wicked depressed for a couple months, and after learning, I might end up homeless…I figured what would it matter if I wasn't here anymore. I left the money, and my phone then took the gun to The Cove. Troy showed up and stopped me right before I pulled the trigger,"
"Son, we're-," Spencer tried, but Hayden put his hand up.
"I don't want apologies. As I said what's done is done, and there is no taking back what happened. Things played out the way they did, and this is where we are now. I'm sick of fighting; I do enough of that overseas. When I come back here; I want to feel like I'm home where it's safe, and there is peace. I don't want to feel like I'm still fighting a war when I'm with all of you. Regardless of what took place; I've never hated anyone. I severely disliked the situations, and how quickly the blame fell on me. That I was given no chance to explain, and how fast the strong ties we had came undone. That's what pained me the most, but I've been able to see that you're sorry. I don't like holding grudges, so I'm going to let this go and put it behind me for a fresh start," Hayden said.
"You're giving us another chance?" Drew asked.
"And forgiving us?" Shane added.
"We can be friends again?" Fisher hoped.
"Yes, to all. I'll give you my number, and talk on Skype or my cell when I can. Everything can go back to the way it was two years ago. But understand that I might still be hesitant and quiet. You did hurt me, and that might always stay with me because I'll worry if it happens again. Also, this is only happening if you can accept my relationship with Troy," Hayden looked at them.
"I'm still a bit shocked about that myself. Why didn't you ever tell us you were gay?" Hailey wondered.
"To be completely honest, I didn't know I was. Since I was old enough to understand what sexual orientation is; I considered myself bisexual, to leave it open for either situation. I was attracted to both genders, but through Boot Camp; well, being in a barrack with thirteen other males around your age tends to put things into perspective. I realized that while women are attractive, I don't feel anything towards them. I started developing feelings for Troy and didn't tell him until April 2019 when I had food poisoning. I was so out of it and tired. Troy and I talked, then he let me know he returned my feelings two months later in June when we graduated from Infantry Training. Troy and I got together a month later, then ended up deployed the month after that. Go figure," Hayden shrugged.
"And you two have had sex?" Vivian asked.
"I thought I said not to bring that up," Hayden muttered, then sighed. "Yes, we have. Once, and that was Thursday," he informed. "Moving on. Can you accept the relationship or not? If you can't, then I don't need people in my life who don't support me or my decisions,"
"It's fine with us," Rylee stated.
"As long as you're happy, son; we're okay with it," Spencer said.
"Good. Then you're forgiven, and since you know everything…There is no need to bring up the past again. Understand?" Hayden stared.
"Perfectly," the nine responded.
"Mom, dad; you two know how to use Skype?" Hayden asked.
"Yes," the two replied as Hayden pulled his phone out and accepted their requests from a while ago.
"Skype is easier to communicate over my cell, so if you want to talk once I go back to Syria; this is your best bet," Hayden told them.
"Great. Uh, how do we change names? I know Gabriel has you listed as Hayden," Vivian inquired. Hayden moved next to them, both on their phones and showed them. Hayden sent a message to all of them.
TheVikingWarrior_0019{Hayden}, 11:35 PM-7/18/2020; Cell: 298-741-5360.
"That's my cell. You're free to send yours later on, and I'll add them in. Mom and Dad, I already have both yours and the house number programmed, so you don't need to," Hayden enlightened as both nodded. "Well, let's get back upstairs,"
"Where do you sleep?" Tyler inquired.
"Hm? Down here," Hayden said.
"On the couch?" Vivian blinked.
"What? No. Troy and I share his room," Hayden smiled as he opened the door by the light switch and revealed the bedroom. "We actually just moved it around to look this way. Before; it very closely resembled a college dorm," he chuckled. The room wasn't all that different, but instead of two beds, there was one big enough for Hayden and Troy to both sleep in. The setup was now walking and seeing a large closet on the opposite wall to the door. On either side of the closet was a kitty-cornered dresser. The right wall was Hayden's desk and dresser, the left was Troy's. There were two nightstands on each side of the bed which was on the wall with the door. "And Cole has that room down the end of this wall too," Hayden pointed after turning off the bedroom light and closing the door.
"Where's that door lead?" Shane asked.
"Storage rooms and a full bathroom. Oh, and an emergency exit to the backyard where the porch is," Hayden explained. "Come on," he had them follow him up the stairs to join the others.
. . .
[Upstairs]
"Everyone all good?" Dustin asked. Hayden nodded as Troy wrapped his arms around Hayden's waist and yanked him down into his lap.
"Hey, behave yourself; we have company over," Hayden stated after Troy kissed him deeply.
"Wanna sneak away downstairs?" Troy whispered in his ear as Hayden's face lit up.
"Maybe later," Hayden replied.
"I'll hold you to that, babe," Troy smiled. Hayden returned it as he leaned back into Troy's arms so he could relax. Finally, everything felt okay again. Hayden had a home, his best friend and boyfriend. Hayden had his uncle, parents, and friends back. Hayden felt happy, and as long as he lived; he never wanted to lose this right here, right now.