Chapter 3
June 6, 2003
John LaFleur guided the brand-new Mercedes easily into the parking space in front of Maria's, one of his favorite Italian restaurants and by far one of the best in Portland. Its low diesel growl was very different from the deep rumble of John's Olds 442, but Mom and Dad had insisted that, with a baby on the way, John and his wife needed a more refined, accommodating car, one meant for a family.
"I don't know how you managed to get a spot here tonight," Cindy remarked.
"The same way I got one of these," John replied, holding up his gold marriage ring.
"By being sexy, clever, brilliant, amazing in bed, the hunkiest guy in the world, and-"
"Cindy," John protested, blushing crimson. "I meant I just asked nicely."
"Oh, you do a lot more than ask nicely," Cindy laughed. "So, how're we gonna tell our son he happened on a nice spot of moss out in the woods in a state park in Virginia?"
"We're not," John replied. "I mean, that was your idea."
"You loved it," Cindy insisted.
"Yeah, but that's- well, I love you."
"All I have to do is drop a hint and you're already undressing."
"You like it that way," John told her. "Don't even deny it."
"I'm not," Cindy snickered. "What a dad our kids are gonna have."
"Are you done teasing me?" John asked with mock weariness.
"Nope."
"Okay." John shut the Mercedes off, reached out and took Cindy's hand. "How is he?"
"Kicking a lot today," Cindy said. She winced, then placed John's hand on her swollen belly. Sure enough, he could feel a few thumps and couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, look at the two of you," Cindy fussed good-naturedly. "Having a good time at my expense."
"Pretty sure he's in there because of a good time at my expense." John grinned. "I paid for the cabin and the parking pass, remember?"
"I don't know how I ever survived eight years of going to school with you."
"Because I'm… cute?"
"You're hot, but it'd be better if you weren't so damn happy about it!"
"What, can't I be proud of how I look?"
Cindy slapped him gently. "John, let me out of the car already."
"Yes, my love," John said, grinning impishly.
He got out of the E-class, went around to the front passenger door, and opened it, taking Cindy's hand as she stood up. She was quite stunning tonight, wearing a beautiful red dress that stretched nicely over her many curves. John was responsible for the biggest one, but Cindy had all but bullied him into it, so he didn't have any regrets. Besides, getting ready to become a dad and a Navy submarine officer both was incredibly exciting.
"Is Jackson gonna be here on time?" Cindy asked as John closed the passenger door for her.
"Has he ever been late in his life?" John laughed.
"He's a dumb jock with huge, fantastic muscles, and you make him sound like he's actually a good friend."
"He's both," John retorted. "And don't go saying he's got bigger muscles than me! Mine are very nice."
"Eight years later and we're still bickering like a couple of kids," Cindy said with a smile. "You're so sensitive. That's why teasing you never gets old."
"You always gotta mess with me," John fussed.
"You like it when I do," Cindy said, putting her arms around his neck and nibbling at his ear. "Say it, John."
"I-ow-I-ooh! I like it when you do."
"See," she whispered in his ear, "was that so bad? You get a reward tonight. Something special, for being a good husband."
John felt his pale face heating up. "Oh, really?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light.
"Yes. And make it double because of your big muscles."
"I love you so much," John said, kissing her on the lips.
"Still a horny, childish boy," Cindy teased, smiling up at him. "All I need to do is promise some fun and you love me. That's okay. I'm still working on you."
"Uh, so how am I coming along?" John asked.
"Just fine," Cindy said with satisfaction.
Just as John was about to ask what exactly his 'reward' would be later tonight, his phone started going off. John dug into his khaki shorts, searching the right pocket until he found the damn thing hiding behind his wallet. He took it out and opened it.
"Hello?"
"Where did you say this fucking place was?"
"It's off South Main Street, Jackson, we went over this."
"Well, it's not my fault I never- what? Jennifer, I said- John, this place better be as good as I remember, man. I'm fuckin' hungry."
"You need me to come out there and wave you in with a big neon sign, Annapolis man?"
"Scott's not here, you know. He's training with the American men's soccer team all summer. So if I plant my foot up your ass-"
"Oh, you wanna talk about entering my ass? I didn't think you were the type, dude."
"I see you, smartass," Jackson Lee said. "Be fucking glad that I like you." He hung up.
When Jackson's imposing black Chevrolet Tahoe pulled up beside John and Cindy, it obscured the view of a black Hummer H1 that John had only barely glanced at. The tall, broad-shouldered Jackson Lee practically leapt from the Tahoe and embraced John like a brother, knocking him back against the Mercedes.
"Look at you, VMI man," Jackson exclaimed. "Good to see you, you fucking dork."
"Hey, guys," Jennifer Lee called, clearly used to her husband's antics.
"Hey, Jenn," Cindy replied. "You want me to separate these two?"
"It's honestly kind of fun to watch," Jennifer said.
"How'd we wind up with them?"
"All those big muscles hide a lot of perfect husband material," Jennifer laughed. "You should listen to some of the poetry he writes for me."
"Don't you dare," Jackson exclaimed. "I told you not to bring that up!"
"I can embarrass you if I want," Jennifer said reasonably.
"Let her out of the car," Cindy said.
"Yes, ma'am," Jackson replied, heading around to the far side of the Tahoe. He opened the door, bowed elegantly, and managed to slowly flex his massive biceps as he reached out to take Jennifer's hand, emphasizing how tightly his blue Ralph Lauren polo clung to them.
"Not showing off at all," John commented to Cindy.
"No, not him," Cindy agreed. "Never."
John took Cindy's hand as Jackson and Jennifer came around the front of the Tahoe, noting how far along Jennifer was. Both couples had broken military regulations and married before John and Cindy had graduated from VMI, or Jackson from the Naval Academy. John didn't regret getting married early. Neither his family nor Cindy's had complained, and he and Jackson had each come to the other's wedding as a guest of honor. Scott Shepard, of course, was at both as the best man.
"Shall we?" John asked.
"Let's," Jackson agreed.
As the two couples headed for the front doors of the restaurant, two tall, broad-shouldered young men came out. They were laughing about something, each holding a cigarette. The blond pulled out a lighter and paused, seeing the four people in front of him for the first time. A mocking smile emerged on his face, and he lit his cigarette before flicking it at Jackson.
"Get outta my face, asshole," Jackson growled, smacking the cigarette aside in midair.
"Oh, what'll you do if I don't?" Henry Evans laughed.
"You know what I'll do," Jackson said menacingly. "I took on you and your stupid brother before. You feel like trying it again?"
"We would've killed you if the teachers hadn't broken up that fight," Mark Evans promised. "There's no teachers here."
"Yeah, only cops, and your ass going to prison for assault."
Henry pointed at Cindy, then at Jennifer. "Oh, no… girls, you can't be serious… wow." He laughed uproariously. "Really? Cindy, babe, you let this little faggot- oh, wow. And, Jennifer, girl, I thought you had better taste than that. You really let this stupid Korean meathead put a kid in you?"
Jackson lunged forward, shouting something in Korean, but John was quick and got hold of him just in time. Jackson's arms and shoulders were fully tensed; it was like grasping steel shaped like a human.
"We're just here to eat," John said reasonably. "Nobody needs to start a fight here. Okay?"
"Listen to the little fag, playing peacemaker," Mark observed. "Does Cindy ever tell you how she fucked me and my brother? Only girl we both gave it to. And she begged for it, man. She loved us."
"She told me all about that," John said calmly. "It's in the past now. She's been with me for eight years."
"You guys weren't really that great," Cindy added. "And John's got more than you'll ever know. Maybe you should've asked him. He could've taught you guys something."
Mark turned red and suddenly Henry lunged for him, grabbing his brother and wrestling him back.
"Let me go! Fucking lying bitch, I'll-"
"What?" Cindy demanded. "You'll what, Mark?"
Quite a few people inside and outside the restaurant were watching now; Henry whispered something to Mark, who relaxed and smoothed down his polo after a few moments. The brothers looked around, clearly not liking the presence of an audience.
"Weak fucks like you people shouldn't be allowed to breed," Mark hissed. "You guys have fun. I got places to be." He made to shove his way past the two couples, but instead they just moved out of the way, denying him the opportunity.
"We're going to go see Michael Cadiz and his family at their house," Henry added smugly. "He just graduated high school today and asked us to be there, and to come by for dinner. Mark and I have more kids trying to be exactly like us every year. They text us, email us, call us, and we always have time for them. But you two faggots wouldn't know anything about having people idolize you. And you never will."
"Have fun with this meathead, Jenn," Henry said. "And enjoy having kids with an effeminate loser, Cind. I thought I taught you girls better than this. But, uh, enjoy. If that's what you want."
"Go fuck yourself, Henry," Cindy said sweetly.
Henry's cheeks tinged pink under the streetlamp. "I'll remember that," he promised. "I always remember. Someday you'll learn some manners." He walked off without another word.
Jackson waited until Henry and Mark got into the enormous black Hummer wagon, started it up, and drove off before going inside. John followed him, shifting his thoughts back to the evening as it had been planned.
"They were always obsessed with themselves," Cindy said, shaking her head. "I don't know why I didn't see it."
"In the past, babe," John said, kissing her on the cheek. "Like you said."
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Mark was seething as Henry drove away from the restaurant, visibly beside himself. Henry decided against going home directly and instead took them out on some of their favorite backroads, places where they'd picked up some of their best kills.
Sure enough, after enough cruising and talking to Mark, Henry spotted two high school girls. Track runners, probably sophomores. Young, attractive, and, thanks to rain that was beginning to come down, in need of a quicker route home.
"Mark, gimme a second here," Henry said. "I think we got a chance for some fun."
"Good thing it's dark," Mark grouched. "This fuckin' truck is pretty recognizable."
"There's no one around. And it's dark. If we get 'em in the Beast fast, no one will ever connect us and them."
"Barely look like they're out of middle school," Mark grunted.
"They're probably virgins," Henry thought aloud. "You feel like having some fun?"
"I'm always up for some fun," Mark replied.
"Good," Henry said with a smile. He slowed the truck as they came to a curve, gradually matching pace with the two girls. The brunette glanced at her partner, the blonde, and then at the truck again.
"Roll down your fucking window, could you?" Henry asked with mock impatience.
Mark hit the power button and leaned out, offering one of his wholesome, charming smiles.
"Hey," he called out. "You girls oughta hop in. It's raining too hard out here."
"Uh, I don't know," the brunette said uncertainly, glancing at her friend. "Who are you guys?"
"I'm Mark Evans," Mark said, offering his hand. "Seriously. It's nice to meet you."
The girls looked at each other again.
"You're him? The Mark Evans?" the blond asked.
"That's me. The one and only, babe."
"C'mon, Carol," the blonde told her friend. "Let's go. My brother's gonna love it when I tell 'im we got to meet the Evans brothers."
ΩΩΩΩΩ
The process went as it always did. Flawlessly, effortlessly, Henry and Mark sighted their target, made a plan, lured them away from witnesses or troublemakers, and did what they wanted after that. The girls got so excited about meeting the local celebrities that they forgot all about their cell phones, which Mark got up front under the pretense of drying them off and charging them, and forgot all about going back to their houses until it was far too late.
Once inside the house, wrists bound and mouths closed by tape, the girls were easy prey. Mark had the brunette. He stripped naked at the base of the Grand Staircase, cut her clothes off with his stiletto, and used her while Henry did the same with the blonde. Mark's size caused the girl obvious pain and he relished, inflicting all the cruelty he could never do to Julie.
After finishing a fifth time, Mark pulled out and waggled his penis at the brunette, who was still crying and mumbling things. "You're the best, babe," he sighed, laughing at her. "Oh, man. I almost worked up a sweat."
"Mark, you don't need to fuckin' talk to her," Henry breathed, still humping away. "Fuck. Shit. Oh, man, I'm almost ready. Holy fuck- fuck-" he groaned, clenching and unclenching his buttocks.
"Having fun there, my man?" Mark asked.
"Shut-up-ohhh… oh, man, that's good. That was good."
"You sound like you're having fun."
Henry pulled out, turned, and tried to slap Mark, who dodged him easily.
"Mark, don't bother me while I'm trying to enjoy myself. I was at the best fucking part and you almost messed me up!"
Mark just sat back on his elbows, grinning. "Your ass is still pale as a sheet of paper, Henry."
"I still got a bigger cock than you."
"No, you don't. We're the same size."
"Shit, you wanna measure?"
"Anytime. I'll embarrass you."
"We got the same upgrades from this place."
"The same Evans genes."
"Well, the best of 'em," Henry said. "How we got Connie I dunno."
"You think she's done any breeding yet?" Mark asked. "She's sixteen."
"Ugh, I don't wanna even think about it," Henry said, shrugging his buff shoulders and shuddering. "Maybe somehow she'll fuck a strong guy and he'll make someone more like us. But that's not my fuckin' problem."
Mark sat up, going for his knife. "Watch this," he told Henry. He looked down at the girl, snapping out the switchblade again. "You remember how I told you I'd fuck you and maybe then I'd let you go?"
The brunette nodded frantically, eyes deliciously alive with fear. Beside her, the blonde did much the same, looking at Mark, then Henry, then to Mark again.
"Well, I'm not so sure," Mark sighed. "Yeah, see, my brother and I, we got a reputation to keep. And we kinda just raped you and your friend. If we let you go, you'll tell anyone who'll believe you."
"Not that many people will," Henry went on. "If we were gonna let you go, we'd clean you up. There'd be no proof."
"I mean, thing is, we both kinda forgot to pull out a few times," Mark laughed. "So-" he stuck the stiletto under the brunette's chin, driving it in until he hit bone. The gush of blood was immediate, gratifying. Mark caught a pungent smell as the girl kicked and flailed her legs, weaker by the second, and saw urine pooling between her legs. "Nice," he commented, wrinkling his nose.
Henry, who had been playing with his knife, idly turning it over between his fingers, sighed as the blonde's eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
"Well, I'm gonna have one more, I guess. Then we can just toss her in the wine cellar."
"Fine, get on with it," Mark said. "I wanna go up to the Library."
"Six or seven minutes," Henry answered. "Ten at the most. And you shut up. I wanna enjoy this."
"Fine, fine," Mark laughed. "I'm telling you, though, a nude beach trip and we could-"
"You shut up!"
Mark just grinned. A few snorts escaped him, but he kept it together otherwise. Henry sighed, shrugged, and turned back to the blonde. Mark sat and watched as his brother positioned himself, entered, used the girl, and true to his word finished nine and a half minutes later. The girl woke up halfway through, but Henry warned her to shut the fuck up if she wanted to live. Even with her friend dead beside her, the blonde instantly went silent and still, relying, as nearly all of them did, on the hope that compliance would result in mercy.
Henry slapped her a few times, demanding that she cry, and Mark laughed when she started sobbing as if on cue. Then, as they had done so many times before, Henry and Mark stood up, took hold of her, and hauled her off to the chilly depths of the massive wine cellar below the kitchen. They left her down there, knowing the house would take care of the rest. She and her friend would stay here forever, thanks to Fleetwood Hall's gift for trapping and consuming human souls.
After walking back to the entrance hall, Mark and Henry paused to fold their clothes a little more neatly. Figuring there was no need to get dressed just yet given where they were going, they picked up their clothes and headed on to the Glass Library.
"Henry," Mark said as they went down the hall, loving the deep, luxurious carpeting under his feet, "I don't like that faggot and that fucking gook breeding."
"The inferior races should never be allowed to mate," Henry agreed. "But unless we kill them and their whores, it's just something we're stuck with."
"Well, why don't we fucking kill 'em?" Mark demanded. "Those two've crossed us and they're fucking weak. We should get rid of them."
"We could," Henry said. "But then that's four people, and they don't have any association with us. It'll be hard to get them by themselves."
"We could still do it," Mark insisted.
"The real problem isn't them. It's all the inferiors getting together and breeding," Henry went on. "We just can't kill them all, Mark."
"We can fucking try!"
"Not if we want to be there for the boys," Henry told him. "We're fathers now, Mark. The boys depend on us to maintain a respectable image. We can't go around killing all the weaklings and faggots and gooks and shit. There's too many. We literally don't have that kind of time."
"Well, I'm gonna go fuck Julie some more, then," Mark said heatedly, "because if those fuckers can keep breeding, then so can I!"
Henry stopped, looking at Mark with one of his odd stares. His eyes were intense, yet far-off, searching, thinking.
"What?" Mark asked irritably. He was in no mood for Henry's "investigate, it's scientific" crap.
"Mark," Henry said, "you could do that. Julie'll have another kid for you. You could have two boys."
"Huh?"
"Get her pregnant again, Mark," Henry urged. "Two boys, two heirs. Two guys to pass on your genes instead of one."
"Yeah, but, what about you? I've got Julie to carry my kid for me just like last time, but Lisa kind of went and 'disappeared.'"
"I'll make some slut fall in love with me," Henry replied casually. "Maybe I'll fuck a teacher this time. More your style."
"And then Julie's gonna have to adopt him."
"Yep."
"What if either of these whores puts out a girl?"
"Oh, we'll need to arrange a miscarriage before that happens," Henry said. "We don't need that shit."
"How'm I supposed to get Julie to keep four kids for me?" Mark demanded, suddenly getting frustrated. "Henry, she pesters me enough about marriage as it is. She's gonna want me around more, and she's gonna fucking complain, but you know what? I'm not fuckin' marrying her. She can go fuck herself. Better yet, she can blow me."
"Well, I guess we could- no…" Henry muttered, pacing around in the hallway. "Mark, this is getting complicated."
"I mean, we can just do what we did last time."
"Four boys will be a lot, and it was tricky getting a single mom to adopt once already," Henry replied. "How's she gonna convince them to give her a fourth kid while she's got three already? Legally, she's by herself."
"I'll just throw some money at her. Hire some more help. It's whatever."
"Mark-"
"There's no reason we can't make it work," Mark said insistently. "We've always gotten what we want. Why not now?"
"Listen to me, Mark," Henry said, closing the distance between them and setting his hands on Mark's shoulders. "Listen. Okay?"
"Okay." Mark nodded, meeting Henry's eyes steadily. He might have been frustrated and annoyed- and why not? He had always been passionate!- but Mark always, always listened to Henry.
"Because of the sheer fucking number of losers breeding out there, we've decided to each have another boy. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Mark said firmly. He liked the idea. He was extremely proud to have fathered one magnificent son and couldn't wait to have another. He treasured that vision he and Henry had shared, the one where they'd ruled the Third Reich together, each of them accompanied by the two finest of their many sons fathered through the Lebensborn program.
"The boys need to all grow up under one roof. Julie's doing a job we need her to do. You need her to have your second heir, and the best way to make sure mine can wind up with him is…"
"Oh, no," Mark groaned. "You mean I gotta marry her?"
"Yes, Mark."
"She's a whore! She's just a fucking slut, all she does is lie there and take it anytime I say!"
"And she's helping raise our boys."
"Fuck that, I'm- I mean, we're-"
"No, she's helping. Like a maid. Or a pet dog."
Mark laughed. "That's better."
"Well, whaddya say?"
"I was never supposed to marry her," Mark fumed. "It was all about me. I wanted to have fun. So why the hell should I let her have this little fantasy of hers?"
Henry gently squeezed Mark's shoulders. "Listen, I never said you had to actually love the bitch. This is just a new change in the plan. You didn't exactly plan on getting her pregnant the first time, did you?"
"Well, no," Mark said sheepishly. "I… yeah, I kinda forgot. About the pills."
"Alex exists because you forgot," Henry said. "And he's the strongest boy in the world apart from Richard."
"Oh, bullshit," Mark blustered, "my son's twice as powerful as-"
"Marry the whore, Mark," Henry said gently. "Buy a ring, sign some papers, change her last name, be the official man of the house. She'll get to move around with you in the Marines and that'll make it easier for us to see the boys. Way easier."
Mark wanted very badly to go on arguing. He looked back at Henry, knowing that want was plain on his face. But as much as he tried to come up with something, Mark knew he had no leg to stand on. Henry's logic was impeccable, as it always was. He was right. With two more boys coming into the picture now, the importance of a unified, organized household where Mark held the power he needed to was essential.
I gotta do this? Seriously? I never wanted to get married. Ever. Not even pretending.
It's all a big show, Henry answered. Mark could hear him clearly, even though Henry's lips hadn't moved. You're not doing it for her. You're doing it for our boys. They need you to be Mr. Evans officially. It'll make everything easier, Mark. We'll be in their lives just the way they need us to be. Do it for them.
Mark sighed, but he finally nodded. Okay.
Don't worry, Henry assured him. We'll plan this out. Every detail.
How am I gonna tell Susan and Wallace I'm marrying a teacher who's already got two kids? You know how they are.
Henry smiled. See, that's just what I mean. Don't worry. We'll play them like a fuckin' violin.
Like we always do, you mean.
Yeah, man, there you go.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Once in the Glass Library, Henry and Mark laid their clothes out and sat down, relaxed and happy to be at the heart of the place that had given them so much. They loved it here and treasured every visit.
"Mark," Henry said, "before we go under, I had another idea just now."
"Yeah?" Mark replied.
"We're gonna become sperm donors."
"And why the fuck would we do that?"
"To pass on our superior genes to even more women," Henry explained. "See, we're literally perfect donors in every way. Think about everything that goes on the checklist of a desirable donor and we have it. There's no way women won't be picking our donations again and again. And every kid they have using our sperm is another kid we created."
"I'd rather make them all myself," Mark said. "And I'm not fucking jacking off into a cup."
"Mark, if we gotta do it we gotta do it," Henry said reasonably. "Name one reason why we shouldn't donate and have even more kids with our fucking superhuman genes out there."
Henry laughed as his brother grumbled something and crossed his powerful arms over his massive chest, looking for all the world like he'd been told he couldn't go in the cookie jar.
"All right," Mark agreed. "Let's do it. I'm gonna punch you once for every time I have to jack off in a cup, though."
"You can try," Henry said with a grin. "And, you know, you don't have to do it that way. You can just fuck Julie and then come in the cup or whatever they give you."
"Oh, you really think I'm gonna bother with-"
"You just said you didn't wanna jack off in a cup!"
"This is dumb."
"You're dumb."
"Oh, that's real mature, Lieutenant."
"How about we just agree to go on over to some clinics and get signed up to be donors, and then figure out the how later?"
"Fine. You're right," Mark said. "It makes sense to do that. Helps give us even more of a legacy."
"Ah," Henry sighed, lying down with his hands behind his head. "I love being right."
You fucking prick, Mark told him telepathically.
I love you, Mark, Henry replied as he closed his eyes and they went under the floor together.
Always, Mark responded.
They dreamed not of another world or a past life this time, but of the recent past, the day when Alex and Richard had met. It had been an interesting day to say the least, but Henry and Mark had fixed the issues that arose almost immediately.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Henry brought his son into the room gently, cradling him in his arms. Mark's boy, Alexander, gazed up at his father and uncle. As usual, he observed before saying or doing anything. He got up, looked at the infant in Henry's well-muscled arms, then plopped back down again.
"Now," Henry said with a smile, "this is your brother, Alex. His name's Richard."
"Kay," Alex said.
Henry knelt and offered Richard to Alex, who stared at the small boy, looking unimpressed. "Go on," Henry encouraged. "You two are gonna be best friends. Just like your dad and me."
Alex got up, took a few steps forward, reached for Richard with his tiny hands. Richard sighed, shifted in his father's arms, and closed his eyes.
"Not much of a first meeting," Mark laughed.
"You shut up," Henry fussed. "See, your son's already coming over to say hi to his brother!"
Alex had closed the distance to the blond infant; he appeared quite focused, indeed, a look that Henry assumed to mean interest and enthusiasm, the things he and Mark wanted to see.
In a lightning-fast gesture, Alex put his hands to Richard's throat and squeezed hard.
"Urg!" Richard exclaimed, his eyes flying open. He opened his mouth to wail, but he couldn't draw the air. His face began to show a hint of blue.
"Hey!" Henry cried. "Stop that!"
Giving no sign that he'd even heard his uncle, Alex just kept squeezing, that same look of fierce intent on his face. His expression was otherwise blank, his eyes pitiless, cold.
"Alex, let go right now!" Mark ordered.
When nothing happened, Henry, growing truly frightened for his son's safety, gave one flex of his mighty legs and stood to his full height. The auburn-haired toddler hung on even then, refusing to concede, but finally his hands slipped. Mark caught him and whisked him back to a safe distance as Richard took in a deep breath and bawled.
"Oh, that's just wonderful," Henry complained. "Great. Fantastic. Little jerk tried to choke my kid!"
"I didn't know he was gonna do that!" Mark exclaimed, looking between Alex and Richard in alarm.
"Guys," Julie called out, hurrying in from the kitchen. "Guys, what's going on? Why's Richard so upset?"
"Nothing," Henry quickly lied. "Alex just- uh, got a little excited, meeting Richard for the first time." He looked down at Richard, hugging the infant gently. "It's okay," Henry soothed. "It's all right. Dad's here. You're fine, Rich. Everything's fine."
"Babe," Mark said, "I think now's a good time for us to have some boys' time out. We'll be back for dinner."
Julie thought to protest, but when she saw the firm but gentle set of Mark's face, she knew better than to argue. Mark had made his decision.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Alex tried to kill Richard twice during the drive to Fleetwood Hall, forcing Mark to hold the toddler up front while the infant rode in the back in his safety seat.
"Sonofabitch," Henry grouched. "Fuck, Mark, what the hell's the matter with him? Why's Alex doing this?"
"Fuck," Alex said. "Fuck."
"Shh, Alex," Mark told him. "I don't know, Henry. He just won't stop. He's a toddler, what'm I supposed to do!"
"Any other kid put his hands on my boy, I'd break 'em!" Henry insisted. "I don't- oh, hell, we'll fix this. The house will fix this. It always does."
"Yeah," Mark sighed wearily, gently tightening his grip as Alex tried to squirm free again, looking hungrily toward the Jeep's back seat. "Killer, you gotta save it for people who aren't your brother."
Alex just squirmed even more. Mark hugged him. "You're gonna kill so many people, Alex. And whatever's wrong, the house can help."
"Nohep," Alex said. "Nohep, fuck."
"What nice words he's learning," Henry commented. He paused the Jeep at the gate, drove in, stopped and turned off the engine. He got out and gently lifted Richard out of his car seat. Richard fussed some at being disturbed again, but he nestled into his father's arms instinctively and was already drifting off again when Mark brought Alex around and the four of them headed for the front door.
"I'm sorry my son did that, Henry," Mark said. "I don't know what's gotten into him."
"Must be some- some fuckin' instinct he's got," Henry said. "Like, first thing he does is try to kill the new baby in the house. Like it was automatic for him."
"I never taught him to do that," Mark replied fretfully. "I made Alex. I'm his dad. He needs to do whatever I want."
"Oh, welcome to parenting, Mark," Henry laughed.
"Big, fat help you are," Mark replied.
"We'll get the boys some bonding time here," Henry said. "No problem at all."
"That's good," Mark answered. "Last thing we need is them trying to fuckin' kill each other some more."
"Fuck," Alex said. He burped.
"You hush up," Mark told him. "You're supposed to kill people, but not him! He's your brother. Brothers don't do that to each other.
"Legoda," Alex responded. "Leggo."
Richard was sleeping peacefully when they got up to the Glass Library and walked out to the center of the cavernous room. Henry undressed him and laid him out on his back; Mark did the same for Alex, who did not look amused, but lay beside Richard easily enough.
"Take these two," Henry asked humbly as both he and Mark bowed their heads. "Take them and make them brothers."
Richard and Alex slipped beneath the floor almost immediately.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Charged up and feeling truly alive, the way he always did after going under the floor in the Glass Library, Henry was all smiles as he returned home, to the house where everything had revolved around him since 1981, and around him and Mark since 1994. They owned this place and it would stay that way as long as they lived. Henry knew his life would ultimately be short, but while it lasted, he would never, ever be questioned under this roof.
"Hello," Henry called out as he and Mark came in the front door.
"Hey," Connie replied from the living room, glancing up briefly from her phone.
"Hey, Henry. Hey, Mark," Susan called from the kitchen.
"Hi there, boys," Wallace said, looking out from his study.
As Henry entered the kitchen, he put his powerful arms around his mother with what she thought was gentle care and love. He could have crushed her, killed her in an instant, but chose not to. Henry loved wielding that kind of power. As he hugged his mother, Henry said, "Hi, Mom. I love you."
"I love you, too, Henry," Susan answered, sounding like she was gonna start crying or something. Henry managed not to laugh as he let go of her, offering his usual charming smile.
"Mom, I gotta tell you something," Mark said, after he gave Susan a hug of his own.
"Sure, Henry," Susan said, looking up from the tomatoes she was cutting. "What is it?"
"I think I better go buy an engagement ring tomorrow."
"A- Mark!" Susan exclaimed. "You- are you serious?"
"Yes, Mom. There's this- well, she's the one. I started seeing her on and off a while back…" Mark smiled modestly. "I'm really happy, Mom. I'm gonna go propose to her tomorrow night. I don't wanna wait any longer."
"Wallace!" Susan cried. "Get in here!"
"What is it, hon?" Wallace called out, hurrying down the hall and into the kitchen. He looked around, obviously concerned. "What's going on?"
"Mark's getting married, Wallace," Susan told him, barely containing her excitement. "He's been hiding a special someone from us. But now, we get to finally meet her, don't we, Mark?"
"Yes," Mark agreed. He shrugged. "I'm not sure just when, pretty soon. She's kinda shy about meeting you guys. We've talked about it a few times. She's really looking forward to it."
"Well, Mark, that's great!" Wallace exclaimed. "Hey, Connie!"
"What?"
"Mark's getting married!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, Conse," Mark shouted. "Now come in here and lemme tell everybody about it at once!"
ΩΩΩΩΩ
After dinner, once Henry and Mark had gone upstairs to hang out in one of their rooms for a while, Wallace poured a glass of port for himself and his wife, offering her the drink with a smile.
"I never thought I'd see the day," Wallace said.
"Well, you know those two," Susan replied with a good-natured laugh. "Just look at how much they played the bachelor in high school."
"I never did get all the girlfriends straight."
"It was all just a show to keep everyone busy while they figured things out," Susan pronounced. "Imagine what it must've been like for them. Going into high school already that popular; the pressure must've been unbearable. So they just made up their minds that they'd be the romantic bachelors forever." Susan smiled. "And eventually things changed."
"They sure did. This Julie must really be something."
"Of course. I know the boys never really talked to us about it too much, but I think they were trying to sort a lot of things out behind the scenes. You know, the cool tough guy look. Like I said, all part of the show."
"But two kids?" Wallace shook his head. "I never imagined Mark would go for that."
"It's not exactly a problem, is it?" Susan asked.
"No," Wallace allowed. "I mean, I guess part of me would've liked it a little better if Mark married somebody his age, someone who doesn't have any kids yet."
"I think we both hoped-" Susan hesitated. "It's not even that I didn't want the boys to marry someone without kids. I guess we both assumed they would."
"They did date older girls plenty of times," Wallace said. "Who could forget? Their first girlfriends in all four years of high school were in 12th grade!"
"Our boys," Susan laughed, shaking her head. She took a sip from her glass again, staring into it. "It seems like it was just yesterday they were introducing those seniors they met at that party. Now Mark's about to propose to a woman with two kids."
"I trust Mark's judgement completely," Wallace said confidently. "If he says she's the one, then she is. The kids are probably wonderful. Maybe meeting them helped Mark ease into the idea of marrying, having his own family."
"Henry's just crazy about it, Wallace," Susan said, drinking some more of the port. She grinned. "You can see it written on his face. He can't get enough of it. He'll be planning everything, I know it. Mark won't have to do a thing."
"Now, when's Henry's big day gonna come, do you think?" Wallace asked with a wry smile.
"Maybe we should ask him," Susan replied with a wink.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Julie was often thankful that the love of her life was so wealthy and so generous; the money he provided did much to make up for her unremarkable teacher's paycheck and make raising two boys easier. Unable to marry yet, they had decided to hire a nanny to aid Julie in her duties, and Magda Antonova, a Ukrainian-born woman somewhere in her 40s, was everything Julie could have asked for. She was dutiful, loyal, and honest, and she cared about the boys. She made being a (technically) single mother vastly more bearable on many occasions.
She also made it possible for Julie and Mark to have time alone at the house. It wasn't always possible for them to have a romantic night with the boys around, especially if Julie wanted to cuddle atop Mark's bulky frame or Mark wanted to read or fill out something while getting head, both of which required use of the living room couch.
Tonight was different from those "just us" evenings, although Magda had the boys out for the evening, taking them anyplace they liked, just as she did on any other night when the young couple needed time to be together without distractions. But how tonight was different, Julie wasn't sure yet. Mark had been very cryptic about that. He'd called yesterday night and asked Julie to make the necessary arrangements, promising "You'll love it" when Julie asked what he had in mind.
Lastly, Mark had advised Julie to give him an hour at the house by himself, and that she wear her favorite dress while she was out. It sounded as if Mark wanted to do some setup for a romantic dinner at home. Normally, Julie did all the cooking, but a change of pace was fine with her. Julie took more than an hour getting ready, left the house in a stunning red silk dress Mark had bought for her last year, and spent the hour Mark reserved driving around Portland, just seeing the sights for a bit.
Excitement mounted as she began the drive home; surely Mark had something truly special planned for the both of them! It was so much fun whenever he did that. They still acted like a pair of horny teenagers, right down to having sex virtually every time either of them thought of it. Julie wanted it to always stay that way, and Mark obviously did, too.
Mark had left the garage door opener in his Grand Cherokee when he gave it to Julie last year, so Julie tapped the device as she pulled into her driveway and watched the garage door rattle dutifully up. Her boyfriend's titanic red Ford Excursion had less than two full inches of clearance from the garage door, but it was parked inside, the cursive Eddie Bauer trim script glinting in the overhead lights of the garage.
After parking the Jeep and closing the garage door, Julie got out and carefully checked herself in the mirror. She looked and smelled and felt like a million dollars, like the one woman in the world who was good enough to win Mark Evans' eternal love. Julie smiled at her reflection in the Jeep's driver's side mirror, then headed for the kitchen door, her heels clacking as she went.
Her cell phone buzzed as Julie reached for the handle, and Julie paused to check it. She glanced down and saw a text from Mark:
I'm in the living room. Take a second and then come in. Everything's ready.
Mark must have really outdone himself this time. Julie's heart raced just a little bit faster now; tonight was going to be something incredible. She paused a moment, savoring the anticipation, then opened the kitchen door and walked into the house.
In the dining room, Julie could see all the best silver and porcelain set out, candles already lit. The kitchen smelled like heaven. Mark might not have liked cooking that often, but it wasn't for lack of know-how. Julie turned toward the living room and gasped as it came into view.
It was like stepping back in time.
Mark stood in the center of the room, dressed exactly as he had been in his photos from Prom. Even the way he'd styled his hair was the same. He smiled warmly at her, his handsome features so wonderfully accented by the candles he'd placed around the room.
"Hello, Julie," Mark said.
"Mark," Julie breathed. "You did all this?"
"Yes," he said, moving towards her. He took her hands in his. "It's 1999 again, and this time, I'm going to Prom with the woman I love. No more pretending. I'm tired of acting just for appearances. It's all in the past. Tonight we're making up for lost time."
He kissed her. A quick, gentle peck on the lips, just the way he'd done it in her classroom, the day their relationship really began. Julie had finally stopped arguing and accepted what was clearly meant to be. Mark saw that Julie was thinking back and smiled, kissing her again, cupping her chin with one hand.
"Mm," Julie said, delightedly opening her mouth in unison with Mark. Their tongues met and danced, playing back and forth together. Mark got a handful of her ass and she got a handful of his, eliciting one of his happy, low-sounding grunts.
When they finally came up for air, Mark gasped in surprise, looking at her. "You're insatiable, you know that?"
"Look who's talking, Muscles," Julie teased.
"I can't get enough," Mark told her with quiet intensity. "Not ever. Not when I'm with you." He paused. "Julie Michaels, will you go to Prom with me?"
"Yes, Mark Evans, I'd love to."
Mark smiled.
ΩΩΩΩΩ
Playing one romantic song after another on a CD player Mark had bought, Julie and Mark swayed and twirled around the living room for quite some time. They never strayed from the other's touch, staying close in the other's arms, as if they could not bear to be apart even by mere inches. Mark looked just as he did at eighteen, having scarcely aged a day, and he talked happily of things going on in his life in senior year as if that really was a current event for him.
Julie was mystified, yet fascinated. The longer their evening went on, the more it felt like Julie had gone back in time. Mark had thought of everything, even pinning up a calendar showing April 1999 on the wall. When they finally adjourned to the dining room, Mark served everything, devouring an enormous serving of steak while Julie had a far more modest portion, some salad, and well-cooked green beans and carrots. They talked effortlessly about Mark's upcoming graduation, final exams, and the end of his time as king of his high school alongside Henry, his beloved sibling. The little smiles they shared now and then were the only sign they knew this was all just a game.
Then, finally, Mark stood and offered her his hand. Julie took it and they headed upstairs together, closing the bedroom door behind them.
"Blow me," Mark said, unbuckling his belt. Julie paused to take off her high heels, knelt and pulled his black dress pants down, then his boxers. She spat on his head just the way he liked, opened her mouth and started. Mark laughed, stroking her hair. "Holy shit. I love high school."
ΩΩΩΩΩ
They made love frantically, energetically, passionately. Like they weren't going to have another night to be together again. Mark's first duty station in the Marines was at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina- hardly a short drive away. He barely spoke to her as one hour stretched into another, but his extraordinary intensity tonight spoke of what was on his mind, what he was feeling and thinking about. He wanted Julie to know what how much he loved her, how he was hers and she was his.
After showering together, Julie experienced a risky, exhilarating ten minutes with Mark on the bathroom sink. He simply held her up, one hand under each of her slender thighs, and had his fun while Julie kept her arms around his neck, trying to hold on. It was perfectly romantic, just what Julie always loved to do. Best of all was the water still dripping off them, slowly mixing with renewed sweat as Mark demonstrated his immense stamina, prowess and strength.
Mark gently carried her back to bed once they were done, and Julie lay there on her back beside him, dozing here and there, trying to just cool off.
"Still got an hour before Magda brings the boys back," she told him.
"Yeah," Mark replied faintly.
They each slept happily for almost thirty minutes, and when Julie started brushing Mark between the legs with one thigh, hoping for a little more fun before they had to be parents again, Mark opened his eyes wide and sat up sharply.
"Shit!"
"Huh?"
"Uh, hang on a second," Mark said, sliding off the bed and grabbing for his dress pants. He rummaged around in the pockets and fished out a small box, spun around, and dropped to one knee. "Julie… I know you've been hoping the time'll be right ever since… you know, senior year. I've been dying to get to do this for years." He paused. "I was supposed to do this earlier, but, uh, here goes." He cleared his throat as Julie got up and stood in front of him, breathless and hopeful, unable to even think, terrified and thrilled like no other moment in her life.
Mark froze as he looked up at her, cleared his throat again and met her eyes steadily once more. "You complete me. From the moment I saw you, you took my breath away. Only when I'm with you am I truly alive. No one other woman in the world is as special as you are, I can only say fate… fate meant for us to be from the beginning. I don't know if I always believed in fate, but I believed in it from the start of senior year. Without you, life isn't worth anything. With you, it's more than I can even imagine."
The auburn-haired 22-year-old carefully opened the small black jewelry box, revealing a spectacular silver engagement ring, crowned by the most beautiful diamond Julie had ever seen.
"Julie Michaels," Mark said, "will you marry me?"
A/N: 5-28-2020.
Managed to update the chapter again before we even got to June 2020, which puts me ahead of schedule. Chapter 4 is also nearly completed; if I didn't say so before, I actually started work on and basically wrote it before even beginning Chapter 3! Just how it happened to go, odd as it is.
June 6, 2003 was a Friday, which fits perfectly with Michael Cadiz graduating high school that day. I cut an earlier planned scene showing Mikey's graduation from high school, mostly because Chapter 3 was getting plenty long enough as it is, and an older, supremely-confident Michael Cadiz and Carter Stevens has already been depicted perfectly well. By June 2003, Andrew Cadiz and his best friend Brian D'Aramitz are done with their junior year of college; they'll graduate in the spring/early summer of 2004.
The CHS soccer team has absolutely retained memory of their heroes from the Class of 1999, as well. John, Scott, and Jackson in particular all left a legacy that the subsequent members of the team have done their best to honor. Unfortunately, the football and hockey teams have remained dominant at the school due to their longstanding popularity and the way Henry and Mark brought both teams great prestige during their four years at Chamberlain. I haven't directly depicted the CHS soccer team so far, but they're out there and still holding out against the institutionalized cruelty and evil that the football and hockey boys have long since accepted as a normal part of life on the team.
There's no doubt Mark was actually gritting his teeth the whole time as he knelt, made his speech, and proposed to Julie. He never, ever wanted to do that, not for her or for anyone, as Mark views women as disposable toys and detests even pretending to commitment.
Henry's logical words to him are based off some back-and-forth between AM83220 and myself on the topic. We raised the question of how could Mark and Henry have Julie adopt two more boys when she's already a single mom with two kids in the house, and quickly realized it just wasn't possible. So to facilitate their updated plans for the future, Mark reluctantly put on a show for Julie and fooled her into thinking the moment she'd dreamed of and yearned for had finally come. Technically it has, but not at all like she thinks.
I think I was the one who first thought of Henry and Mark deciding to have another son each, but AM83220 thought of Henry and Mark deciding to become sperm donors. As they see it, it's a chance to further pass on their genes and guarantee an enduring legacy. They don't care about the children who will be born as a result per se, just so long as they're out there. Given the truly excellent traits Henry and Mark have as potential donors- supremely healthy, strong, fit, flawless eyesight, no allergies, that sort of thing- Henry's right that their donations will not only get picked, but get picked frequently. On paper, they're the perfect donors. The genetic flaws that created Henry in the first place may or may not get passed on, though; quite a few of the kids born through their donations will be perfectly normal, healthy children with no sociopathic nature to them at all.
I want to specifically thank AM83220, phorosz, and fear2breathe for being the supportive and excellent reviewers and readers that they are. Phorosz and fear2breathe have both written some great works of their own about "The Good Son" and posted it to this site. I highly recommend reading their work as well as mine.
