A.N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope you like the chapter this story is going to be very depressing in a while so enjoy the happiness while its there haha. Lighter.

...

Tum Tum sits on his bed watching his second brother pack for classes this semester. Tum Tum doesn't get the college thing. What's the point of having to choose when you take classes when you could just do four years of it like a normal session of school. Either way he knew that he wasn't going to be taking his classes at college right off the bat, he would wait a season and take the next one. But wait, wouldn't that make college last longer for him? His head hurts.

"What do think?" Asks Colt holding up the wooden guitar. He's been practicing with a lyrical guitar for ages and he's pretty damned good if he could say so himself.

"About what?"

"Should I bring it with me? I mean, if I start a rock band or something I'm not gonna be using it." Positioning the instrument against him, he strums a couple bars of a song he remembers the cords for.

"Maybe you should bring it to serenaide girls," Says Tum grinning like a goon. "You did say you were breaking up with Olivia, right?"

Ceasing his one man jam session, Colt nods. "I did and we are officially broken up." Setting the guitar down on the bed, he sighs. "I met someone else too, right off the bat. Her name is Maggie."

"Boy, you work fast."

"Hey, she came up to me." Colt corrects with a pointed finger. "And you know what the best part is?"

"She has a best friend that doesn't mind threesomes?"

Cocking a brow, Colt shakes his head. "No. She goes to college- and don't be so fresh. I don't want mom and dad thinking you got it from me."

"What difference does it make? In a week you'll be hours away from getting into trouble no matter what I blame on you." He dodges a swat to the head that Colt aimed his way. Snickering, he stands up backing away from his brother, finishing his sentence. "By the time they get there, they'll have forgotten what they were mad about."

"Even still." Going to the closet he weighs the option of a collar dark blue shirt to a pea green t-shirt. No contest. Tossing the t-shirt into his suitcase, he heads to the dresser for one last pair of jeans.

The blue ninja figured once he got to college he would shop for new clothes since what he planned on wearing he didn't want his parents to see anyway. Something mesh would be right up his ally since he got this new tattoo, he wanted girls to look through his shirt at his well built chest and his new found tag of freedom. He's gonna have to bat them off with a stick. Not that he plans on dating more than one girl until it doesn't pan out for either of them, but you know its still nice to know you're attractive.

"Where did Rocky say he was going again?" Asks Tum; remembering watching his oldest brother pack for college was well he feels a bit of the same old sadness creeping up on him.

They'll be reunited and he'll be left behind for a good year. Sometimes he really hates being the youngest, he wished Rocky or Colt had his problem but then again, maybe being older they have their own problems to deal with. Its too much to think about.

"Somewhere out of state with that creep Robbie." He answers automatically while inspecting dark jeans over light.

"Oh... that's weird."

"What is?"

Tum shrugs. "That Rocky would spend so much time with someone just because they're friends. He's never shown any special interest in his friends before."

Laughing, Colt says. "That's because Rocky barely keeps personal friends unless they know all of us."

Twisting his mouth in thought he says. "I guess your right."

Tum still thought it was strange, though, Rocky told him that he might... that he might be gay but was he serious? It didn't matter to him, he would love Rocky if he grew another head but what about everyone else? Colt gets on him when he leaves video's of popstars on the tv when the only reason its on at all is because he thinks the singer is a knock out. Tum doesn't even wanna think about what their parents will say. Rocky is on thin ice if he plans on getting away with 'switching teams', as they say.

Tum grunts when a pair of jeans smacks him in the face. "What the-...?!"

"Why do you look so serious? I'm not dying Tum, I'm going away to live at the school- which, trust me, I can't even believe I'm saying." Shaking his brother on the shoulder in a comforting way, he says. "I'll come by whenever I can."

"Thanks." After a second thought he says. "Hey, maybe you shouldn't be so mean to Robbie. I mean, he's Rocky's friend and Rocky really needs a friend when we're not around- not saying he's some needy case or anything but, you know, just give him space with the insults against him."

"I'll keep that in mind." Though it sounded sarcastic.

"Thanks. And thanks about the visiting thing."

He meant that but that wasn't what was on his mind. Rocky and Robbie are. How can he keep such a big secret if his parents find out where Rocky went. He's never been good at lying because he does some sort of thing that gives him away. Tum wishes to know what it is so he can try to prevent it from happening. But, if Rocky calls when he's supposed to maybe their parents won't find out he's gone at all. May his luck hold out.

"Hey Tum," Colt's voice has a certain tone to it; Tum Tum know what's coming next. "now that I'm gone and you'll be the only one in the house... you gonna try having your first time the minute mom and dad leave?"

Tilting his head in disbelief that his brother would say something like that, Tum Tum stands to leave. "You're sick."

Laughing, Colt calls out the door. "I may be sick, but you know you've thought about it."

The younger boy plugs his ears as he walks downstairs. He doesn't need that right now. Not when he really was thinking about it. An empty house, the knowledge that his remaining brother would not come home at some random time embarrassing him to no end if he caught him and Paige. Sure he thought about it, but that doesn't mean he's interested in DOING it anytime soon. What does Paige think about it? Is she too hard up for that type of emotion? Is he putting to much thought into it?

I am thinking about it too hard- thanks a lot Colt. But Rocky and Colt have had sex before and they didn't stay with the people they had sex with. Not like I wanna break up with Paige or anything, but still... who knows how she would take it if we do, do it, and sometime along the line I'd break up with her- worse what if she breaks up with me? Will I latch onto her remembering that she was my first time?! He bites his fingernail wishing it were a piece of candy or a twizzler like he ate when he was younger. Those twisted, strawberry ropes really helped him think- and they were delicious but that went without saying. They've got all these new colors and flavors now. Yeah, twizzlers are all right. Thinks the boy.

Even at age 17 he's easy to distract with food.

...

"Which house is yours?" Asks Rocky walking down the sidewalk of Cyprus Lane in Connecticut.

The place is greener than he would have guessed, its also very beautiful. Rocky's never been out of state before- not to anywhere still in America anyway so this wasn't just a trip to some wedding or to see his unknown son, is like a mini adventure just like when he was younger and he and his brothers had all kinds of adventures over the summer. Aahhh youth. A rock stopping the wheel of his suitcase caught his attention back to where he is and what he's doing.

"None of 'em." Replies Robbie casually. "I don't even live on this street." He looks around at all the familiar things in this neighborhood.

Surprised by this, Rocky looks over his shoulder at the disppearing cab they took from the airport. "Then why did we get out so early?"

Smiling, Robbie moves his bag to his other side. Reaching out a hand, now that he has easier access, he takes Rocky's hand into his own. "So we could be alone for a while."

Bewildered by that statement, Rocky then blushed feeling the warmth of the Canadian's hand. He didn't even notice that the Connecticut air was so nippy until he felt a warm contact.

Mischief written all over Robbie's face, the male asks. "A blush I see, does that mean you wouldn't mind if I gave you a little kiss?"

Swinging his elbow out, though, keeping their hands linked, Rocky retorts to that comment by saying. "I thought we were supposed to be a secret?"

"Hey, that was L.A. no one knows us here- well, I should say no one knows you." He tilts his head to the darkening sky. "People know me, but let them see- I could use the scandal to boost my 'that boy ain't no good' ratings."

Rocky laughs, but shakes his head. "No, I'll pass. But, you could tell me something about Arc. You know right, he's lived with your family his whole life."

"Yeah, but when I left he was two" Robbie shrugs. "so far as I know, though, he really likes super hero's and Frosted Flakes. He spent his first full sentence stuck on that stupid phrase, "They're grrrrreat", we didn't know whether to laugh or scream because we were tired of hearing it. In the end we laughed because that kid had some kind of timing for when to say it." He snickers.

Chuckling, Rocky thinks that information over. Super hero's and flakes. Got it. Looking at Robbie, then turning away when seeing the red tint coloring the males nose from the nip in the autumn air.

Robbie can be really adorible when he wants to be. Rocky would never tell him that, though, its one thing to like the guy and think they're great- all around the best thing that's ever happened to you, but its another thing all together to be attracted to a man. He isn't gay and he can swear on it. Though, with the way his heart picked up its hard to tell whether his heart is lying to his head or his head is lying to his heart.

"What else, what else?" Robbie's voice snaps Rocky from his musings. "He's a screamer- but hopefully he grew out of it... Hmm, loves the water... afraid of cats- guess he doesn't trust them or something. And he'll pretty much eat anything you put in front of him."

"He sounds easy to get along with."

"He is- and you are so you two should fit together like a hand in a glove."

"I hope so." He begins to think up greetings for when he meets the boy.

Letting go of Rocky's hand he points. "There's my house!" Huge grin breaking out on his face, he takes a few steps past the blond. "Come on, the lights are still on so my parents should be up to let us in."

Rocky heard him, but he was too busy looking at his empty hand and feeling just as abandoned, suddenly, without the brunets warmth there. Crap... I think I am falling in love with him. He stops walking all together as those words wash over him. What have I gotten myself into? Sex is emotional, yet, it can be meaningless... but emotional is... is everything.

Seeing that there was no extra set of foot steps behind him, Robbie doubles back, snatching Rocky's hand up to drag him three houses down. "I said come on, not daydream about me. You wanna get eaten by the seasonal bugs or something?"

Snickering, Rocky firmed his grip on the males hand speeding up his pace to catch up so he isn't being pulled. So he's falling, so what, maybe he's wrong to feel afraid by it. By what the world thinks about him and how he experiences his happiness from whom and what. Its no one's business but his own, after all.

...

"Well for goodness sake, you're turning red in the face." Says Robbie's mother the moment she opens the door getting a load of her son. "I thought you were taking a cab here, you looked like you walked."

Taking the verbal abuse with a smile, though, looking quiet assalted when the woman pulled him to her for kisses and hugs, Robbie manages to pull away long enough to say. "Mom, Mom please... we have guest."

"Where?"

Rocky, who was quite happy just watching the mother and child treat each other like football players during a game, he came from around the door frame with a wave. "Hello, Mrs. Ballerini."

The woman blinked her brown eyes as if she were seeing things, she grew very quiet.

"Mom," Robbie says, arm around the silent struck woman. "this is my boyfriend, Samuel 'Rocky' Douglas."

Both Robbie's mother and Rocky were floored hearing that. How could he say something like that!? Was he insane?

Grinning with mischief, the male continues to say. "He was the first guy I met at college and he's been my best guy friend since." He said as if to correct his term used before.

"Oh," says his mother, hand to her chest. "you meant male-" smacking her son on the shoulder she says. "Stop being fresh." Attention on Rocky now, she says. "He's been like that since he was seven. "Mom what's a peepee look like-... because I think I did it on the bathroom floor"."

Rocky chuckled at that.

"Come on in, you're letting the warm out." She ushers her son and his guest in. "Your father is gonna die when he sees you. You know you treat us like we don't exist now that you're at your fancy college. I'll bet Sam sees his mother before she starts to feel abandoned- don't you Samuel?"

"I try. But I do call every other weekend."

"Such a good boy." She opens the frige. "You want something to drink or eat- have you eaten Ivan?"

Robbie winced at his first name. "No, we haven't eaten yet. But I don't want you to worry about that we can get something to eat at some joint that's open late."

"'Some joint open late'" She mocks. "How long will you be staying, Sam? Are you visiting relatives?"

Rocky shakes his head.

"No, Mom, he's coming to the wedding." Robbie makes a face at the woman. "That's why I invited him, he's my plus one."

"Well forgive me, I thought you were gonna bring a nice girl you met at school. You've decided to bring a male friend."

Rocky felt really uncomfortable. He didn't know Robbie didn't tell his mother about him being his date to the wedding. Maybe this was a bad idea.

"But whatever my son wants." Pinching his face between her hand, she gives it a shake.

"Thanks." He smiles. "By the way, my mom's name is Edith."

Rocky nods.

"And my Dad is Iggy- don't ask."

"Well, your room is as it was, Sam will you be staying the night or getting a hotel?" Asks Edith.

Rocky shrugged. This was all getting a little too strange for him.

"Mom, come on he's staying here. He can sleep with me." Robbie glances at Rocky causing the blond to blush.

"If he'll be comfortable on a fold out?" The woman looks at him with question.

"No, its fine."

Tossing her plump arms in the air, she declares. "Its settled then. Welcome to the house, Ivan sweetie can I talk with you a moment." Her hands scratch her light brownish orange hair. "Make yourself at home; Ivan's room is the second door left up the stairs."

"Thank you." Leaving them alone, Rocky heads upstairs in the strange home.

Its beyond weird being in another person's house without the person that invited you around. Like at any moment someone will pop out of a room and scream BOO sending you toppling head over heels down the stairs. Rocky can hear heavy breathing coming from the first room he passes. Its light though, feminine. He wondered if it were Corin's room. Arc is four it could easily be his little breaths he's hearing. Temptation was killing him, but he couldn't peek it would be rude if it were the wrong room. He's never dealt with living with girls before, and he isn't about to get off on the wrong foot either.

"Second door..." He whispers as he reaches it. Turning the knob, he opens the door then walks inside.

Robbie's room is very warm and cozy, filled with things that the male either worships with his very being or likes at the moment. Bands on the walls, a jersey from a sports team he was on in High school because Robbie surely isn;t playing any sports at college. The bed is a queen size, covered with hockey sticks and pucks which gave away the sport the jersey belongs too. Setting his bag down on the floor, he takes off the light jacket he wore and draped it over the chair at the desk. Sneakers off, he sits on the bed glancing at the alarm clock. 12:18 a.m. He didn't even feel tired. Quickly he changes into his pajamas so that Robbie doesn't ambush him upon return should he be half dressed. And feeling the effects of being in a foreign place, he'd latch onto Robbie and let him do as he pleased. Speaking of said male the sound of foot steps approach the door. Rocky sits on the bed watching as it opens.

"Good, your dressed." Robbie says stripping off his shirt. Crossing the room he grabs a pair of pajamas from the dresser. Taking off his street clothes he slips into the nightware then crosses the room to the bed. Falling onto it, he lets out a relaxed sigh. "You don't really want me to lug that fold out in here do you?" He scratches Rocky's spine lightly through the shirt.

Shaking his head, Rocky removes Robbie's hand then scoots to the headboard. "What did your mother wanna talk to you about?"

Robbie was oddly silent for a second before he smiled and said. "Nothing."

"I saw you frown for a second, she must have said something important that she didn't want me to hear and I wanna know what it was."

Sighing, Robbie rubs his eyes in defeat- frustrated defeat. Sitting up, he talks over his shoulder. "She wanted to know what I- a relative of my insane aunt, is doing being friends with you- victim of my aunt. She thinks that I'm asking for nothing but trouble. Tch, wait until she finds out we're dating, she'll really flip."

Rocky lowered his gaze to the blanket. "Oh."

"Aaaww, Rock'," climbing to the top of the bed he wraps an arm around the saddened male. "She doesn't dislike you or anything, its just uncomfortable being around someone your sister tormented- she feels guilty. The family should have watched my aunt a lot better than we did. If we had you could have been ok."

"But why should she feel guilty over that? She didn't do anything and if anyone should feel guilty it should be me... I got Maria killed in a fire. True, she was a complete monster and needed to be jailed for what she did to me and all the others but I never want for anyone to lose their life."

Robbie presses Rocky's head onto his shoulder, and he caressed his lovers blond hair. "No my aunt was evil and what happened to her was punishment that she had coming to her. You shouldn't feel guilty about anything."

Rocky supposed that was true. And really it was that boy who dragged her back down into the bombshelter she used as a prison.

"You're right. But you should tell your mother not to feel guilty or weird around me. It isn't her fault."

"Will do." Scooting his butt down a bit he lays on the bed, pulling Rocky into a lay beside him. "You sleep now, we're gonna need it for when the rest of the family shows up. We're loud, we touch people and don't care, and I should warn you if you don't learn how to eat like you're starving to death you'll never get a thing in your mouth."

Laughing, Rocky snuggles into the male. "Sounds great. I've never been bombarded during a meal."

"Oh then you'll love it." He snickers then presses his lips to Rocky's cheek. "Goodnight, frostbite."

"Oh really funny. Goodnight freak." He pinched Robbie's groin to show him what he meant.

"Hey, don't go to the place unless we're gonna do something."

Giving him a quick kiss on the lips, he replies. "Alright, alright. Goodnight, Rob'."

Snuggling into the blond he hums an "Mmhmm." Before closing his eyes waiting for sleep to take over.

Rocky only hoped he could get to sleep. Its a long way away from morning.

During the night; anytime Rocky would figit Robbie would tighten his grip around him, his uncrushed arm allowing his hand to automatically stroke the blond's hair as he slept. Rocky didn't mind, he held him tighter as well, his head resting against the Canadian's chest. He just hoped that no one walked in on them, it'd be kind of hard to explain the fact that the two of them are holding onto each other and in the same bed by accident when Mrs. Ballerini clearly offered a fold-out for him to sleep on. Tomorrow. He will definitely use it tomorrow, but for right now he wants to be held like this. Rocky felt strange vibes coming at him here and there in the home. Its cozy, but almost too cozy to be comfortable in, if that made any sense at all. Maybe its just his nerves.

He said he'd do anything for me, because its me... please don't turn out to be crazy Robbie. I... feel like I need you. A small smile formed on his lips admitting that to himself, and with that thought out of his head, he places a chaste kiss the males chest then closes his eyes drifting