The plane ride back to his home was less then comfortable for Mark. He hadn't been able to sleep very much the night before. He tossed around the idea of calling up Randy and confessing to him, but he thought better of that and decided the best thing he could do was to fess up to his actions face-to-face. He did call his younger lover, but only to tell him that he had changed plans with Sara, and he no longer had to pick up his girls. He told Randy that he needed to take care of business and it would be best if the girls weren't there.

Though Randy thought it was odd that Mark hadn't mentioned any business the night before when they spoke on the phone, he didn't think too much of the subject. There was nothing to really question.

As the plane touched down in Texas in the early evening and Mark could already feel his heart sink. He didn't want to explain his actions. He had no reasonable excuse; there was no excuse for what he did. What he hated most about his situation though, was that he couldn't bring himself to simply tell Jeff that that was the end. He couldn't tell Jeff it was a mistake, what they did, and it wouldn't happen again. He didn't want for it to happen again, at least he didn't think he did. Mark was completely confused by it all; how on earth was he to explain it all to Randy?

Opting for a rental care instead of having Randy pick him up at the airport allowed Mark an additional forty minutes to mull over what he would say to explain himself. Those extra minutes came and went quickly though; soon Mark was pulling into the driveway of the large home he often shared with Randy.

With his stomach churning, he decided it would be appropriate to just get everything out in the open. There was no point in making them both wait. Mark opened the door and left his duffel bag and suitcase in the foyer before searching for Randy.

"Randy," he called out. He checked the living room and office and found no sign of him, it was then that he heard the sliding back door in the kitchen close. The slender man poked his head out of the kitchen in time to see Mark walking towards him. "I thought I heard a car pull up." Randy said as he walked to Mark. "Hi," he said, catching the older man in a soft, but meaningful kiss. "How are you, love?" Mark asked, trying not to give himself away before he could properly address the matter at hand. "Bored. I had a day of activities planned for the girls and myself." Randy told him. Mark felt his heart sink even further. "Sit down and relax. Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes." Randy said, pulling out a chair for Mark as he walked into the kitchen to check on their dinner. "I'm sorry, they were disappointed you wouldn't be picking them up this morning." Randy offered a small, sad smirk in response. "What business did you need to take care of?" he asked. Mark swallowed the lump in his throat.

When Mark gave no immediate answer, Randy turned away from the cupboard and looked at the other man. Finally noticing that something was wrong, he asked "Is everything alright?" All Mark could do was slightly shake his head. "What is it? Are you alright?" Randy asked in concern. "No, I'm not." Mark said. "But please, sit down." Randy set the dishes in his hands down and sat next to Mark, confusion and concern clearly written in his chiseled face.

Mark turned his head to the table in front of him, unable to look the other man in his eyes. "I've done something terrible," he started. "I wish that I could give you a reasonable answer as to why, but the honest truth is that I can't. I can only tell you that I am incredibly sorry." Randy shook his head, "Mark, what exactly are you talking about?" Mark took a breath, "last night, I made the mistake of sleeping with Jeff. I can not begin to express how awful I feel," Mark finally admitted. He wasn't sure of what Randy's reaction would be, but he was surprised when he heard a bitter laugh escape the man's lips. Shaking his head in disbelief, the only thing Randy could think to do was stand up and leave the room.

Randy stepped into the hallway and instead of letting himself dwell on any details of what he had just heard, he pondered what he should do.

Mark was right behind him though. "Randy, please, sit down and let's-" before he could finish his sentence, Randy raised his hands to stop him. "Please, don't ask me to listen to the details of your affair. Spare me that, please." When Randy turned his back to the taller man, Mark walked back in front of him, unwilling to let the matter go. "Allow me to explain myself, will you? I'm sorry for what I've done, but please let me explain myself." Mark asked of him. "I don't care to hear your reasons." Randy started up the stairs, trying to get some space of his own. Mark was quick to grab his wrist though. "Can we please just sit down and discuss this for a minute?" he pleaded. Randy looked his lover in his eyes, "no." he said simply. "I believe I've listened to enough of you and Jeff. I didn't mind it before; I understood your need to be close with him still." Randy swallowed the lump in his throat now. "But this time, I've heard enough. This is no longer about you and I dealing with Jeff's affections for you. It's obvious this whole matter has grown into more than what we expected. I can't be apart of it anymore. And I am incredibly sorry too." "No, love, don't say that." Mark said, his heart breaking.

Randy shook his head again and continued up the stairs and into their bedroom. Though his emotions were overwhelming, he kept his composure. He wasn't going to allow himself to lose it in front of Mark. He closed the door and grabbed his suitcase from the closet and quickly gathered his belongings. He searched for his clothing in one of the dressers, and it was then that it became too much for him. He gently closed the drawer and walked back to the bed where his case sat. He threw the clothing in his hand into the case. He doubled over in grief and into the large plush bed, he yelled and punched with one fist. His face grew red and his eyes moistened. He turned over and sat on the bed, giving him a moment to collect himself.

He stood with a deep breath, closed his suitcase and walked out of the bedroom. Before he made his way down the staircase, he stopped to grab something from the girl's bedroom. He walked into the room and took a picture down from the small, purple message board that housed numerous of pictures. The photo he grabbed and slipped into the backpack slung over his shoulder was of Mark, his kids and himself. It was taken at the birthday party they held for Mark's oldest daughter. They had to be on the road for her actual birthday, so they held a small party for her and a few friends, along with Mark's family, a week before. He did feel bad for taking it, but it was one of the few pictures with them all, and he wanted something to remember the family he had fallen for.

Once he was downstairs, he spotted Mark standing against the kitchen countertop. When Mark raised his head to see Randy, suitcase in hand, he immediately started pleading with the younger man again; a small panic erupted in him. "Randy, please don't go." he said trying to stop and take the suitcase from his hands. "If you could only give me a moment to explain. I'm asking that you just give me a chance. I don't deserve one, I know, but please. You don't have to do this." The slightly shorter man pushed passed him though. "I can't, Mark. I-" Mark's own emotions boiled over now. "Damn it, Randy. I am begging you; for you to just stop, for just a minute." "I can't discuss this with you right now. Maybe after I've had a chance to collect my thoughts properly." "That's fine. You can stay here at home and I'll leave. I can do that."

Randy couldn't help but feel for the older man. He had never heard Mark sound so desperate before and though he didn't want to admit it, but it did hurt to see him in that state. He could see in his eyes that he was sorry, but that didn't erase what he did. He wasn't interested in hearing why or how it had happened; all he needed to know was that it had happened. His eyes held small pools of tears, and that hurt Randy to see, but it wasn't enough for him to change his mind. As much as he wanted to stay and try to quickly fix whatever it was that needed fixing, he needed to leave. "I'm sorry. It's for the best that I go now."

xXx

Ah ha! All of you lovely, lovely reviewers only had to wait 24 hours for the next chapter! I'm on a rrrooolll!

But I do have a question for you all... have these past two chapters been... acceptable? I haven't been completely thrilled with how i've written Mark. What do you guys think - Is it coming across okay? Is he too different from what he has been like in previous chapters?

Please let me know. I'm looking for some honest feedback.

I hope you all will review with your thoughts on the story as well as the quality of my writing.

slashdlite: Challenge accomplished. =)