SOOOO I'm thinking that maybe this is getting a little... TOO long. Anyone else? lol I mean. it's longer than the actual story now...

CH6

Spencer took the last dish out of the oven, silently cursing as the heat came through his old mitts. He had made turkey lasagna, a bacon quiche, and beef Sheppard's pie. For dessert, he had made a simple vanilla cake with chocolate icing and bought two tubs of ice cream. Sanford and Darius were at their house getting ready. He only had to shower, but they were going to be coming over in about fifteen minutes. He took the mitts off and threw them on the stove, then ran to the bathroom. He stripped, hopped in the shower and shook his head as the other night came back to him.

DOSR

It was now four a.m. and Spencer's voice was hoarse. Darius shook his head, a disgusted look on his face. "Why would you let Lauren stay with him?"

Spencer shook his head. "You don't understand. That night, before I had told him, he was his regular self towards me. He followed me into the bathroom because he was worried I was sick. I betrayed him by having feelings for him. That's why he changed his attitude towards me. He's not that way with anyone else, especially not with Lauren. You've seen that. You know that." Spencer's eyes were full of grief. He looked down towards his feet in shame.

Darius grunted. "So? How could you loving him have possibly been a betrayal?!"

Spencer shook his head. "You don't understand. I can't tell you because it is not my business to tell but, it was a betrayal."

The man nodded, noting the grave tone in Spencer's voice. "It was a betrayal. That doesn't justify the crude way he treated you."

Spencer snorted. "I wasn't exactly relenting, Darius. I was stubborn because I wanted him. I feel so stupid now. I ruined our friendship for my feelings, even though I knew what it would do to us."

Spencer sighed as Darius swept a hand over his waves. "It's over now, Spencer. You and him are done."

The brunette nodded. "It's been over. I told you, Darius, I don't see him like that anymore. It ended before he and Lauren were even serious."

Darius shrugged. "I'm glad, then."

Spencer blushed. "What do you mean?"

The older man scratched his nose. "You don't deserve someone like that. I mean, my sister doesn't either but he must have a split personality or some shit."

Spencer wasn't in the mood but he laughed, Darius rarely cursed because Sanford didn't approve of it. His mouth went wide. "My God, Sanford! You should check on him!"

Darius stood from the couch slowly, fully confident his son was still asleep. "Okay, I'm going, but I mean it Spencer. You don't deserve a douche like that." He stretched his arms above his head. "And you don't need to beat yourself up over what happened. It was a lapse in judgment, everyone has those. I did."

Spencer looked at him questioningly.

"We'll talk tomorrow, Spencer. I promise."

He made Spencer sit down and shook his head, indicating he could leave by himself. Spencer's heart felt so light the second the door closed behind Darius. He collapsed on his couch, tired and exhausted. That was the most he had cried since Derek had dumped him on his ass. Only, that cry made him want to kill himself. This cry made him want to throw himself into Darius' arms. Possibly do more. Like trail his tongue down that smooth, dark skin. Or rake his fingers over those broad, thick shoulders. Maybe wrap his legs around the sleek, tight waist that Darius adorned. Even pull that face down to meet his, sticking his tongue so far down the mans neck it would be like deep-throating. He blushed and closed his eyes, fully prepared to fall asleep right then and there. But his door buzzed. He sighed and stood, going to the call board.

"It's four-thirty in-""Spencer, I need your help." He buzzed Darius right in and opened his door, waiting for the man for the second time that night. Sanford was in his arms, shaking so hard he was almost convulsing. His pajamas were sticking to his cold, wet skin. A small 'O' was stuck on the child's face as he tried to gasp for air, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"Take him to a hospital!" Spencer screamed.

"It's fine! He does this all the time." Darius rushed into the apartment and set him down on the couch.

"No, take him to my bed," Spencer said, leading the way to his room. Darius was right behind him, and he almost jumped on the bed, rearranging pillows to comfort Sanford's head. "What's wrong with him?!" his voice was panicked and he didn't know what to do with his hands.

"He gets like this sometimes. Usually it's only after his mother talks to him but I don't know what caused it this time. I went inside and he was on the couch, having an episode."

Spencer shook his head, trying to get into the game. He felt the boy's forehead with the back of his left hand and pressed the other to his cheek. "It's not a panic attack. Separation anxiety maybe? He saw that you were gone and that probably triggered it." He watched as Darius kicked off his shoes and cuddled his son on his bed. "Why did you come here?" His eyes were watering. My baby… Spencer found himself thinking.

Darius held his son in his arms, his hands locked around him. "I know how much he cares for you, so I was hoping you could talk to him, soothe him, maybe hold him?"

Spencer nodded quickly, jumping on the bed and leaning in close to Sanford's ear. He hesitated at first, his voice cracking, throat dry like pavement on a hot day, his hands gripping the sheet tightly, stiff and clammy. He wiped a tear away and cleared his throat as Sanford thrashed once more. "Hey, Genius," he started. "I'm right here." Darius placed one of Sanford's hands into Spencer's and the brunette gripped it tightly, giving it a peck. The shaking boy dry heaved and pushed out an inaudible word from his mouth. Spencer closed his eyes and kissed him again, this time on his cold forehead. "Sanford, I'm right here. I'm not leaving you, I'll be by your side forever." The thrashing subsided, the child no longer jerking crazily, only shaking. Darius urged Spencer on. He released his son a little, scooting the both of them closer to the agent. Darius' arms were around Sanford's front, bolted tightly, his finger tips white. Spencer was given room to wrap his arms around Sanford, his hands locking in the back. Though he was touching the man he loved, the boy he loved was in pain and he took no note of the chills he got from Darius' hands. "Sanford, I love you. Your daddy's here, I'm here and we'll never leave you alone. We'll always be here for you, no matter what. You have to calm down, love." Spencer pressed his forehead against Sanford's, his eyes closed, his mouth pulled into a tight line.

The shaking stopped completely and now he was breathing as if he had just run a marathon, his hands clenched at his sides, his mouth mumbling and eventually closing. Spencer looked to Darius, who was now only a foot away from his face. "Is this… the usual?"

Darius slowly unwrapped his arms from around his son, carefully, still, when he stirred. "Yes. He'll be fine if you stay by him," He said, rolling off of the bed.

"M-me? I…what about you?" The look on Spencer's face was priceless. His eyes were wide and shaking from side to side in nervousness. His mouth was open like a fish from water, trying to gain a way to breathe again.

"If I move him now, it'll start again. I'll grab clothes for myself and him and we'll stay over for the night. If that's okay," Darius stated, suppressing a smile, the decision already made.

"O-okay. I'll stay with him, but you'll be back, right? I mean, what if it happens aga-"

A large smile crossed Darius' face. "It won't, not with you holding him like that. He'll be fine." He knocked on the door frame and walked out of sight.

When Sanford woke up, he was happy to be next to Spencer once again. He woke the brunette up and smiled in his face. "It's midday Spencer! You have to wake up."

Darius had slept in the bed with them, Sanford between the two of them. The darker man smiled at the brunette. "See? All good," he told him. That day they didn't get to talk, since the almost birthday boy was with them the entire day. After going through his episodes, he never remembered them nor what caused them. Spencer, Darius and Sanford spent almost the entire day in the bedroom, then the kitchen when Spencer went to cook for tomorrow. At around eight p.m., the two finally went home and Darius stayed in the door frame, Sanford bouncing while holding his hand.

"I promised we'd talk today but, we didn't." He leaned against the frame with his forearm. "Maybe tomorrow night, okay?"

Spencer nodded, his eyes in a trance with the stare Darius was giving him. It wasn't just forgiving, it was sweet. He was staring at Spencer with a homey look, one that made him feel loved and comfortable. "Okay," he replied. Suddenly his lips were caught in a kiss, his mind almost blown. He nearly fell into the dark hand against the wall, but caught himself. "I…I-"

Sanford had hopped down a flight of stairs with the qualities of a rabbit, missing the display of affection, now eager to go home and get ready for tomorrow. "Daddy!" He yelled. "Bye, Spencer!"

"We'll talk."

Spencer closed the door as soon as Darius disappeared from his sight, his head feeling faint. Darius had just kissed him. Passionately. He squeezed himself as he made his way to the kitchen to start on the quiche, his heart thudding heavily in his chest.

DOSRDOSRDOSR

Spencer was toweling off when the buzzer sounded. Silently cursing, he opened the apartment building, unlocked his door and ran to his room. As he was buttoning up his shirt, he heard his door open and Sanford calling to him.

"Spencer? We're ready!"

The brunette slipped on a vest and tied up his chucks as he yelled back. "I am too! I'm coming now."

He grabbed his credentials and put them in his messenger bag, walking out of his room as the strap came over his shoulder. Seeing Darius was a lot more exhilarating than Spencer thought it would be. He could feel the blood rushing to his face and looked down as Sanford folded his arms over his chest. "Hey you," he greeted the boy.

"Spencer…" His voice was almost reprimanding. "You're not ready so don't say you are!"

Spencer laughed and knelt down. "I am too! I just needed to add the finishing touches. Like, I don't know," He stood and walked to the kitchen. "Your food? And cake?"

Sanford ran after Spencer into the kitchen and jumped to the fridge. "What did you make me?"

"It's a surprise. That's why they're in ceramic bowls and foil coverings, Genius."

"Aww!" He whined, making it a point to stare at the food. "Hey daddy! Come help me hold the food!"

"But you're the birthday boy. That means you should hold everything by yourself. You're eight now, man up," Darius joked. He walked into the kitchen, his brown Timbs now by the door. His long, tan, leather coat was still on and he made his way over to Spencer, who was holding two containers.

"H-here." The agent stuttered, almost dropping the lasagna. Darius took the dishes from Spencer and set them on the counter.

"Hey Sanford, we're early. Why don't you go to Spencer's couch and watch TV for a little bit?"

Green orbs switched from Spencer to Darius and finally he sighed, nodding. "Fine!" His feet stomped out of the kitchen and a few seconds later, the television was rudely blaring something about living under the sea.

Darius chuckled and turned back to the man he had cornered by the fridge. "Think we can talk now?"

Spencer's head went up and down slowly, almost unnoticeably. He wrung his hands out with an intensity that could have put a dryer to shame.

Darius took a step back, a deep breath and stood straight, his hands in his pockets. "First, I want you to know that I don't pity you. Second, I want you to know that I've thought this through, again and again, and even more after I found out about you and Derek. Third, I want to know how you feel." He spread a hand over his head, smoothing out his waves. Spencer noticed he had a habit of doing that. "I really like you. Obviously enough to kiss you like that. I…want you, Spencer." He sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm confused. In no way am I attracted to men." Spencer's face drooped but he kept on watching Darius' closed eyes. "I only realized my feelings a short while ago, but I'm a man who knows what he wants. And I want you."

Spencer watched as Darius opened his eyes and took his hands from his pockets, reaching for his own, as if asking permission to touch him. He reached out to the darker man and let his hands be gripped. Mint air cooled his face as Darius let out a deep breath. Crest, Spencer thought. The same brand he used. "Will… you go out with me, Spencer?"

The brunette's train of thought jumped tracks and crashed. His eyes must have gone blank because Darius was now waving one of his hands in front of them. He snapped out of it, an expectant look on Darius' face. He almost fell as his head of hair whipped to the extreme in each direction. "I will," he managed to croak out, sounding jittery from the vibrations of his nodding.

"Are you sure?" Darius asked, confirming what he heard.

"Yes." Though he wanted to throw his arms around his new lover, he refrained. Darius was still new to this and rushing him into anything wasn't going to move their recently birthed relationship anywhere. "I'm absolutely sure. Are you?" Spencer asked, hoping the man replied positively.

"I am. I told you, I thought this through seriously. I was already sure last night, and though I wavered after you told me…" Spencer's breath hitched at the mention of that splotch in his life. "…What you told me, I know I'm right when I say I want you." He pulled the brunette into a tight hug, kissing the mop of hair under his chin.

"I really like you, Darius." Spencer's voice was muffled by the broad shoulder he was talking into. "And I'm glad this is happening." The men stayed like that for a few minutes until Spencer squeezed tightly. "We should go," he said, not wanting to let go.

Darius sighed but agreed. They pulled apart slowly, their hands warmly wrapped until they simultaneously released. "I'll carry those," he pointed to the two dishes laying on the counter. "Sanford can handle one and you can carry the ice cream and cake."

The agent pulled the ice cream out of the freezer and placed the tubs in a plastic bag, on top of the cake. "That I can do. Where did Lauren say we are going?"

Darius groaned. "It's about forty minutes from here. It's a family friend of ours. He has a mansion that he closes for the winter. She's house-sitting for him and using his house without permission today."

"Sounds like Lauren," Spencer laughed as he went to the hall, calling Sanford to the room.

He squinted his eyes as he took the last dish from Spencer's hands. "Are you guys done with the 'adult talk'?" He asked.

Spencer blushed and Darius smirked. "We are, little man. Are you done watching illogicality take place in that underwater cartoon of yours?"

Sanford stuck his tongue out. "It's a funny show," he defended.

Spencer picked up the dessert bag and followed the two men into his hall. He set it down, taking Darius' dishes really quick as he put his boots back on. Sanford set his on the ground to put his sneaker on and Spencer grabbed his coat before picking up the bag again. A chime went off and before closing the door, Darius pulled out his phone. "On…our…way." He typed in response to Lauren's text letting her brother know they were leaving.

DSDS

The ride to the mansion was a little long, but Spencer enjoyed it. The armrest of the truck was high and Sanford was watching outside of the passenger windows and the foods on either side of him. Spencer and Darius inched to holding hands, the brunette drawing patterns on the back of Darius' hand with his thumb. They talked quietly, about the weather, work… nothing.

As they pulled up to the mansion, Spencer was reminded of the television show about a prince living in Bel Air. He giggled to himself as he got out of the truck, opening the passenger door to grab the ice cream and cake. He met Sanford and Darius on the other side of the Dodge and the three of them walked up to the mansion and rang the doorbell.

Lauren answered, her belly growing in size each time Spencer had seen her, it seemed. She yanked him towards her, then her nephew, then her brother. Derek was behind her and he greeted each of them how he normally would. A wave at Spencer, a noogie for his nephew, and a handshake for his brother-in-law. They all made their way to the kitchen. They passed the dining room, where green and yellow balloons had been piled to knee level, a dog gate at the entrance to keep them in.

"Oh, yeah!" Sanford exclaimed, throwing a leg over the gate and kicking up a few balloons. Lauren laughed as Derek opened the gate for her and the other two and closed it behind them, grabbing the loose balloons and throwing them back in. The adults made their way to the second dog gate, the one that was blocking off the kitchen. The same move was repeated and the adults were now on the other side of the gate.

"Can we use the oven?" Spencer questioned, setting his bag in the working freezer after taking the cake out.

"Of course, we can, Einstein," Derek said, a joking tone in his voice. Darius glared and set his containers down next to Spencer's. This, of course, didn't go unnoticed by the pregnant woman. Sanford was too busy throwing balloons around to notice anything else.

"What temperature?" Spencer's lover asked, sending a look at Derek. The agent confusedly returned the glare.

"Four-twenty-five will make it go faster, I'll just have to keep an eye on it." He loosened the foil as Darius set the temperature. "They're cooked, I just want to warm them up." He told the pregnant woman.

Lauren watched with her hands clapped in front of her. "Spencer! I'm so glad I can finally taste this cooking Darius is always telling me about. It's not fair, you know," She placed a hand on her hip to emphasize her unhappiness, shifting her weight to her left leg. "I always make you food and you never return the favor!"

Spencer slid the lasagna onto the top shelf and quietly giggled as Lauren lectured him. "I know, I know. However, I am willing to compensate by cooking whichever delectable dish you can think of." He stood and shrugged off his coat, Darius doing the same and taking it from him. He nodded his thanks and turned back to Lauren. "I've become quite the connoisseur if I do say so myself." His smile was prideful and a little cocky and Lauren smacked his shoulder as he turned to put the Sheppard's pie in next to the other entrée.

"Well, what else do you have?" She asked, her left hand rubbing over her belly, her right still on Spencer's shoulder. Only now did Spencer notice she was wearing maternity clothes. A light material yellow shirt that covered her bump, a pair of tight mommy jeans, probably from some celebrity's clothes line, and shoes that looked like they belonged on the feet of a nurse. They were rubbery with holes in them. Spencer wasn't fashionable, but he knew that those shoes were possibly the worst looking things on the planet.

"I brought a bacon quiche, because I know you've been craving bacon." He unwrapped the dish, placed it in the oven and closed the door quickly. "And I made a cake. From scratch."

Lauren's face lit up, her arms now embracing the brunette. "Love, why are you so happy?" She had whispered in his ear so that no one else would hear what was said.

Instantly he stiffened in her arms and she stepped back, afraid that she had said something wrong. What had made him stiff though, was the animosity on Darius' face as he had a stare down with Derek.

Sanford's voice was heard, his screech sounding through the house as he found his presents were scattered through the balloons. He had already found a new Ipod, courtesy of Spencer "Spencer! Thank you!" He had screamed. The brunette relaxed as he looked into Lauren's eyes. "You're welcome, genius." He smiled at her. "I don't know. I just enjoy being around you guys, you're family to me."

She returned the wide, open, shining toothy smile and rubbed his shoulders. "We are family, Spencer. I love you," She told him, hugging him tightly once more.

Spencer blushed but hugged her back. "I love you, too, Lauren."

"And Sanford loves you." Her arms were still around him.

"I love him too," He giggled.

"And Darius loves you." Her voice had switched from playful to serious and she knew she was right as Spencer's whole frame went rigid in her arms. She rubbed his back with a widely splayed hand, the other on the back of his neck. "He does. I promise." Spencer tried to pull away gently but she held him still. "And I think you do, too. You three have been spending so much time together and he looks at you like you belong with him." She finally let him go, only to stare into his wide, deer-in-headlights eyes. She shook her head at him and opened her mouth to speak again.

"No way! Aunty Lor! This is awesome!" Sanford interrupted. She had bought him a third edition of Lord Byron's first published works, on suggestion of Darius and Spencer. "I-I-I! This is… Aunty Lor!" He was speechless as he ran with the book -which was encased in a plastic container with gold finishing and a stand inside the case holding the book upright- against his chest. Tears were in his eyes and he softly set it on the counter as he came between her and Spencer, holding her side so as not to put pressure on the baby belly.

"Aw, love, of course! I'm glad you like it. Your uncle did a lot of the hunting so you might want to go thank him, too." Sanford nodded and released her, running to his father and uncle.

They were discussing something but stopped abruptly as the little figure made its way to them, practically jumping into his uncle, who scooped him up smoothly. He wrapped his arms around his neck. "Thank you, uncle Derek! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Spencer was watching with a smile but inside it was turmoil, his eyes switching between Sanford and a spot on the wall behind the scene in front of them. His head reeled as he thought back to Lauren and what she was saying. She had seen through them, known that they felt for each other, but not that they were together. He didn't know whether it was okay to tell but he wanted to. He wanted to shout to everyone that he was happy, that his love has been returned. Would Darius be okay with it? Would he be okay with his sister knowing he was dating a man, her best friend?

His eyes focused from Sanford to the eyes that were currently seated on him, smoking a hole through his head. It was Darius, and he was watching Spencer with an intensity that made him shiver. It dawned on him that earlier he had caught a glimpse of the two darker men glaring at each other. When Sanford had run over their conversation stopped and a gut feeling told the brunette they had been talking about him. His cheeks heated as he realized that maybe Darius had told Derek he knew what had happened. That maybe he said something to Derek, expressed how he really felt about the man after a new outlook was brought to him. The agent wanted to scream. Why in the hell would Darius have done that? What could he possibly gain from it other than an assurance of his pride and ego?

Lauren looked behind her, her smile faltering when she saw that the doctor was grinding his teeth. She sent him a questioning look and he dismissed it, his face clearing of anything that was happening in his head. He smiled at her, then Derek when the older man looked his way and said something to Sanford, who then ran to the brunette.

"Spencer?"

All eyes were on the two of them as Spencer answered. "Yeah, Sanford?"

The now eight year old made him bend down, whispering in his ear. "Uncle Derek says 'Good for you'."

A blush covered his face and he buried his face in Sanford's curly hair. "Thank you," he replied. It looked as though he was telling Sanford when in fact he was saying it to Derek. The Orsafire's were satisfied though and Spencer let Sanford go. "Go play," he told him. He nodded at the older man fiercely and hopped over the gate after sending a loving glance at his new book.

The two men on the other side of the room joined Spencer and Lauren, tense looks gone from their faces.

Okey dokes. Can't exactly tell you what's going on but I'm thinking... two more? Deja vu. I feel like I've said that already o.o Enjoyed? Review?