Chapter Six

"I changed my mind." Eliot whispered. He was sitting in the churchs parking lot trying to breath past the tie that was slowly suffocating him and hoping Nate would agree. Why had he even invited him to come along to begin with, he really hadn't thought through how he was going to explain Nate to his family. If they turned around right now they could make it out unscathed, but would that really do him any good in the long run?

"We'll just sit through mass and then see where things go from there." Nate leaned in to pull the key from the ignition, Eliot had the steering wheel in a death grip and was looking ready to bolt. He had to admit he was nervous himself and no sleep wasn't helping any. Slowly opening his door Nate carefully slid out of the truck, he had been silently battling his own demons since he had agreed to go and now that Eliot was second guessing things he was finding it hard not to take the opportunity to just get out of this whole mess.

Throwing his head back Eliot groaned, Nate was out of the car and had taken the keys with him, sure he could still leave if he wanted but stomping Nates support especially with all his empending issues around religion would not be a good thing to do. A knock on the window brought him out of his thoughts as he opened the door to an inpatient Nate.

"Eliot," Nate began softly trying to soothe Eliots nerves as much as his own as he started making soft patterns on his boyfriends thigh with his finger tips. "you're not a child anymore and there can't possibly be a single thing that your parents can say or do that would matter in the least."

"That's what you think." Eliot mumbled.

"What does that mean?" He hoped things hadn't been worse for him than what he had admitted to.

"Nothing." Damn, when had he lost the ability to keep his mouth shut around Nate, that was something he needed to get back in check.

Seeing Nates accusing eyes Eliot quickly went on before the questions could begin. "You're right and I just wanted to let you know I appreciate you coming, I know how I can be and... just Thank-you." Picking up the hand that was resting on his leg he quickly looked around for anyone who might be watching before placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. He wasn't embarassed of Nate and he was trying to work on his issues with showing affection in public but they were in a parking lot to a Catholic church and he did not need the whole homosexuality is a sin shit on his plate right now.

"Lets go." Nate squeezed Eliots knee before pulling back to let him out. He didn't know how things were going to pan out but he was already preparing himself a few different back stories to go with whatever explanation Eliot gave his family for his presence.

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"Where you sittin'?" Nate whispered as they entered the church, it was already packed and it didn't look like they were going to be finding a seat.

Nodding his head in the direction he planned on going Eliot slowly made his way around the people idly chatting and to the side aisle, trying to stay unnoticed and out of the way.

"I'll just hang back here." Nate pointed to a vacant spot on the very last pew, he had promised to show his support but preferably he could do that from this back corner where he wouldn't claim any unwanted attention.

"Don't I wish." Eliot mumbled sending Nate a look that clearly said it wasn't happening. "Scoot over" Eliot whispered to his brother who was sitting a few rows up, as he poked him in the shoulder.

Telling Ashlee to move down Aaron made room for his brother and the man behind him to sit. "I'm glad you came." Aaron quietly told him as Eliot accepted Ashlees silent greeting.

"Where's Sarah?" He had expected the whole family to be in the same pew but obviously not.

"Where else," Aaron huffed indicating exactly where she was. "Ma dragged her out the house with the kids nearly an hour ago to make sure they got a seat in front."

Glancing at the first pew where Nate safely assumed Eliots brother had pointed out he saw a young woman sitting next to a taller man who was trying to keep a little girl sitting. There was a very bored looking boy on the other side who was next to an older couple who he could tell were Eliots parents by the shared features. "Cute kids."

"It'll be a miracle if Pete keeps Becca quiet and sitting the whole hour." Eliot told Nate noticing Aarons curious eyes, his brother obviously hadn't realized he actually knew the man sitting next to him. "He's-" but he never got the chance to finish as mass began.

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I hate it when they start gabbin' in there." Aaron huffed as he followed his girlfriend through the crowd and out the church.

"That's the only reason most of them even come, it's the perfect chance for them to gossip openly." Ashlee added as she continued walking next to Eliot.

"Nate," Eliot started as they stopped outside of Aarons car. "this is Aaron my brother and Ashlee his girlfriend. You guys this is Nathan, he's a good friend of mine."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Nate shook both hands trying his best for likeable, and no he didn't want to impress his boyfriends family, he had just promised support and making a good impression counted as such.

"No offence to you," Aaron started addressing his question to Nate before turning it to Eliot. "but how do you leave the house madder than a hornet yesterday and then show up today with a friend?" He hadn't been expecting to see his brother anytime soon after the surprise they had been given let alone with company.

"Eliot didn't know I was coming to see him and when I found out he had plans for today I insisted he follow through with them, he was just nice enough to invite me to join him." Nate answered truthfully enough, they were obviously going the close friends route.

"Eliot!" Sarah called for her brothers attention as she got closer with her family.

"Where are your parents?" Ashlee wondered as the others gathered, she had been trying her best to make a good impression but they made her feel like she was a show pony not to mention the accusing stares that had her wanting to hide and it hadn't even been a full day yet!

"Mom stopped to talk to some lady she recognized, I didn't really pay attention." Sarah clearly looked annoyed by that. "But tell me you're still coming to dinner Eliot."

"I don't know Sarah," Her pout had him trying to justify himself. "I'm Nates ride." Okay so he might have used it as an excuse but it was true. He had told Nate church not a family dinner.

"He can come too." She pleaded, assuming her brother was talking about the man behind him.

"You don't even know him!" Did his sister honestly just invite a complete stranger into her house for dinner? He needed to talk to her about that.

"Sorry, how rude of me. I'm Sarah and this is my husband Peter and our children Rebecca and Brian." Sarah introduced hurriedly.

"Nathan Ford, but you can call me Nate." Nate was talking more to Pete at this point since Sarah obviously was trying to con her brother.

"Well Nate, would you like to have dinner with us so that the kids can spend Easter with their Uncle? You guys want Uncle Eliot to help you with your Easter egg hunt right?" Sarah asked Nate before getting her childrens opinions which were of course affirmative. She never claimed to be above guilt tripping if it got her something she needed.

"Sarah," Eliot growled, she knew he had a soft spot when it came to disappointing the kids and she took full advantage of that.

"It's just an invitation to spend the day with us Eliot. A simple no and I'll drop the subject." Sarah feigned innocence as she turned her best puppy eyes on Nate.

"I," They had never talked about going to his sisters and Nate was having a hard time reading Eliot with six other sets of eyes focused intently on him. He just hoped the look he was receiving right now was an apologetic one and not an accusing one. "would love too."

"Great, I'll just go find mom and dad and we can get going." Sarah exclaimed excitedly.

"We'll be by sometime before lunch."Eliot corrected making sure Nate knew it was time to make their exit. Seeing three freshly issued pouts Eliot sighed, "I'll be there in two hours." as he began making his way to his truck.

"See you then." Pete called as Nate too left.

"So is see you in two hours code for gettin' your things at the hotel and leavin' town just as fast as you can?"

"Nope, you agreed to go so you're going." Eliot answered Nate as he stuck his hand out in a silent request for his keys.

"Did you actually plan on going before I accepted your sisters offer?" Nate was trying to gauge Eliots reaction. There might have been a tiny part of himself that was selfish in agreeing to go but it was hard to curb his curiousity with the opportunity given, especially since it might finally lead him to crack the puzzle that was Eliot Spencer.

"I don't know, but there's no use in questioning it now because we're going." Eliot started the truck, pulling out of the parking lot. He knew exactly what Nate was doing and he planned on showing him that it worked both ways.

"So then why are we going back to the hotel?"

"I want to change out of this duck suit and get a little sleep." He might not sleep much but that went to further emphasize how important the time he did spend sleeping was.

"I like the look." Nate accented his words by pulling on Eliots tie. A nap was sounding really good right now and maybe even a hot shower to replace the quick one he had rushed through that morning. He and Eliot really needed to stop lying on the ground, he always had a hard time getting the leaves and twigs out of the back of his curls, not to mention the one time he ended up with, well he didn't even know what in there.

"You can have it then." Eliot threw the tie he had just finished removing at Nate before advising him of his newest discovery. "There's something in your hair."

Patting his head as he tried to find what Eliot was talking about he rolled his eyes as Eliot started laughing. Yeah, they really needed to stop doing that.

E/N: So there was no drama in this one but I figured I'd drag it out some, why have the fun finish before it's started. Plus we all know that Eliot would have just left again and metaphorical or not it isn't nice to start drama in church. lol Hope you enjoyed and thank boredom for giving you three updates in one week!