Chapter Eight

"I feel bad for your friend in there." Aaron and Eliot had found themselves a spot outside on the front porch swing.

"Maybe" Eliot thought about Nate who had just barely extracted himself from an eager Rebecca who had insisted on showing him everything she had gotten for the holiday to then be dragged into a conversation with their father.

"You're not gonna go help him out?" Aaron wondered as he shifted slightly to add to the slight rocking Eliot had started with the tip of his shoe.

"Nope, I've spent all day holding my tongue and trying to prevent a fight, if I go in there now it'll only cause trouble." Eliot sighed, he had a sort of mutual understanding going on with his parents, they pretended he didn't exist and he thought of them as all but dead.

"I can't believe how dirty those two have been playing it." Aaron knew his parents blamed Eliot for 'corrupting' them but they had been extra harsh today.

"They want me to leave, but it ain't gonna happen. I told Brian and Becca I'd stay until dinner and I'm not going to be made a liar by some half cocked insults and low blows." His parents were pissing him off but he had just as much right to be there as they did, if not more.

"They're making Ashlee uncomfortable too. I don't know why Sarah invited them but if she tries this again next year you and me are going to have to come steal the kids until she finds her missing marbles."

"I'm sure Pete will love that." Eliot laughed.

"He can come too. You know he doesn't like them either, if Sarah wants to keep on inviting them she better get used to making a dinner for three." Aaron loved his sister but sometimes she could really be stupid.

"So when are you planning on taking that step with Ashlee? We can't go sneaking off to your place for family holidays if you haven't made her part of the family yet." Eliot didn't really care if Ashlee was an official member of the Spencer family or not, he had spent years wishing he wasn't, he was just trying to get his question answered without being too blunt.

"I was going to ask her last night with everyone at dinner but then everything else went down and ... well it didn't happen." Aaron had gotten himself chewed out by Ashlee for not being his own man and going after Eliot like a brother should.

"Aaron ask her already. If she says yes after the hell mom's been puttin' her through today you'll be one lucky man, but I think you'd be better off asking her alone. She might kill you otherwise." Eliot could only imagine how great the fury would be from that woman if she was put on the spot so suddenly.

"I think I'll ask her tonight but trust me it won't be in front of mom and dad." Aaron could just imagine how that would turn out. "But what about you?"

"I've got no plans for marriage." Eliot huffed out a snort.

"That's not what I meant." He placed both feet firmly on the porch to stop the motion and grab Eliots full attention.

"Then what did you mean?"

"You don't bring just anyone around Eliot." Aaron said hoping he wouldn't really have to say.

"And?" Eliot had a feeling he knew where this was going and he wasn't sure how he felt about that but he wanted to know what his brother thought.

"I've been watching you and I've noticed that you've been watching your friend in there. Your eye is on him mainly when he's with Becca and at first I thought it was because you didn't trust him, but then why would you have brought him. So I payed closer attention and I still couldn't really figure it out but after Becca dropped her basket for what had to be the third time and he helped her pick everything up and then offered to carry it something in your eyes changed. The way you looked at him was different, it was like you were fond of him, like you took pride in his actions, almost as if it made you happy." Seeing that Eliot was looking a bit uncomfortable but not like he was going to say anything Aaron decided to just end their mutual discomfort and ask. "He's more than a friend isn't he?"

"And if he is?" Eliot was beyond denial, completely alert and looking for any signs of repulsion or negativity from the man sitting next to him.

"Well then don't fuck this one up."

"Why does everyone blame me!" It was the only thing he could think of saying, he was shocked that his brother had figured things out and hadn't freaked out. He had seemingly accepted things, possibly even approved and though he would never admit it the calm his brother was showing meant a great deal to him.

"Really Eliot," Aaron knew Eliot knew exactly why they blamed him. "but seriously are you," he paused trying to decide how to say what he was thinking, "with him?" Waiting to see if Eliot would answer he took a minute to really think about what he had learned. No, Eliot hadn't confirmed anything but his silence was saying it all, sure his brother always had girls nearly flinging themselves at him and no he didn't understand the whole situation but he wasn't about to ask. Between Eliot and his grandparents and despite what his parents said he was taught not to judge people by their short comings and differences and he wasn't about to do that to Eliot. His brother had done a lot for him and he decided that he wasn't going to form an opinion, if Eliot was happy he'd be happy for him. It wasn't like anything had changed anyway, as far as he could tell he was exactly the same. "It's hard finding the right person and if you think you have that keep it. You've worried about us and how we've been doing this whole time Eliot, but I'm settling and Sarah made her family so you just worry about you now. Do what you need to make yourself happy and you tell anyone who doesn't agree with it to go ta' hell."

"Thanks." That sounded like the same advice Nate had given him less then 3 weeks ago and he still wasn't sure what to do with it.

"And you're right," Aaron decided it was time to lighten the mood, "he does have pretty blue eyes."

"Shut up" Eliot playfully punched his laughing brother. He still wasn't sure how he felt about sharing that part of his life but he was glad to know it hadn't changed things between them. "And Aaron."

"It's your business Eliot and no one elses. What you do, who you see, and who you tell is all on you and that's how I'll keep it." He knew what was about to be asked of him and he wanted to make sure Eliot knew he didn't even need to ask. He wasn't going to break that trust especially not with a secret he had more stumbled onto than been entrusted with.

Nodding a little distantly Eliot took some time to gather his thoughts. "We better get back in there." The only person he had actually told was Hardison and that was almost against his will, the rest of the team did know but he hadn't really been around long enough to see how they reacted or felt about it. So if he decided not to say anything now it wouldn't really be wrong would it? He'd say something eventually but it wouldn't be today, not with his parents there and even though Ashlee seemed nice enough he had only known her for a day and Nate, well it would probably be better if he wasn't there when he told them.

"Yeah. I'll be surprised if they don't have Ashlee hiding in a closet by now."

Accepting the pat that was given to his back Eliot got up and pushed open the front door, it really was time to check on Nate. He wasn't worried about him but he knew first hand how strong the urge could get to deck his father and he wasn't sure how far Nate had let himself be pushed. Normally he'd actually enjoy that sight but there were impressionable kids in the house and he was going to do his best to make sure he and Nate stayed curtious for their sake.

"Aaron why don't you join us." Caroline patted the cushion next to her on the couch.

"Yeah Aaron, your mom was just asking me all about our plans for the future."Ashlee was sitting in the arm chair and not looking the least bit happy.

"I'd love nothing more than to discuss our future plans." Aaron didn't even bother hiding the sarcasm. He knew from experience that fighting with his parents was useless, it was like a bad cold, you just had to wait it out.

"Ashlee, have you seen Nate?" Eliot had left him in the livingroom but he wasn't now.

"I think he's in the kitchen but I'll gladly help you look for him." Ashlee nearly jumped out of her chair at the opportunity.

"That's all right dear, I'm sure he can manage on his own." Mrs. Spencer stopped her in her tracks.

Giving Ashlee an apologetic look Eliot left for the kitchen as she sunk back in her chair. "Nate?"

"I think he's upstairs with Becca." Sarah told her brother as she checked on the ham that was almost ready for dinner.

"He snuck away?" Eliot leaned against the counter, that didn't sound like Nate.

"No, more like I advised him to run. Dad got into his load of bull about the working man and all the political crap that comes with it and Nathan was actually giving it right back to him and even corrected some of his errors in judgement before things got a bit nasty."

"What happened?" That sounded exactly like the Nate he knew but he also knew his father.

"Well you know how Dads gotta be right about everything, after being questioned and corrected too many times he started tossing around rude comments and insults, after that I got Pete and Brian to find a way to entertain him and get him away from your friend. So yup, I'm pretty sure he's with Rebecca waiting for Dads tantrum to blow over." Sarah sighed playing with the pastry bag from her deviled eggs.

"What's wrong?" He could tell his sister had something else to say.

"You were right. I was so focused on the illusion of the whole family being together that I forgot how anal and petty they can be."

"Sarah" But she ignored him as she went on, "Mom actually went upstairs and changed Becca over some stain that I swear is microscopic if not non-existant and actually had the nerve to tell me that my daughter was in need of a bath. How do you tell someone their child is dirty while smiling, I mean who does that? And everyones uncomfortable around them, if mom doesn't scare off Aslee it will be a miracle. They've been acting like children all day and I honestly can't wait for them to go home, don't get me wrong I still want the kids to know their grandparents but I think we're better off if we go to their house to visit."

Hearing Sarah finally quit rambling he didn't really have anything to say since he was expecting her to go on longer so he just pulled her into a hug instead. "I'm sorry for yesterday, and everything else." She squeezed back as Eliots grip on her tightened, they both knew that sorry was apologizing for much more then their simple argument. "And Eliot?"

"Hmm"

"Please don't let me invite them back like this again."

"Oh me and Aaron already have a plan for that." He laughed.

E/N: So Aaron knows and we are one step closer to the family dinner which is bound to be fun!