A/N: I think people are still enjoying the story. I don't get many reviews these days but I still seem to get the number of people reading. Just remember, the more reviews, the sooner you get to a freebie oneshot.
Hope you enjoy the latest chapter :)
"What, did they get another new car?" Ava asked as they walked up the driveway to Alanna's home.
"No, I don't recognise it," Alanna said with a shrug. "I guess they've got some friends visiting. It might be Ted and Cody."
"You said your dad's out later, are we still on for a girls' night in?" Ava asked.
"Umm, yeah I guess, I don't know how long they're out though," Alanna said. "It may not be late."
"Well, whatever, as long as they don't start fuck-"
"Ava, can you not remind me of that every chance you get," Alanna said stomping ahead. "It's not like I need to be reminded."
"Whatever, later," Ava called as Alanna headed into the house.
As much as she liked seeing Ted and Cody, she didn't wanted to be able to spend some time by herself and prepare herself for the evening, if she could even get her dad to agree to it. He tried his hardest to cover it up, but she knew he didn't like her friends.
"I can't believe this, you come into my home and start insulting my partner," Randy yelled in the kitchen.
Alanna sighed; she thought they were over the arguing. Since Christmas, it had been a happy household. No arguing, just the odd terse word that she put down to her and her dad having different opinions on things because of the different generations. It was no different from her dad disagreeing with her grandfather.
"I'm your father; I can tell you whatever I like."
She was about to head upstairs when she heard her grandfather return her dad's shouting.
"When I ask for advice, you can tell me what you think. You don't come into my home and tell me I'd be better without John as my partner," Randy snapped.
Alanna headed for the kitchen, taking a deep breath before stepping in and letting them know she was there. She stood in the doorway and saw John and her grandmother sat on the couch watching the two men screaming at each other.
"Bob," Elaine stood up and stepped between them. "Randy is right. You think I didn't have reservations when they showed up at the house holding hands."
"What?" Randy asked in astonishment.
"Come on Randy, it was a little bit of a shock," Elaine said. "But don't think you're getting off lightly. You don't speak to your father like that. He's still your father."
Alanna didn't want to listen to the arguing anymore and stepped into the kitchen far enough they'd see her, "Hey, this is a surprise."
Alanna saw the tension subside though it didn't totally disappear. Her dad especially was trying to contain his anger. She didn't like to see him upset after they'd all worked so hard to keep their family happy. As Alanna greeted her grandparents, John went to her dad's side and tried to calm him. Randy was still struggling with his temper and disappeared out the back door and she saw him head for the outside stairs to the bedroom balcony.
As she hugged her grandfather, she caught John's eye line and he shook his head letting her know that her dad wasn't right.
"Umm, I need to go to the bathroom, I'll be back in a moment," Alanna said finding a reason to go see her dad.
She ran upstairs and instead of heading to her bedroom, she went down the opposite corridor and knocked on the master bedroom door.
"What?" Randy mumbled in reply.
She opened the door and slipped in heading over to the bed where her dad lay with his arm over his face.
"I didn't know they were coming down to visit," Alanna said trying to make conversation.
"That makes three of us. It was a surprise visit," Randy said letting his arm fall from his face. Alanna could see the emotions brimming beneath the surface. She moved in close and curled into her dad's side giving him a hug.
"Did you guys have an argument?"
"I know you would have heard," Randy said smoothing her hair. "I'm sorry; you didn't need to hear that."
"I didn't hear the actual argument, just you and granddad yelling," Alanna commented, regretting it straight away, she didn't want to make her dad feel worse. "What was it about?"
"It was a disagreement."
"I gathered that," Alanna said chuckling, trying to cheer him up. "Why do you insist on hiding things from me? I'm not a little kid I'm sixteen years old."
Randy chuckled himself at that comment, "I know. You're a very mature girl as well. I worry sometimes that you're too mature. You shouldn't be shouldering the burdens of your parents."
Alanna lay there with her dad for a while, hoping his mood would pick up. Alanna could guess from a comment her dad made that the argument was about his relationship, but she wasn't sure.
"Is it-"
"You grandfather hasn't come to terms with my life choices, and he blames John," Randy offered as she started to push the matter.
"Why?"
"Don't take this the wrong way but, why did you?" Randy said with a shrug. "If you don't want to accept it, it's easier to blame someone who isn't family."
Alanna lay in her dad's arms as she took in the words. He was right. She had blamed John. Something she picked up from her mom. Although she found it difficult to admit, she believed them when they told her their relationship didn't start as an affair. When you live full time with one parent, it's easy to full in line with their way of thinking.
She learnt as time went on, her dad didn't have the same outlook on life as her mom. He was laidback, trying to accommodate his loved ones needs, whereas her mom was always changing things to suit her own needs. That's why both parents were now in working relationships. They both had partners with similar mindsets.
Alanna didn't want to see her dad and grandfather at loggerheads as her grandfather would say. She'd seen at Christmas that whenever John and her father were caring toward one another that her grandfather griped about it. She wanted to help them sort it out so they could be one big happy family.
"Okay, I have an idea," Alanna said jumping off the bed and holding her hand out to her dad. "Come on."
"Al, I love you, but no," Randy said. "I'm not in the mood."
"You don't know what my idea is yet," she said heading out the room.
She ran down the stairs two at a time, tripping over her feet and thankfully landing in John's arms, "Ally, we all made a promise, no more trips to the ER. Your dad was scary enough for me."
"Sorry, sorry, can you drag dad downstairs, I have an idea to help him and granddad, and it'll help you as well," she said running from John toward the family room.
Her grandparents sat in front of the television once again not knowing she was there. Her grandma was looking sternly at her grandfather and she expected her grandma had told him off for his actions.
Determined to see her idea through, she went over to her grandmother and motioned for her to come into the kitchen and help her out. They moved the table so it was more central to the room and Alanna moved the chairs so there were two on each side with one more central.
She been covering communication and mediation at school in her business class and she figured she could use the skills to help her family. It should be the same skill set.
"Alanna what are you trying to do?" Bob asked as she dragged him to the table.
"Just sit there, please," she begged indicating for her grandmother to take the adjacent seat. As they sat down, John came in shaking his head. Her dad clearly wasn't coming down.
Not willing to give up, Alanna marched to the bottom of the stairs, put her hands on her hips, and hollered, "Dad, I'm giving you to the count of ten to get your butt downstairs, right now... One... two... three... four... five-"
Her dad came to the stop of the stairs, trying to hold back his laughter, doing a better job than John stood in the kitchen doorway watching.
"I wish I had a camera on me," John said chuckling at Alanna's actions.
"I'm wondering who the parent is," Randy said reaching the bottom. "I should also remind you not to speak to me like that please. What would you like?"
"Come on," she said grabbing his wrist and dragging him to the kitchen. She pushed him into the chair opposite her granddad. "Do I need to tell you where you're sitting John?"
John took his seat before she scolded him.
"Okay, dad, John, we've been through some crap since the summer and we're just getting to be a happy family, so I'm not going to let that get ruined," she said turning her attention to her grandparents. "Granddad, I understand you aren't happy that dad is gay and living with John-"
"I-"
"You have to let me finish, please," she whined trying to get him to hold off before he spoke. "This is going to be a chance for each of you to say what you want to say and move on from it. But you have to let each other speak and not interrupt."
"That's fine by me," Randy said as she looked at him.
"What about you Granddad?"
"Okay, fine."
"Okay, since you're the one who isn't happy, granddad, you can go first," she said.
Her grandfather shook his head at the situation; she thought he wasn't going to take part in the discussion, but thankfully, he took a breath and started speaking, "I'll give you this. You raised one hell of a mature daughter."
"Thank you," Randy said. "Sam had a large hand in it."
"Well, see, that's my first problem. You so say loved the woman. You obviously had feelings for her and were attracted to her; you wouldn't have been able to have a child otherwise. How can that change so abruptly? I would understand more if you were bisexual, not gay."
"Did you never wonder why there were no more children?" Randy asked rhetorically. "Dad, I wish I could give you an answer that would make sense, but I can't. When I met Sam, I WAS attracted to her. She was everything I dreamed of in a woman."
"So how can you go from Sammy to that," Bob retorted turning his nose up as he pointed to John.
"Dad, his name is John, don't-"
"Dad, please don't shout. And granddad you have to be polite as well," Alanna scolded both men.
"Yes, fine. But I'd like an answer, or at least for you to attempt to answer it," Bob said trying to remain calm.
Randy took a deep breath, looking toward John for support. John instinctively reached out with his hand, placing it on Randy's leg.
"The simplest answer I can give you, is, when John and I kissed for the first time, it awoke some dormant feelings in me, in both of us. Everyone has always tried to put the blame on John, but everyone forgets; he was going through the same thing."
"You're trying to tell me you've been gay your whole life but you didn't know it. That's a load of horse-hockey," Bob spat not believing what he heard.
Randy threw his hands in the air and pushed back from the table. How was he supposed to get his dad to believe him when every time he explained Bob threw it back in his face? "I've had enough of this. Al, I know you were trying sweetheart but I'm not sitting here and being insulted."
"Granddad you have to apologise," Alanna said quickly trying to get things back on track.
"Bob, apologise, he's your son," Elaine said helping Alanna.
Randy didn't stand straight away, waiting to see if his dad would be the bigger man and attempt to make amends. Although they talked for the sake of their family, nothing was ever cordial between them. His dad was always in contact with Sam and was the only thing he talked about when they spoke. He was never allowed to be affectionate with John if his dad was around, and god forbid he caught them kissing.
Bob folded his arms and took a deep breath. Randy almost mimicking him as he took his own breath, expecting the apology to follow, but nothing did. Randy just shook his head and silently left the kitchen, heading for the entryway, "I'm heading out for a drive."
"Do you want some company?" John called after him.
"No."
Randy sat in the dark and dusty room imagining what it would be once they'd cleaned it out and set up the rings. Everything was slowly moving and he was looking forward to starting work on it. He and John had the schedule worked out and the following week they were going to get in here and clean up, check the lighting and facilities out, maybe give the walls a once over, and then get some contractors in to do any work necessary. Mostly the work he wanted to do was renovate the majority of the office space into changing rooms and trainer's facilities.
The previous day he'd signed the paperwork and held the keys to his new business in his hands. He was ecstatic. When his dad had arrived earlier in the day, he couldn't wait to share the news and show his dad around. Now, he was concerned his dad would discredit the building and lecture him on rushing too quickly into the decision. It wouldn't matter that he agonised for weeks over this property and another.
"I suddenly realised the keys were gone," a deep but familiar voice echoed through the empty room. "You haven't been here the whole time have you?"
"No," Randy said quietly shifting where he sat to provide room for John.
"Where have you been?"
As John moved near Randy trapped John with his legs, wrapping them around his hips. When John looked down and then over to Randy, the smirk was one of amusement but clearly told Randy, he wasn't going to get away with anything.
"I went to the gym," Randy explained using his legs to draw John in closer. "Pretty sure Rob thinks we're having problems again since it's not very often that I go there without you. Dad was stressing me out; I went to let off steam."
"Let me guess, you worked on your legs," John said running his hands under Randy's shorts, enjoying the feel of his thigh muscles.
"Actually, I worked on my abs," Randy said. "Need to keep the six-pack in place."
"Honey, you've never had a six-pack," John said shaking his head.
"Want to count," Randy, said lifting his shirt to reveal John's favourite area.
"If you let me finish," John said eyeing up the area, letting his fingers travel over the skin. "You've always had at the very least an eight-pack, but that's not including what you hide under these."
John tugged at the waistband of Randy's shorts, toying with the idea of removing the shorts.
"Again, you can count them if you want," Randy said with a smirk. "You could even put that talented mouth to work while you're down there. It might top the idea of dragging you into one of the offices and bending you over the desk."
"I'm not about to distract you from your problems. The first of which is your dad," John said unclasping Randy's legs from his waist and stepping back folding his arms.
"Is there a second problem?"
"Yes; Ally."
"What's happened? She was fine when I left," Randy said confused.
"Yeah, then you left," John stated. "She was trying to help, and okay your dad is at fault as well, but you walking out just made Ally feel crap. She feels like she's made things worse than they were."
"Why didn't you call me and let me know?" Randy sighed.
"Check your phone Sherlock, I did," John snickered. "Anyway she wanted to have her friends around tonight, but I said it would probably be better if they went to one of the other girls considering your folks are here. I told her maybe another night, so say yes when she asks."
Randy jumped from his seat on the window ledge, dusted off his shorts, and then grabbed John's wrist on the way to the door.
"What would I do without you?"
"You'd probably be in jail by now."
"Fuck you."
"Not with your parents in the house."
Randy looped an arm around John and kissed him hard on the side of his head as they walked across the warehouse toward the exit. He was looking forward to next week when they started work on the room. In fact, he wished they could jump straight to next week so he didn't have to deal with his dad. It always made things worse when they caught the family between them during their disagreements. John was always getting cheap shots made at him, his mom tried to stay out of it finding it hard to take sides between her husband and son. Even Nate and Becky would leave the room if things started, neither one wanting to be roped in. Now it had become worse with Alanna caught in the middle.
"Did Al go out with her friends?"
"Not yet, but she will be, I think she'll be at Ava's house, I got lost as she was trying to explain it. It doesn't help that those girls dress so similar I can barely tell them apart," John said. "In fact, I could tell Nicole and Brie apart better than those girls."
"Everyone can tell the twins apart, Nikki got implants," Randy said shaking his head.
"I meant prior to that you idiot," John said slapping Randy's butt as they reached his car. "I'll meet you at home."
"Love you," Randy said kissing John quick before heading to his truck.
Randy pulled into the garage spot beside John's car. He had to remind John to slow down in that car. He was too fast for his own good. As he entered the house, Alanna ran down the stairs shouting hi and bye in the same sentence before diving out the door.
He went through to the kitchen and found John pouring everyone a coffee. John spotted him and looked at his watch with a smile.
"Boy racer," Randy mumbled, kissing him lightly on the head.
"You're in a loving mood, you keep kissing me like that," John said snaking an arm around Randy's waist so he couldn't get away.
"Did you agree a time for Al to get back?"
"Eleven, it's not a school night so I figured an hour extra wouldn't hurt. She's done her homework already."
"Okay," Randy said kissing him on the lips this time.
"Mm, I could get used to you kissing me so much," John said playing with Randy's shirt.
Randy looked over to the family area where his parents were watching the television, facing away from them. It was probably a bad idea but he couldn't resist. He cupped John's face before closing the distance and kissing him fully, keeping it soft. John let his hands run up Randy's back as they relaxed into the kiss. Randy pushed his tongue into John's mouth, teasing him slightly with his actions. He knew John was about to moan and he didn't want the moment ruined so he stopped teasing and went back to gently kissing without tongue.
He could have stood like that for hours, kissing his lover, letting it be nothing more than showing his love; but then a loud cough sounded from the other side of the kitchen counter.
"Come home eventually then," Bob, grumbled. "We came to visit then you both go out and leave us to babysit."
"Dad, Al doesn't need babysitting, she's sixteen, hell, in a couple of months she'll be seventeen," Randy snapped. "As for the two of us not being here, look in the mirror."
"Randal," his mom snapped from the family room.
"Fine, I'll be the bigger man and apologise," Randy said starting to grind his teeth in frustration. "Dad, I'm sorry you're a bigoted asshole who won't let his son be happy. Mom, I'm sorry you're married to him and it stops the two of us from spending time together. Please pass the same apology to Nate and Becky."
Randy stormed across the kitchen toward the entryway ready to disappear upstairs. He'd snapped. He knew he shouldn't have, but he was sick to death of defending his relationship to people or taking spiteful little comments, which weren't direct enough to class as harassment.
"Randal, get back here now," his mom called. Even without looking, he could tell that she'd stood up and was closing in on him. "I never want to hear you making those kinds of comments again. Understood?"
"Fine, for you I will," Randy said. "For John, Al, and everyone else I will. But not for him."
"Ran, honey, don't get wound up," John said coming over when he saw Randy getting red in the face.
His emotions were getting away from him, and the annoyance was rapidly becoming something else. Randy met John's gaze and stayed steely eyed. He didn't want to get like this, but his dad's disapproval, over any matter, was enough to send him to a bad place. John grabbed his face and rested his forehead against Randy.
"Listen. It's not worth it," John whispered, keeping it between the two of them.
"I can't keep doing this," Randy said, his tone softer than the look in his eyes. "I'm sick of trying to be someone I'm not."
"Hey, you and me both, I know you have a sixth sense when it comes to me. You know I'm feeling it as well," John soothed him. He could feel his parents eyes on them even with John trying to make it just them. "Even if this doesn't get resolved, in a couple of days, it will just be the three of us; you, Ally, and me. I'm not going to let anything else get you like this."
"Promise me," Randy whispered.
"I promise," John, said kissing him quickly. "I'll be your strength if you stay and talk this through to the end."
Randy took a deep breath and nodded; grateful he had John to bring him from those moments. "Love you."
"I love you too."
John locked eyes with him once more, the steeliness gone from Randy's eyes. Randy nodded at him and John stepped back, taking his hand for support before turning to Bob and Elaine.
"Here's the deal. This is our house. It's been tough going the last nine months and no one in this house wants anymore," John said squeezing Randy's hand. "Both of you are more than welcome to visit at anytime. Neither of us, however, will stop being who we are. If I want to kiss my boyfriend or vice versa, then we have a right to do so without snide comment from others."
Randy could see his dad trying to hold in his argumentative side, at least there seemed to be an improvement in respect of that.
"John," Elaine said calmly. "I appreciate your candidness. You're right; this is your house, not ours. I personally would like to see this backbiting come to an end. I've let it go on far too long, and not seeing my son as much as I would like means I haven't seen how much these comments get to him."
"Mom, it's not your fault," Randy said quietly trying not to look toward to his dad.
"It's not about who's to blame. Alanna was right this afternoon. We need to sit down and discuss this," Elaine said indicating the family room. "Now, John, you were making a coffee, how about we see if there's still some heat left in those drinks."
John, Randy and Elaine went over to the kitchen counter and rescued the drinks, thankfully there was enough heat left in them to drink. Randy out the machine on to reheat the remaining coffee and then they made their way to the family room. Elaine took the switch from Bob and turned off the television and for a moment, the four of them sat in silence drinking, John continuously holding Randy's hand.
Bob was the first to finish his drink and put his empty cup on the coffee table still agitated from the conversation.
"Okay, you've proven your point; my son's a poof, you can let go of his hand now," Bob snapped shaking his head. "When I met you John, I thought you were an okay guy. Into the business and all that, but then you went after my son."
"You make it sound like I tortured him until he agreed to be gay," John said remaining calm for Randy's sake. "It wasn't like that, sir. Randy and I were going through the same thing, at the same time. I can't speak for Randy, but on my side of things, during my discovery phase, there was one person who knew, and she didn't even know that Randy and I kissed."
"Dad, I didn't have anyone. I knew at the end of the day, if it were that bad I could have gone to John, but I didn't want him knowing that one kiss was causing me so much aggravation. At the time I didn't know he was feeling the same."
"So, tell us," Elaine said stepping in before Bob could say anything further. "You've told us it was a difficult time, but you've never given any detail. I mean, I don't think we need to know about any you've been-"
"Mom, no, I've never been with any other man, just John. That would be disrespectful, and I would never do that to Sam. She'd already been through enough thanks to me," Randy said before taking a deep breath. He let go of John's hand and sat on the edge of the seat. John's hand automatically flowed to his lower back and rested there, constant strength for him to borrow.
"I don't know what to tell you," Randy said with a shrug. "I mean, you know I didn't date much as a kid. Thanks to my big gob, the world knows I didn't lose my virginity when I was at school. I barely found any of the girls attractive."
"What about the boys?" his mom asked genuinely interested, trying to understand.
"I was always one of the lads. I don't think I was attracted to any of them," Randy commented. "I barely knew who I was back then."
"Randy, you told us you left the forces because you didn't like being ordered around. Was that true or did something happen?"
"No, nothing happened. Everything I told you was the truth," he ensured her. "In all fairness, as much as this is going to sound like Dad's right, everything started changing when John and I kissed."
"I concur, at least it did for me," John said with a small smile. "I sometimes look back at the times when we were in OVW and wonder was there ever a time we looked at each other a certain way or we had a moment. But I haven't been able to think of a single occurrence."
"Me either. The only times I've been able to think maybe, was when I used to search you out to tell you the news first. Like the engagement, setting a date for the wedding, Sam being pregnant, even Al being born. Over anyone else, including Mom and Dad, I wanted to let you know," Randy, said looking back at John.
"But he kissed you, not the other way around," Bob said pointing his finger at them.
"No. We kissed each other," Randy responded before John could answer. "Neither of us knew what to do. There was a day or two of avoidance and then we realised we didn't to move passed it. Not let our friendship end."
"When did you start considering you were gay?" Elaine asked stopping Bob from shooting another comment at them.
"Even after we agreed to move passed the kiss. It wasn't the same, at least for me. I couldn't sleep at night; the image of the two of us kissing kept playing over in my head. At first, I put it down to, I needed to go home and see Sam. As soon as I had her in my arms and I'd seen my family, it would be okay."
"But it wasn't," his mom said understanding where he was going.
"No, I was lying in bed, Sam in my arms sound asleep, and I was still thinking about the kiss," Randy said. "I think Sam was getting concerned at one point because the next day I wouldn't stop kissing her. I was desperately trying to wipe my mind of the kiss with John. No disrespect darling."
"None taken," he said with a smile, his fingers now playing with the bottom of Randy's shirt.
"By the time my two days at home were up and I was heading back to the tour, I was exhausted. Then when I got there, John was the first one I saw and he looked fine. It was annoying, actually. After an early show that week, a group of us decided to go catch a film at the cinema. I grabbed the seat by the wall; John was next to me, and then the others. Cramped seating, especially with a group of wrestlers, meant our legs were brushing against each other, but I finally fell asleep. You know I don't even remember which film it was," Randy said shaking his head at the thought. "After that I seemed to be fine."
"You can't honestly believe-"
"There were others things over the years. When I was on the European tour one year, we all went out for drinks. I was getting a round in, talking to this person at the bar; he slipped me his number on a napkin, which freaked me out. I was uncomfortable all night, worried someone had seen and would comment on it. We were working together at the time; I was more concerned you'd seen."
"It's all news to me," John chuckled.
"Did you go on any dates with anyone?" Elaine asked.
"No, not really, someone bought me a drink one time and we got talking. He tried to make a move but I was nowhere near ready for that. At that stage I was just accepting it was true," Randy explained.
"Alright, say I believe you," Bob interjected. "How could you be carrying on a relationship with Sammy when you were finding yourself?"
"Simple. I wasn't. Sam and I had sex maybe once every few months, always initiated by her and I had to find a way to-"
"We don't need the details," his mom said.
"Sorry," Randy said looking sheepish. He wasn't enjoying having this conversation with his parents, and especially with his lover sat next to him. It didn't help that no one had eaten yet. He wondered if Alanna had eaten before she left and if not hoped that she had something around Ava's house.
"So you led her on," Bob asked interrupting his thoughts.
"No. I wasn't ready to come clean to her but she knew something was going on. Obviously she didn't expect that," Randy commented.
"Okay, I know we've spoken about this before, but maybe your father needs to hear it," Elaine said. "How... and when... did the two of your become a couple."
"When I got the divorce papers in 2014, I went straight to John."
"How did you know he was as gay as you?" Bob said throwing his hands up as though he thought Randy was making everything up.
"Some point in 2011, I can't remember when, it must have been the first part of the year, or when we were all in town for a pay per view. Again, we were all out for a drink. I was more confident in myself by that point, I saw someone I liked the look of, I guess I was checking him out, and I saw John doing exactly the same with the exact same guy," Randy said. "Happy?"
"That doesn't explain why you would go straight to John."
"We started talking about what we'd each individually been through. I was on the SmackDown tour by then and things had calmed down. It was easier being around him," Randy explained. "We were able to hang out again, not feel pressured about one tiny moment."
"Again, I speak for myself, but I still had feelings for him, they never went away, obviously," John said with a shrug. "But it was more relaxed. We'd both matured. We were having drinks one night when I let it slip about my feelings. Randy said he felt the same. Neither of us wanted to hurt Sam, more importantly we were thinking of Ally."
"Eventually, our feelings came to a head in April 2012 and we kissed again," Randy said. "That was the first kiss I had after admitting to myself that I was gay, and it felt natural."
"We talked it through after that and a couple of months later, Sam made the decision Randy was struggling with," John said.
"That he didn't want to make, you were forcing him," Bob said.
"No, John isn't like that," Elaine stepped in talking sternly to Bob. "And you know that. Randy was struggling because he knew what the reaction would be."
"And because of Al," Randy added. "I hated the idea of her being part of a broken family. In the end, it's been better. It would have ended up with Sam and I always in screaming matches and both having affairs. That isn't the example I wanted to set my child."
Randy stood needing to stretch himself out. It wasn't enjoying the defensive nature of the conversation, John and his mom were right, it needed to be sorted but his dad had issues that weren't about to go away in one or two conversations.
He looked down at John and smiled. His lover was looking tired and he doubted he wanted to do much that night. It would probably end up being a night in front of the television. Randy was glad John had made the stand to his dad, at least that meant he could curl up with John in his arms. He didn't even worry if they fell asleep on the couch.
"I need a break. Is anyone else hungry or thirsty?"
"I'm hungry but not hungry," John, said his eyes half closed.
"Well I'm hungry, how about I cook us something," Elaine suggested.
"Mom, I was going to order us something to eat. No one should be cooking tonight. John and I will share something anyway. Do you two want a meal each?"
John stretched out as they lay on the sofa watching the latest blockbuster just making it to the television screen. He'd lost track of the film since he'd been flicking in and out of sleep, but he wasn't worried. It was just nice to be able to finish the day in Randy's arms considering he didn't expect to when Bob and Elaine showed up.
"Where's your mom?" John asked Randy quietly. "And dad for that matter."
"Gone to bed, sleepy head," Randy chuckled at John as he tried to wake up a little. "I've been waiting for Al to get back to me. She was supposed to be home half hour ago."
"She isn't home yet?"
"No, I'm getting worried," Randy said putting his cell phone to his ear again as he rang her a third time. Unfortunately, it rung out and eventually clicked in to voicemail. He didn't see the point in leaving another message.
"Why don't you ring Ava's house, see if she's still there, she may have her phone on silent," John suggested.
"I guess," Randy said, not believing it to be true.
Just as he was about to ring the number, they heard a crash outside the house. Going to the door, he heard hushed voices, which were still loud, loud enough to wake up his parents at any rate. He hoped they weren't so loud the neighbours would hear.
Randy opened the door just as Alanna was going to put her key in the lock and she fell through into Randy's arms, laughing loudly along with Ava who followed her through.
John came over and Ava went up to him and flung her arms around his neck, "You're big."
"And you're drunk," John stated simply. "Come on you better come in a moment while we call your mom."
"You mustn't tell," she whispered as though keeping a secret. "We each snuck some alcohol from home and we went to the park. Alanna brought some whiskey which was good, funny taste though."
"What did you bring?" John asked sitting her down on the sofa.
"Mom's wine," Ava said with a giggle.
"John, can you get mom, Al's not right," Randy called as he carried her into the room. Alanna had gone from Ava's state to almost passed out, her skin covered in sweat.
"I'm here, I heard the ruckus," Elaine said, following Randy. "Is she conscious?"
"Yes, but barely, Alanna can you hear me?" Randy asked kneeling in front of her. "Al?"
"Dad, don't shout," she moaned. "I don't feel well."
"John can you get me a jug of water and a large glass, a bowl would be good as well," Elaine ordered, slipping into her nurses training.
John grabbed a jug from the cupboard, filled it up with cold water, and grabbed two glasses to go with. It was probably best to get some water into Ava as well considering she was only marginally better than Alanna.
"Anything I can do?" Bob asked from the doorway.
"Prepare for hell to break loose tomorrow when she's recovered," John commented as he grabbed the phone off the counter. He needed to call Ava's mom so she could come and pick her up. "Randy's going to be mad when she's better."
"I'm going to be sick," Ava said from her spot on the couch.
"Bob, get her to the bathroom, now." Bob immediately launched into action. Clearly, he'd had practice at this bringing up three kids.
"Mom, is Al going to be okay?" Randy asked scared for his daughter.
"She's going to be fine. Just needs to get it out her system," Elaine said. "When did she start drinking?"
Randy shrugged, "As far as I was aware, she hadn't. I've offered her a sip of wine before, figuring it was better to introduce her to it when I was around to keep an eye on her, but she always said no, turning her nose up at the idea."
"I'm sure she'll be doing that for a long time to come considering this incidence," Elaine said as Alanna lurched forward and throw up in the bowl.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter :) Please review :)