Culture Aftershock

by jtrue

A sequel to Culture Shock. Emmett McCarty's Emirati partner Nasir has a new job and a green card, but will their lives together be as easy as they think? And what will happen to Seth and Garrett? SLASH LEMONS MA

18. Chapter 18

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Okay, first, this chapter is a monster. There are a couple reasons for that. I just couldn't find a good place for a break, and, I am acutely aware that this book has been a little light on lemony goodness. Actually, a lot light on lemony goodness. And quite frankly, I'm not real happy about that. So I saw an opportunity for an interlude, and I went for it. A good lemon takes up space, so the chapter grew even larger. I make no apology. Personally, I love a good long chapter.

The Council of Ladies is meeting in person even now. Girls, I would so love to be there.

Thank you to Rebecca for making all the women at this wedding so beautiful. Thank you to Maureen for teaching me everything I know about kids. GIANT thank you to Liz for the collaboration and tweaks and everything else.

There was a surprise in the last two chapters. Expect another one in here...

Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions should go do so right now. Links to both stories are in my profile.

WARNING:

This story is intended for an adult audience! There is crude speech, hate speech and adult sexual subject matter of a homosexual nature. If you are under 18 stop reading now!

AU/AH/OC

All characters from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. I just take them out and play with them.

---

Chapter 18: Gone!

"Ladies and gentlemen, Emmett and Nasir," the DJ announced. The newly married couple walked into the drawing room from the Great Hall, hand in hand. They were visible to most of the tables through this entrance and they were greeted with applause. Nasir was striking in his floor length, gold trimmed, black bisht and white ghutra on his head with black igal cords. Emmett was equally elegant in his white dinner jacket and fringed red silk scarf. Otherwise they were dressed the same in black pants, white tux shirt, red euro tie and vest.

Edward saw Roger to his table, where his wife was already waiting for him, having been accompanied there earlier by Cliff. The surprise guest from North Carolina had already found his seat with Zack, Leo, Molly and the thrilled children. Edward gave them a quick wave before returning to the Great Hall to line up with the other wedding party members. He would escort Samira to the head table as she was now to occupy the space that had been reserved for Jasper. Edward lent Samira an arm and they went in first. Carson and Sonja walked in together, followed by Seth and Garrett, which had then left only Emmett and Nasir.

Seth's original plan was to have each member of the wedding party enter with his partner and be announced, but Emmett and Nasir agreed to scrap that plan today, for the very same reason that same thing had been done at Seth and Garrett's reception at the Fairmont Olympic. Not every member of the wedding party's mate was present. Just as Nasir was missing then, Jasper was missing today. Nasir arrived so late that he missed the entire event on that day. Today, Jasper wasn't coming at all. There was no way they were going to have everyone announced but Edward. Emmett and Nasir were the last to walk into their reception, and the only ones accounced.

At the head table Samira made a point of sitting next to Sonja. She fully expected her brother to take the seat on her other side, which Nasir did, and in this way Samira was not forced to sit beside a man to whom she was not related. Carson sat beside his wife and Edward took the seat next to him. Garrett sat next to Edward, while Emmett sat beside his husband, and Seth took the last remaining seat between Emmett and Garrett, right where he wanted to be. Emmett and Nasir slipped their shoes off at the same time. Nasir moved his right socked foot toward his husband until it was captured by Emmett's bigger feet, and all was right in the world.

Carla and her people, more of them than Seth or Garrett had ever met, emerged en masse. Every one of them wore the uniform of a white tux shirt and short valet style jacket with black pants and bow tie. They started with the head table, naturally, and fanned out from there. While Milan manned a bar in one corner of the drawing room, no guest would have to visit it during dinner as his fellow staff took drink orders as well.

Samira was still nursing her chardonnay and sat beside her brother looking up at him. She could not stop smiling. "I am glad you wore this," Samira touched his bisht. "You are so handsome in it."

"Thank you," Nasir smiled back at her. "I did not want to wear this at first," he confessed.

"Why not?" Samira asked.

"Yeah, why not?" Emmett chimed in. "I love it on you."

"And that is why I wore it," Nasir turned his smile on his husband.

"Makes me wanna tear it off you, but we can wait 'till we get back to our suite for that," Emmett gave his mate a leer. "Probably."

Nasir leaned closer to Emmett and took his husband's bearded chin gently in his hand. With the greatest of care Nasir gave Emmett the softest kiss on his full lips.

"I am crazy for you right now," Emmett admitted.

"As am I for you," Nasir smiled his agreement.

"I love seeing you together," Samira expressed. "I cannot believe I am sitting here next to you."

"It sure was a surprise to see you, but I'm so glad you came, Samira," Emmett stated.

"That is not what she means," Nasir understood full well what his sister meant by her comment. He took Samira's hand. "She means that we are sitting to a meal together. Samira and I have never done that before today."

"What?" Emmett did not at all expect that. "Never?"

"I'm sorry," Sonja could not help but overhear. "I thought you two were brother and sister."

"We are," Nasir confirmed.

"You didn't grow up together?" Carson asked the follow up question.

"We did," Nasir confirmed. "We ate together with the women when we were very young, when Samira was a baby. The women care for the children, but when boys are ten, or eleven at the latest, we join the men and there is no going back. I was ten when I did this. Men and women do not eat together in our country. So, never before in our adult lives have we been able to sit to a meal together."

"I had no idea it was like that," Sonja confessed.

"You're married, Samira, right? Didn't someone tell me that?" Carson asked.

"I am," Samira confirmed.

"Can you eat with your husband at least?" Carson followed up.

"At home we always do. We live in London," Samira explained. "Our home is very Western in many aspects. You see that I am here among men I do not know and have not covered my hair. You see that I am drinking wine. We are not so strict, but when we go home to the Emirates, or when family comes to visit us, things must be done in the old, traditional ways."

"Where is your husband?" Sonja asked the sensitive question.

"We are staying at the Fairmont," Samira answered. "Sadiq will be back to pick me up at nine."

"He was here!" Nasir did not expect that.

"He would not come in," Samira regretted that and Nasir could see it on her face. "He does not want to see you."

"I am sorry about that. Of all the men in our family, I like Sadiq the best," Nasir stated. And then he thought about what he just said. "Everyone at this table excluded, obviously."

"It's okay, Babe," Emmett took his husband's hand.

"We know what you meant, Nasir," Garrett added.

"We were married at the Fairmont," Seth changed the subject with a smile for Garrett.

"You two?" Samira pointed. "You are married also?"

"We are," Garrett confirmed proudly.

"I do not know where we would be without these two. All of these people," Nasir made a gesture to sweep the table.

"That's for damn sure," Emmett agreed.

As their refreshed drinks arrived, Carla's waiters brought platters of Arabic food, attractively presented with pita points. There were four for each table, two of each kind.

"This looks like hummus," Carson reached for pita and scooped with it.

"It is," Nasir confirmed.

"It's good, Honey," Carson scooped another and put it on his wife's plate.

"I like the hummus best too," Emmett agreed.

"I like this one," Seth reached for the other.

"What's that one, baba ghanoush?" Carson asked as he munched.

"Moutabal," Nasir answered. Carson just raised his eyebrows as he finished chewing and swallowed. Nasir's one word answer eluded him entirely.

"Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one," Edward was as in the dark as Carson. He was not afraid to try it and did so. "It's really good."

"It's the same thing, really," Seth informed.

"They call it baba ghanoush in Syria and Lebanon," Nasir began.

"And they make it with garlic usually," Samira picked up. "We make ours with lemon and ground up sesame seeds."

Juan and Kiril focused their attentions on the head table and returned with platters of wienerschnitzel and jägerschnitzel, from which they served each person. Nasir naturally selected the jägerschnitzel with it's rich red wine mushroom sauce. Both McCarty men went with the wienerschnitzel and before they could even ask, a good sized bowl of lemon wedges was placed before each of them.

"Oh, look at that," Carson grabbed a wedge. "Somebody knows me pretty well," he proceeded to douse his schnitzel.

"Well, after the steam room..." Seth flipped his hair as he caused the whole table to laugh.

"I will make sure your mom gets all the lemon she might need too, Mr. Emmett," Juan spoke quietly with his hand on Emmett's shoulder.

"Thanks, Juan," Emmett smiled and nodded at him.

The spätzle, red cabbage, cucumber salad, potato salad and brötchen were all served the same way.

"Oh, kartoffelsalat," Carson said in German as the potato salad arrived. "Is it as good as mutti's, Em? You know we'll never hear the end of it if it is."

"Damn near. Wait till you try it," Emmett commented as Juan served him a portion.

Juan knew to skip Nasir and stepped up next to the lady who sat beside him. "Ma'am, German potato salad?"

"She won't want that either, Juan," Emmett spoke up first.

"Oh, sorry," Juan stepped away.

"It has bacon in it," Nasir answered his sister's perplexed look.

"This is the only pork here tonight. Everything else is safe," Seth assured.

The Arabs at the table had no apprehension when everyone was served kibbeh, tabouleh and majboos.

"Nasir, I gotta tell ya, man," Carson took a bite. "I was a little bit nervous when Em told me about the Arabic menu, but, this is delicious."

"I am glad that you like it," Nasir smiled. "The majboos is actually one of my favorite dishes."

"Maj-boos," Carson tried to pronounce the word.

"This is one of Sadiq's favorites too," Samira added. "Is this chicken?"

"It is," Nasir confirmed.

"You say that like it could be something else," Edward observed.

"Ha!" Seth remembered only too well. "Tell them your favorite way to have it, Nasir."

"With goat," Nasir answered with a smile.

"Sadiq's too!" Samira added with amusement.

"Well," Carson nodded slowly as he considered. "I'm glad you went with chicken."

"Me too," Edward added.

"But now I'm a little worried about what this is," Carson picked his kibbeh apart with his fork.

"You do not like goat?" Nasir worked hard not to laugh at the look on his brother-in-law's face.

"Ha!" Seth made no such attempt. "It's lamb!"

"Oh, you guys got jokes," Carson nodded as he lifted his napkin from his lap to wipe his mouth. "Okay, so who's going first? I'm perfectly willing to get us started," he picked up his beer bottle and knife.

"I'm going first!" Seth declared.

"Are we all giving a toast?" Edward asked.

"I know I am," Carson assured. "There is no way my brother is getting married without a few words from me."

"Do not embarrass me," Emmett commanded.

"Who, me?" Carson asked with a smirk.

Seth stood up and picked up his own knife. He tapped on his beer bottle where it sat on the table. "Everyone," Seth called, "could I have your attention?"

And the answer, everyone at the head table immediately discovered, was no. Only those closest heard him at all. Carson stood up, held his beer bottle by the neck, and banged on it with his knife as he slowly turned in each direction. This gained everyone's attention quickly and an expectant hush fell over the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Seth Clearwater," Carson announced and sat back down.

"Well, thank you for the introduction, Carson," Seth knelt on his chair and picked up his beer bottle. "Good evening, everyone. I hope you are all enjoying your dinner of German and Arabic cuisine. Several of us would like to make a toast, so I'll be brief. I just wanted to say a few words about this big guy," he put his hand on Emmett's shoulder. "Emmett has been my big brother and my best friend, almost from the day I left my rez and came into the big scary world. He likes to say I'm his little brother from another mother, and I am, Emmy. Though," Seth flipped his hair dramatically, "I'm older. He's a great, giant teddy bear, our Emmy, but he can be a grizzly when he needs to be too. You'll never find a guy more ready to help his family and loved ones. On our ski vacation he helped me fly off of my snowmobile and into a snow bank!" Seth delivered his punch line. This was met with the expected wave of laughter across the room.

"I wasn't driving that snowmobile!" Emmett protested with raised hands.

"You were in the lead and you took that corner way too fast, and you know it," Seth countered and poked Emmett in the shoulder. "Anyway, I remember the day he called me from Vegas and told me he met this smart, sweet, hot Arab. And then Emmy came home from that trip and told me how hard he was falling for Mr. Sexy Arab."

"Did you, Habibi?" Nasir took Emmett's hand again.

"I did say that," Emmett confirmed with a nod and a smile.

"I was somewhat skeptical. I reminded Emmett that the last prince he kissed, turned into a frog!" Seth worked his audience. "But," he continued when the laughter died down again, "this prince really was a prince. And he still is. And today Emmy married him. Nasir, you're part of the family. You have been for a long time. You're both my brothers. I love you guys with all my heart and hope many, many long happy years for you," Seth finished his toast and raised his beer bottle. The reception collectively raised their glasses and a chorus of 'hear, hear' rang out. Emmett was up out of his seat in a flash and grabbed Seth in a crushing embrace. Nasir was right behind. He stepped around to the other side of Seth's chair so that he and Emmett could hug Seth between them. Neither of them bothered with their shoes.

"Okay, best man mark two," Carson held up two fingers as he choreographed the toasts from his seat.

"I too would very much like to say a few words," Garrett rose with the poise and elegance only he could muster to address the room, martini in hand. "I am Garrett Thompson, and I have the distinct honor of being Nasir's best man. I remember well the day Emmett brought Nasir to meet us over drinks, when my own relationship with the man who became my husband was still young. I took an immediate liking to Nasir. Of course, everyone does. I had no way of knowing that day, that I had just met my best friend. I also did not know that day, how much trouble he would get me into."

Seth, Emmett and Nasir all snickered at this as they returned to their own seats.

"I have been pulled into schemes that have spanned from the Arabian Desert, to the snow capped peaks of the Colorado Rockies," Garrett elaborated. "And, my friend, I would do it all with you again," he smiled at Nasir. "Seth is right, Nasir, you are a part of the family, every bit as much as Emmett. I told you the day I met you, that Seth and Emmett are a package deal. Well, the truth is now, and has been for some time, that we all are."

"Yes," Seth grasped Emmett's hand on his left and Garrett's free hand where his husband stood on his right. "Yes we are."

"I am reminded of something a wise man once told me," Garrett continued. "And that is, that success in marriage comes not only from finding the right mate, but in being the right mate. You two are a great success. I join my husband in wishing for you many long and happy years together," he finally raised his glass. All the guests joined him in his toast just as they had with Seth.

"C'mere, Garrett," Emmett was up out of his chair again. Garrett set his martini down as he saw Emmett coming and turned into the bigger man's strong embrace. Nasir once again quickly joined the hug.

"We love you so much, Garrett," Nasir spoke softly into Garrett's ear.

"Yes we do," Emmett echoed.

"Okay, give the man some air," Carson urged. "Edward, anything you would like to say?"

"We're all giving a toast, right?" Edward asked to confirm.

"I sure as hell am," Carson stated.

"I would like to say something as well," Edward stood up with his beer bottle as Emmett, Nasir and Garrett all sat back down. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Edward Cullen," he addressed the room. "I've known Emmett since college and he has been a really great friend to me over the years. I literally owe him my life. You can always count on Emmett for the biggest, warmest hug you ever got, exactly when you need it. I remember the day Emmett brought Nasir over for dinner. I could tell right away that Nasir was a good guy and, even more imporantly, that he was good for Emmett. Nasir and I became fast friends. I think when I was away on assignment for six months I emailed more with him than anyone else," Edward turned to the smiling grooms. "I knew it the day I saw you two together for the first time, and more so every day since then. You guys are exactly right for each other. I count myself very lucky to have you both in my life. I love you guys. I wish you happy togetherness in long, fulfilling lives," he raised his bottle and took a drink. Once again the room drank with him and once again the grooms were up out of their chairs. Edward saw them getting up and immediately walked toward them. He wanted and relished the tight, heartfelt hug Emmett and Nasir both gave him at once.

"We love you too, Eddie," Emmett expressed. "You and Jasper both."

"Yes," Nasir agreed with a kiss to Edward's temple.

"Thanks, guys. Don't get me choked up now," Edward warned as he pulled away.

"Okay, save the straight guy for last. I see how it is," Carson stood up with his beer bottle as Emmett, Nasir and Edward pulled apart to sit back down. "Hello again, everyone. I'm Carson McCarty. As you can see, the younger, cuter McCarty."

In his seat Emmett just dropped his head and slowly shook it.

"It is not true, Habibi," Nasir took Emmett's hand again.

"I know that. He's just an ass," Emmett sighed with resignation.

"My big brother has me at somewhat of a disadvantage," Carson forged ahead. "I don't have any stories about him sticking a cheeto up his nose, like he was so kind enough to share about me when I got married."

"Ha!" no one laughed louder than Seth. "Emmy, you didn't!"

"I did," Emmett laughed as he nodded.

"I could tell everyone about the time mom caught Em with his lacrosse teammate, Jack, downstairs," Carson paused for effect. "Naw, I probably shouldn't tell that story," he gave his brother a grin. "I'll just tell this story: Em confided in me one day, well over a year ago, that he was in love, and that he had never been happier. Then he brought his guy home for Christmas. It was really nice seeing Em and Nasir together. Mom, of course, put them both to work right away. They put up the tree. It was really fun to watch my brother-in-law discover Christmas. We indoctrinated him, McCarty style. We took the snowmobiles out that day, and damn near froze the guy from the desert to death. But the best thing about that Christmas was seeing my brother really in love, and happier than I had ever known him. My brother has a lot of love to give. Nasir, thank you for coming all this way from, the place I can never remember, to find Emmett. Guys, if I have any advice to give, it would be this: The most important thing I have learned as a married man is: when you're wrong, admit it, and when you're right, shut up. And it's an old cliché, but it's true, I didn't lose a brother, I gained one. One that looks at me a little funny in the steam room, but that's okay," Carson could not help himself and the room burst into laughter yet again.

"Seriously though, we love you guys. When Sonja and I are great gandparents, you guys better be there, old and grey with us. Emmett and Nasir," Carson raised his bottle. "Prost!" he took a swig. The crowd raised their glasses with him for the fourth and final time. Emmett was sitting directly across from Carson. He stood and started around the table. He just had to give his little brother another hug. Carson saw his brother coming and made a game of it by heading the other way, keeping the table between them.

"You," Emmett pointed his command, "come here."

Carson laughed and looked over his shoulder as he evaded Emmett. He didn't count on teamwork. Carson ran right into Nasir's arms and was immediately enfolded in the flowing black bisht. Emmett quickly closed and wrapped his arms around both men, sandwiching Carson between them.

"I promise not to look at you funny in the steam room ever again," Nasir promised the straight man in his embrace.

"Nasir, I was just playin'. You didn't look at me funny," Carson assured. "Or if you did, I didn't see it!"

"I did," Nasir admitted, "but I promise to limit those looks to the shower only."

"Okay," Carson laughed. "It's a deal, Bro," he patted Nasir's back.

"Car, you're such a pain in my ass, but I love you anyway," Emmett expressed from behind.

"Oh, I love you guys, too," Carson spoke in a faux reluctant tone. "Now let go'a me!"

All three men pulled apart with claps to the back and headed for their seats.

"You are surrounded by such love, Nasir," Samira put her hand on his arm. "It is beautiful to see. You have wonderful friends."

"They are more than friends. These people are my family," Nasir countered. "All of them and you," he patted her hand.

"They are," Emmett agreed. He reached over and grabbed Seth.

"Yah!" Seth cried out in surprise when Emmett gripped the back of his neck and pulled him close. Emmett kissed Seth on the top of his head and let him go.

"Quit manhandling me, Mary!" Seth commanded.

"Samira," Emmett ignored Seth, "tell us what happened. I was with Nasi when he tried to call you after your brother stopped by, but Sadiq wouldn't let him talk to you."

"No," Samira put her hands in her lap. "Sadiq was very angry. I have never seen him so angry. He was angry for a long time."

"Samira, please tell me that he did not hit you," Nasir begged.

"No, Sadiq would never do that," Samira shook her head.

"Al hamdu lillah," Nasir closed his eyes and put his hands together.

"How did you get him to agree to let you come to the wedding?" Emmett asked. "You said he's here in Seattle with you, at the hotel."

"Yes," Samira nodded. "As I said, he was angry for a long time. And while he originally blamed you, you are not the one who hit me."

"Someone did hit you?" Carson was horrified by that prospect.

"Our father hit me with the back of his hand," Samira looked down. "I had a bruise on my face, here," she touched the right side of her face, "for two weeks."

"Jesus!" Carson without thinking put his arms around his wife and leaned toward her as he pulled her close. "Jesus," he looked down at the gentle, beautiful, precious woman in his arms who, along with his son, were his whole world. He was struck in that moment by, compared to him, just how fragile she was. And he would rather die than harm her. As a firefighter, Carson was dedicated to saving lives, but the thought of anyone hurting his wife or child made him certain he would be capable of murder.

The exact same thoughts went through Garrett's mind. He shuddered that the memory of coming face to face with Jared in Pine Ridge. Garrett took Seth's hand and held it tightly.

Emotions flooded through Edward where he sat on the other side of Carson. He knew better than anyone the damage that could be done to a person when they suffered physical abuse at the hands of a supposed loved one. He did not even realize that his hands curled into fists on the table. Edward lowered his head and closed his eyes. He had to force himself to keep his breathing even. If Jasper were here right now, he would hold him and never let him go.

"Samira," Sonja reached out from within her husband's loving and protective arms to put her hand on the other woman's arm, "you know that no one should ever have to endure that."

"I do know that, Sonja, thank you," Samira smiled. "Unfortunately, that is not quite the reality where my brother and I come from."

"I do not like Arab men," Nasir shook his head.

"Sadiq is not like that, Nasir," Samira pointed out. "You are not like that."

"And monstrous behavior like that is not at all limited to Arab men, Nasir," Edward tried hard to not speak through gritted teeth, but made no attempt to uncurl his fists.

"You should have called the police!" Carson was still beside himself. "Where did this happen?"

"In our father's home in Sharjah. Father and Kasim were both shouting at me, and each other. I don't remember half of what they said," Samira relayed. "When Kasim took me home to London, to my husband, Sadiq was horrified and very angry. He was angry at me for helping you and going with you. He was angry at you for taking me, and at Emmett, and for you two just basically being gay. But mostly he was angry at father for striking me."

"As fucking well he should be," Carson continued to hold his wife.

"Sadiq would not let me leave the house for those two weeks. I'm sure you know, he had my mobile shut off. Oh, I have a new number now," Samira reached down for her purse and pulled out her cell which she promptly handed over to her brother.

"Call my phone too, Babe," Emmett bid.

"I will," Nasir agreed with a quick nod.

"I'm so glad you got the invitation after all. We couldn't decide for the longest time if we should send it to you or not," Emmett revealed.

"We so wanted you to come, but we did not want to anger Sadiq," Nasir explained.

"I did get your invitation, but not the one you sent," Samira stated.

"Oh, that's right. Greg said Luna went to see you," Emmett remembered.

"She did," Samira confirmed. "A very nice, very blonde woman came by the house. She said she was from the Council ladies' committee and wanted to speak to the lady of the house. We sat down to coffee and were left alone. Luna gave me your invitation. I worked on Sadiq slowly. I asked him to imagine what it must be like for you. I told him that you were afraid all your life, until you met Emmett."

"That is true," Nasir confessed.

"I reminded him that you only asked for help because you needed help, and I was the only one you could turn to," Samira continued. "I told him that I wanted to do anything that I could because you are my brother and I love you. I apologized to him for lying to him. I told him that I only did it to protect you, that you were afraid he would not understand. I reminded him that my gay abomination of a brother was in actuality kind and gentle, and would never hurt anyone. The role model of a sheikh and head of the family, that everyone looks to for leadership, is the one who struck a woman, his daughter and Sadiq's wife. I think in the end Sadiq understands that you did the only thing you could. He may even forgive you, but he will not forgive father," Samira took a sip of the cranberry juice that Juan brought her earlier and sat beside her neglected glass of wine. Nasir finished programming the phone numbers in his phone and Samira's, and handed his sister's back to her.

"Still, Samira, I'm so sorry we brought this on you," Emmett said as he put his own cell away.

"I agree. I wish I had not involved you. I should have told father to go to hell," Nasir shook his head.

"Please do not blame yourselves," Samira put her hand on Nasir's. "It is not the first time father has hit me. I know he has hit you too."

"When I was younger," Nasir admitted. "With his camel stick."

"But he has hit me for the last time," Samira stressed. "Sadiq has spent quite a bit of time at the gym with a trainer. You should see how muscular he is now. He is not quite like you, Emmett, but he is big. I like it," she confessed with a smile.

"I like it too," Nasir gave his big, strong husband a smile. Then he turned back to his sister. "But why is he doing that?"

"I have not seen or talked to any of our family until this week. Father and mother have determined that Rania is sufficiently integrated into the family. They all relocated to the Beverly Hills house a week ago. The weather is much nicer there this time of year," Samira explained. "Sadiq admitted to me that you sent us an invitation, but he threw it away. Then just a few days ago, we got some happy news. I would not share this with everyone so soon, but I wanted to tell you," she looked at her brother with an almost shy smile. "I am pregnant."

"Samira! Are you?" Nasir grabbed his sister's arm and looked at her excitedly. He pulled her into a hug.

"That's wonderful, Samira!" Emmett enthused.

"Congratulations, Samira," Garrett offered.

"We're gonna be uncles again!" Seth sing-songed and clapped.

"You're gonna make a beautiful mother," Carson complimented.

"Motherhood is at the same time the most challenging and most rewarding thing you will ever do," Sonja advised.

"Thank you all very much. Sadiq and I are very excited," Samira smiled at everyone.

"Did you tell the family?" Nasir asked.

"Yes," Samira nodded. "That is what I was going to tell you. Sadiq decided, as we had this news, and we wanted to tell everyone in person, and my relatives are all here in the States right now, that we would come now. We just flew up from California this morning. We were with them for five days. And he agreed that we could stop here before we went back to London, so I could see you."

"Oh, Samira, I am so grateful to you both," Nasir expressed.

"You would have been very proud of Sadiq, Nasir. He stood up to father and Kasim like he never had before. All his work in the gym was in preparation for this. He said he knew this day would come," Samira informed. "As soon as we got there, he took father and Kasim outside by the pool. Father was all smiles like nothing had happened. You know how he is."

"I do," Nasir nodded.

"He told father and Kasim that he had decided to cut off all contact with them and that he desired to never see them again as long as they lived," Samira relayed. "He did this quite loudly. We could easily hear him in the house. Father and Kasim both protested, but Sadiq shouted in their faces to shut up and listen."

"Good for him," Emmett nodded his approval. "That's what I should've done."

"He told them that he changed his mind only in the last few days, because we learned that I am with child," Samira continued. "Father was then overjoyed and wanted to find me, but again Sadiq shouted at him to listen. Sadiq said that only because I would need and want my mother in the days to come, was the reason that we are here together now. He told father and Kasim that they would never again be welcome in our home, and that I would never again see the men of my family unless it is in his presence, except for you, obviously," she put her hand on Nasir's arm. "Then the best part was when he told both father and Kasim, we watched from inside, Sadiq got right in their faces and told them that the next man who lays a hand on his wife, takes his life in his hands. Then he put his finger right in father's face and added, no matter who it is."

"What did Kasim do?" Nasir knew their elder sibling well enough to know he would not take a threat like that well.

"He reacted just as you might expect," Samira confirmed. "He shoved Sadiq and said something about him thinking he is a big man to come and make threats. Sadiq shoved him back and told Kasim that he was more than ready to beat him all the way around the pool and back, and took off his shirt. Father told Kasim to not make it worse and told Sadiq to put his shirt back on. Sadiq and Kasim glared at each other for a few minutes, until father threatened to slap Kasim. He said the news of a child is a joyous occasion and he wanted peace in his home."

"Now he wants peace in his home," Nasir was incredulous.

"They all came inside then. Father gave me a hug, and Kasim completely ignored me, which was perfectly fine with me," Samira finished.

"Father hugged you?" Nasir asked. Edward alone at that table could well imagine how that might sound surprising.

"He did," Samira repeated. "He hugged me the day I got married too. Father has hugged me twice in my life."

"That is two times more than me," Nasir commented.

"Gee, you're dad sounds like a swell guy," Carson was sarcastic.

"He is that," Nasir replied in kind.

"Mother, of course, is thrilled," Samira picked back up. "Sadiq made good on his promise too. I was hardly out of his sight this whole trip, until he dropped me off here this evening."

"I like your husband already," Emmett rapped the table.

"Too right," Carson agreed.

"Sadiq is a good man," Nasir agreed with a nod. "I would like to see him."

"He refuses to see you," Samira shook her head with resignation. "I asked him again and again to come with me, or, if not that, for us to receive you while we are here. You and Emmett, or just you at the very least, but he will not. Sadiq said that he brought me here because he loves me and I asked him, and he knew it would make me happy. He was very sweet. He said that I am his wife and the mother of his unborn child, and that he wants to have many children with me. He also said that while he understands that you are the way you are, he does not agree with it and does not want to see you. Please forgive him, Nasir. He might say that he understands, but he does not really."

"I do forgive him, Samira. It is unfortunate, that is all," Nasir shook his head. "The only thing that really matters is that you are loved and safe and cared for."

"Yes," Emmett agreed.

"I am. Never be afraid of that," Samira assured.

"Now I have your number, is it all right if I call you?" Nasir asked.

"I asked Sadiq that on the way over here from the hotel this evening and he agreed," Samira smiled.

"You don't need anyone's permission to talk to whomever you want," Sonja stressed.

"Sonja, you're not allowed to talk to Seth anymore," Carson dictated with a faux stern voice and his fist on the table.

"Bite me, Carson," Sonja retorted. "See?" she asked Samira with a smile.

"Oh, you don't think I'd like to bite you, Honey?" Carson ran his hand up her thigh. "I'm gonna give you little bites all over when we get back to our hotel room. I'll teach you to talk back to me," he teased.

"Okay, down boy," Sonja chuckled.

"There was one odd thing, when we saw the family," Samira mused aloud. "Kasim would not talk about it, even with Sadiq privately, but his nose looked different. It was wider somehow, like along the bridge of his nose. Strange."

"Sounds like it was broken," Carson offered. He had no idea, but was about to find out.

"It does, Carson," Seth agreed. "It sounds just like it was broken. Do you know how that might have happened, Emmy?"

"I resorted to violence when I didn't really need to," Emmett shook his head. "I'm not at all proud of that moment in my life."

"You broke Kasim's nose!" Samira could not imagine it.

"I am proud for you, Habibi," Nasir took put his hand on Emmett's thigh. "Emmett was defending me, Samira. When Kasim showed up at our home, I was so afraid. Emmett let him in when I knew we should not."

"In hindsight, I should have listened to you," Emmett gave a sigh. "I just wanted for you to be able to have the kind of relationship with your family that I have with mine. I thought that maybe, somehow, your brother and I could, if not like each other, at least get along. My family, I mean our family, loves you."

"It's true. We do. Especially me," Carson gave a grin.

"I just never dreamed Kasim could be so full of venom and hate," Emmett ignored his brother. "I've never seen anything remotely like it. He kept talking about how much he would rather see Nasi, his own brother, his little brother, dead, than to take him back to the Emirates. He even threatened that he would do exactly that when he got Nasi back," he gave a visible shudder. "I can't even begin to imagine what life must be like for his wife!"

"Rania is not a particularly happy woman. I can tell you that," Samira stated and no one doubted her one bit.

Two tables away, the men separated from the women, and the women were just fine with that. Roberto, Justin and Roger sat in a row. Leah sat beside her man and Melinda just naturally sat beside her. Yvonne took the seat next to Melinda, Maggie sat beside her, and finally Rosalie sat beside Roger.

"Maggie, the next time you play one of these events, you have to let us know," Yvonne expressed her admiration. "You play so beautifully."

"Thank you, Yvonne," Maggie smiled.

"First Thursday wouldn't be First Thursday without her," Melinda added.

"I meant to ask you if you were going to have that cowboy guitar player back again," Leah posed.

"Oh, yes. I would love to have him back," Melinda stated. "He just finally emailed me so I could send him a check for the first time."

"Did he play the showhouse for Dorothea?" Leah asked further.

"He did," Melinda answered with a nod. "Dorothea said everyone loved him."

"Here we are," Sabrina arrived with a drink laden tray from the bar. "Pino grigio," she served Rosalie first.

"Thank you," Rosalie did not bother to look up and so did not see the especially attentive smile Sabrina had for her.

But Maggie did. Maggie carefully watched Sabrina serve the full drink order to everyone else at the table, finishing with the guy's beers.

"There we are," Sabrina finished with Roger. "Anyone need anything else right now?"

"I think we're good, thanks," Justin was oblivious, but polite.

Maggie watched Sabrina's eyes dart back to her beautiful blonde wife over and over again and narrowed her own.

"Okay, I'll be back," Sabrina moved on to the next table with a final smile over her shoulder for Rosalie, who continued to pay her no attention at all.

"If that girl doesn't put her eyes back in her head...," Maggie began. This caught Rosalie's attention immediately. She knew the sound of agitation in her partner's voice.

"Who?" Rosalie looked around and realized it must have been the waitress. "Hey," she took Maggie's hand. "Don't stress, Freckles. I am the happiest woman on the Earth. You know why? Because I get to come home to you. Pay her no attention. I don't."

"Okay, Rosie. Thank you," Maggie smiled at her spouse. "I know I'm being silly."

"You're not being silly at all. I would feel the same way," Rosalie gave Maggie a smile and a gentle squeeze to her hand before she let go so they could both continue eating.

Leah, on the opposite side of the big, round table from Rosalie, could not help but notice that her dearest female friend ordered another iced tea for herself. "My maske isn't drinking tonight," she observed quietly to Melinda, using the Lakota word used by women for very close women friends.

"Justin is drinking," Melinda answered. "I'll be driving us home tonight."

Leah narrowed her eyes. She was a Clearwater after all, and didn't buy that for a second. "You haven't even had one glass of wine and we won't be leaving for hours. What aren't you telling me?"

"Okay," Melinda squeezed the lemon wedge on the rim of her glass into it before she dropped the whole thing into her iced tea. "I don't know anything yet," she took a sip of her tea.

"But?" Leah prompted.

"You know that Justin and I are trying to get pregnant again," Melinda answered.

"I do know that," Leah's eyes went wide. "Are you?" she grabbed Melinda's arm.

"Well, now, I'm just not sure really," Melinda admitted.

"Did you get a test?" Leah pressed.

"Girl, are you pregnant?" Yvonne caught Leah's question.

"I might be," Melinda nodded. "Do you remember last First Thursday, a month ago?"

"I wasn't there," Yvonne shook her head.

"I was. What about it?" Leah asked.

"Justin and I more or less decided that night, that we were ready to have another baby. I think I told you, we had a little interlude in my office that night," Melinda smiled.

"Did you? You go, girl," Yvonne endorsed with an elbow nudge.

"You did tell me that. I remember," Leah confirmed.

"Well, it might have worked right then," Melinda speculated.

"What do you mean, might?" Yvonne asked.

"I haven't started fertility tracking or anything yet. I mean, we only just started trying," Melinda explained.

"Did someone say something about fertility?" Maggie asked. And just like that, all the women at the table were in the conversation. The men, currently on college football, paid them no attention.

"Melinda might be pregnant," Yvonne answered Maggie's question.

"Oh, right. How's that going? Are you?" Maggie asked.

"I was just saying, I'm not entirely sure," Melinda answered. "I was going to wait until I missed my period to pick up a test, and then I had my period, but it wasn't normal at all. It was a little early, short and much lighter."

"Implantation bleeding maybe? Freckles had that," Rosalie stated.

"Oh, I heard about that," Yvonne nodded.

"I haven't," Leah furrowed her brow.

"I had it when we conceived Stephanie too," Melinda informed. "I just figured I would wait and see, and act pregnant in the meantime," she held up her iced tea.

"Did you miss your regular period? I mean, when it would have been?" Maggie asked.

"I did, yes," Melinda confirmed.

"Well, now we need to know," Rosalie took charge. She reached for her purse and stood up. "I'll be right back," Rosalie dropped her napkin on her chair and walked away.

Rosalie strode out of the drawing room, through the great hall, and descended the four steps into the vestibule. Finding it deserted, she opened the front door of the mansion. Matt and Tim were both sitting on the front steps of Stimson-Green and stood up when the door opened behind them.

"Hey, guys," Rosalie stepped out and reached into her purse.

"Do you need your car, Ma'am?" Matt asked.

"No. I got a job for one of you," Rosalie proposed. "Is there a drug store around here?"

"Yeah, on the corner of Cherry," Tim pointed. "Five blocks down."

"Okay, good. Take my minivan and run down there for me," Rosalie revealed her purpose. "I need you to pick up a Clearblue Easy digital pregnancy test."

"A pregnancy test?" Tim looked at Matt.

"You got it, or do you need me to write that down for you?" Rosalie asked.

"No. I can remember that," Tim assured.

"Okay, good," Rosalie extracted a single bill and a business card from her purse. "Here's a hundred. Be quick and keep the change. And here's my card. Call or text my cell when you get back."

"Yes, Ma'am!" Tim enthused as he examined the cash and card in his hand.

"Good boy," Rosalie turned and headed back into the mansion.

"Which car was hers?" Matt asked.

"I don't know. Gimme the keys to that Vette!" Tim's eyes lit up.

Rosalie strode with her usual commanding confidence, beautiful in her white pants suit, right back into the drawing room and directly to her seat. She picked up her napkin and sat down, replacing her purse under her chair.

"What did you do, Rosie?" Maggie watched Rosalie place her cell on the table between them.

"Suffice it to say, a solution will present itself momentarily," Rosalie smiled.

"I can't believe Hasselbeck is out, man," Roberto confessed, now that he and the other oblivious men had moved on to professional football. "He's been the man for ten fucking years!"

"He has," Roger agreed. "Keep your eye on Tarvaris Jackson, though. He started in twenty games in Minnesota. I think we're all gonna be real happy with that boy."

"I think Pete Carroll knows what he's doing," Justin nodded. "Hey, Roge, superbowl party at my place this year. Rob, tell your partner not to forget."

"I'm happy to host it at my place," Roberto tried yet again.

"Nope," Justin shook his head. "Big screen downstairs just waiting, my man. Whadaya say, Roge?"

"I host a superbowl party every year myself," Roger informed. "Bunch of my rangers come by. It's a blast. You guys should come to my place."

"Does Edward come?" Justin asked.

"He never has. He always volunteers to work that day, to cover for anyone who otherwise couldn't get the day off," Roger answered.

"That's nice of him," Roberto nodded.

"He's a good guy," Justin agreed. "Hey, you guys wanna go to a game? We can park at my wife's gallery."

"Oh, yeah. Qwest is just a couple of blocks!" Roberto remembered.

"There's a home game against the Atlanta Falcons later this month. That should be a good game," Justin suggested.

"That sounds like a plan, Justin," Roberto agreed.

"It's not easy for me to get weekends off right now," Roger pointed out.

"I thought you were in charge up there," Justin countered.

"I am in charge up there, but weekends on my mountain are the busiest time," Roger explained.

"Well, what good is being in charge if you can't take a football game off?" Justin gave him a hard time. "I mean, it's a football game, man, damn it!"

None of these three, deep in the midst of their conversation about nothing, noticed Seth rush up to the table.

"Maggie, Maggie," Seth swooped up between Rosalie and Maggie.

"Is it time?" Maggie asked.

"It is," Seth confirmed. Maggie took a quick sip of her wine as she rose to join Seth.

"Blow 'em away, Freckles," Rosalie grabbed her wife's arm before she could depart. She tilted her head back to look up at Maggie, making it clear what she wanted. Maggie smiled and was only too happy to give her partner a kiss on her lips.

"Thanks, Rosie," Maggie patted her wife's shoulder and headed off with Seth. Seth led the way across the small dance floor to where, in a startling juxtaposition of old and new, the DJ was set up at a table next to an eighteenth century, French harpsichord.

"Tony," Seth called as he and Maggie approached. The DJ was a tall, well built man with dark, Italian good looks, who perched on a stool behind his equipment.

"Hey, Seth," Tony picked up his long island iced tea and took a sip through his straw.

"Tony, I don't think you've met Maggie," Seth began.

"No. Hi, Maggie," Tony gave a warm smile.

"Hello," Maggie smiled back.

"It's time for the first dance," Seth orchestrated.

"Ah," Tony remembered his instructions. "You want me to make the announcement?"

"Right. Then Maggie will take over," Seth confirmed.

"You got it," Tony agreed.

"Do you have everything you need, Maggie?" Seth asked as he walked with Maggie the few steps to the harpsichord.

"I'm good, Seth, thanks," Maggie made herself comfortable on the bench before the classic and ornate, antique instrument.

"Okay," Seth wrapped his arms around her from behind and leaned over one shoulder. "I can't wait to hear it. I know it's gonna be beautiful!" he gave her a kiss on her cheek and dashed away. Maggie took a deep breath. She had only played one of these once before, and had enjoyed it, but it was not quite the same as her beloved piano. She placed her fingers on the keys and squared her shoulders as she prepared herself.

"Say when you're ready, Maggie," Tony called.

"Anytime you are," Maggie answered.

Rosalie picked up her cell when a text came in and discovered it was the one she had been eagerly anticipating. "The package is here, girls," she stated and rose from her chair.

"I'll be right back, Papi," Leah leaned toward Roberto and gave him a kiss on his cheek. And just like that, the ladies intruded into man's land. All three men suddenly became aware of their ladies and what they were doing.

"Okay, Momi," Roberto smiled at Leah as the four remaining women grabbed their purses and headed off with Rosalie in the lead. Roberto, Justin and Roger watched them walk away without comment. Where the ladies were going in a group, they didn't want to know.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the first dance," the DJ's dulcet tones came over his speakers. "Emmett and Nasir, the dance floor is yours."

"That guy sounds so familiar," Roberto observed.

"You've probably heard him on the radio," Justin informed. "That's DJ Tony D. Another one of Seth's gay buddies. He played at Garrett and Seth's reception too."

"DJ Tony D?" Roberto furrowed his brow.

"Never heard of him," Roger shook his head.

"He's from C89's drive at five. I listen to his afternoon show and traffic reports just about every day! I didn't know that guy is gay," Roberto tried to see around Justin to where the DJ was set up.

Seth returned to the head table as the DJ made the announcement the ringleader had just instructed him to make. "Yay! Newlywed's first dance," Seth clapped his hands as he took his seat. "Remember ours, Honey?" he leaned toward Garrett with big, dreamy eyes.

"I cherish the memory, Sweetness," Garrett pulled Seth closer and gave him a soft and loving kiss on his lips.

Emmett and Nasir smiled at each other. As nervous, for no good reason, as they had both been before their ceremony, they were fully at ease now. Both grooms set their napkins on the table and paused before they rose.

"Ha! They need to put their shoes on!" Seth laughed at them.

"Of course we do," Nasir confirmed.

"I think everyone knows that about us by now," Emmett added with a grin as he and his husband rose. He took Nasir's hand and with a big, dimpled smile, led his man out to the dance floor. And just then, Maggie began to play. Emmett laughed as he recognized the melody after only a few notes.

"What is it, Habibi?" Nasir asked.

"It's Edelweiss," Emmett smiled as they reached the center of the dance floor. Emmett stopped and, still holding Nasir's hand, turned to face his husband.

Seth needed a boost to see them properly and had the choice of standing, or sitting on Garrett's lap. He naturally chose the latter and Garrett could not have been more pleased.

"It's their first dance ever, Honey!" Seth wrapped his arms around Garrett's neck.

"I know, Sweetness," Garrett acknowledged.

"You did a wonderful thing for them," Seth expressed.

"I was happy to do it," Garrett smiled.

"What did you do?" Edward asked.

"They've never danced together," Garrett began.

"So Garrett taught them," Seth added.

"Emmett just needed some practice," Garrett clarified. "Nasir has never danced like this before with anyone. He needed to be taught. I had thought to recruit you into the effort. You're taller than I am, and would have made a better dance partner, but it turned out you had better things to do this week," he smiled at Edward.

"Edward had things to do all right. First on that list being Jasper," Seth teased with a smirk.

"All my lists start and end with Jasper," Edward assured. "Though, I would have loved to help."

"Why didn't Em teach him?" Carson asked. "They could have practiced together."

"Because they wanted this," Garrett gestured with his chin as his arms were busy holding Seth, "to be their first dance."

On the dance floor Emmett and Nasir slowly came together. Emmett put his arm over Nasir's shoulder as he was taller and leading. The bisht would have made the opposite difficult anyway. Nasir put his hand on Emmett's back and gazed into his husband's crystal blues as they began to dance. Emmett likewise looked into his lover's soft brown eyes and smiled with his whole being.

"This is so wonderful, Habibi. I mean, Zawji," Nasir expressed.

"I know. It is," Emmett agreed as they moved slowly together. "But I hope you'll keep calling me habibi. I like it."

"I will then. I like it too," Nasir smiled. "This day has been so beyond my imagining."

"Our day," Emmett gently corrected.

"Yes, our day," Nasir agreed. "I am so happy, Habibi. I did not think this could ever happen. That this, my wedding, could be so wonderful, that I could be so happy. All my life I thought that my wedding day would be the worst day of my life. Now, here it is, just the opposite. I keep thinking that it is too good to be true. Any moment now I am going to wake up in bed next to my wife."

"Nope," Emmett chuckled. "The only one you are going to wake up next to in bed is me, for the rest of our lives," he leaned in and gave Nasir a soft kiss on his lips. "Except, I suppose, for Garrett occasionally."

"I love Garrett. He is the brother that I should have had, but I would rather be beside you," Nasir expressed. "You gave me Garrett too. Every good thing in my life is because of you."

"Not Samira," Emmett pointed out.

"Except Samira," Nasir conceded.

"I love you so much, Nasi," Emmett moved his hand to the back of Nasir's neck atop the ghutra. "My husband."

"I love you, my Emmett," Nasir raised a hand to Emmett's face. "My big, beautiful husband."

The officiant of the wedding was missing the first dance, not to mention the breathtaking notes of her wife on the harpsichord. Rosalie, Melinda, Leah and Yvonne stood in the ladies' room watching the small electronic device in Melinda's hand. For what seemed in the ladies' room an eternity, the little hourglass symbol blinked and danced, until, finally, it gave a beep and the display changed to a single word. Leah, Rosalie and Yvonne all shrieked and threw their arms around Melinda. She could not suppress her smile as she hugged each one of them. And suddenly, she was crying.

"Thank you so much, girls. I'm just so happy," Melinda gratefully accepted the tissue Rosalie handed her. She dabbed at her eyes. "Goddamn it. I'm gonna fuck up my makeup," Melinda took a deep breath and fanned herself for a moment.

"You okay?" Leah asked as she rubbed Melinda's back.

"I'm fine, Leah. I've never been better," Melinda took and squeezed Leah's hand.

"We are so happy for you," Rosalie expressed. "Make us another beautiful, little princess."

"We were actually hoping for a boy this time," Melinda stated.

"Make us another handsome little stud then," Leah bid. "We can't have too many of those around."

"I don't know about that, girl," Yvonne warned. "I've only got the one. I don't know how wonder woman here handles two of 'em," she cocked a thumb at Rosalie.

"Because no man is gonna get the better of me. I don't care what size he is," Rosalie boasted.

"I'll remind you that you said that when our sons start driving," Yvonne promised.

"And dating," Leah added.

"Okay, girls. Thanks so much," Melinda gave them each a quick hug again. "But right now I need to find Justin," she turned and headed out of the ladies' room.

"Go, Maske," Leah gave her blessing.

Adjacent to the dance floor, unobtrusive Dane took a couple of shots of Maggie playing the harpsichord. After doing so, he turned and found the DJ watching him. "Well, hello, super sexy DJ."

"Hello yourself, super sexy photographer," Tony gave Dane a confident wink.

"Okay, lets get a shot of the DJ," Dane raised his camera again. He was not about to let the DJ see the jolt of electricity that wink sent straight to his dick.

'Hold on," Tony held up a hand. He was wearing slightly worn and slightly faded jeans that fit him perfectly, and a white, ribbed tank top beneath a blue suit jacket. Tony shrugged off the jacket and set it aside. "How's this?" he gave a lopsided smirk with his scruffy face. Tony had thick black hair and eyebrows to match.

"Very nice," Dane let his eyes take in the way Tony's tight tank top conformed to well developed pecs with pert nipples and every contour of his abdomen. "Just exactly right, I would say," Dane took several shots of the DJ. "I'll save some of these for me."

"Naw. I'll let you take some special ones just for you later," Tony teased.

"If only you were single," Dane gave a sigh.

"I am," Tony revealed.

"You are? You're single?" Dane could hardly imagine an Emmett quality specimen such as this could be single. Tony just made a resigned face and gave a shrug.

"How did I not know that?" Dane shook his head. "We worked together at Seth and Garrett's wedding."

"I was single then too, but I was still hurting back then," Tony revealed. "Scotty left me at the end of April, so I wasn't real good company."

"Your partner left you?" Dane gaped. "Is he an idiot?"

"We moved here from Boston a little over three years ago. We were together five years," Tony elaborated. "He decided he liked it better back East, and left. Left his job, left the dog, left me," he gave another shrug.

"So, yeah, he's an idiot," Dane concluded. "I'm really sorry to hear that, Tony."

"I'm over it now," Tony dismissed. "Kayla still misses him. That's my, formerly our, black lab. We got her as a little puppy. She's four now. She still goes to the door to listen for him at the time he used to get home from work. It's sad to watch her do that."

"That is sad. He's a jerk!" Dane was every bit as upset, if not more so, about the dog. "You at least know what happened. You can't explain it to her. She'll never understand."

"Thanks, Dane," Tony nodded. "Nobody's ever acknowledged Kayla's pain before. That's sweet of you."

"Sure," was all Dane could think to say.

"I don't really date much. I work a lot. I normally do the Ruckus Social Sunday party at Grim's third floor on Sunday, but tomorrow I'm playing the Seattle Art Museum quarterly Remix party in Olympic Sculpture Park," Tony informed.

"Oh, I've heard of that," Dane nodded. "I've never been, though."

"I set up at eight and spin nine to midnight. You could come hang out," Tony gave an almost shy smile. "If you want."

"I'd like that," Dane agreed.

"I'll leave a ticket for you at the gate," Tony smiled and picked up his drink to take a pull through the straw. "What's your last name?"

"Hyde," Dane answered. "How about you? What's the D stand for?"

"Di Benidetto," Tony smiled. "A little ethnic, huh?"

"Well, you sure look Italian," Dane stated.

"What you see is what you get," Tony spread his muscular arms. Dane hoped he was able to keep his raw lust from showing too plainly on his face.

Just a few feet away, Maggie finished playing Edelweiss. Tony sprung into action and clicked on his microphone.

"Emmett and Nasir, ladies and gentlemen," Tony spoke over the speakers.

On the dance floor Emmett and Nasir stopped the first dance. Emmett took his husband's ghutra clad head in both hands and drew their mouths together. Like at the end of their ceremony before Rosalie, tongues touched lips, but not each other. Applause broke out and catcalls came from the table where Justin, Roberto and Roger still sat without any of their ladies.

"Now it's time for the mother-son dance," Tony continued. Emmett and Nasir took a moment to hug each other tightly before they headed off the dance floor to find their next dance partners.

"Nasi, I got an idea," Emmett was excited. "You go get mutti. I'll dance with Samira."

"That will be so nice! Yes, go get her," Nasir patted Emmett on his upper back as they split up.

Auguste and Noreen were sitting with George and Celeste Thompson, Estelle Barrett, and Miles and Sylvia Crittenton. The two great grandmothers had bonded when they first met the day before. Miles entertained the rest of them with stories from his days in the US Navy during the Korean War. They all looked up as Nasir swept regally up to the table.

"Mutti, may I have this dance?" Nasir held out his hand to his mother-in-law.

"I dance with you?" Auguste asked.

"If you will so honor me," Nasir smiled.

"Ja," Auguste put her napkin on the table. "Ja, I do. I would love to," she took his hand as she rose and allowed her son-in-law to lead her out to the dance floor.

Those seated at the head table watched Emmett walk toward them with puzzled faces.

"Samira," Emmett smiled at her, "as the sole representative of Nasi's side of the family, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"

"Oh!" Samira could not imagine such a thing. "Well, I don't know. I mean, I could try."

"Please," Emmett held out his hand. Samira rose, took Emmett's hand and walked with him out to the dance floor.

Maggie watched and when Nasir walked out with Auguste, she turned back to the harpsichord and began to play a waltz.

Garrett had been an excellent teacher and Nasir knew he was expected to lead, and how to do it. He began to dance with his mother-in-law, his bisht swirling about them both.

"I am glad you are part of mein familie," Auguste looked up at Nasir.

"Thank you, Mutti. I am too," Nasir agreed.

"I have three sons now," Auguste smiled. "I have three sons since last Christmas," she corrected herself. "Und you have a mutter who loves you und will always be here if you need her."

"Shukran, Mutti," Nasir mixed Arabic and German as he bent to kiss her cheek.

Nearby Emmett took the lead with Samira. She was a little nervous and looked it.

"You're a great dancer, Samira," Emmett tried to put her at ease.

"Am I? I don't know how I could be," Samira doubted herself. "I have only danced like this once before, with Sadiq. One of his older colleagues had a twenty fifth wedding anniversary party. We both enjoyed dancing together very much. Dancing like this would be unimaginable in the Emirates, even with my husband. I hope Sadiq will not mind me doing it here."

"Why would he? I'm not a strange man," Emmett reasoned through what he knew of her and his husband's native culture. "I'm one of the men in your family. I'm your brother now too. And besides that, I'm gay. You couldn't be in safer hands."

"I know that," Samira smiled. "In truth, Sadiq probably agreed to turn me loose here tonight because he thought every man here would be gay. I'm sure it never entered his mind that your own brother would be here accepting you and supporting you, among so many others."

"My brother is a good guy, but don't tell him I said that," Emmett smirked.

"I like his wife too," Samira added. "It is natural for me to bond with other women. That is how I was raised."

Roberto, Justin and Roger were still deep in their meaningless conversation at their table and had moved on to another professional sport.

"You guys have to come up to Vancouver with me to a Canucks game sometime," Justin suggested.

"Canucks? That's hockey," Roberto stated the obvious.

"Yes it is. My Canadian father-in-law turned me on to hockey," Justin explained. "This was before I was married. I was trying to get into his good graces."

"The things we do, huh?" Roger chuckled.

"I know, right?" Justin agreed. "So, as you can imagine, I spent every free minute I could get up in Vancouver. I went with Bob to every home game. He has season tickets, of course. I always bought the beer. I got what I wanted. He started to like me and in the process I started to like hockey. Now I'm hooked. There's a home game in December against the Detroit Red Wings. That should be a really good game."

"In December it will be much easier for me to get away," Roger nodded. "I'm in."

"I guess I'll have to think about that," Roberto mused. "Isn't that like a three hour drive all the way up there, with the border crossing n'shit?"

"Yeah. You've never been?" Justin asked.

"No. And I'm sure as shit not gonna try driving all that way home after having a good time at the game," Roberto stressed. A DUI on the highway heading home would spell the end of his promising career.

"Oh, no. We wouldn't come home that night. We'd get a hotel for the night," Justin explained. "Well, I'd probably just go stay with my in-laws, but I'd meet you guys in the morning, buy you breakfast and drive us home."

"Justin," Melinda appeared behind her husband and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Hi, Honey," Justin looked up. "Where ya been?"

"I need to talk to you," Melinda stated in a calm and neutral voice.

"Sure, Honey. Excuse me, guys," Justin rose from the table.

"Sure," Roger smiled up at Melinda. He knew better than anyone that jaw boning with the boys was great fun, but when a wife needed attention, a husband needed to give it. Melinda took her husband's arm and led him away from their table.

"What's up, Mel?" Justin asked as he willingly walked with his wife. "Hey, have you been crying?" he was genuinely concerned as he made this observation and became the more so when she did not answer him. "Mel, talk to me. What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"Just come with me. Nothing's wrong," Melinda tried to keep him quiet as they walked out into the Great Hall.

"It looks like you've been crying, Honey," Justin remained concerned.

"Justin, please just wait a minute," Melinda led her husband through the great hall and out onto the deserted verandah. The bar stood abandoned, but still fully stocked. The flowers and tables were all illuminated by the soft glow of the gaslight lamps on the side of the mansion, giving the whole verandah a festive yet intimate feel. Melinda walked him to one of the old wooden benches and sat down. Justin perched on the edge of the bench beside his wife, his deep concern etched in his face. Melinda opened her purse, took out the small digital device that Rosalie so thoughtfully obtained and which had confirmed her suspicions, and handed it to him.

"What is this thing?" Justin was perplexed.

"Justin," Melinda took it out of his hand and set it aside. She then took both of his hands in hers and looked into his worried, loving, dark brown, eyes. "We're pregnant."

It took him not more than a second to process this information and respond, but for Melinda it was a second during which time seemed to stand still.

"Mel, oh Mel! Are we?" Justin's face lit up with his joy. He let go of his wife's hands to capture her in his arms. "Oh, Mel. Oh, my God," Justin held her tightly. "I'm the happiest man on Earth right now. Stand up so I can hug you properly," he bid. He stood up and pulled her up with him. Melinda smiled, closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder as he renewed his embrace and hugged her with his whole body.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. We're gonna have another baby! Oh, Mel," Justin rocked his wife in his arms as he got choked up himself. "God, I'm gonna cry now," he wiped at the one tear that managed to escape. "You've made me the happiest man in the world."

"Well, I can't take all the credit here," Melinda lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. "Really, you did it."

"No. Oh, no. This wonderful miracle is all you, Honey," Justin kissed his wife tenderly on her lips and then proceeded to kiss her all over her face.

"Justin, my make up is already messed up," Melinda protested.

"I don't care about your make up. I don't care about anything. Just you," Justin expressed. "You and Stephie. You and Stephie and our baby inside you," he wrapped his arms around her even more tightly.

"Okay, don't squeeze the baby out of me," Melinda was flip.

"Oh, oh, Honey. Did I hurt you?" Justin stepped back and just held his wife's arms.

"No, you didn't," Melinda put him at ease. "Should we tell your parents?"

"Oh! Yes, we have to. Mom is gonna shit! She's gonna shit right here in the middle of the reception," Justin was wide eyed.

"That's a lovely image, Dear," Melinda rolled her eyes. "Are you ready to go back in or do you want a few more minutes?"

"I'll never get enough minutes with you," Justin rubbed her arms. "Are you happy, Mel?"

"Justin, I am very happy," Melinda put a hand to his face. "You are a wonderful husband, a wonderful father, and I love you, totally and completely. I really am thrilled to be having another baby with you."

"I am too! I love you so much, Mel," another tear escaped Justin's eye as he gathered his wife into his strong arms again.

"I love you too, Justin," Melinda wrapped her arms around her husband inside his suit jacket and just took comfort from his embrace and his scent.

"Okay," Justin rubbed his wife's back after a long moment. "Let's go tell the grandparents," he stepped out of their hug and took her hand to lead her back inside.

On the dance floor, midway through the waltz, Emmett and Nasir switched partners.

"I never thought I would dance with you at your wedding!" Samira expressed to her brother.

"I know! I like it," Nasir smiled.

"I do too. Emmett is a very good dancer," Samira complimented.

"He is good at everything," Nasir stated.

"He certainly looks like he would be," Samira laughed.

"You have no idea," Nasir laughed with his sister as he led her across the floor.

Auguste held to her oldest child as she danced with him. "Now I dance with all mein söhne at their wedding. All three of you," she smiled up at Emmett.

"Danke, Mutti," Emmett expressed.

"I am so proud of you. A mutter wants to see her jungen be happy," Auguste stated. "It makes me so happy that mein söhne are."

"I really am, Mutti. I love him so much. This is the happiest day of my life. I'm so glad everyone is here today," Emmett smiled his dimples at his mother.

Carson walked out onto the dance floor. It was still the mother-son dance and he shouldn't have been there. He just could not help himself.

"May I cut in?" Carson tapped Nasir on his shoulder. Nasir had been briefed by Garrett on what to do should something like this happen. He let go of his sister and stepped back. Carson moved in, but rather than turning toward Samira, he stepped into Nasir's arms. He took Nasir's hand in his left and put his right arm around Nasir's back, all the while working very hard to keep a straight face.

"You think you are going to lead?" Nasir asked.

"Obviously," Carson answered. Nasir let his left hand trail down Carson's back and did not stop until he gripped the straight man's right butt cheek. And everyone saw it. The crowd roared as Carson jumped out of Nasir's embrace. Nasir stepped back to his sister and resumed dancing with her as if nothing had happened.

At the head table one of the best men continued to sit on the lap of the other, to maintain his view of the dance floor.

"What a goofball," Seth sipped on another cosmopolitan while beneath him Garrett did the same with a fresh martini. While Seth generally watched the dance floor, nothing escaped his watchful gaze. He noticed Justin and Melinda approach the table where the parents were sitting, but thought little of it. Until George, Celeste and Estelle all jumped up out of their chairs. At that point the Thompson family had his undivided attention. And he immediately knew why. Seth's gasp earned him Garrett's undivided attention.

"We are gonna be uncles again!" Seth spoke with amazement.

"We knew that, Sweetness," Garrett did not get it.

"No, Gar, again-again! Look!" Seth pointed. Garrett turned to see his parents and grandmother taking turns hugging his bother and sister-in-law.

"Oh, my God!" Garrett Thompson was not as observant as his husband, because no man was, but he was not slow.

"What?" Edward was alarmed as Seth and Garrett both lept up and dashed. He watched them all but run toward their family.

"What happened?" Carson asked as he returned to his seat beside his wife.

"I don't know, but everyone seems happy," Edward concluded.

By the time Seth and Garrett closed the distance to their parents table, Celeste was in tears. George held his daughter-in-law while Justin held his mother.

"Yay! You guys, I'm so happy!" Seth bounced up and down.

"Of course Seth knows," Justin let go of his mother and Seth moved in. The smaller man wrapped his arms around Justin's ribs under his suit jacket and pressed the side of his face to Justin's chest. Justin hugged his brother-in-law just as tightly.

"Melinda," Garrett took his father's place hugging the lady with child. "Wonderful news. Wonderful."

"Thanks, Garrett," Melinda took nearly as much comfort in Garrett's arms as her husband's.

Just as soon as George relinquished Melinda to his younger son, he took his wife in his arms. Seth and Garrett switched with Seth squealing into a hug with Melinda and Garrett hugging his brother.

"Thank you so much for giving us another grandbaby," George expressed to his oldest son and wife as he rubbed his own wife's back. Seth moved then to Estelle and the two expectant parents returned to each other.

Garrett was struck with sudden realization at his father's words. He did not have the desire for children of his own and never had. With the possible exception of wanting Nasir in town more often of late, his life with Seth, and by extension Emmett and Nasir, was exactly perfect. Garrett would never, without extraordinary measures, be able to give his parents what they so clearly wanted. And he had to admit, that bothered him a little.

"Dad," Garrett spoke quietly to get his father's attention when his father let his mother go, "are you disappointed that I won't ever give you grandchildren?"

"Son," George put his arm around his younger son's shoulders, "I have only ever been disappointed in you twice in your whole life, and it has nothing to do with being a parent or not. Do I think you and Seth would make great parents? Absolutely I do. Should you be? Well, that's up to you. It's a little more complicated for you. I realize that. And besides that, in the grand scheme of things, not everyone is supposed to be a parent. It is what it is."

"When did I disappoint you?" Garrett could not help himself. His father had been so specific mentioning two times, he just had to know.

"The first time was when you brought Ronnie home to meet us," George was frank. "I knew you could do better."

"I might wish, in hindsight, that you had told me that at the time," Garrett thought out loud.

"I probably could have, Garrett, but you needed to find that out on your own," George put a hand on his son's shoulder. "And that's ancient history. Look how things turned out. You found Seth. Your mother and I love him to pieces."

"I know you do," Garrett smiled.

"We were thrilled the day you brought him home. And, really, all any parent wants for his children is to see them happy and lead fulfilling lives. I could not be more proud of both my sons," George squeezed his son's shoulder.

"Thanks, Dad," Garrett felt much better. Except for one thing. "When was the other time?"

"Oh," George looked down at the carpet. "That was when, after you broke up with Ronnie, you went to Justin for comfort instead of us. But, if I'm really honest with myself, I'm more disappointed in me than in you."

"I love you, Dad," Garrett moved into his father's arms. "You and mom are the best parents a man could hope for."

"That's nice to hear, Son. Of course, it's pretty easy with kids like mine," George patted Garrett's back while they hugged.

"Hey, what's goin' on?" Seth intruded on the father-son moment. "I want a hug too!"

"C'mere, Seth," George pulled his son-in-law into his hug with Garrett. Garrett held his husband's head to his chest and closed his eyes. A loving, fulfilling relationship and the approval of parents were two of the most precious commodities anyone could have.

At the harpsichord Maggie finished her waltz.

"That was beautiful, Maggie," Dane expressed from where he stood behind the DJ table with the DJ.

"It really was," Tony echoed the sentiment.

"Thank you, boys. I haven't played one of these in years. It's kinda fun, actually. I think I might play one more, if you don't mind, Tony," Maggie looked over at them.

"Not at all. I'll open the dance floor," Tony clicked on his microphone and did just that.

"Oh!" Seth pulled out of his multi-generational Thompson hug. "Come dance with me, Honey!"

"Of course I will," Garrett gave his father's shoulder a squeeze before he took Seth's hand to walk out to the dance floor with his husband.

"Can I have a dance with the most beautiful wife and mother anywhere, ever?" Justin asked his wife. In answer Melinda put her hand to his face, kissed him softly on his lips, and took his hand to lead him in the wake of Seth and Garrett.

Emmett and Nasir returned to each other and smiled to see Seth and Garrett chief among the other couples joining them.

Rosalie walked onto the dance floor, through the dancing couples and off the other side. She slipped onto the bench beside Maggie and slipped her arm around her wife's waist. Maggie smiled at her life partner and leaned into her as she continued to play.

Garrett used one finger to move Seth's hair out of his face and tuck it behind his ear. "I am the happiest man on the planet," he told his sweet, beautiful, Native American husband.

"You can't be," Seth sighed.

"Why can't I be?" Garrett asked as they slow danced.

"Because I am," Seth moved his arm from Garrett's back outside of the tux jacket, to inside.

"I see," Garrett smiled. "You know, there is only one thing I don't like about your tux."

"What?" Seth was suddenly self conscious.

"You're not wearing leather pants. You know what the scent of your balls after having been trapped in your leather pants does to me," Garrett explained.

"Oh!" Seth laughed. "Ha. Sorry."

"But I won't let that stop me from spending a good long time later this evening licking and sucking on them," Garrett promised.

"Well, I have a proposal of my own. Wanna hear it?" Seth asked.

"I do," Garrett answered.

"How about I hold your cock down my throat while you do that?" Seth suggested.

"If you would like," Garrett agreed.

"Oh, I would like, Mr. Thompson," Seth confirmed. "In fact, I insist."

"Mmm. I can't wait," Garrett felt himself harden in his pants, only partially restrained by his fairly loose underwear.

"I can tell," Seth could feel Garrett's growing erection, which caused the same reaction in his pants. He let his hand slide down from Garrett's lower back, to cup and massage a butt cheek. They danced like that for a long minute before Seth looked up at Garrett.

"Okay, I have to take charge now. Save this," Seth reached between them to curl his fingers around Garrett's erection though the thin material of dress pants and underwear. He was most pleased by the gasp this forced from his lover. "For later," Seth finished his thought and stuck his left hand into his pants pocket as he turned away from Garrett. Seth held himself as subtly as possible with his hand in his pocket as he walked across the dance floor. It wouldn't do to look like he had a club in his pants, even though he did.

Tony and Dane looked up as Seth approached. Maggie and Rosalie didn't see him as they were facing the harpsichord.

"Time for cake, and, my, wouldn't you two make a cute couple," Seth was bright eyed. Tony and Dane both gave each other shy smiles.

Garrett walked up to Emmett and Nasir where they danced slowly together.

"Garrett's happy to see us, Babe," Emmett snickered as he noted Garrett's condition.

"Boys," Garrett put his hands on the grooms' shoulders. "I'm always happy to see you and I have some happy news. My brother and Melinda are pregnant."

"What? Are they?" Emmett was just as thrilled as any member of the Thompson family. He and Nasir stopped dancing and headed off in search of Justin and Melinda.

"Hey! Come back here, you two!" Seth chased after them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, time to cut the cake. Could we have the grooms at the cake table please," Tony spoke into his microphone.

"Time to get back to work," Dane picked up his camera. "But, um, I'll be back."

"I'll be here waiting," Tony gave his most disarming smile.

"Okay, so, good," Dane stammered before he dashed off toward the dining room.

The cutting of the cake went off without a hitch. Emmett and Nasir held the knife together, posed for the picture, and cut into the bottom tier, which was Black Forest. Emmett fed Nasir the first bite, with a fork, and no one had cake on his face. The middle tier was a lemon torte and the top tier, which Emmett and Nasir would take home to save for one year from today, was a mystery, as Seth would not tell them. Carla and her staff then descended on the cake table to cut it up and serve it for dessert.

The grooms and their wedding party returned to the head table to enjoy a quiet few minutes over their cake.

"Where did Edward go?" Seth asked as he and his cosmo took a seat back between Emmett and Garrett.

"Good question," Garrett looked around.

"There's plenty of cake," Emmett pointed out as Kiril and Juan arrived with multiple plates of each kind. "Lemon for me. Thanks, guys," he smiled at them.

Edward had moved to the children's table, and when the cake arrived he immediately saw that Larissa, who was the youngest of the children sitting by herself, was not going to use her utensils.

"Whoa!" Edward picked Larissa up and placed her in his lap. "How about I help you out with that, little miss, okay? We don't want that pretty dress covered with frosting, now do we?"

"Okay uncle Edward. You feed me," Larissa was completely comfortable with her uncle Edward. Cliff watched Edward with a wistful smile.

"You're a natural," Cliff commented when Edward met his eyes.

"Practice makes perfect. I've done this many times," Edward stated.

"I remember when we used to babysit together. I haven't done it since. We can't exactly have a lot of close friends in North Carolina and even though Derek's sister has a little boy, we hardly ever see them," Cliff informed. Edward felt sorry for Cliff, but before he had a chance to reply, the younger boys distracted them. Connor was no longer interested in dessert and became visibly agitated. He whined and stretched with all his tiny might toward Owen, who sat on Troy's lap.

"Come on, you guys. Don't you want to finish your cake?" Molly attempted to use sweets as a bargaining chip, but the boys would have none of it.

"Kano wants me," Owen stated, reaching over to take Connor's hand. "I want Kano."

"I think they're done, Molly. Why don't I take them upstairs and you can bring the other kids when they're done?" Edward offered.

"That would be great, Edward," Molly was relieved.. "Are you sure you don't mind? You don't have anything you have to do down here?"

"I think it'll be fine. The rest of these guys will be done soon," Edward looked to his little brothers, "Zack, Leo, you'll help Molly bring up the other kids, right?"

"Sure we will," Zack said and Troy affirmed with a smile.

"Here, let me take Larissa," Molly came to Edward's chair and picked up the girl who, sensing that Edward was comfortable with Molly's suggestion, went to the babysitter willingly.

"Do you need a hand, Edward?" Cliff asked. "I could carry up one of the boys."

"I'd love some company, sure, but I don't think either of these guys wants to be carried," Edward opined as he pulled Connor out of his seat and set him on the floor. At the same time Owen slid off Troy's lap and grabbed Connor's hand.

"Okay, Owen, we're gonna go upstairs. Do you remember where that is?" Edward asked. Owen considered the question seriously, but in the end shook his head.

"We have to go through that door," Edward pointed. Owen acknowledged the hint and headed towards the door, making sure not to walk too fast for the baby.

"Those two boys sure have latched onto each other," Zack observed as he, Troy and Molly watched the departing children and adults. The other kids were much too distracted by their cake and conversation to pay any attention.

"It's very sweet," Molly endorsed. "It's kind of like watching two mini yous," she teased Zack and Troy. "I imagine that's what you two would have been like if you'd met at their age."

The boys giggled appreciatively, acknowledging that Molly was probably right. They finished their cake and waited for the children to catch up.

""Here we go, everyone," Molly said when they were all finished. "Let's all go upstairs to the play room! I know your parents brought toys for all of you," she tempted. Ren, Liam, Stephanie and Larissa did not have to be asked twice. They were generally obedient children and, now that their cake was done, there was nothing of interest for them in the dining room.

"I got this if you guys wanna stay and enjoy yourselves," Molly set Larissa down on her feet. She could see she was not going to have a problem handling the four remaining kids on her own.

"Are you sure, Molly?" Zack asked, concerned that they were not going to fulfill the promise they made Edward.

"I'm positive. We'll be fine," Molly assured. "Besides, I have Ren to help me."

"Let's go, guys," Ren, as prompted, took charge and took his sister's hand.

"Okay, let's open the dance floor back up and get the party started," the DJ made an announcement. "Here's Madonna, Give it to me!"

"Zacky, Molly's fine," Troy said, standing up and pulling his partner up as well. "Let's go dance!"

Molly smiled and nodded as Zack once again turned towards her with question in his eyes. "Go dance," she encouraged. "I'll see you later." She followed her little troop of older kids out towards the Great Hall.

The dance floor started to fill up with guests eager to get out of their chairs and let loose. As sure as night follows day, Bad Romance followed Give it to me. Before anyone heard Gaga sing her first word, they heard Seth shriek. He, Simon and Wayne bounced all around Garrett, Emmett and Nasir. The three smaller men had energy to bursting. Carson, Sonja, Leah, Roberto, Roger, Yvonne, Maggie, Rosalie, Samira and all three of Emmett's boss' kids joined them. Leo and Zack danced with Sarah, Kitty and little Paul. Sarah in particular ate up the attention she was getting from the two very attractive college age boys. Edward and Cliff reappeared by the time Gaga announced that she wanted a leather studded kiss in the sand and Emmett immediately grabbed them both in a long, tight hug.

Dane returned to where the DJ was now actually working, with a Heineken for himself and another long island for Tony.

"Thought you might like a fresh one," Dane smiled as he set Tony's drink down beside the watered down half full first one.

"Thanks, Dane," Tony stood at his equipment with his headphones hanging around his neck. He gave the warm, bright smile that melted Dane a little bit more every time.

"Sure," Dane set his camera down and shrugged out of his suit jacket. He was very much enjoying not only Tony's company, but his selection of music as well. His body wanted to move.

"You wanna go dance?" Tony lifted one side of his earphones to listen as he queued up the next track. "Don't feel like you gotta keep me company."

"No, I'd rather hang with you," Dane stated. "Unless I'm bothering you."

"Not at all," Tony moved his stool just a foot and patted it with another disarming smile. Dane swallowed hard. If this incredibly hot man wanted him that close, what the hell was he waiting for?

"Thanks. Sure you don't need it?" Dane asked.

"Easier to work standing anyway," Tony gave a Dane a wink.

"Okay," Dane climbed up onto the stool. Tony moved his straw from his dead drink into his new one and gave it a quick stir. He picked up the fresh long island and took a pull through the straw. At the same time he ran the back of the index finger of his free hand down Dane's arm. Dane was thrilled that this god was flirting with him so.

"You obviously work out," Dane ran the palm of his hand over the tricep of Tony's near arm. He let his thumb stray over the bulging bicep and finally ran his hand up over Tony's equally bare deltoid. "A lot," Dane added as he shamelessly flirted back.

"Yeah," Tony smiled. "Wanna come with me sometime?"

"Sure," Dane agreed. "I'd love to," he enthused, if for no other reason than for the chance to see Tony change in the locker room. Dane indulged himself in a fantasy of blowing Tony in the steam room or showers.

Tony said nothing, but shifted his weight onto his other hip and in so doing, closed the distance between them. He ran his hand across Dane's back and just let his arm rest around the smaller man's shoulders.

Seth zoomed off the dance floor and around the DJ table at that moment.

"Tony, did you get that special song I told you about?" Seth was bright eyed.

"Yeah," Tony answered. "The Arab guy. I got it right here," he set his drink down and picked up the CD in question without taking his arm away from Dane.

"Great!" Seth only needed a quick glance to know it was the right one. "This is his favorite song. Play it now."

"You got it, boss," Tony needed both hands to work and reluctantly let go of Dane. He swapped CDs and held one side of his earphones up to his ear to queue it up. Seth paused to give Dane a knowing smile and wink before he zoomed off the way he came.

Troy walked back to the dance floor from his short excursion to visit Milan at the bar.

"Zacky, I got another one of those really good beers Emmett likes. Help me drink it," Troy took a hearty swig of the Spaten Oktoberfest and handed the bottle to his partner.

"Lee, this is our third one," Zack took a sip.

"I know. They're strong!" Troy leaned into his lover and hugged Zack tightly for a moment. Zack held Troy with one arm and took another sip, lest more be left for the smaller man.

"Ladies and gentlemen, time to spice things up a bit. Here's Khallouny by Mansour Zayed," Tony made his announcement.

"What?" Nasir stood with Emmett at the edge of the dance floor. He turned wide eyed only to discover Seth smiling at him.

"Is this...?" Emmett pointed. His ears gave him the answer in short order. He had heard it many times at home.

"It is my favorite song!" Nasir exclaimed as the distinctly Arabic music poured out of the speakers. Emmett held out his arms and began to sway to the music as he and his husband often did when Nasir played this song.

"We must have a stick and camel dance!" Nasir was plainly excited and thrilled at the prospect.

"Can we?" Emmett asked. "No one knows how, Nasi."

"It is easy! I will show you. Sethy!" Nasir turned to his husband's best man.

"That sounds like fun! Relax. I got ya covered," Seth held up a hand. He promptly returned to the DJ. "Cut the music. Cut the music," Seth made the universal sign of a finger across his throat as he walked around the table again.

"What happened?" Tony asked as he obeyed.

"I need to make an announcement. Put me on," Seth instructed.

Tony clicked on the microphone. "You're on."

"Sorry for the interruption, everyone. The Emirati groom needs all the men to join him on the dance floor, and bring your camel sticks. All the men, with your camel sticks please. Thank you," Seth spoke over the speakers. "Thanks, Tony," he patted the DJ's muscular, bare arm. "Say, I think we need to make this your required uniform, DJ Hottie," Seth ran a hand over the bigger man's pecs. "What do you think, Dane? He's hot, isn't he?"

"Very," Dane agreed.

"Be sure to get some good shots of him. And make yourself comfortable while you're at it. Take off that tie," Seth instructed.

"Okay," Dane pulled at his necktie until the knot came undone. He tossed the tie over to where his suit jacket laid on a small table and unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt. Seth immediately took the liberty of unbuttoning the next two buttons on Dane's shirt as well.

"There. Much better," Seth admired. "Sexy. What do you think, Tony?"

"Yeah, nice," Tony agreed. He could now see a hint of the dark hair the grew in the valley between the photographer's defined pecs and he liked it.

"I'll leave you two to get more acquainted. I have a stick to dance, or dance to stick, or something," Seth headed back around onto the dance floor. "Get ready to put that music back on!" he called back.

The men came as they had been bidden, slowly filtering onto the dance floor, camel sticks in hand. As a result a crowd gathered around the lone man in the bisht and ghutra. Edward had to retrieve his stick from the head table and joined Cliff where he stood with Troy and Zack.

"Gem, what are we doing?" Troy asked.

"I have no idea," Edward confessed.

Roger stepped up between Edward and Cliff and put an arm around each of them. "So what are we doing?"

"Sorry, Roger. No idea," Edward said again.

"Everyone," Nasir called to get their attention. "First, thank you so much for coming up to join me for what is a traditional dance in my homeland when a man gets married. Does everyone have your camel stick?" he looked around. "Okay, we need to form two lines. We need two lines of men facing each other," Nasir instructed. "Come, Habibi, stand beside me," he reached for Emmett and looked around for his best man. "Garrett!"

"Okay, straight guys over here," Roger held up his camel stick as he walked onto the dance floor to form the opposing line.

"Car, get over here," Emmett called to his brother who headed for Roger.

"Straight guys over there," Carson pointed. "Sorry, Bro."

Some men had to be encouraged by their wives to participate. Justin did not want to leave Melinda's side just at the moment and Suzie had to force her boyfriend to play.

"Come, everyone," Nasir instructed. "Stand shoulder to shoulder, hold your camel stick in your right hand, and take hold of the arm of the man on your left," he took hold of Emmett's forearm just above his wrist.

"Like this?" Garrett stepped to Nasir's other side. He took hold of Nasir's right wrist and held his own stick in his right hand.

"Exactly, Garrett. Everyone join up just like this," Nasir coached.

"C'mon, now," Roger urged. He had Carson and Roberto joined together properly on each side. Justin and George promptly joined to Roberto.

Edward connected himself to Garrett as Nasir's other groomsman, and Cliff, Troy and Zack just naturally lined up with him. Seth took Emmett's other side and Simon and Wayne linked up with him. Opposite them, Miles, Paul, little Paul and Corey filled out the straight contingent.

"Normally there would be drummers, but we will make do with the music," Nasir informed.

"Hit it," Seth called.

At his console, DJ Tony D started Khallouny again.

"Okay, I know I'm gonna need to document this," Dane slid off Tony's stool. The DJ was quick and gave the photographer a playful little tap on his hard little butt. Both men smiled at each other as Dane moved to fetch his camera.

"Now, do as I do," Nasir instructed. He held his stick out in front of him with the tip straight down to the floor. Nasir pushed gently against Emmett's shoulder with his own as he encourage everyone to begin to sway back and forth to the music. The dance started out slow like this, with the men in both lines swaying back and forth.

"Now, wave your stick," Nasir demonstrated and began small little kicks with his feet each time they shifted their weight. Everyone mimicked him.

"I should be wearing my dishdasha, not my bisht. We all should be dressed that way," Nasir commented.

"Well I know for sure how hot you are in it," Emmett complimented and made his husband smile.

"Thank you, Habibi. Now, if there were a drummer, he would come to our side to indicate it is our turn," Nasir explained.

"To do what?" Seth leaned around Emmett.

"You guys over there, keep doing what you are doing. Do not do as we do, yet," Nasir coached. "Now, stop. Put your stick again and lean forward," he held his arm out and put the end of his stick down on the floor again. He leaned forward and bobbed his head rhythmically to simulate the movement of a camel. "Do as I do," Nasir directed. The men in his line copied him as best they were able. The Arabic music aided them all to get the feel of it.

From the sidelines Samira watched with great amusement. Sonja brought her a lemonade from the bar when she went to get herself another glass of wine.

"Thank you, Sonja," Samira smiled as she took her beverage.

"You're very welcome," Sonja pulled up two chairs from the nearest table for them.

"This is fun. I have never seen the ayyalah performed before," Samira stated.

"The what?" Sonja asked.

"The dance they are doing is called the ayyalah," Samira informed. "It's funny."

"It's different," Sonja nodded as Nasir's line took to waving their camel sticks again and the straight line took their turn bobbing their heads. "You've never seen this before right now?"

"No. This is a dance the men do," Samira informed.

"It's a wedding thing?" Sonja pressed.

"It is," Samira nodded.

"The guys didn't do it at your wedding?" Sonja didn't get it.

"They did, but I was not there to see it," Samira read the puzzled look on the other woman's face. "When I was married, at home in Sharjah, in the Emirates, the Imam came to our home with Sadiq and his father and his two little brothers. They met with my father and Kasim and Nasir," she gestured toward where her middle sibling led the men in his line in doing the slow, bobbing camel motion again, this time with their sticks over their shoulder. "Sadiq signed the marriage contract, then my father and brothers came in to where my mother and I were waiting in the next room. Father asked me if I consented to be married. I agreed very loudly, so that Sadiq and his family, and the Imam could hear it, and then I signed the contract myself. My brothers were my witnesses. I did not even see Sadiq that day. The next day they moved all of my things to Sadiq's father's house in Dubai while my girlfriends painted me from head to toe in henna. We had our walima that night. The men have theirs and we women have ours."

"So the day you got married, you didn't even see your husband," Sonja summed up what she took away from what Samira told her.

"No," Samira confirmed. "I had met him a few times, of course."

"Met him a few times?" Sonja could not get past that.

"Like all marriages where we come from, Sadiq's and mine was arranged between our fathers. I got very lucky. Sadiq is a good man and husband. I do love him very much," Samira told her new friend.

"Wow," Sonja shook her head. "Things sure are different where you come from, Samira."

"They really are," Samira agreed. "My brother could never be happy there, or safe. I am glad he found all of you," she smiled at Sonja.

"Well, your brother sure seems to be the best thing that ever happened to Emmett, I can tell you that," Sonja assured.

On the dance floor, the third time around, Nasir led the men in squatting down and striking the ground with their sticks. They slowly stood back up, bobbing their heads all the while. Finally, as was required of the groom, Nasir left his line and danced his way in a big circle between the two lines, twirling his camel stick above his head. And with that, as the song came to an end, the ayyalah was completed.

"Haa!" Nasir was so happy he could not contain himself. He tucked his stick under his arm so that he could clap his hands. "We got to dance the stick and camel dance at our wedding!" he reached for Emmett's arms.

"I know, Babe. I'm glad," Emmett pulled his husband into a hug.

"If I had a rifle, my habibi, I would throw it high into the air and catch it for you!" Nasir teased.

"Oh, let me see if we have any rifles laying around," Emmett laughed.

"That was fun, Gem," Troy placed his head on Edward's shoulder while he let himself lean on his partner. "Can we do it again, Zacky?"

Edward and Zack shared a mostly amused, only slightly concerned look over Troy's tipsy head.

Samira ran onto the dance floor where her brother and brother-in-law were hugging and threw her arms around them both.

"Hey, Samira," Emmett put his arm around her as well.

"What do you think, Samira? They did a pretty good job dancing the ayyalah," Nasir complimented his men and guests.

"It was fun!" Samira enthused.

"What about you, Samira? You feel like leading the ladies in any traditional dances?" Emmett smiled.

"Oh, no," Samira shook her head. "None of us here are dressed for it."

"No?" Emmett didn't get it. "All the ladies here look pretty nice to me."

"No!" Samira gave a lilting laugh. "First, thank you, but, second, we could not dance the dabke in dresses like this. We women, in our own walima, when the men are not around," she poked each of them in the shoulder, "let our hair down. We wear tight and provocative, Western clothing and we dance together. We hold hands and fall back, sometimes we hold each other up, sometimes we all fall back on our hands together. We kick our legs in the air and bump our hips together. I could never do such a thing dressed like this. Or especially in front of all these men."

"I'd kinda like to see that," Emmett mused. "It sounds like you girls have fun."

"I had fun at my walima. I had fun at Rania's when she and Kasim got married," Samira stated. "And now I have had fun at yours!"

"Yes!" Nasir agreed. "But ours is more fun, because we are all together," he kissed her cheek and then kissed his husband on his lips. Emmett smiled at Nasir, put his hand to his lover's face and kissed him again.

"I'm gonna grab another beer. You want another scotch, Babe?" Emmett patted Nasir's arm as he stepped back.

"I would love one," Nasir gave a nod.

"Samira?" Emmett pointed. "Maybe a lemonade?"

"That would be nice," Samira agreed. She didn't have the heart to tell him Sonja had beaten him to it. Emmett smiled and headed for the bar.

Table service had stopped by this time and the wedding guests kept Milan busy at his bar. Simon was busy catching Seth up on Seattle Power Bottom news, so Wayne was forced to bounce up to the bar all alone.

"Hi. Milan," Wayne smiled as he leaned over the bar and bent one knee to lift his foot behind him while he did so.

"Hello, handsome boy," Milan gave his most charming smile and leaned on the bar from his side. "How may I serve you?"

"God, I love your accent," Wayne rested his elbows on the bar and his chin on his fists. "We can start with two Bombay Sapphire and squirts. Then we'll see what else you can do for me."

Milan just gave a smirk as he set about pouring.

"Hey, Wayne. You guys having a good time?" Emmett put a friendly hand on the blonde's back as he stepped up to the bar.

"Hi, Emmett!" Wayne all but gushed. "We so are! That silly dance we all did was a hoot!"

"That was fun. Nasi especially loved it," Emmett agreed.

"Two Sapphire squirt," Milan placed them on the bar. "Oktoberfest, Mr. Emmett?"

"Yes, please, Milan. And a tall lemonade, and a scotch for Nasi," Emmett answered.

"Yes, sir," Milan obeyed.

"He is one hunky Czech, isn't he?" Wayne admired. "You think he'd let me take him home and worship his hunky Czech body with my tongue, and teeth?"

"He just might," Emmett smiled.

"I hear Czech guys have really big dicks," Wayne leaned on the bar again. "Do you have a really big dick, Milan?"

"I will no tell you this," Milan placed Emmett's order on the bar. "You will have to find out for self," he smirked.

Wayne leaned back and considered. "I could almost forgive him for not being a top, he's so pretty," Wayne gave a sigh. "So, speaking of really big dicks," he looked to Emmett. "Last time I saw you, you were rockin' a jock with a lace up pouch you couldn't quite get closed as I seem to remember."

"Oh, you remember that, huh," Emmett gave a grin as he gathered up his order. "Thanks, Milan."

"Mr. Emmett, Mr. Wayne," Milan smiled.

"Mr. Wayne," Wayne repeated. "That's cute, 'cause I'm secretly Batgirl. I fight crime with my ass, one top at a time."

Emmett laughed and shook his head. "I gotta get back to Nasi."

"Kay, I gotta find Simon. This one is for him," Wayne took a sip out of one glass and held up the other.

"Mr. Wayne," Milan called to get the blonde twink's attention as Emmett headed off with his drinks.

"Did you call me, hunky Czech boy?" Wayne turned back.

"Who say I am not top?" Milan leaned on his bar again with a confident grin. Wayne's entire face lit up as he was drawn back to the bar like a magnet.

"You and Edward...," Wayne set his drinks down and pointed over his shoulder, as if Edward were standing nearby. "Seth said you and Edward, I mean, Edward's a top, I mean, well, Seth told Simon and Simon told me, and, are they wrong?"

"They not wrong. I like do both," Milan reached down to give his sizeable package a squeeze. "Do not want big, Czech dick go to waste."

"Well, no," Wayne was at once intrigued and enthralled. "We sure wouldn't want that. I can think of a place, or two, where you can stick that big, Czech dick where it for sure wouldn't go to waste."

"Are they on other side of my bar?" Milan hinted with his eyebrows.

"What time do you get off? Oh! Sorry," Wayne giggled. "Big, hunky Czech boy will be getting off in my mouth, and my ass, just as soon as possible. I meant, what time are you done here?"

"Party go till midnight, then clean up," Milan gave a shrug.

"Kay, so, by one or shortly thereafter, you should be pounding my ass," Wayne concluded.

Milan leaned forward and tilted his head to the side to give the thin twink more careful scrutiny. "I like," he nodded.

"It's a date," Wayne picked up his drinks again and with a wink, headed off to find Simon.

Nasir and Samira sat together at the head table as they waited for Emmett.

"So our family knows. When will you tell Sadiq's family?" Nasir casually held his sister's hand.

"We are flying to Dubai in two weeks," Samira answered. "Sadiq's mother will be so thrilled. I expect both mother's will come to London to help me when I get ready to have the baby."

"I hope Emmett and I can come when you have your baby," Nasir expressed.

"That might be problematic. Perhaps privately. I will work on Sadiq," Samira gave some hope.

"Here we are," Emmett walked up to the table. "Lemonade for my pretty sister-in-law," he placed her beverage in front of her. "And a scotch for my hot husband."

"Thank you, Emmett," Samira smiled. "He is so sweet."

"Yes, he is," Nasir took Emmett's hand and smiled warmly at him.

And then Samira's small purse that sat on the table, gave a buzz.

"Oh, dear," Samira reached into her purse to retrieve her cell. "What time is it?" she flipped open her phone to discover, as she suspected, there was a text.

On my way

See you in a few minutes

"It is from Sadiq. He is on his way," Samira relayed. She closed her phone and stuck it back in her purse. "Where did the time go?"

"We do not want to anger him by keeping him waiting," Nasir thought out loud.

"Can we walk you out?" Emmett offered.

"Yes, please. That would be very nice," Samira took a gulp of her lemonade, picked up her purse and rose from the table. Nasir and Emmett did the same and they slowly walked toward the front of the mansion.

Zack had been cornered by tiny little Sylvia who held fast onto his forearm as she peppered him with questions about life at Berkeley. Her husband it seemed, knew several educators at that fine university. Shy Zack remained polite, however uncomfortable, and was only too glad when his partner rescued him.

"Zacky," Troy called as he walked up with yet another fresh, cold beer in hand. "Zacky, I need you," he took hold of the arm that Sylvia held and pulled as he didn't even slow down.

"Excuse me," Zack made his apology as he was transferred from Sylvia's grip to Troy's.

"Of course!" Sylvia raised a hand in the air. "Duty calls!"

"Thanks, Lee," Zack was relieved and happily followed his partner out of the dining room into the great hall. "Hey, where are we going? Did you get another beer?"

"Shhh," Troy continued to pull Zack toward the front door of the mansion. When they reached the four steps that took them down into the vestibule, Troy made them hang back a moment.

"Lee, what are we doing?" Zack whispered as Emmett, Nasir and Samira opened the front door and walked out into the night. The front door was left open and the grooms and sister stopped just outside on the small front porch.

"C'mon," Troy used the hand that held his beer to touch one finger to his lips to indicate silence. He pulled Zack along as they carefully tip toed down into the vestibule. The big pocket doors to the French tea room had been closed earlier. Several things had been stored in there. Troy let go of Zack to slide one of the doors aside and slipped into the room. When Zack hesitated, Troy reached out to take hold of the lapel of Zack's tux and pulled him inside. Troy then slid the door silently closed.

"Samira, thank you so much for coming," Emmett took her hand as they stood together on the front step. "You really made this day special for us."

"You two made this day special. I am just so glad I could share it with you," Samira smiled at her brother-in-law. She opened her arms. "Can I have another hug?"

"Always," Emmett took her in his arms. "You never need to ask."

Samira liked how Emmett felt. He was big and strong and warm and loving. She closed her eyes a moment. It was easy to imagine the safety and love her brother felt in these arms.

"Okay," Samira patted Emmett on his back. "Let me hug my brother now."

Emmett let her go and Nasir immediately took his place. Samira was enfolded in her brother's bisht as he hugged her tightly.

"Shukran jazeelan, Samira," Nasir spoke softly into his sister's ear.

"Ana b'hebbak, Nasir," Samira expressed.

"Ana b'hebbek," Nasir returned. Beside them Emmett smiled. He knew the Arabic words for 'I love you' for he had heard them many times.

Nasir and Samira pulled apart when they heard the car pull up. Samira recognized the same black Town Car she had ridden in earlier in the evening.

"I have to go now. Be good to each other," Samira fought to keep from crying. She didn't know when she would see her brother again.

"Take care of yourself, Samira," Emmett bid. "Thanks again."

"Maasalaamah," Nasir called after his sister.

"Fi aman Allah," Samira called back.

Matt and Tim were at the ready at the end of the gaslamp lit cobblestone path. Matt opened the rear door of the Town Car and the same dark haired man in dress shirt and pants who would not let him open this door the first time this car was here, emerged from the back.

Sadiq stood by the open back door of his hotel provided chauffeur driven car and watched as his wife walked toward him. It made him smile to see how happy she was. It made him smile just to see her.

"Did you have a good time?" Sadiq asked kindly as he took her hands in his.

"I did, Sadiq. I really did. Thank you so much for this," Samira answered. He did not answer, but his smile grew as he bent to kiss her softly. Samira turned finally and gave the two men watching her a wave.

On the step, Emmett took Nasir's hand. There was Nasir's brother-in-law, right at the end of the walk, a mere forty feet away. They both waved back at Samira and watched her get in the car. Sadiq paused a moment to stare back at Nasir and Emmett. Nasir was not encouraged by the fact that Sadiq's smile was gone, but he gave the other Arab man a wave anyway.

Sadiq did not return Nasir's wave. He got into the car behind his wife and shut the door. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and scrolled to the number he wanted. "Back to the hotel," Sadiq instructed as he put his cell to his ear. He watched Nasir and Emmett through the car window as it pulled away from the curb.

Emmett gave his husband's hand a supportive squeeze as they watched the Town Car take Samira and her decidedly unfriendly husband away. "I'm sorry, Babe. Maybe he'll come around one day. He's come this far," Emmett offered encouragement.

"I hope so, Habibi. I hope so," Nasir stepped around Emmett so that they could walk back inside without letting go of each other's hand.

"Ana b'hebbak," Emmett smiled at Nasir as they walked back inside.

"Ana b'hebbak," Nasir leaned toward his husband and gave him a loving kiss on his lips.

Neither of them saw or heard the limousine with the darkened windows and it's lights off that pulled to the curb on the side street along the side of the mansion.

Inside the French tea room, while Emmett and Nasir were seeing off their sister, Zack took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. What little light there was came through the sheer curtains from the gaslamps outside. It took Zack by surprise when Troy pushed him up against the closed pocket doors.

"Lee, what are you...?" Zack did not have time to finish his question when the answer came in the form of Troy's free hand groping his crotch. "Lee!"

Troy held the taller man against the doors by his forearm across Zack's chest. It was the hand in which he held the beer that was suddenly in the way. "Here, hold this."

"I don't want this," Zack took the bottle anyway.

"Well, I do, but I need my hands free right now," Troy explained as he lowered his lover's zipper.

"Lee, we can't do this now, here," Zack was concerned. "What if someone catches us?"

"They'll have to wait their turn," Troy reached into Zack's pants and grabbed hold of the ample cock that rested in the snug boxers within. Troy knew his partner well. Zack opened his mouth to give another protest and Troy leaned up to cover Zack's mouth with his own.

"Mmph!" without any warning, Zack found his mouth full of his lover's tongue.

Outside, Emmett and Nasir passed by with no inkling of what was going on right behind the closed doors, right next to them. Hand in hand they climbed the four steps into the Great Hall.

"Okay, I gotta see a friend. My beer wants out again," Emmett turned toward the rest rooms.

"Do you need any help getting your big, beautiful cock out of your pants?" Nasir gave his husband a leer.

"Oh, I do! I can't get it out by myself. Can you help me?" Emmett smiled.

"I can think of nothing I would rather do," Nasir assured.

"You can hold it for me too," Emmett pulled Nasir in the direction of the men's room. Until Paul Cathers walked out of the dining room with little Paul by his side. Emmett's boss gave the grooms a smile and a nod as he and his son headed into the men's room themselves.

"Okay, I better handle this one on my own. But I want a rain check," Emmett pointed at Nasir.

"And you have it," Nasir smiled.

"I'll be right out, Babe," Emmett headed into the rest room and found big Paul and little Paul occupying both urinals. Not wanting to wait, Emmett headed into a stall to relieve himself. "You guys having a good time?"

"Very much so, Emmett, thank you," Paul stated.

"That thing we did with the sticks was so funny! I thought mom was gonna pee," little Paul added.

"Paulie," Paul chastised. Emmett just chuckled to himself. The straight man and his son finished before Emmett and left him alone. When Emmett walked back out into the great hall, there was no sign of Nasir. There was in fact, no sign of anyone. The sound of the party spilled out of the drawing and dining rooms. Emmett assumed Nasir must have walked back into their reception with his boss and son and headed back in himself.

In the dark tea room, Troy and Zack paid no mind to the sounds of men passing back and forth just on the other side of the closed pocket doors at Zack's back. Zack welcomed his lover's tongue in his mouth with his own. Troy tasted of beer and lust and hunger. Troy loved the feel of Zack's expanding bone as he curled his fingers around it through the thin fabric of the taller man's underwear. No matter Zack's trepidation in this risky setting, Troy knew his kiss would turn his man on. Zack surrendered his will to his horny lover. Troy wanted him, and that trumped everything. Zack stretched to set the unwanted beer bottle on an antique chest that stood near the doors.

Troy suddenly realized that it was a race against time to get Zack's growing cock out through both flys before he was too hard to do so. Zack longed for his lover's tongue the second it withdrew from his mouth. Troy ended the kiss with a small, quick nip on Zack's lower lip, that Troy knew would make Zack's bone jump. Troy fell to his knees before his man. He reached through the open fly of the dress pants to unbutton the fly on Zack's boxers with nimble fingers. Troy reached in further to encircle of the base of his lover's penis with thumb and forefinger. Zack had lengthened and hardened to the point where Troy could just barely maneuver him. Troy knew what he was doing. It wasn't as if he hadn't picked Zack up after a late night with his study group in the data lab at the Doe & Moffitt Library at U of C Berkeley, dragged him upstairs, behind stacks of dusty old tomes, and sucked him dry. Zack's protests had fallen on deaf ears that night too. Sometimes Troy was overcome with a need to suck Zack's dick that was beyond his ability to control.

Zack's cock was pulled out of his pants and continued to harden even before Troy's eyes. Troy gently rolled Zack's foreskin back off of his sensitive head, gave it a slow, loving lick, and then took Zack's every inch in his mouth.

"Ugh," Zack let his head fall back against the door as his lover's mouth engulfed him. He loved it when Troy swallowed him down even before he was fully hard. Troy closed his eyes and moved his tongue against Zack's sensitive cum tube as the long snake crawled down his throat to full hardness. Troy could not breathe and did not want to. He pulled back only enough to work his fingers into Zack's fly. Zack felt Troy work his balls out of his pants as well and didn't mind one bit.

"God, Lee," Zack ran his fingers through Troy's thick mop of hair as his lover's tongue worked his buried bone and the patch of hair on Troy's chin rubbed his shaved nuts just the way he liked it. "That feels so fucking good."

Troy fondled his lover's loose testicles in their smooth sac as he drew back further on Zack's shaft, just far enough to pull in a much needed breath through his nose. He then took it down his throat again and pressed his nose into Zack's trimmed pubes through his open fly. He closed his hand around Zack's nuts and tugged as he slowly pulled his mouth up and off the long prick.

"Ugh," Zack moaned. He loved when Troy did that. Troy held the long bone up and gave it a broad lick from base to tip, along Zack's sensitive cum tube.

"Oh, yeah," Zack expressed.

"I need your cock, Z," Troy held it to his face and moved down to kiss Zack's balls. "I need your cum," he told the swollen orbs.

"Go back down on me," Zack urged with gentle pressure of his fingers on the back of Troy's head. Troy needed little encouragement.

"Hoh," Zack felt his pole sink back down his lover's throat. But this time Troy did not just hold him there. Troy's head bobbed as he began to suck Zack. His own rod was painfully hard in his pants and he let go of Zack's eggs just long enough to shift himself to a more comfortable position in his pants.

"Fuck," Zack swore in a low, slow breath as his lover's mouth drew up and down his shaft. "Suck me, Lee," Zack moaned. Troy's lips and tongue clutched to Zack's long cock as he made love to his man with his mouth. But Troy had other tricks up his sleeve. He pulled back and took hold of the quivering bone with his hand. In his open mouth he held his tongue in constant contact and constant motion against Zack's frenulum.

"Oh, fuck!" Zack cried. He held Troy's shoulder with one hand and braced his other hand against the door behind him. This made his knees weak. This drove him crazy. And his lover knew it. Troy looked up at Zack as his tongue moved against his lover's most sensitive trigger.

"Lee!" Zack opened his eyes as well and looked down on his partner as the smaller man knelt before him and tortured his straining cock. Troy looked up into Zack's eyes and knew he was doing a good job, not just by the precum that he could taste on his ever moving tongue, but by the look on Zack's face and the way his lover's entire body trembled.

"Ugh, God,"Zack watched his partner make love to his cock. Zack's hood was fully retracted by his own length, but his skin was not tight. Troy continued his tongue work on Zack's frenulum and with a loose grip of only thumb and forefinger began a slow stroke on the long pole.

"Fuck, Lee! Are you gonna take it? I don't want to make a mess," Zack gripped Troy's shoulder tighter. "I'm so close!"

And that made Troy stop. He held his hand still and pulled his tongue back. "I don't want you to come like this."

Zack closed his eyes and put his head back against the door as he came down from the edge. "Then suck."

"I mean, standing up," Troy rose and took Zack's hand. "Come over here."

Zack followed along with his throbbing cock and balls sticking out of his fly.

"Sit down here on the edge," Troy led Zack to a fainting couch. "Lay back," he further directed as Zack sat down. "Yeah, just like that!" Troy wasted no time in falling to his knees again and moving in. Zack's mast lay on his tux vest. Troy wrapped his hand around it as he lavished Zack's stones in their smooth sac with broad laps of his tongue. He held up the long organ in his palm and ran his tongue up the length of Zack's sensitive cum tube again. He relished the moan from the man that accompanied the jump from his cock. Troy ran his tongue through Zack's weeping slit and savored the taste of his lover's juices.

"Ugh," Zack threw one arm over his face as he felt his lover's fingers close around him and the talented tongue return to his frenulum. Troy resumed his torture of the tip of his lover's long penis and stroked him at the same time. Troy did this only a moment. He needed both of his hands. And he knew that this would make Zack come to quickly. The risk of discovery grew by the moment, but Troy wanted his lover's pleasure to last as long as possible. He let go of Zack's cock and slowly went down on it until it was fully buried in his throat.

"Huh," Zack was able to arch his back and enjoy this far more than when he was on his feet. They had met and fallen in love so young, Zack had very little experience against which to compare, but none of the other men Zack had ever been with could work his cock like Troy. Sometimes Zack wondered if it was knowledge Troy had picked up from the street, but deep in his heart he knew it was because they loved each other.

Troy pulled his mouth up Zack's engorged bone, almost until only the snake's leaking head remained in his mouth, and then sank back down. In this way Troy began a slow, sensual suck while his nimble fingers unfastened Zack's pants. This was easy as neither of them had bothered with a belt.

"Ugh, Lee," Zack moaned as Troy's talented mouth drew up his long shaft yet again. "Make me come," he urged. "We can't stay in here long," Zack tried again. He only realized that his vest had been unbuttoned when he felt a slight tug on his shirt. Zack lifted his arm to look down and noticed that Troy was looking up at him, while unbuttoning his tux shirt, and going down on him, all at the same time.

"Don't undress me!" Zack protested. Troy continued to unbutton his lover's shirt and finally broke eye contact as he pressed his nose into the fly of Zack's boxers.

"Fuck," Zack let his head drop back and surrendered fully as his pole was lodged in his lover's skilled throat. Troy unbuttoned every button save the very top one which was held in place by Zack's euro tie. Zack laid on the fainting couch fully in his tux, with jacket, vest and shirt open wide exposing his trim torso, and his hard cock buried in his partner's face. Troy massaged Zack's throbbing shaft with his loving lips, and protruding cum tube with his sensual tongue. Zack tried to hold his body still as Troy's hands ran up his abdomen to his chest.

"Ugh," Zack loved it when Troy lightly pinched his nipples. He felt the caressing hands run down his sides as Troy's fingers played over each of his ribs. Troy continued to slowly suck his man's throbbing tool and knew when Zack's balls pulled up tight to his body. He could feel his chin make contact with Zack's tight scrotum each time he went down fully on the long cock. Troy could also feel the tiny little thrusts that Zack liked to make when he reached this point. With his balls drawn up tight, Zack could feel the patch of hair on his lover's chin each time Troy went down on him and his little thrusts were designed to maximize this contact.

"Fuck, Lee, you got me so close again!" Zack confessed what Troy already knew. Troy brought one hand down to hold the throbbing spear and pulled his mouth off Zack yet again. He stuck out his tongue and began a quick licking motion on Zack's frenulum.

"No!" Zack lifted his head and looked down as his whole body went stiff. "Lee, I'll make a mess!" he protested. "Leo!"

Troy watched his lover's eyes grow wide and heard the familiar, strangled gasp as Zack's breath caught in his throat, just as his nuts cracked. The rock hard crank in his hand grew even harder and, just as Zack's cum tube expanded with his ejaculation, Troy went down on him again.

"Hah!" Zack's eyes crossed and his body thrashed on the fainting couch as his weapon exploded deep in Troy's mouth. Troy put one hand on Zack's hip and the other on his chest in an effort to hold him down as jet after jet of sweet cream gushed into the back of his throat. Troy closed his eyes and gulped down a mouthful of his lover's juice. Zack realized almost at once that he was making far too much noise and threw an arm across his face to muffle his own cries with his sleeve.

"Huh, ungh!" Zack could not hold in his moans any more than he could hold in the semen that sprayed into his lover's mouth. Troy happily drank from his sexy partner's squirting hose. He gently sucked on the pulsing cock as Zack continued to unload in his mouth and down his throat. This was exactly what he had in mind when he pulled Zack away from the small, old, odd neighbor of Seth and Garrett's. Sometimes Troy could just look at Zack, and suddenly his very soul depended on drinking Zack's cum.

He remembered that day on the boat, the day they met, when they were just teenagers. They jacked each other off that day, but while Zack lay panting from his orgasm, the sight and smell of Zack's seed as it coated Troy's fingers, Zack's cock, and lay in streaks and a pool on Zack's abdomen, Troy had been overcome with desire. He had leaned forward and let his lips just close around the head of Zack's still hard, but spent, cummy cock, tasting him. And he was hooked. Zack opened his eyes in surprise that day. From that day and for a long time they had restricted themselves to handjobs. After all the talks from his dads and brothers, Troy wanted to be responsible and also did not want to shock or scare Zack. On the streets, on a few occasions, he had been with others like himself, teenage boys who had either run away or, like him, been thrown away. Those times were out of a simple mutual need for comfort. Half of them weren't even gay. The vast majority of the time the men were Johns, who were paying for his services. These were not men he would have chosen to be with. Zack was the first boy his own age that he had wanted to be with out of genuine desire. Zack was the first guy for whom he had developed genuine feelings. Zack, in many ways, was actually Troy's first. Their first New Year's Eve together, when they were just seventeen, Troy gave Zack his very first blow job. He had not let Zack's cum go to waste since.

Zack lay panting now as Troy nursed on his just oozing and still very hard joint.

"Oh my God, Lee," Zack moved both hands down to to Troy's head. He ran his fingers through Troy's thick, rich hair as his lover continued to gently suck him.

Emmett didn't find Nasir on the dance floor, or at the bar. Nor did he find him at the head table where his warming beer sat beside Nasir's tumbler of watered down Laphroaig. Emmett picked up his beer and took a gulp, not caring that it was not as cold as he would have liked. He let his eyes survey the tables of the drawing and dining rooms one more time. Emmett did see Garrett talking with Justin and Melinda, and figured if anyone knew where Nasir might have gotten off to, it would be his best friend. Bottle in hand, he walked over to them.

"Hey, guys," Emmett greeted.

"Hey, my man," Jusitn smiled, his arm around his wife.

"You guys seen Nasi?" Emmett asked.

"Now you mention it, no," Garrett looked around. "Not in a while actually. The last time was with you and his sister."

"We saw her off when her husband came to pick her up and when we came back in I lost him. I haven't seen him since," Emmett confided.

"He can't have got far. I shall help you look. Excuse us," Garrett smiled at his brother and sister-in-law.

"Go ahead," Justin gestured with his own bottle.

Emmett and Garrett walked together through the dining room, out to the great hall.

"Perhaps on the verandah," Garrett pointed. He and Emmett walked through the Great Hall and outside, into the romantic flickering gaslight of the verandah. They did not find who they were looking for, though it was not deserted. Leah and Roberto sat on a large wooden bench swing that hung on chains from the ceiling of the broad verandah. His suit jacket was folded over his lap. It was immediately clear that they had been kissing for some time and he was hard.

"Hey, you guys see Nasi come through here?" Emmett asked. "We can't find him."

"No, Em, sorry," Leah answered.

"We'd help you look, but..." Roberto gave a sheepish grin.

"Don't get up," Emmett chuckled and held up a hand. "We'll find him," he and Garrett walked back into the mansion.

"I wonder if he might have gone down to the billiards room," Garrett mused.

"You check down there. I'm gonna look upstairs," Emmett directed.

"Right," Garrett headed for the stairs that led down while Emmett bounded up the stairs to the second floor.

The moment Emmett reached the upper hall he saw it, though it took him a moment to figure out what it was. A large piece of white cloth lay on the floor. Something black peeked out from under it at one edge. Emmett bent to pick them up and discovered that the dark object was Nasir's igal, and the large white cloth was in fact his ghutra. As Emmett picked them up, Nasir's taqiyah fell out. He bent to pick up the snug headpiece that Arab men wore under their ghutra. Emmett furrowed his brow.

"Nasi," Emmett called as he stood there with some of his husband's clothing in his hand. "Nasi," he repeated as he started down the hall toward Nasir's groom's room. The door to what was once Mr. Stimson's bedroom stood open. Emmett walked in and immediately saw Nasir's bisht in a heap on the bed. Now Emmett started to worry. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and touched the icon to call Nasir's phone. Emmett put his phone to his ear, but lowered it and turned when he heard the unique ring assigned to him, come from Nasir's phone. Emmett picked up the bisht and moved it aside.

There on the bed beneath it, were Nasir's cell and his wallet. Even more concerned, Emmett looked around the room, but there were no places for Nasir to hide, and no reason why he should. With a sinking feeling, Emmett realized his husband was gone.