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

19. Chapter 19

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

So, when we left off there was a bit of a cliffy. Some might say an evil cliffy. When you see what I have done, you will either hate me or love me. And one of you actually hit the nail right on the head. Read on, dear readers.

Mistress Liz, thank you as always for the tweaks and especially making sure Edward sounds and feels like Edward.

No more surprises. At least not today. At least not from me. Look for Errors 57 later today!

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 19: Pay the Price

"Garrett!" Emmett shouted as he flew down the grand front staircase in the Stimson-Green mansion. Garrett had just reached the bottom of the stairs and was about to head up, when the tone of Emmett's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"What's wrong, Emmett?" Garrett was the more alarmed by the look on the bigger man's face.

"He's gone, Garrett!" Emmett grabbed Garrett's shoulders in a stronger grip than he should have.

"Gone? Gone where?" Garrett squirmed a little in Emmett's grasp.

"I don't know where!" Emmett answered with near hysteria.

"Emmett, calm down," Garrett tried to pry Emmett's strong hands from his shoulders. "What are you talking about?"

"Garrett, somebody took him! I know it! Sorry," Emmett finally got it and let go of Garrett. "I'm sorry."

Garrett knew Emmett needed physical contact with him and took hold of the bigger man's arms. "Tell me why you think that."

"His things are upstairs. His phone and wallet. His clothes were scattered down the hall," Emmett explained as calmly as he could.

"There must be an explanation," Garrett furrowed his brow, for while he did believe that, he couldn't come up with one.

"Garrett," Emmett fought his rising panic. "Garrett, you don't think his brother and some thugs came and took him, do you? My God, the look on Sadiq's face!"

"Well, if that's the case, they'll never get out of the country with him. We can see to that," Garrett stated firmly.

"They don't have to take him out of the country to hurt him!" Emmett was beside himself. "Garrett, I can't lose him! I can't! Not today! Not ever!" Emmett began to visibly shake.

"Let me get Seth," Garrett kept his left hand on Emmett's arm while he pulled out his cell with his right and rang his husband. "That's odd," he lowered the phone when it went right to voicemail. "Seth's phone isn't on."

"Garrett, what are we going to do?" Emmett's panic was getting the better of him, but he had the presence of mind to grip Garrett's sleeve, rather than his arm.

"One phone call from my father can have every Federal Marshal this side of the Mississippi on the case, Emmett, if that's called for," Garrett assured. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and took hold of Emmett's arms. Garrett looked directly into Emmett's crystal blues. "The important thing right now, is not to panic," he spoke in his even, measured voice.

"We need Roberto. Let's get Roberto. We can't wait for Federal Marshals," Emmett tried to think clearly.

Behind Garrett, Edward and Cliff emerged into the great hall from the drawing room. Edward carried a Blue Moon while Cliff held a glass of wine.

"Hey, you guys seen Seth?" Edward called when he saw Garrett and Emmett. Surely between these two, one of them must know where the little diva was.

But they didn't.

Garrett turned and furrowed his brow. "No," he answered. It only took Cliff a second to see that something was amiss, and Edward even less.

"Em, Garrett, what's wrong?" Edward was immediately concerned.

"Nasi is missing. Somebody took him," Emmett sounded as desperate as he looked.

"What?" Edward's face transformed. "Here? How?"

"I don't know!" Emmett still clutched to Garrett at the bottom of the steps. "His clothes were scattered all over upstairs. His phone and wallet and everything are up there, and he's gone!"

"Fuck!" Edward swore. "We have to find him!"

"We'll need as much help as we can get," Cliff observed. "Where did Seth go?" he asked innocently.

Emmett froze and stared at Cliff.

"Emmett?" Garrett asked.

"Em, what is it?" Edward pressed when Emmett didn't answer Garrett.

"Seth is missing too?" Emmett asked in a calmer, but suspicious voice.

"Is he?" Garrett looked from Emmett to Edward and Cliff.

"Where's my brother? Anybody seen Carson?" Emmett started to smell a rat.

"We saw his wife talking to Yvonne and Maggie," Cliff pointed in the direction from which he and Edward just came.

"He's not with her," Emmett's question was more a conclusion.

"We didn't see him," Edward confirmed.

Emmett finally let go of Garrett's sleeve and strode determinedly toward the drawing room. Sonja would know where her husband was and what he was up to. Edward and Cliff looked to Garrett for understanding, but he had none to give. Garrett just shook his head and started after Emmett.

"Emmett," Garrett called as he followed. Edward and Cliff shared a concerned look.

"Em," Edward echoed as he and Cliff followed as well.

---

Thirty Minutes Earlier

Carson watched his brother and brother-in-law walk Samira out of the reception and figured it was to meet her husband. He remembered her saying that her husband would pick her up at nine and it was just a few minutes after nine now. Carson also figured that this was the perfect time. Of course, he realized that his plan had a huge flaw in that he was the only one who knew about it. Carson knew he needed a co-conspirator, and knew just the one.

Beer in hand, Carson walked over to where Seth sat pontificating to Simon, at a table now otherwise deserted as people milled about and danced.

"Seth, hey, I need you, Bro," Carson intruded. Seth and Simon both looked up at him.

"You just can't hear words like that, from a straight guy like this, often enough," Simon quipped.

"Yeah, you're pretty cute too," Carson returned.

"Excuse me, Simon. When a hot, straight guy needs my attention, what can I do?" Seth held up his hands with a shrug. He rose, picked up his cosmo, and began to walk with Carson.

"Seth, little buddy," Carson began with his arm around Seth's shoulders. Seth took complete advantage of this.

"Yes, big buddy?" Seth put his arm around Carson's waist and pressed himself against the bigger man's side.

Carson chuckled, but went along with it. "Has Em explained the fine German tradition of abducting the bride?"

"Sorry, the what?" Seth looked up at Carson as they stopped and just stood holding each other.

"The best man, that would be you, and groomsmen, that would be me, abduct the bride, or in our case, other groom," Carson explained. "We take him to a local pub, or bar, or whatever, and have a good time. The groom, I mean, other groom, that being my brother, has to find him, and when he does, he has two options. He has to pay the tab for his husband and us, and anyone drinking with us, or he has to invite everyone back to the reception," Carson smiled as he watched the smaller man's face slowly lite up at his words.

"Are you making that up?" Seth looked up at Carson with a narrowed gaze.

"They did it to Sonja at our wedding. Go ask her if you don't believe me," Carson gestured.

Seth added a tilt of his head to his squint, and when he did both, Truth could not escape him. "I believe you, Carson, and, as it happens, Emmy has not shared this particular tradition with me."

"So, Samira is just leaving. Now would be the perfect time," Carson gestured.

"You came to the right man," Seth pulled his cell out of his pocket. "Let's go keep an eye. We'll isolate him at the first opportunity," Seth instructed as he put his phone to his ear. "And I know just where to take him."

Their opportunity soon came when Emmett joined Paul and Paul junior in the men's room, and left Nasir alone in the great hall. Seth and Carson flew out of the dining room before the men's room door was closed.

"Nasir! Nasir, we need you," Seth called.

"We need your help, Bro," Carson added.

"What can I do?" Nasir spread his arms and smiled, oblivious to their nefarious plot.

"Come upstairs with us real quick," Seth grabbed and pulled on Nasir's arm.

"Upstairs?" Carson didn't get it.

"Upstairs, Carson," Seth stressed and as subtly as he could gestured to what Nasir was wearing.

"Right," Carson got it. "We need you upstairs, Nasir," he took Nasir's other arm as they started up the steps. Seth and Carson did their best to rush Nasir up to the second floor and down to his groom's room. Carson opened the door and stepped in first.

"Nasir's tux jacket, Carson," Seth pointed. "Nasir, take this off," he tugged at the bisht.

"You want me to wear my dinner jacket now?" Nasir asked as he complied.

"Yeah, I need you to match Emmy for the next little bit," Seth didn't quite lie. Nasir laid his bisht on the bed as Carson approached with his white tux jacket.

"Here ya go, Bro," Carson held the jacket for Nasir. The Emirati groom turned and placed his arms in the sleeves for Carson to slip the jacket up into place on his shoulders. Nasir was now dressed exactly like Emmett, save Emmett's silk scarf and the ghutra still on Nasir's head.

"You can't have your wallet or phone on you right now either," Carson instructed with a pointed finger.

"Give them to me," efficient little Seth knew where Nasir kept them and plucked them both from Nasir's amused person. "We'll leave them right here where they'll be safe," Seth set them on the bed and moved Nasir's bisht to cover them. "Just one last thing," Seth pulled the pin and removed Nasir's boutonniere from the discarded bisht.

"We don't have time for that," Carson objected.

"He needs his boutonniere, Carson," Seth set about pinning it to the lapel of Nasir's dinner jacket. "He has to match Emmy. There. Now come on!" Seth dashed for the door.

"Yeah, let's go!" Carson enthused. He put his arm around Nasir's shoulders as they followed Seth out into the hallway. "Oh, you can't wear this right now either," Carson pulled Nasir's ghutra, igal and taqiyah off his head in one fluid motion with the hand of the arm around the Arab's shoulders. "We're in a hurry. We'll get it later," he added as he let the garments fall to the floor behind them.

"Where are we going?" Nasir asked.

"Where we are not going, is that way!" Seth pulled on both Nasir and Carson as they veered toward the front stairs.

"We're not?" Carson was nearly as puzzled as Nasir, as they all moved quickly through the upper hall.

"Remember the sitting room where your family relaxed before the ceremony?" Seth led them down the opposing hallway past Mrs. Stimson's bedroom.

"No," Nasir had not seen it.

"Yeah," Carson had.

"Remember these French doors?" Seth charged into the sitting room ahead of them and across the room to pull open a set of French doors that led out onto a small balcony. A balcony with a stone corkscrew staircase that led down into Mrs. Stimson's beloved rose garden.

"Seth, you are all kinds of genius," Carson stated as he and Nasir stepped out onto the balcony.

"It is so pretty out here," Nasir looked down on the gaslamp lit path, that led to an iron gate, that gave onto the side street.

"Go on down," Seth instructed as he pulled the French doors closed. Carson went first and Seth brought up the rear.

"This way?" Carson pointed toward the gate to the side street.

"Yep!" Seth jumped from the next to the last step. "C'mon!" he grabbed Nasir's hand and all but ran down the path.

Beyond the iron gate waited their stretch, white, Lincoln Town Car limousine with the darkened windows. The drivers had traded cars again and Nasir's regular driver waited beside the limo.

"Sirs," Bobby opened the rear door as the men emerged from their secret escape route.

"We are leaving?" Nasir was audibly less enthused and stopped on the sidewalk. "Why are we leaving?"

"It's a German tradition, Nasir," Seth enthused.

"We take you to a bar and Emmett has to come get you," Carson explained further. "This happens at every German wedding," Carson added when he saw the dubious look on Nasir's face. "Normally it's the bride, but..."

"Which between the two of you should probably be Emmy," Seth reasoned out loud.

"But Em knows how to play this game. You don't," Carson made the most important point.

"And we really need to go right now," Seth pulled on Nasir's hand.

"Okay," Nasir agreed and followed Seth into the long car. Carson got in last and Bobby shut them in. Seth let Nasir and Carson sit down in the plush rear seat first before he snuggled himself in between them.

"Where to, Mr. al Qasimi?" Bobby asked as he took the wheel.

"We're going to R Place, Bobby," Seth spoke up.

"Yes, sir," Bobby put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. He turned right on Minor and accelerated as they drove past the front of the mansion.

"Why would Em be the bride?" Carson wondered. "Oh, it's because my brother likes to take it up the ass, doesn't he?"

"So do I," Seth gave a sigh as he made himself more comfortable against Carson's side.

"Nasir, you stud," Carson held out his fist to his brother-in-law who happily bumped it with his own.

"Are you comfortable nestled in with us tops, Emira?" Nasir put a hand on Seth's leg.

"Completely," Seth assured.

"You know, I've never fucked a woman in her ass," Carson confessed.

"I can't imagine a woman would like that," Seth reasoned. "It's what you," he poked Carson in the chest, "do to our prostate when you are fucking us that makes it feel so good. A woman can't experience that."

"I guess I'll never know. Sonja won't let me," Carson revealed.

"I'm sorry," Seth felt for him.

"It's because I'm so big," Carson gave a smirk.

"Chum," Seth slowly shook his head. "Chum in a tank full of sharks."

"I am intimately familiar with how big you McCarty boys are," Nasir smiled.

"Which of you is bigger, I wonder?" Seth tapped his chin.

This made Carson laugh. "We've never checked! We've never even seen each other hard. And I hope we never do!"

"Nasir here is an expert in McCarty erections. His knowledge of one in particular, is extensive. We could have him check for us," Seth offered with a grin.

"Oh, no!" Carson held up his hands. "We'll just leave that a mystery, but thanks anyway."

"Well, I'm sure the offer stands," Seth teased away.

"Hey, why does he call you 'Emira', anyway?" Carson asked.

"It's because he likes to live dangerously," Seth threatened.

"But what does it mean?" Carson pressed.

"The ruler of an Emirate is called an Emir," Nasir explained. "If there were such a thing as a female ruler, she would be an Emira."

"Oh, okay, now I get it," Carson chuckled. "Emira," he nudged Seth.

"Let me make this perfectly clear, straight boy. It's cute when he does it. You are in danger of losing a testicle!" Seth stuck his finger in Carson's chest.

"Okay, okay, I got it," Carson held up his hands.

"You think it is cute when I call you that?" Nasir rubbed Seth's leg.

"Did I just admit that out loud?" Seth asked.

"I think you did," Nasir nodded.

"Crap," Seth shook his head.

It was a mere five blocks through quiet side streets to the corner of Boylston and Pine. Bobby circled around onto Pine so that he could pull up properly to the right curb in front of the club.

"Here we are," Seth gestured with a smile. Carson didn't wait for their driver and just opened his door to hop out. Seth and Nasir followed. A few men on the street walking alone and in pairs toward the bar took notice of them getting out of a limousine.

"Bobby," Seth pulled his walled out of his pocket, "did they feed you guys? I told them to make sure you two had dinner."

"Yes, Sir, Mr. Seth," Bobby rubbed his stomach. "We ate very well. The schnitzel especially was awesome."

"Good," Seth extracted a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet. "Nasir's location is a secret. Can you maintain radio silence?"

"Yes, Sir. I sure can," Bobby assured them.

"You're a sweetie," Seth tucked the bill into the chauffeur's suit jacket pocket and then led the way into the almost industrial looking building that in no way hinted at what was contained within.

"Hi, Jerry," Seth leaned up to give the doorman a kiss.

"Hi, Seth," The tall ginger man was only too happy to see Seth. He stamped Seth's hand without asking for the cover charge.

"These guys are with me," Seth gestured over his shoulder. Carson and Nasir presented their hands to be stamped as well. Nasir of course looked familiar to the doorman, but he couldn't remember the attractive man's name.

"Enjoy," Jerry bid with a nod and a smile.

"Oh, we will," Seth assured as he led the way, past what was the coat check in the winter, through into the club proper.

If they thought men noticed them outside, it was nothing to the attention they garnered once they appeared inside. Seth nodded and gave a wave to people he knew. Nasir merely smiled. Carson did not.

"Hoo, boy. This mighta been a mistake," Carson expressed his nervousness as he observed the many hungry looking pairs of eyes scrutinizing them.

"We will protect you," Nasir offered.

"Yes, please," Carson nodded as they followed Seth toward the front bar.

"How is this?" Nasir put his arm around Carson's shoulders and pulled him close.

"Yeah, good idea," Carson put his arm around Nasir as well. "If guys think I'm with you, they won't hit on me."

"Hey, Seth!" the shirtless bartender at the front bar called as soon as he saw the smaller man approach. "Guys, make room," he commanded.

"Hi, Danny," Seth stepped up on the footrests of two bar stools to get high enough, to lean close enough, to give the bartender with the Bieber haircut a kiss.

"Cosmo, Seth?" Danny asked.

"I'd love one, Danny, thank you," Seth stepped back down.

"Guys? Nasir, right?" Danny pointed. He tried in his subtle way to let Seth's friend know that he knew him, and more importantly, knew that the man in his arms was not his partner.

"Two Beck's, please," Nasir ordered for them. Danny nodded and set about making Seth's cocktail first.

"Beck's is as close as we are going to get," Nasir explained.

"Beck's will do just fine, Bro," Carson agreed.

"So, what's the occasion?" Danny asked as he placed two beer bottles beside Seth's cosmopolitan.

"Just a gay ole wedding," Seth answered.

This triggered pats on the back and wishes well from multiple patrons within earshot, all of whom assumed that Nasir and Carson were the two grooms. The more strangers touched him, the more Carson wanted to encourage that misconception.

"Yep, just married my guy," Carson held Nasir closer.

Seth did not fail to note the raised eyebrow behind the too long Bieber bangs. He climbed back up on the bar stools. "This is Emmy's straight, and a little scared, little brother," he spoke quietly into the bartender's ear.

"Ah, gotcha. Where's Emmett?" Danny asked the next natural question.

"We abducted Nasir from the reception and Emmy has to come find us. It's a German thing," Seth explained.

"Well, he'll never find you here!" Danny laughed.

"I know, it wasn't the best hiding place, but it sure is fun watching this," Seth gestured behind him to where the straight man clutched to the gay man to ward off the gay men.

"Hey, congrats," Danny offered his hand to Nasir.

"Thank you," Nasir smiled and shook the bartender's hand.

"You too," Danny offered his hand to Carson with a wink.

"Thanks," Carson was grateful for the support to their conspiracy. "Hey, we need some shots too. Set us up some Patròn Silver."

"Sure thing. Lime and salt?" Danny asked.

"Yes, please," Carson confirmed.

"You got it," Danny lined up three shot glasses and fetched the Patròn bottle from the top shelf.

"You guys make a cute couple," a random man complimented Nasir and Carson.

Carson gave a small jump and looked quickly over his shoulder. "Please tell me that was you that just patted my ass," he said to Nasir.

"No, but I am happy to do so if you would like," Nasir offered with a smile.

"Oh," Carson looked up toward the ceiling. "Gonna need lots of shots," he took a long, hard pull on his beer.

Danny poured their shots, gave them a tumbler of lime wedges and a salt shaker. They licked the back of their hands, salted them, licked again, and downed their tequila, finishing up with a bite into a little lime wedge.

"Woot!" Carson yelled and tossed the spent wedge on the bar. "Hit us again, brother!"

"Start us a tab, please, Danny," Seth instructed as the bartender poured again.

"So this is why we can't get service down at the other end of the bar," a plump older man with platinum blonde bleached hair approached them. He wore dark pants, a white dress shirt and pink suit jacket.

"Miss Willie!" Seth threw his arms around the man in his fifties as they gave each other a kiss.

"Hi, pumpkin!" Willie ran his fingers through Seth's lustrous, raven hair. "Just gorgeous."

"I know," Seth ran his fingers through his own hair.

"Hi, Emme-, oh! You're not Emmett!" Willie started to reach for the man he mistook for Nasir's partner. "My goodness, you sure do look like him though!"

"I'm Emmett's body double," Carson teased.

"His what?" Willie raised his equally bleached eyebrows.

"This is Carson, Emmy's little brother. Carson, Miss Willie, our hairdresser," Seth introduced.

"I'm gonna guess he's straight," Willie surmised.

"And I'm glad you can tell," Carson was pleased.

"I can tell by the way you're tucked into Nasir's side," Willie smiled.

"Yeah, I'm standing in for my brother," Carson stated. "Do a shot with us?"

"I don't mind if I do," Willie agreed. Danny was expecting this and immediately set up a fourth shot glass and filled it as well.

"Ooh! I needed that!" Willie enthused after he bit into his lime wedge.

"Have a drink with us? My brother's buying," Carson smiled.

"Make me a bloody mary, Danny, cutie. You know the way I like it," Willie winked at the shirtless bartender.

"You know I do," Danny smiled and went to make it.

"Was the wedding today?" Willie asked.

"It was," Seth confirmed.

"Where's Emmett?" Willie asked the next obvious question.

"He's on his way," Carson assured.

"It must have been beautiful," Willie enthused.

"Super classy, really elegant," Carson endorsed.

"Of course," Seth flipped his hair over his shoulder.

"Everything a gay wedding should be," Carson continued. "And check this out," he pulled Nasir's left hand closer. "Em and Nasir got us all diamond cufflinks with our initials! Check out Nasir's!"

Carson pulled up Nasir's dinner jacket sleeve to show Willie Nasir's cufflink. A cufflink in the shape of an E.

"That's an E," Willie observed.

"What?" Carson looked.

"It is," Nasir saw it for himself.

"I thought," Carson took Nasir's right arm to examine the cufflink and found the ن symbol they expected to find on his left cuff. "Yeah, here it is."

"What is that?" Willie squinted.

"It's an N in Arabic," Carson was proud of his Arab brother-in-law, if not entirely accurate.

"Oh, nice," Willie nodded in appreciation.

"Em must have put one of each on both of you," Carson looked to the groom he had abducted.

"Yes, he did," Nasir was clearly touched by that as he examined the E on his left cuff. Through their ceremony, and all through dinner and dancing and cake, he had not noticed it.

And at that moment Cason's cell rang. "Oh, here we go, guys," he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

---

"Sonja, you know where Car is?" Emmett asked his sister-in-law when he found her standing with Yvonne and Maggie.

"He said he had to go take care of something," Sonja answered.

"Em, are you okay?" Maggie could not recall when she had seen this look on the big guy's face. She looked to her brother for answers when Garrett, Edward and Cliff came up close behind Emmett.

"I will be," Emmett answered Maggie.

Sonja observed Emmett's demeanor and how he was flanked by clearly concerned Garrett, Edward and Cliff, and was pretty sure she got it. "Oh, I bet I know what that something is."

"I bet I do too," Emmett produced his cell and scrolled through numbers.

"I wish someone would tell us," Edward spoke up. This earned him a grateful nod of agreement from Garrett.

"Well, hi, Em!" Carson answered his cell with great enthusiasm.

"Carson, tell me where you are and what you are doing," Emmett commanded,

"Oh, no. You know how this works, Bro," Carson was clearly enjoying this. "We have him and you have to find him. And you better hurry, because we're having a good time!"

All the people with Emmett saw him close his eyes and sink down into a chair as he finally let all the tension and panic go. "Is Seth with you?"

"Of course he is. It's the best man who does the abducting. I'm just here to help," Carson informed.

"Seth is with him and they took Nasi," Emmett informed the concerned loved ones who stood around him watching and listening closely.

"Why ever would they do that?" Garrett was bewildered. "And why isn't Seth's phone on?"

"Garrett would like to know why Seth's phone is not on," Emmett relayed.

"Hey, your husband wants to know why you turned your phone off," Carson asked and waited for the answer. "Ha! Good thinking, Seth!" the high five was audible over the connection. "Seth's phone is off so that Garrett's phone can't locate it. No cheating, Em!"

"Do you know what went through my mind? Do you what I thought happened to my husband, my life partner? You can save your plane ticket, 'cause I'm gonna kick your sorry, stupid ass all the way back to Minnesota!" Emmett threatened his little brother.

"Em, what's wrong with you? You got married. You know how this works," Carson stated.

"Yeah, I do," Emmett admitted with a sigh. "Alright. I'll find you."

"Bring your credit card!" Carson urged and hung up.

Emmett lowered his hand and just held his cell.

"Em, for fuck's sake, talk to us," Edward brought the point home that he and others in close attendance were still in the dark.

"Yes, please," Garrett agreed.

"There is a fine German tradition at weddings that I didn't mention to anyone, because I was hoping to avoid it, and quite frankly, I really forgot all about it," Emmett began.

"The best man abducts the bride, or in this case...," Sonja gestured toward Emmett as she gave the punch line. Every brow in attendance furrowed at once.

"The tradition is that the bride is taken from the reception by the best man to a local pub, and the groom has to find her. So Nasi was taken by Seth, and we all know who put him up to that. I don't know where they are. Seth turned his phone off so you couldn't track him down for me."

"Ah," Garrett finally understood.

"I have to find them and when I do, I have to pay for everything they drank, and everyone drinking with them," Emmett finished.

"We got you covered, Em. Don't give that another thought," Edward assured.

"Absolutely," Garrett agreed.

"How do we find them?" Cliff mused aloud. "We're in Capital Hill, so there's any number of gay bars where they might have gone. Would your brother go into one?"

"He doesn't know the area at all. I'm sure he would have let Seth pick," Emmett surmised.

"Carson's in a gay bar? I can't wait to hear about this," Sonja chuckled.

"With so many around, how do we figure out which one?" Cliff wondered. "This could take hours."

"Carson took Nasir to a gay bar and Seth is with them," Edward thought out loud. "I'll be right back," he turned and headed in the direction of the dance floor.

Simon and Wayne were dancing their tight, little asses off to Gaga and Beyonce's Telephone with great glee when they were approached by Edward.

"Hey, guys, can I bug you for a minute?" Edward asked.

"Sure," Simon readily agreed. He from experience, and Wayne from what he had heard, always made time for Edward Cullen.

"Simon, I need your help," Edward began as he led them off the dance floor.

"Anything. What is it?" Simon asked, his eyes bright.

"Seth, for reasons too long to go into, left and is at one of the bars around town. I need to know which one and right now," Edward explained.

"Give me two minutes," Simon pulled his smartphone out of his pocket. The touch of one icon brought up his twitter account.

HotBottomSimon
Hey boys and girls,
I'm looking for Seth Clearwater.
Who sees him?

"He's not at The Cuff," Simon began to read aloud as reports came in. "He's not at the Lobby."

HotBottomSimon
AllSeeingSeth
is at R Place.
Looking at him right now.
He's with Emmett and Nasir.
U coming out?

Simon read the third message that came in, in less than sixty seconds. "But, isn't that Emmett over there?" he pointed.

"Someone is just mistaking his brother for him. Seth and Carson abducted Nasir and we have to go get him," Edward gave the abridged explanation.

Simon and Wayne looked at each other. "We're in!" they enthused and followed Edward back to Emmett, Garrett, Cliff and the ladies.

"They're at R Place," Edward announced.

"I'll get one of the limos pulled up," Garrett pulled his cell out of his pocket.

"Let's go," Emmett led the charge. "Girls, we'll be right back. Keep the party going," he called back to Sonja, Maggie and Yvonne.

Just as Emmett, Garrett, Edward, Cliff, Simon and Wayne reached the end of the gaslamp illuminated walk from the front door of the mansion, their white Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up to the curb. Matt was quick to open the rear, passenger side suicide door.

"Thanks," Emmett said to the teen valet as he climbed into the back of the car.

"We need our car, please," Wayne handed his ticket to Tim who ran to fetch it without a word.

"I'll sit in front," Garrett offered and opened the front passenger door himself. "Tom, isn't it?" he asked as he slid in beside the driver.

"Yes, sir," their chauffeur answered.

"Do you know where Bobby and the other limousine went?" Garrett asked.

"I know he took some guys someplace and that he won't answer his phone anymore," Tom held up his own cell.

"We need to go to the same place," Garrett informed as Edward and Cliff piled into the backseat with Emmett.

"We'll see you guys there," Edward called to Simon and Wayne before Matt shut them in.

"Okay, but I don't know where that is," Tom answered Garrett.

"Turn right at the next block," Garrett was more than capable of guiding them to their destination.

Rather than try to squeeze three abreast, Edward sat up as straight as possible and Cliff perched on the edge of the seat between his wide spread legs. When the car accelerated away from the mansion Edward grabbed Cliff's ribs to keep the lighter man from leaning back on him fully.

"You guys comfy?" Emmett was amused.

Edward and Cliff were less amused. In truth they were comfy. A little too comfy. Their bodies remembered how well they once fit together, and that made them both uncomfortable. Fortunately the five block ride to R Place passed quickly. Tom circled around onto Pine so that he could pull to the curb right in front of a familiar Town Car limousine. Garrett didn't wait for Tom. He hopped out and Cliff did the same. Edward and Emmett were close behind. Garrett walked into the bar first and paid the cover for the four of them.

"There they are!" Seth saw his husband even before the others entered behind him.

"Hey!" Carson spread his arms, beer in one hand, as his little co-conspirator bounced into Garrett's arms.

"I should fucking deck you!" Emmett made a fist.

"You don't wanna deck me. You wanna hug me," Carson was feeling the effects of his multiple shots. "You're my big bro and you love me," he pulled Emmett into his arms.

"I do love you, but get off me. The only person I want to hug right now is my husband," Emmett let Carson go and turned to the waiting Arab who was dressed exactly as he was, save for his silk scarf and the diamond stud in his tie.

"You found me, Habibi," Nasir smiled.

"Yeah," Emmett took hold of Nasir's arms and just looked at him. "Wow, you look really hot in this too."

"Imagine looking at you all evening dressed like this," Nasir hinted. He closed his eyes as Emmett took him in his strong arms. Nasir rested his head on his husband's shoulder. "Now I am home."

"Yeah, Baby. My arms will always be home. I love you so much, Nasi," Emmett held his partner tightly.

"Ana b'hebbak, my Emmett," Nasir said it back in Arabic.

"When you were gone, I thought...," Emmett didn't even want to say it.

"What did you think?" Nasir pulled back to look into Emmett's crystal blues.

"Nothing. I'll tell you later," Emmett shook his head. Nasir let go of Emmett to hold up his right sleeve and show Emmett his ن cufflink. Then he did the same with his left sleeve to show his E.

"You noticed that, huh?" Emmett gave a grin. He held up his left sleeve to show Nasir where the other ن was. "I wanted us to have a piece of each other."

"And I love you for it," Nasir gave Emmett a sweet, gentle kiss on his lips. "But you will always have me, in here," He put his hand inside Emmett's dinner jacket, over his heart. "As I have you, my habibi."

"For always and always, Nasi," Emmett took his husband in his arms again.

"Okay, you got all night to hug and kiss, and, whatever other gay stuff you have planned," Carson took charge. "We need some shots and beers. Line 'em up, Danny Boy!"

Danny brought the Patròn bottle and left it for Carson to pour while he took and filled the rest of the drink orders.

"Hey, Em, hey, Em, you know Miss Willie?" Carson put his hand on the older man's shoulder.

"Did you just ask me if I know my hairdresser? How much have you had to drink?" Emmett shook his head. "Hi, Miss Willie," he gave the older man a kiss.

"And this is Pete from Seth's work," Carson continued. He grabbed hold of the front of Pete's shirt to pull him closer.

"Yeah, I know Pete. How you doin'?" Emmett bent to give this man a kiss as well.

"Hi, Emmett," the smaller man with the surfer boy vibe greeted.

"A guy named Pete in a gay bar," Carson laughed to himself.

"You're an ass," Emmett told his brother.

"Just do a shot. Everybody do a shot!" Carson commanded.

Seth watched everyone shoot their tequila together and was most impressed by his husband. Garrett even managed to make an activity that involved licking his hand look elegant.

"Oh, my," Garrett set his used lime wedge into his shot glass and licked his lips. "I can see the appeal of that. Is that how Carson got to the state he is in?"

"I'm feeling no pain right now myself," Seth admitted. Then he saw Simon and Wayne clear the door. "Oh! I should have known!" Seth stamped his foot. "No wonder you found us so fast. Carson, there was one loose end I forgot," he pointed with his beer bottle.

"Hey! Drinks for these gay boys too!" Carson grabbed Simon and Wayne by their shirts and pulled them into the group. They didn't mind being manhandled by the big, hot, straight guy at all.

Seth also noticed that Edward and Cliff had left the group and were sitting by themselves at a small corner table. He chalked it up to two men who had a great deal to catch up on. Still, from the body language he read off both men, the conversation looked to be heavy. Seth resolved to let them be, but to keep a close eye on them. And it didn't help matters at all when Carson was not about to leave them out of the next round of shots, and kindly walked theirs over to them, complete with their own salt shaker, and rough pats on the back.

Carson downed this latest shot and smacked the glass down on the bar. "Woot!" he tossed the used lime wedge after it and held up his beer bottle. "My brother married his guy today!" Carson shouted.

"I'm not sure they heard you in Tacoma, Car," Emmett gave his brother a hard time.

"Well, which direction is Tacoma? I'm happy to yell again," Carson took a gulp of his Beck's.

Emmett shook his head and took a swig himself. "How the hell did you two do that, anyway? Were you just waiting for me to take a piss? How did you get Nasi out of the house without anyone seeing?"

"Like you didn't do that exact same thing," Carson recalled. "I went to the can, and when I came back, my beautiful bride was missing. Or don't you remember you and Chip stealing Sonja away to Sharky's?"

"I might remember something about that," Emmett admitted.

"And how did Chip learn to do that?" Carson pressed.

"I might have told him," Emmett confessed.

"And you didn't see this coming how?" Carson finished.

"Okay, okay," Emmett agreed. "But how did you guys get out of the mansion?"

"Balcony with it's own outdoor stairs down into the rose garden, and out to the waiting limo on the side street," Seth provided the answer with a smile.

"Sneaky bitches," Emmett swore.

"I was wondering the whole time what we were doing," Nasir added. "It all seemed very strange."

"I thought for a second there we weren't gonna get him in the car!" Seth laughed.

"If he didn't get in the car, I would have put him in the car," Carson boasted.

"Oh, you think you can do that?" Nasir asked as he puffed out his chest.

"I know I could," Carson was very sure of himself. "I woulda just shook my tushie at you," he delivered his punch line which brought the roar of laughter he was expecting.

"The Pied Piper of gay men everywhere!" Seth joked.

"It's just that I know your secret," Carson stated.

"And what's that?" Seth bit.

"You guys can't resist straight meat, 'cause you know you can't have any," Carson gave his reasoning. "And I'm a fireman."

"That's right, Carson," Seth agreed. "A big, hunky, straight, fireman. I'm gonna climb up on this bar and tell everyone that, and we can watch all these nice people turn into a salivating mob."

"Kay, time to go. I'll be out in the car!" Carson turned.

"He's kidding," Emmett grabbed Carson and pulled him back.

"Chum," Seth took Carson's arm and made a sweeping gesture to encompass the entire bar, "meet the sharks."

"Yeah, that's pretty funny," Carson nodded and took a swig of his beer.

"You know you're asking for it," Emmett informed his brother.

"Oh! Simon," Seth called. "Excuse me, Power Bottom business," he walked the three feet to Simon and spoke conspiratorially into his successor's ear.

"What does that even mean?" Carson wondered aloud.

"Hey, guys," Edward approached with his arm around Cliff's shoulders. The striking blonde man was nearly Edward's height, but seemed at this moment to be much smaller and more fragile somehow.

"I think we're gonna call it a night. Cliff's tired. He's been travelling all day," Edward looked to the man under his arm. "We'll get him checked in and tucked in."

"I'm so glad you could make it, Cliff," Emmett immediately took Cliff from Edward. "It really means a lot to me."

"I'm glad too, Emmett," Cliff closed his eyes and took comfort from the big bear hug.

"Edward, thank you so much," Nasir pulled him into a tight hug.

"Absolutely, Nasir. I'm so happy Em has you," Edward rubbed Nasir's back.

"Maashallah, my friend, maashallah," Nasir could not agree more.

"Brunch in the morning for all the out of towners," Emmett let Cliff go. "You better be there. Unless your flight is too early."

"I would love to, Emmett, thanks," Cliff agreed.

"Cliff, thank you so much for coming," Nasir offered his hand.

"Very nice to meet you, Nasir. You guys make a really cute couple," Cliff complimented as they shook.

"Thank you. I think so too," Nasir smiled.

"Clifton, lovely to meet you at last," Garrett shook the reporter's hand as well.

"You too, Garrett. Speaking of cute couples," Cliff reached for Seth. Seth took hold of Cliff's arms and just looked into the taller man's eyes a moment. Seth could see right though Cliff and both men knew it. Seth then wrapped his arms around Cliff and held him tightly for a brief moment. Just as surely as Seth knew Cliff needed someone to lean on, he knew that someone was not him.

"Edward," Seth let Cliff go and moved to hug the departing groomsman. "Take care of him," he bid quietly into Edward's ear.

"Of course I will," Edward affirmed. "Carson," he offered his hand to the lone straight man.

"You guys gotta leave so soon? We're just gettin' warmed up, man," Carson shook their hands.

"Yeah, it's been a long day for Cliff. We haven't even got him checked in yet," Edward informed.

"Well, who's gonna rub my butt?" Carson pretended at disappointment. Nasir was in exactly the right place. All he had to do was reach up under the back of his straight brother-in-law's tux jacket, and he did. In spite of his jesting, Carson was not expecting an appreciative palm cupping his left cheek and quickly looked over his shoulder only to find Nasir's smiling face.

"Oooh," Carson closed his eyes and made a fist with his free hand. "Maserati, Maserati," he chanted. Everyone laughed at his silliness.

"Alright, we'll catch you guys in the morning probably," Edward gave a last wave as he guided Cliff gently by his arm toward the door.

"Oh, Edward!" Seth dashed after them. "You guys take the Rolls. We'll be fine in the other car," he instructed.

"Okay. See you in the morning," Edward bent to give Seth a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, Seth."

"Night," Seth bid. He watched Edward and Cliff clear the door and then turned back to his party, just in time to see his latest plot come to fruition.

Carson leaned back on the bar as he stood with Emmett, Nasir, Garrett, Simon, Wayne, Willie and Pete. A natural position for a man who wanted to keep his fine ass out of other people's hands. Carson even managed to make it look casual. He drank his fresh beer as they all chatted together. He didn't see the man who approached with carefully placed footsteps atop the bar. The exotic dancers at R Place usually confined themselves to the back bars, but occasionally one took a turn at the front bar. Sometimes they found patrons who appreciated their charms, sometimes they didn't.

The tall black man was thin and with his very short hair looked much younger than he was. The only indications of his being over twenty one, aside from his working in this establishment, were the cute scruff on the end of his chin, and the way he filled out the gold lycra trunks he was wearing. In keeping with Washington State law, he, like all the dancers, did not wear anything that would expose their bare butts, much to the chagrin of every patron who came in to see them. Simon had been very specific when he tucked the two twenty dollar bills Seth had provided, into his trunks. The dancer saw his mark and moved in carefully behind him.

"Okay, so what's this brunch plan tomorrow?" Carson asked as he took another swig of his beer. "Is it gonna be all fruity little drinks?"

"Oh," Garrett raised his hand with the intention of warning Carson.

"Honey!" Seth quickly grabbed his husband's hand.

"What?" Carson looked to Garrett, but it was too late. He didn't see it coming, because it was behind him. Carson felt something touch the back of his head and ducked his head down. "What the?" he turned his head only to discover that he was, by a mere three inches, eye to crotch with another man. "Holy fuck!" Carson jumped away from the bar. "Did you just...?" he put his free hand to the back of his head and looked to his laughing companions. "Did he just rub his dick on the back of my head?"

Seth was laughing so hard, Garrett nearly had to hold him up. He only managed to nod his confirmation.

"Wuh!" Carson closed his eyes as his body nearly convulsed with the shudder he allowed himself. "Oh, man, you guys got me. I so did not see that comin'," Carson gulped down the rest of his beer.

"I promised you gogo boys shaking their dicks in your face!" Seth was still laughing. "Carson, meet Kendal."

"Hey, sexy dude," Kendal ran a hand down his bare torso and over his packed pouch.

"Isn't it past your bedtime, kid? Your momma know where you are?" Carson took note of how young the man looked.

"You wanna put me to bed?" Kendal asked.

"Jesus, Seth," Carson ignored the dancer. "He must be as big as you!"

"Well, I don't know. Should we check?" Seth teased. Playing along, Kendal pulled down the front of his trunks to expose his pubes and just a hint of the base of his cock.

"Time to get back, guys! I hear my wife calling me," Carson rubbed his nervous hands together.

"Your wife's not calling you, Car," Emmett put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Oh, she is. She so is. I so need my wife right now," Carson gripped his older brother's arm.

"We probably should be getting back," Seth agreed.

"Are you guys coming with us?" Nasir asked Simon and Wayne.

"Well, I'm meeting a date. Wayne, however...," Simon answered.

"Is going back to the mansion too, shortly after midnight," Wayne filled in. "My ass is picking up the Czech."

"Nice," Simon nodded his approval at his friend's play on words.

"Okay, guys," Emmett smiled. "Let me just settle up," he stepped up to the bar. Kendal yet waited atop the bar and Emmett rubbed his smooth calf. The dancer squatted down and pulled the front of his trunks down and out from his body so that the man tipping him could see into them and everything they contained. "What's our damage, Danny?" Emmett asked as he tucked a twenty into Kendal's trunks.

"Your tab is settled, Emmett," Danny informed. "Edward gave me his credit card, signed the form, and told me to total it up when you guys were done."

"He did? Oh my God," Emmett never even saw Edward approach the bar.

"That is so sweet of him," Nasir put a hand on his husband's back as he too tucked a twenty into Kendal's trunks.

"And cheating!" Carson complained.

"Let's go," Emmett put his arms around Nasir and Carson and led them toward the door.

---

Bobby waited outside by the stretch, white, Town Car limousine. He could have waited behind the wheel, but it was a pleasant night and he chose to stand beside the car. Several men eyed him as they walked past into the bar, no doubt indulging in a fantasy of blowing the limo driver in the back of his limo, in their minds. That the limo driver was straight, of course, only made the prospect twice as exciting.

Two neighborhood drunks wandered along the sidewalk, clearly already heavily intoxicated. This disheveled pair stopped and stared at Bobby for a long moment.

"Is this a limo?" drunk A enquired.

"Good eye. It sure is," Bobby confirmed.

"But who's it for?" drunk B asked the question drunk A meant to ask.

Bobby decided to have a little fun with these two. "Okay, you guys seem like nice guys, so I'm gonna tell you, but you have to keep it quiet, okay? It's the Ambassador's car."

That the supposed diplomatic car had no flags on the hood went completely over their heads.

"Ambassador!" drunk A lowered his head as his mouth hung open.

"Yeah, the Ambassador from the United Arab Emirates," Bobby spun his story.

"The what?" drunk B had never heard of such a place.

"United Arab Emirates. He's here with the Ambassador from Prussia," Bobby continued. "They're attending some cultural meeting or something. I just drive, you know? They're guests of the Under Secretary of State. There's even a rep from a Native American tribe with them."

Drunk A slowly swung his unsteady head to look at the building. "Isn't this a queer bar?" he asked. He spoke without malice. It was just the only word he knew to use.

"Oh, yeah. They're all gay. The Prussian Ambassador is here with his brother. And they're together, if you know what I mean," Bobby made his tale even more outlandish.

"What?" drunk B looked at drunk A with wide eyes.

And right on cue, Emmett emerged from R Place with his arms around Nasir and Carson, with Seth and Garrett close behind. The men, dressed as they were, with boutonnieres all, cut an impressive looking group, and the drunks swallowed Bobby's absurd story hook, line and sinker.

"Sirs," Bobby opened the rear passenger door for them. Nasir let Emmett and Carson get in ahead of him, he followed them, and Seth and Garrett climbed in last. Their chauffeur shut the door and dashed around the car.

"Gotta get 'em back to the Embassy. G'night!" Bobby gave a quick wave over the roof of the long Lincoln before he took the wheel.

The drunks stared after the big car as it rolled away into the night. They had quite a story to tell their friends. And when they sobered up, they would realize what idiots they were for believing even a word of it.

---

There was no sign of the Phantom when the Town Car limousine pulled up at the curb before Stimson-Green. Matt opened the rear door and the grooms, and what remained of their wedding party, climbed out of the car.

"You gonna change back into your bisht?" Emmett asked as he and Nasir walked hand in hand, bringing up the rear, up to the mansion.

"No. I would like to match you," Nasir smiled at his husband.

Carson led the way up the steps, through the front door, vestibule, more steps up into the great hall, and finally through into the drawing room, where the reception was still in full swing as if they had never been gone. Sonja stood talking with Rosalie and Maggie, and Carson made a bee line straight for her.

"Oh, Honey," Carson took his wife in his arms. "Excuse me, ladies. Oh, Sonja," he held his wife to him and ran his hands over her firm, yet supple womanly form.

"Was the gay bar scary, Carson?" Sonja asked. She was amused by his behavior, but enjoyed his careful attention.

"Not any more, Honey, not any more," Carson closed his eyes and just held her body fully to his. This had a natural effect on his body and she could feel him stiffening in his pants.

"You need some girl time?" Sonja asked. She ran her hands under his jacket, over his ribs as best she could through his vest and shirt.

"I need you time. Sonja time. Extra special naked Sonja time, just as soon as possible," Carson stressed.

"Okay, take it easy. We'll get back to our room soon enough," she leaned up to kiss his chin.

"Well, there you are," Maggie greeted Nasir as he and Emmett approached.

"Emmett found me," Nasir smiled at his husband.

"I like you in your native dress, Nasir," Rosalie added, "but I like you two matching too."

"I like us matching," Nasir agreed.

"Hey, wanna give them their present now?" Emmett suggested.

"Oh, yes!" Nasir enthused.

"I just realized that I don't even know what it is!" Seth was beside himself.

"A secret from the pipsqueak? How is that even possible?"

"You delivered a fantastically beautiful ceremony for my very best friend here today," Seth folded his arms across his chest. "So, I'm gonna let this one go. Just," he held up a finger, "this one."

"Leave Seth alone, Rosie," Maggie urged. "Look what he did here today too," she made a sweeping gesture.

"Okay, truce," Rosalie offered.

"Truce," Seth agreed. "Well, more like a temporary cease fire. It expires at midnight!"

"C'mon, girls," Emmett bid. Rosalie and Maggie followed Emmett and Nasir out into the great hall and headed up the stairs.

"Oh, Rosie!" Maggie exclaimed when Emmett pulled the big, wrapped box from his big bag up his groom's room. "Open it!"

"Let me get my hands on it, Freckles," Rosalie took the box from a smiling Emmett and set it on the bed. She started with the bow.

"Nasi brought this home from New York too," Emmett took his husband's hand. "I'm sure you can't guess from where."

"I can," Maggie assured as Rosalie tore the paper away from the tell-tale blue Tiffany & Co box. "What is it?" she leaned in as her wife opened the box.

"From the size of the box I might guess a toaster," Rosalie began to pull out packing material.

"It's not a toaster!" Emmett laughed. "Let's help them, Babe," he reached for the box.

"I think both of you will very much like this," Nasir held the box steady while Emmett very carefully extracted it's contents.

"Oh, Rosie!" Maggie grabbed her wife's arm as Emmett finished unwrapping a beautiful, mirrored jewelery box. A box with doors on part of the front that doubled as picture frames. And this box already had pictures in it.

"The boys!" Maggie was touched to the point of choking up when this wonderful gift came complete with the smiling faces of their sons.

"You guys!" Rosalie too was moved.

"I love it! It's beautiful!" Maggie flung her arms around Emmett's neck. Emmett very carefully placed the box down on the bed before he wrapped his arms around Maggie.

"I love it too. Thanks, boys," Rosalie gave Nasir a hug and kiss on his cheek.

"Okay, now help me pack it away again, nice and safe," Maggie requested as she let Emmett go. Emmett and Nasir were practiced at unpacking and repackaging this gift, and had it safe back in it's wrappings and box in no time. They left the box there to be picked up later and all four headed back downstairs to the reception.

A slow song was playing over the speakers and quite a few couples occupied the small dance floor. Carson, Justin, Roger and Roberto were in shirtsleeves as they danced with their ladies. They all held their wives very close. Garrett held Seth the same way. The DJ had abandoned his post and danced next to Seth and Garrett, with Dane in his arms. Emmett and Nasir, and Rosalie and Maggie took the last remaining space on the floor and finished out the song.

After that, the party began to wind down. The first to make their good byes were Emmett's boss and his family. Emmett and Nasir saw them out, all the way to the curb. Suzie and boyfriend Corey, who had been made a little more friendly by drink, were the next to leave. Miles and Sylvia, as entertaining and entertained as they were by Emmett's mother and the Thompsons, could last no longer, and it was well past their usual bedtime anyway.

The DJ's practiced ear told him when he was running out of time. Rather than leave Dane standing alone on the dance floor, Tony took his hand and led him off the floor and back around to his console. Dane found it sweet that Tony wanted to keep him with him. So did Garrett and Seth.

"I think you have done beautiful things here tonight on many levels, my clever little husband," Garrett smiled down on Seth.

"I think so too," Seth agreed. "Of course, the most beautiful and clever thing I've ever done is marry you," he leaned his head on Garrett's chest as the song finished. Nothing could have warmed Garrett's heart ay more. He held Seth's head to his chest with a gentle, soothing hand.

The Thompsons and elder McCartys continued the exodus. As Celeste's gown had it's own jacket, the judge was the last remaining straight man wearing his own. Sonja in particular swam in her husband's tux jacket. She had to roll up the sleeves and in her short dress, from behind, it appeared the jacket was all she wore.

George led the group with a small tray he had borrowed from the bar. Celeste, Auguste, Noreen and Estelle followed him. The two great grandmothers had bonded and walked slowly, arm in arm, as they spoke of their very favorite topic, great grandchildren.

"Nasir, Emmett, we're going to call it a night," George set the tray down on the nearest table. "I won't be able to do it tomorrow, as we're flying out right after brunch, so I wanted to share a last scotch with you now, Nasir," he handed one tumbler to the smiling Arab groom. "I didn't want to leave you out, Emmett. The bartender tells me you would enjoy this," George finished by handing a Spaten to Emmett.

"Yes, Sir," Emmett confirmed.

"Is this Macallan?" Nasir asked.

"No. This is Macallan," George picked up the remaining tumbler. "That," he pointed at the glass Nasir held, "is the inferior single malt you prefer."

"Ohhh," Nasir enjoyed the banter. He spread his hands. "George, I thought we discussed this."

"We did. You just weren't listening," George continued.

"Pay him no mind," Celeste put a hand on Nasir's arm.

"What my darling wife means, is," George put his arm around her, "we both wish you men the very best."

"Thank you, so much," Nasir said as they all touched their glasses and beer bottle together.

"Yes, thank you both. And thank you so much for coming," Emmett added.

"We're very glad we could," Celeste smiled sweetly.

"You guys heading out?" Justin asked as he, Melinda and the other straight couples joined them. Melinda, Sonja, Leah and Yvonne all wore their men's suit jackets.

"Not before I finish my scotch," George stated.

"When are you going to have enough of that?" Celeste asked.

"Who's to say how long I'll live, Dear?" George returned.

"Oh, honestly," Celeste rolled her eyes and turned away.

Auguste stepped up between Emmett and Nasir and put an arm around each of them. She leaned her head first on her son, and then on her son-in-law. Emmett and Nasir both put an arm around her as well.

"Mutti, are you taking off now too?" Carson asked his mother.

"Ja. You want I take Connor with me?" she offered.

"Yeah, would you? Can you keep him again? We'll collect him in the morning," Carson requested.

"Ja, I do," Auguste confirmed.

"We should probably collect a little girl. I'm sure we came with one," Justin laughed at himself.

"Should we head home, Rosie?" Maggie asked her wife.

"We can, Freckles. Are you ready to go?" Rosalie countered.

"I think so. We love you guys," she reached for Emmett. "Thank you for including us in your special day."

"Thank you both for making our day so special," Emmett hugged her.

Rosalie reached up and took hold of the hair on Nasir's chin, and leaned up to kiss him on his lips. They both smiled and she patted his cheek.

"Let us help you with the kids," Emmett suggested.

"Oh, please," Maggie agreed. "I have an expensive jewelery box to carry."

"You guys aren't taking off, are you?" Emmett pointed at Leah and Roberto.

"Stay and come back to the hotel with us for a last nightcap," Garrett suggested.

"You want to, Chula?" Roberto put his hand on Leah's back.

"Yeah, I would," Leah agreed.

"I like his jacket on you," Seth commented. "See what else you can get him to take off. We'll be right back," he and Garrett joined the mass movement toward the great hall.

"Hey, I'll run out and get all the cars pulled up," Roberto offered.

"Good idea. Thank you, Roberto," Garrett called back. He quickly inserted himself between Melinda and his older brother as they walked along. Seth put his arm around Melinda from her other side.

"You two know how much we love you," Garrett began. "If there is anything at all that we can do..."

"Absolutely," Seth wholly agreed.

"We have all the babysitters we could ever need, but I'm sure things will come up," Justin answered. "Actually, you know what I will need more than anything?"

"What?" Seth bit.

"Both my little brothers at the hospital with me when my beautiful wife goes into labor and we have our baby," Justin smiled at them.

"Well, that's a given," Seth dismissed.

The group trooped up the front stairs and down the right wing to the guest room across the hall from the sitting room where Emmett and Nasir's family had relaxed prior to the ceremony. Seth opened the door slowly and peered inside. Molly sat reading in a corner under the light of a dim lamp. The room was otherwise fairly dark.

"Is it that time?" Molly closed her book and rose from the comfortable chair as parents streamed in behind Seth. On top of the big bed, covered by a throw, lay Stephanie and Larissa, with Ren and Liam on the outsides next to them.

"Oh my God, Mel, look at that," Justin gestured to where their daughter was being spooned by Liam. "Our daughter's already sleeping with boys."

"Justin, it's cute," Melinda stated.

"It is now," Justin cocked his head.

"That's my boy," Rosalie smiled.

"Where's Owen?" Maggie asked.

"Where's Connor?" Carson found the pack'n play empty.

"Oh, they're over here," Molly walked over to a chaise in the far corner. "Owen wanted Connor with him," she explained. "I kinda packed pillows in around them to make sure the little one didn't wiggle his way off."

On the chaise, Owen reclined in a nest of pillows. Connor slept peacefully, fully atop the bigger boy's chest.

"Carson, how cute is this?" Sonja was touched by the tender display.

"Oh, Rosie, look," Maggie was equally moved.

"I am so gonna save this for when he's older," Carson took out his cell and snapped a picture of the sleeping boys.

"It might not embarrass him," Seth pointed out. "He might look back fondly on his first boyfriend. You don't know."

"Only time will tell, Seth. It doesn't matter to me who he loves, just that he find someone good, who loves him back, like my brother and I both did," Carson slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"With any luck he'll find himself an Injun," Justin snickered as he picked up Stephanie.

Seth whirled around and made a fist, but stopped himself. "Oh, if only you weren't holding your daughter."

"There's our big guy," Emmett easily picked up a sleeping Liam. Carson picked up Connor and Nasir picked up Owen, while Roger hefted his son.

"Need some help with this one?" Rosalie didn't wait for a response and gently gathered up the sweetly slumbering Larissa. Extra hands picked up the kids' bags, that Molly had packed and ready to go.

Though Seth had told them her services were covered, grateful parents and uncles pulled money from their purses and wallets. In a matter of less than two minutes Molly had four hundred dollars in her hands and Seth hadn't paid her yet. She resolved right then and there, anytime Seth Clearwater needed her babysitting services, he would have it. That these were all good kids was just icing on the cake.

Carefully down the stairs the adults carried their precious cargo. They all felt a strong sense of love and community as they jointly cared for each other's children, those who represented their collective future.

The Phantom was back and it's driver stood patiently beside it as Matt and Tim worked quickly to line up vehicles behind it.

Noreen and Estelle kissed and hugged each other before Noreen joined Auguste in the back of the Phantom. Carson entrusted his son to his mother's arms and shut them in while the driver slipped in behind his wheel. Emmett and Nasir placed Liam and Owen carefully in the back of their family minivan. They knew just how to strap the kids into their respective car and booster seats. It wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. Justin strapped his daughter into the back of his wife's GLK and then walked back to the Silver Wraith where he found his mother just settling in behind the wheel.

"You know the way, Mom? You want us to lead you?" Justin asked as he appeared in her door.

"It's just a few blocks, Justin," Celeste assured.

"But you know you're facing the wrong way, right? It's a few blocks that way," Justin pointed. "You have to go under the freeway."

"I can drive myself around the block," Celeste assured her oldest.

"We can lead you. It's no problem," Justin spread his arms.

"Don't be silly. Take your family home," Celeste directed.

"Seth, c'mere," Justin saw his little brother-in-law walking toward them. "What's the easiest way to get back to the Fairmont from here?"

"Seneca," Seth pointed to the cross street behind them. "It goes under the interstate and becomes one way the right way. It'll take you straight to the hotel. Just go around the block."

"We'll do that, Seth, thank you. See you boys in the morning. Shut my door now," Celeste directed.

"Okay, night," Justin shut his mother's door.

Celeste, George and Estelle watched Seth walk Justin back to his car where Garrett waited with Melinda.

"Why do our children think we're helpless?" Celeste wondered aloud as she started the old car and turned on the lights.

"I'm glad they don't do it to just me," George observed from the front seat beside his wife.

"You had a good time with Emmett's gandmother it seemed, Mother," Celeste looked in the rearview mirror in an attempt to see her mother in the backseat.

"Irish women are all mad and daft," the English woman summed up. "She's delightful. I love her to little bits," Estelle finished. George chuckled and Celeste just shook her head.

The Rolls Royces formed book ends as the brand new Phantom took the lead, and the thirty year old Silver Wraith brought up the rear. Emmett, Nasir, Seth, Garrett, Carson, Sonja, Leah and Roberto stood on the Stimson-Green lawn and waved as the Donovan minivan, Hale-O'Callaghan minivan and Thompson toy SUV drove out in the middle of the caravan.

"So," Carson put his arms around Emmett and Nasir, "that bartender of yours hasn't run out of beer has he?"

"I think we should go check!" Emmett enthused.

"But does he have any good tequila, is the real question," Carson added as they all moved toward the mansion.

"Oh, he does," Roberto confirmed.

"Hey, that's right!" Carson's face lit up. "We got us an actual Mexican guy right here. Show us how it's done, Brother!"

"Follow me, niños y niñas," Roberto started to roll up his shirt sleeves.

"How did I not know you were such a tequila hound, Carson?" Seth wondered. "I don't know if I can take any more."

"C'mon, Seth," Carson urged.

"I think we could do one more, Sweetness," Garrett rubbed his husband's back.

"One more it is," Seth was instantly convinced.

Tony had put on another slow song and held Dane close as they danced together. They didn't bother to go out onto the dance floor as they had been left alone and danced behind Tony's console. The DJ gently ran the back of his fingers across the shorter man's cheek.

"I know you were surprised that I'm single, but, how the hell could a sweet, cute guy like you be?" Tony asked.

"I am," Dane gave a shrug. There was a sadness in Dane's eyes as he confirmed this and Tony could see it.

"There's a story there and I want to hear it. I'd really like to get to know you, Dane. I hope you'll come tomorrow," Tony expressed.

"I will, Tony, for sure," Dane promised. They both turned when the loud straight guy took possession of the whole room.

"Alright!" Carson clapped his hands. "Let's get our drink on!" he led the way to the ready and waiting Milan at the bar. "C'mon, you two! I need all the gay boys over here," Carson yelled across at Tony and Dane.

Milan knew well what everyone drank and had fresh beers out of the ice, wine poured and cocktails underway before they even reached him.

"Oh, man. Em, whatever you're payin' this guy, it's not enough," Carson took two twenties out of his wallet and dropped them into Milan's tip jar.

"Milan, amigo, pour us some of the good stuff," Roberto picked up and took a swig of his Dos Equis.

"Yes, Sir. Ten?" Milan reached for glasses.

"Please," Roberto confirmed. Milan lined up shot glasses and poured.

Dane and Tony walked across the dance floor and down to the other end of the drawing room to where the bar was located. Seth put his arm around Dane as his colleague and friend stepped up next to him. Seth smiled up at Dane and both men knew why without any words.

"Okay, set us up some limes and salt," Carson rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Limes and salt?" Roberto shook his head. "That's for amateurs, man."

"Well, how the hell do you drink it?" Carson demanded.

"Like this," Roberto picked up one of the shot glasses and took a sip.

"You sip it like a little girl?" Carson gave the Mexican a good natured hard time.

"You wanted to know how we do it in Mexico, then pay attention, gringos," Roberto ribbed right back. "We sip good tequila and we don't drink crap tequila at all. Not if we can help it, that is."

"And why is it this color?" Carson picked up a glass with the amber tinted spirit.

"This is reposato," Roberto explained. "It has been rested, or aged, for a time in oak barrels. The silver, clear tequila you are used to, is distilled and then bottled immediately. Have a sip, everyone," he handed a shot glass to Leah. Carson passed the rest out to his wife, Emmett, Nasir, Seth, Garrett, Dane and Tony.

"Prost," Emmett raised his glass.

"Prost," Carson echoed as they all took a sip.

"Oh, that's pretty good, actually," Emmett commented.

"It is," Garrett agreed.

"I like it," Nasir nodded.

"I never thought I would want to taste it," Carson considered and drained the rest of his shot. "I always drank tequila 'cause I like the buzz, not because it tastes good."

"Savor it, don't gulp it," Roberto coached. "Chula, we should host a tequila tasting party at my place," he put his arm around Leah. "We'll serve it in proper caballitos and everything."

"Good idea, Papi," Leah endorsed.

"That does sound like a nice idea, Roberto," Seth agreed. "When would you and your Pueblo squaw like to have this party?"

"Next time everyone is back in town," Leah gave a serious answer to her brother's jibe.

"We would be happy to fly back in for that!" Carson enthused. He set his shot glass on the bar. "Hit me again, Brother."

"Not me. I'm done," Seth set his glass down as well. "Any more fire water and I won't be able to spend the night on my husband's dick."

"Milan, Seth is cut off," Garrett spoke casually as Carson tried not to spit his mouthful of beer on everyone.

"We can move this party back to the hotel," Emmett suggested. "You guys can wrap it up. Dane, c'mere. Thanks for everything," he gathered the smaller man into his arms for a tight hug.

"Garrett, you have all the checks and cash?" Nasir asked his best man quietly. In answer Garrett simply patted the breast pocket of his tux.

"Tony, glad you finally got to meet my husband," Emmett gave the DJ a hug as well.

"I'm glad I could do this for you guys too," Tony expressed. "Nasir," he turned his dazzling smile on the other groom.

"Milan," Garrett walked behind the bar. "We are going to say we are done for the evening," he put his arm around the bartender and stuck a couple of large bills into Milan's pants pocket. "And I am going to need to see every one of your cohorts."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Garrett," Milan smiled. "You maybe come with me?"

"I will," Garrett confirmed and followed Milan toward the dinning room.

"I guess I'll start packing up," Tony stated.

"Need some help?" Dane offered.

"That's so sweet of you, Dane," Seth observed. "Isn't he sweet, Tony?"

"In more ways than one, I bet," Tony smiled and Dane blushed. "C'mon," he put his arm around Dane's shoulders and led him back toward the dance floor.

"I wonder if I can rope the valet boys into helping us load the cars," Seth mused aloud. "I'll be right back."

"Should we go upstairs and gather our things?" Nasir asked.

"Let's do that, Babe," Emmett took his husband's hand as they headed for the great hall and the stairs.

Matt and Tim brought up Tony's van, Roberto and Dane's cars, and parked them behind the Town Car limousine. As bags and other items were brought down, they took them out to Bobby to pack in the trunk. Carla very carefully packaged up the top tier of the cake for transport and freezing. Seth carried this while Emmett carried the locked chest with the cards and gift envelopes in it. Tony and Dane, both back in their suit jackets, took the most time to load up and Dane gave what help he could, which was that much more than Tony was used to.

"Okay, everybody pile in," Seth directed. Bobby quickly opened the rear door and smiled at the very pretty woman wearing her husband's tux jacket.

"Hey, I saw that," Carson pointed at the driver as his wife got into the car. "Wow, I'm not used to guys my brother and Seth know checking out my wife," he realized aloud.

"You're a lucky man, Sir," Bobby gave a nod.

"Don't I know it, Buddy," Carson followed Sonja into the car.

"Hey, guys," Dane held his camera. "I'm pretty sure the wedding night is gonna be something special. Sure you don't want that documented?"

"You know we do not allow our camera men to wear clothes in our bedroom," Nasir quipped.

"Small price to pay. Done," Dane agreed.

"Not this time, Dane, but thanks anyway," Emmett chuckled and gave him another hug.

"I guess I'm done for the night then. Enjoy, guys. I'll have pictures emailed to you by morning," Dane gave a wave and headed for his car to stash his camera.

"Okay, you guys are meeting us at the hotel?" Seth grabbed his sister's arm.

"Take it easy. We'll see you in five whole minutes," Leah assured him.

"Okay," Seth dashed on to give Dane and Tony a last hug before he ran back to his waiting husband. Garrett naturally seated himself within the limo first. Seth invariably settled his smaller body against his husband in some manner, and Garrett wouldn't have it any other way. Garrett opened his arms and welcomed Seth into his loving embrace as usual. Bobby shut them in with their grooms and walked around the car to take the wheel.

Dane and Tony stood on the sidewalk together and watched the limo pull away and the Mustang follow it.

"So," Dane began, but didn't know what else to say.

"I had a good time tonight, Dane," Tony offered. "Because of you."

"Really? Me too, Tony," Dane smiled. "Really nice."

"I gotta get all this shit put away and let Kayla out," Tony gestured with his head toward his van. "Then I told DJ Lightray I'd come check her out at Neighbors Underground if I found time tonight."

"Lightray," Dane considered. "She DJs the Vogue and Goth nights there, right?"

"Yeah, you been?" Tony smiled.

"A couple of times. Tony, you're not bi, are you?" Dane forced himself to ask.

"Ha!" Tony laughed. "Fuck no. Where did that question come from?"

"I'll tell you later. I should get home and start organizing the guys' pictures," Dane looked away.

"Give me your phone," Tony held out his hand. Dane said nothing, but obeyed.

Tony dialed his own number and just as soon as his pocket rang he ended the call. "There," he handed Dane's cell back to him. "See you at the park," Tony put a hand on the back of the smaller man's neck. They liked each other a great deal. They could both feel the electricity. For a long moment both men just looked into each other's eyes. Both men had been hurt before and did not want to be again. And both men could see it.

"Any time after eight," Tony let go of Dane and stepped away.

"I'll be there. See you tomorrow," Dane gave a wave. He walked to his car as Tony got behind the wheel of his van. Both men drove away from Stimson-Green with the other very much on his mind.

---

There were two valet/doorman/bellman on staff at the Sorrento until midnight on the weekends. They did occasionally get held over for late check-ins, but such was not the case tonight, with the house already full and occupied. They were both ready at the front doors when the white Town Car limousine pulled up under the porte cochere, followed closely by the black Mustang GT.

"Good evening," the pleasant young men greeted as they opened the passenger side doors of the limo and the Mustang. One of them rushed to fetch a bell cart when the driver of the limo popped the trunk.

Garrett checked his watch and discovered that they still had time. "Does everyone know where the Fireside Room lounge is? They put some special champagne to ice for us earlier," he took charge.

"Garrett," Nasir called from the rear of the big car. The bellman was loading everything from the trunk onto his cart.

"Oh, if you have something with which to tag the bags, I'll write room numbers on them," Garrett directed. The bellman immediately produced several hotel bag tags and handed them over.

"There we are. If you'll deliver all of these to those rooms for us. We'll all be in the bar," Garrett finished affixing the tags.

"And thank you for your help," Nasir tipped the bellman handsomely.

"What will we do with the cake top?" Emmett asked as he picked it up.

"We'll take that with us. The hotel can place it in their walk-in. We'll pick it up when we check out," Garrett continued to lead.

"Champagne, everyone," Seth held up an arm and led the way into the hotel.

The Fireside Room was quiet, or at least, it was now. The two jazz musicians that came on at seven in the evening had been followed by a harpist playing lilting Celtic notes on a giant instrument that stood taller than she did. Edward and Cliff brought Troy and Zack back to the hotel, and after putting the younger men to bed, or, at least consigning them to their room, returned to the lobby, as they both found her music at once soothing and inviting. They took two comfortable leather club chairs with a small table between them at the periphery of the Fireside Room just in time to catch her last song, before she finished at eleven. The patrons who had enjoyed her music mostly dispersed when the harpist finished. Only one other table, far from them, remained. Edward and Cliff had relative privacy and peace to speak earnestly of serious topics.

Until the wedding party et al arrived. They heard them before they saw them. Edward and Cliff both turned at Emmett's loud, "Hey, here they are!"

Seth in black, led the grooms in white and the rest of the group straight for them.

"Oh shit. The squadron found us," Edward gave the visibly distraught Cliff a regretful face as he used the old, familiar term, coined back when they were a couple. He put a supportive hand on Cliff's arm as the blonde man worked hard and quickly to compose himself, forcing a smile onto a face that desperately did not want to.

"Hey, guys," Emmett smiled as the group reached Edward and Cliff.

"Emmett, come with me," Garrett took charge and continued on toward the small, but charming bar. This bartender wore a black vest over his white tux shirt and black bow tie, that bore a hotel name tag reading: Arthur.

"Evening, gentlemen," the dark haired barman greeted them.

"I'm Garrett Thompson," Garrett produced a claim ticket and placed it on the bar. "I left four bottles of Cristal to be placed on ice for us."

"Oh, yes, Sir. I'll just ring to have them brought up," Arthur picked up the ticket and reached for the house phone.

"And Mr. McCarty needs this placed in refrigeration until he checks out," Garrett directed. He pulled his Mont Blanc pen from his inner jacket pocket and wrote Emmett's name and room number on the top of the box.

"Yes, Sir. And shall I open and pour your champagne for you?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, please. We're ten," Garrett informed.

"We thought Leo and Zack would be with you," Seth started in on Edward and Cliff. "They turned in?"

"What?" Carson furrowed his brow. "They should be able to outlast all of us."

"They don't really drink, so they can't keep up," Edward explained.

"You're still not checked in?" Seth, of course, noticed Cliff's bag stashed under the small table.

And just like that, their opening presented itself.

"Uh, no," Edward turned to Cliff. "We should go do that now. Let's go get you checked in finally," he threw Cliff a lifeline.

"Good idea, Edward," Cliff pulled his bag out from under the table as he and Edward rose.

"I'll take that," Edward took the bag from Cliff. "Go ahead," he bid and followed his ex toward reception.

Those remaining thought little of it and assumed they would both be back in moments. Emmett and Carson set about moving furniture to pull together their own little living room that would accommodate ten. Arthur and two room service waiters appeared carrying four ice buckets and a tray of flutes between them. The barman quickly set about opening and pouring the fine Louis Roederer Prestige Cuvée Cristal Rosé. It took two of the bottles to fill ten flutes.

"Oh, it's pink too," Carson observed with entirely faux enthusiasm.

"I suppose you'd rather have a beer. Do you know how good this stuff is?" Seth gestured.

"You know what, Seth? At this point I don't care what I drink, as long as it's alcohol," Carson stated.

"Nice," Emmett gave a nod.

"Here we are everyone," Garrett picked up a flute as he invited the group to do the same. He took the five steps required for an unobstructed view of the front desk, only to discover Edward and Cliff were not there. "Now where have those two gone? Oh, well," Garrett returned to the group, put his arm around Seth and held up his glass. "Emmett and Nasir, you are our brothers and best friends. You shared a glass of this with us at the conclusion of our reception the day Seth did me the honor of becoming my husband."

"Aw, Honey," Seth leaned his head against Garrett.

"So I think it is fitting that we share a glass now with you," Garrett continued. "It means more to us than we can say to have stood by your side today. I said it when we got married and I'll say it again now, here is to finding your soul mate and love of your life, and being with him, or her," he amended with a tip of his glass toward Leah and Sonja, "for the rest of your life."

"Here, here, Garrett," Nasir led the agreements as they all took a sip. Carson and Roberto in particular tightened the arm they had around their ladies.

"Wow, this shit is pretty good," Carson regarded his silky smooth pink champagne. "Are all gay guys this classy?"

"No one is as classy as my husband," Seth answered.

"I doubt that, but thank you, Sweetness," Garrett rubbed his husband's back. "Let's all have a seat, shall we?" he proposed. The group made themselves comfortable in the chairs and settees that had been gathered.

"I really wish Jasper could have been here, especially now," Emmett expressed. "I mean with Edward to sit down right here with us now, more than any other time."

"I know, Emmy," Seth felt the same way.

"What the hell happened to Edward anyway?" Carson asked.

"Getting Cliff settled in, I imagine," Garrett mused.

"So what's tomorrow look like?" Carson moved on to the next topic.

"Brunch right here at the hotel at ten in our suite, to give those of you catching flights time to do so," Emmett answered. "You guys better be there," he pointed at Leah and Roberto. "We want all our family with us."

"We'll stay at my place tonight, Guapo," Leah entwined her fingers with his. "It's much closer."

"Do you keep clothes at her place, Guapo?" Seth probed as casually as he was able.

"I do," Roberto confirmed.

"None of your business," Leah knew her brother well.

"Though, nothing appropriate, I don't think," Roberto continued undeterred. "Just jeans and tee shirts."

"That's just fine. Everybody should be comfortable," Emmett spoke up.

"I'm wearin' flip flops," Carson added.

"No he's not," Sonja shook her head.

"So, what's on the menu at brunch?" Carson downed the remaining contents of his flute.

"Ceviche," Seth answered quickly.

Carson slowly raised his eyebrows as Roberto chuckled. He looked to his wife, "I'm afraid, Honey, 'cause I don't know what that is."

"He's kidding," Leah assured.

"It's a seafood dish we make with raw fish, snapper usually," Roberto informed. "The fish is cooked, but not with heat. We cube it up real small and the lemon juice cures it."

"Papito Chuy makes killer ceviche," Leah commented.

And her brother could not let that go. "Did you just say, 'papito Chuy'?"

"My papito does make excellent ceviche," Roberto agreed. "And he taught me everything he knows. I could make it for our tequila tasting party."

"Good idea," Leah agreed.

"Maybe we won't fly in for that," Carson reconsidered.

"Papito Chuy would be...?" Seth queried.

"Sorry, my dad," Roberto clarified.

"And you call his dad, papito Chuy?" Seth asked his sister.

"Everyone in the family calls him that," Leah answered.

"Oh, you do, do you?" Seth pressed.

"Sweetness, have we decided where we would like to stay on our honeymoon?" Garrett tried to distract his husband.

"Nasir's working on that," Seth gave a dismissive wave. He turned back to his sister, prepared to inquire further, but was arrested by her pointed finger and the look on her face. "Okay, but we will come back to this."

They continued to chat amongst themselves and Garrett opened another bottle of cristal rosé. Eventually it became more than apparent that Edward and Cliff were not coming back.

"Those two had better have a good explanation in the morning," Seth threatened.

"I'm sure something came up, Sweetness," Garrett rubbed his husband's shoulder. And when he saw Seth raise his eyebrows, added, "But I'm sure it's not that."

"Speaking of things coming up, if I don't get my beautiful wife up to our room very soon, I am going to behave inappropriately right here in the lobby," Carson shared.

"Hang on, big boy," Sonja patted his leg.

"I was just thinking that, Car," Emmett gently ran his fingers through the hair on the nape of Nasir's neck.

"Me too," Nasir agreed.

"Me too," Leah echoed.

"It's unanimous," Garrett rose. He pulled the last intact bottle from it's ice as everyone else stood up as well. "We'll save this for morning."

"Good night, Sis," Seth moved to his sister. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Oh, I will. I'm gonna ride my mustang," Leah spoke quietly into her brother's ear.

"I note the omission of the word 'in', in that sentence, and understand you perfectly," Seth smiled.

"What does he understand?" Roberto asked.

"I understand everything. And I better hear all about it in the morning," Seth gave a final nod on the subject.

"Good night, Sis," Emmett said it just as Seth did, but while Seth's hug was gentle and sweet, his was warm and all encompassing.

"Roberto," Seth reached for him. Roberto extended his hand only for Seth to move in for a hug.

"Okay. Okay, now," Roberto tried to grab Seth's arms as the smaller man's hands moved all over his torso under his jacket.

"Hee," Seth found that very amusing and bounced away.

"I hope he's insured, Garrett," Leah made her veiled threat.

"Oh, he is," Garrett confirmed.

"I'm insured?" Seth tilted his head.

"We both are," Garrett stated.

"I can't even think about that right now I'm so crazy horny," Seth shook his head. "I need a cock down my throat. Care to supply one?" he took Garrett's hand.

"Mine is yours to command," Garrett affirmed.

"I like your style, Mr. Thompson," Seth licked his lips.

"I'm so crazy horny myself, that didn't even bother me," Carson commented.

"It just makes me more so," Nasir put his arm around Emmett. "Our wedding night suite awaits us, my habibi zawji."

"Let's not keep it waiting," Emmett smiled at his husband.

"And on that note, goodnight, all," Carson gave a wave.

With a few final hugs for the couple heading for the front entrance, Emmett, Nasir, Seth, Garrett, Carson and Sonja all headed up to their rooms. None of them were the least bit tired. None of them kept their hands to themselves in the elevator.