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

32. Chapter 32: Bride Price

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Yet again, long overdue.

You will find in here a lemon unlike the ones I usually write. This is my second foray down this path and I'd love to hear what people think. Seeds are planted in this chapter.

The FF witch hunt appears to have subsided for the time being. I will continue to post here and on AO3 for as long as I can. When/if I am forced to complete the relocation you can find me at - archiveofourown ~dot~ org. Then just do a search for Jtrue.

Sis, thank you for the dusting and wise counsel.

Big hugs to my ladies, Maureen, Rebecca, Kate and Pauline.

Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions, or Enticements & Obstructions, all by OhJasperMyJasper, should go do so right now. Here is how you find them since the FF witch hunt removed Liz from this site - ohjaspermyjasper ~dot~ blogspot ~dot~ com.

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 32: Bride Price

Emmett and Nasir were very tempted to go down on each other in the backseat of Garrett's Maybach, but the I-5 south in the light of day didn't make that seem like a good idea. They were dressed much like Seth and Garrett in snug jeans, though Nasir's black V neck and Emmett's skin tight white V neck tee shirts had no writing on them. The backseat passengers confined themselves to stolen gropes, gentle caresses and brushes of thumbs across nipples. Nothing that would get them too heated up and out of control. They didn't want to drop in on their lesbian friends and kids with straining bulges and spots of precum soaked through their jeans.

Garrett smoothly turned off the interstate at exit 149 and waited at the light to turn left on South Kent Des Moines Road and pass under the freeway. Their destination was in an old, established and well maintained residential neighborhood just on the other side of I-5.

---

Maggie O'Callaghan relaxed on a sofa in her spacious family room with a romance novel. She wore a long pale blue jumper dress that dusted the floor over a snug long sleeved knit top. It never failed to amuse her wife that she could read a book in the same room with a television blaring and two boys making even more of a cacophony. Maggie had mastered a mother's ability to tune the noise out. She only took notice when there wasn't noise.

And today the noise was mild. The TV wasn't on. Her younger son played with toy trucks in a corner and her older son had gone to his room to fetch his bin of legos as he was in a mood to build today. Liam pushed this big plastic bin with some effort down the hallway and through the living room. And as it happened, he was in the right place at the right time to see a car drive into their cul de sac and pull into their driveway.

"Mom, someone's here!" Liam shouted. "Mom!" he screamed. Liam dashed to the big picture window and, exactly as he had always been told not to do, put his hands flat on the glass as he looked out. "Mom, it's uncle Garrett and uncle Seth!" he recognized the car. Owen came running from the family room and Maggie followed calmly.

"Mom, it's uncle Emmett and uncle Nasir too!" Liam shouted and pointed.

"Liam, neighbors five doors down can hear you," Maggie chastised gently. "Indoor voice please."

"Mom," Liam spoke at slightly reduced volume and gestured dramatically.

"I told you they were coming by today. Go greet them," Maggie gestured. Liam flew to the door, fought with the locks and finally opened it. He tore out and his brother was right behind.

"Uncle Seth, uncle Garrett, uncle Emmett, uncle Nasir!" Liam yelled as he flew toward the men who had emerged from the car.

"Hey, there they are!" Emmett squatted down and Liam flew into his arms.

"Háu, kola," Seth used the words Lakota Braves used to greet each other.

"How cola," Owen did his best to repeat it.

"Now give me a hug," Seth squatted down to embrace the smaller child.

"Hi, boys," Maggie greeted as she, in contrast, approached calmly.

"Hey, Maggie," Emmett passed Liam on to his husband and stood to give the redhead a warm hug. "Where's Roses?"

"She has three different clients she's showing the same mansion on Mercer Island today. I'm pretty sure by tomorrow she'll have it sold," Maggie informed.

"One of these days she'll buy you one," Emmett smiled.

"More rooms to clean. No thank you," Maggie let go of Emmett and moved to Seth.

"That's what a houseboy is for," Seth informed.

"And another no thank you," Maggie repeated as she let go of Seth and reached for Garrett.

"Hey, Two Moons," Emmett squatted down again to hug their younger nephew. Owen didn't speak, but did not hesitate to tuck his face into Emmett's chest as he moved into the man's arms.

"Uncle Seth, what's my Indian name?" Liam asked as he moved to his Native American uncle.

"I don't think I gave you one. Let me think a minute," Seth mused. "I'm going to call you Šúnka Bloká."

"Sooka...," Liam tried to repeat the Lakota words.

"Šúnka Bloká," Seth repeated. "He Dog, in our common tongue. You're quite a looker and by all accounts so was he. That's what makes me think of it."

"Mom, I'm He Dog!" Liam held up a fist and made a muscle.

"You sure are," Maggie smiled at her older son.

"He Dog was a War Chief like Crazy Horse," Seth elaborated, "but that wasn't his only claim to fame. He was Oglala Lakota like me. His mother was Blue Day, little sister of Red Cloud. So He Dog was the nephew of Red Cloud himself."

"Who was Red Cloud?" Liam did not at all understand the significance. "Was he a War Chief too?"

"He did go to war, but he was not just a War Chief, he was a Great Chief of the Lakota," Seth explained with his hand on Liam's shoulder. "And probably the greatest of my people who ever lived."

"Uncle Edward is Red Cloud!" Liam declared. The greatest man who ever lived and his uncle Edward was an easy connection to make in Liam's mind.

"I suppose if uncle Edward's people were threatened the way Red Cloud's were, uncle Edward would respond in much the same way," Seth conceded.

Garrett popped the trunk of his car and produced a huge picnic basket.

"Give me that, Garrett," Emmett immediately took it from him.

"We have baguettes, camembert, cranberry chutney, two types of paté, goose liver and mushroom, and chardonnay on ice," Garrett informed.

"In that case, get your asses in the house!" Maggie enthused.

"Mom, you said a bad word," Liam pointed out.

"Here comes another one. Get your ass in the house too!" Seth reached down play pinch Liam's butt. The boy squealed and scooted toward the door just as Seth intended. Owen was perfectly content in Nasir's arms. For his part, Nasir was perfectly content to carry the small boy. Nasir enjoyed kids as much as the other men did, but had no desire to have any of his own. Only Owen had the power to pull at his heart in such a way as to make him think twice about that. Nasir knew that he and Emmett were not first on the list of people the girls would want to raise their kids should something terrible happen to them, but Owen made him wish they were. Owen laid his head on the tall man's shoulder as Nasir carried him into the house. He knew he was safe and loved.

They settled in the family room for their impromptu meal. The children preferred a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which Owen ate almost half of, to anything the adults were eating.

"So when does bathroom construction begin?" Emmett asked as he spooned some chutney onto a chunk of baguette.

"I'm thinking in the spring now," Maggie answered. "We're talking about punching out that back wall and making the master bedroom a real retreat. We would love to fix it so the boys each have their own bathroom too. The day will come when they won't want to share anymore. It's more to clean in the short term, but when they get older, they can clean it themselves."

"Ho!" Emmett was flooded with unpleasant memories at that thought. "Carson and I had our own bathrooms at home and if you thought we could ever get them clean enough for our German mother...," he shook his head.

"So don't be a tyrant," Seth concluded.

"I won't tolerate a dirty bathroom. I don't think any of you know how to aim that thing," Maggie stated.

"Garrett's aim was exactly right this morning," Seth smiled at his husband.

"Nasi's was too," Emmett added with a dimpled grin. The adults present knew exactly what they meant.

"I will stop short at freaking out about wire hangers," Maggie ignored them.

"Yes, please. We don't want them writing a book," Garrett advised as he took a sip of his wine.

"Not about that anyway," Maggie agreed. "If they wanted to write about what characters their uncles are, they could do a whole series. Alright, uncles," she stood, "to the sewing room."

The men obeyed and followed her, and the boys followed them.

What would have been the fourth bedroom of their home was Maggie's sewing room. There was a sofa along one wall and their costumes were neatly folded in individual piles.

"Here we go, guys. Garrett, Nasir, Seth, Emmett," Maggie pointed. "Try everything on. What little some of you have."

"Oh, Maggie, this is beautiful," Seth picked up a sky blue and silver brocade garment.

"You picked out the fabric," Maggie pointed out.

"But just look at it now,' Seth was impressed. "Hurry out of those clothes, Honey, so you can try this on."

"We'll give you some privacy. C'mon, boys. Let's leave the men to change," Maggie herded.

"Mom, we wanna try on our costumes too!" Liam declared.

"Okay," Maggie agreed. "Your costumes are hanging up in your closets."

Liam and Owen tore out of the sewing room and Maggie moved to follow.

"We don't mind, Maggie. We're all boys," Seth offered as he and the other men pulled their shirts off over their heads.

"Oh, no," Maggie shook her head. "We already hear about what great big pee pees uncle Edward and uncle Jason have. All we need is for them to get a look at you and we'll never hear the end of it. Keep this door shut until you're safely changed," she commanded. Maggie stepped into the hallway and shut the door behind her.

"That would actually be pretty funny," Seth imagined as he dropped his pants.

"Rosalie wouldn't be able to call you pipsqueak ever again," Emmett pointed out.

"I should sext her a picture of the King," Seth stepped over to the sofa.

"I don't think so," Garrett was ever the voice of reason.

"Here, Emmy, put these pants on," Seth started to hand out garments to the other naked men. "Pants for you, Honey, and pants for Nasir."

All four pair of pants were not dissimilar. They were all very loose and baggy with very low crotches, and made of white satin. The ballooning legs came to a sudden end with a tight six inch long gold cuff at the ankle. Seth squatted down to button everyone's ankles before he put his own pants on. The waistbands buttoned on the right hip and while Nasir and Garrett had a zipper, Emmett and Seth did not. Here was where their pants differed. The outside legs of Emmett and Seth's costume pants were open and trimmed in gold from waist buttons to ankle buttons.

"Now, shirts for you two," Seth handed them out. Nasir and Garrett pulled their shirts over their heads though the garments were so open they could have just as easily stepped into them. The white satin shirts had a neckline open all the way down to their waists. The only buttons on the shirts were on the tight four inch gold cuffs at the end of the ballooning sleeves.

"I might as well not have on a shirt at all," Nasir looked down at himself.

"Exactly," Seth gave a firm nod.

"How else are we supposed to see these sexy chests?" Emmett ran his hands over his husband's furry pecs. "Sorry, Garrett, didn't mean to leave you out," he reached over and ran his fingers over Garrett's chest as well.

"No, Mary," Seth took hold of Emmett's wrist and moved the stray hand back to Nasir. "You feel up that one. This one is mine," he gave his husband a soft and loving kiss on his left nipple.

"Mmm," Garrett ran his hand down Seth's bare back.

"Now your vests," Seth continued to dress them. Garrett slipped on the blue and silver knee length brocade vest. Emmett helped Nasir into an identical one of black and red.

"Sashes," Seth tied a gold sash around his husband's waist on the outside of vest and did the same for Nasir.

"Then are these ours?" Emmett picked up the two remaining gold sashes and discovered that these two were lined with the same fabric as Nasir and Garrett's vests.

"Oh, look at that!" Seth was not expecting this extra detail. He tied the one around his waist that matched Garrett while Emmett did the same with the one that matched Nasir.

"Now, the way this material hangs I hope...," Seth pointed at Garrett and Nasir. "Go over to the wall and walk back," he instructed. Garrett and Nasir stepped the few feet to the window, turned and walked back to Seth.

"Nice. Just as I hoped," Seth was pleased with the way Garrett and Nasir's manhood could be seen moving in the loose pants as they walked. He turned and opened the door a crack. "We're ready if you are," Seth called out.

Maggie returned following the parade of two little pirates.

"Oh, no! Pirates!" Emmett played.

"Avast!" Liam pointed his curved plastic sword ever so dramatically.

"You guys are so cute," Seth smiled. "Maggie, everything is just perfect. And I love this touch by the way," he held out the lined side of one of the tails of his sash.

"I thought you harem boys would want to know which Sultan you belong to," Maggie teased.

"Harem boys," Nasir was most pleased by this thought.

"What's a harem boy?" Liam asked.

"A harem boy is a person who serves a Sultan," Emmett gave a simple explanation.

"Mom, can I be a harem boy next year?" Liam looked up at his mother.

"Maybe someday, but probably not next year," Seth laughed.

"That's a grown up thing to be," Maggie patted her older son on the back.

"I am a Sultan again, but not Suleiman this time. This is a much nicer costume than I had last year," Nasir ran his hands down his vest.

"Nasir the Magnificent," Emmett concluded.

"But how can there be two Sultans?" Nasir asked. "Is one of us a pretender? Will we have to fight for the throne?"

"Remember that picture we saw of the Kaiser and the Czar together?" Emmett reminded. "It's like that."

"You and Garrett the Wise and Beneficent can be friends," Seth added.

"I like that," Nasir put his arm around Garrett.

"So do I," Garrett agreed.

"One last touch, Sultans. Your turbans," Maggie opened the closet door and reached up to retrieve them. "Here, Em," she handed over Nasir's. The Arab was too tall for her to crown. Garrett's was sky blue, silver and gold with matching tails like lappets hanging down in back. Nasir's was red, black and gold with the same tails. A great, fake, fifty carat oval sapphire adorned the front of Garrett's turban while Nasir had a fake emerald cut ruby.

"Oh, Maggie, they're perfect! You've outdone yourself," Seth approved.

"How does everything fit?" Maggie asked. "Nothing needs taking in or letting out?" she slipped her fingers into the waistband of Emmett's pants to check the fit.

"Everything is perfect," Seth reiterated.

"In that case you can take it all with you," Maggie gestured.

"What are you and Rosalie coming as?" Seth enquired.

"Not gonna tell ya," Maggie was secretive.

"Maggie, my checkbook is in the car," Garrett the Wise and Beneficent lifted his turban off of his head.

"We'll let you guys get changed again. C'mon, pirates," Maggie herded again and shut the door behind them.

"I love what my harem boy is wearing," Nasir ran his hand over Emmett's exposed, hairy, outer thigh.

"Why do we let our harem boys wear anything, I must wonder," Garrett ran his hands over Seth's bare chest.

"You make a good point, Garrett," Nasir agreed. "I see now why your people proclaimed you Garrett the Wise."

"It's because we will be receiving guests and you won't let us wear less when doing that," Seth pointed out. "I thought this was as much as I could get away with."

"I do have that very nice picture of you in those jocks," Nasir reminded.

"Ha!" Seth laughed. "That's what we should have, a jock party! We'll pass 'em out at the door. Happy Halloween, here's your jock. Leave your clothes in the bedroom. Imagine Justin and Roberto!"

"Moose and Molly said they would come too. And they would all turn right back around and leave," Garrett stated.

"Molly wouldn't. She'd love it!" Seth was still amused by this thought.

Nasir spread his arms. "Undress me, harem boy."

"With pleasure!" Emmett enthused. Garrett said nothing, but stood the same way as Nasir. Seth set quickly to work as well. They refrained from anything more than mild caresses in Maggie's sewing room and soon all four men were dressed in their tee shirts and jeans. They emerged to find Maggie waiting with a big plastic Macy's bag.

"Here we go," Maggie held open the bag while Seth placed their costumes as neatly as possible within.

"Thanks, Maggie. Everything is beautiful and perfect," Seth took the bag. "I'll be right back with the checkbook," he headed for the front door.

"We have a little time, right?" Emmett asked. "Who wants to play horsey?!" he dropped to all fours.

"Yayyyy!" Liam came running. Nasir dropped down beside his husband and let Owen climb up on him as Liam jumped up onto Emmett.

"Giddyup, horsey!" Liam sat astride Emmett's broad back and hunched his little hips indicating he wanted his horse to go. Emmett gave a whiney and set off through the living room.

"Another glass of wine, Garrett?" Maggie asked the only other adult in the house on his feet.

"We'll let the kids play," Garrett put his arm around Maggie as they headed for the kitchen.

---

The Seattle Art Museum was right in the heart of downtown. An L shaped building, it spanned the block along 1st Avenue from University Street to Union Street, and along University to 2nd Avenue. University was a broad tree lined promenade along the museum and was a very pleasant place for tourists and residents alike to sit and relax on one of the many shaded benches. The museum had been closed for an hour, but on this evening, there was a special private reception for Contributors Circles Members. Doormen were stationed at the 1st and University entrance, and a small army of valets manned a podium at the curb on 1st Avenue.

On the fifth and top floor of the museum building, the new Director stood in her office at the curved glass wall overlooking the main entrance and intersection below. It was a spacious office, but far too sterile for her taste. The walls were white and all the furniture was chrome and glass and white leather. It was a small wonder her predecessor had departed after a short time as head of the museum. Why would one want to work in an environment like this, in a building with so much magnificent art? No matter, she would soon put it right.

"Ma'am?" a tall African American man appeared in the open doorway of her office. The Emmett sized man had a warm and friendly smile. He wore a shirt and tie with dress pants. His head was shaved and he had a small goatee on the tip of his chin.

"Yes, Noah?" she turned and looked at him through her huge black rimmed tweety bird glasses. The Director wore a midnight blue pants suit buttoned up nearly to her neck with a white dress shirt and a colorful silk scarf like an ascot.

"Are you ready to go down?" Noah asked. "The Board is all here."

"And I see my husband has just driven up as well," she pointed out the windows. "Time to get my party started," she walked across the office toward the man who was twice her height. "The staff from Taste is ready?"

"Yes, ma'am," Noah confirmed.

"They have those marvelous little mushroom quiches that I asked for?" she questioned.

"Chairman Wright approved the menu personally," Noah assured.

"And the wine?" she pressed as they walked through the outer offices.

"Sauvignon blanc, not chardonnay," Noah smiled down at her as they headed for the elevator.

"Good, good. My husband doesn't like chardonnay," the little woman informed her much larger escort.

"I do remember you said that," Noah indulged. In just the two days he had worked with her, he found her to be quite a character.

"And the red?" she continued.

"Shiraz, just as you specified," Noah was very patient with his new boss who was old enough to be his grandmother.

"Good, good," she toddled along beside Noah.

---

Bobby waited on the curb beside the black, stretch Town Car limousine, ready to greet his passengers. It was only a couple of minutes after he texted his arrival to his favorite regular client when they emerged from the building. They all wore snug, dark jeans. Emmett, Nasir and Garrett wore dress shirts and only Emmett did not wear a suit jacket. Emmett wore his shirt cuffs turned up to display his heavy gold cuff on his left wrist. Seth wore a custom black leather shirt in the style of a dress shirt and while it could be buttoned, he wore it entirely unbuttoned and held closed only by the matching belt tied around his waist. Seth also wore his red leather, high heeled boots and his heavy Emirati gold chain was visible where it lay on his dark chest through the partially open shirt.

"Evening, gentlemen," Bobby opened the rear door of the limousine.

"Evening, Bobby," Nasir greeted.

"I have a present for you, Mr. al Qasimi," Bobby moved the hand he had been concealing behind his back to produce the black leather dress belt Emmett had pulled from his husband's suit pants the previous night, which they had abandoned on the floor of the limo.

"Oh!" Nasir took it.

"Ha!" Seth laughed and clapped.

"I wondered where I left that," Nasir admitted.

"That was my fault," Emmett confessed.

"One of these days I'm going to give you a jar full of all the shirt buttons I've had to vacuum up out of the back too," Bobby quipped.

"Ha!" Seth laughed again as he got into the car. He took the rear facing seat and waited for Garrett to sit beside him to settle back against his husband. Garrett liked the shirt Seth was wearing as it was very easy for him to slip his hand into it as he draped his arm over Seth. Both men enjoyed Garrett's hand on Seth's chest inside his shirt.

"Do we need the divider up?" Bobby asked as Emmett moved to follow Garrett.

"We'll behave," Emmett assured as he got into the limo.

"When it is the four of us we behave," Nasir added. "Usually," he amended as he climbed in last. Their driver just smiled and nodded as he shut them in. Bobby walked around the car and slipped quickly into the driver's seat.

"The Dom Perignon you requested is on ice there for you, Mr. al Qasimi," Bobby informed as he put the car in gear.

"We will open it on the way to dinner," Nasir stated. "You have another bottle for the drive home?"

"Yes, sir. It's on ice in the trunk," Bobby informed as he steered them down 3rd Avenue.

"Thank you, Bobby," Emmett liked their especially friendly and understanding driver. He took Nasir's wayward, coiled belt from him and placed it up in the rear window behind them.

"I'll remind you that's up there when we get home," Seth offered.

"I won't forget it," Emmett assured.

"Yes you will," Seth prophesied.

It was only a few blocks and a few minutes over to 1st Avenue and up to University Street. They pulled up in front of the museum behind a familiar vehicle.

"Oh, Honey, look," Seth patted his husband's shoulder as the valet opened their rear passenger door. Seth got out of the limousine first and bounced over to where his sister-in-law waited on the curb. "There's my little momma," he greeted.

"Oh, Seth," Melinda embraced him. She wore a form fitting little black dress while she still could. "Wow, this was great timing," Melinda moved from Seth's arms to Garrett's, Emmett's and Nasir's.

Justin obtained his ticket from the valet and slipped it into his suit jacket pocket as he came around the big, old Rolls. "Hey, there's all my gays."

"Hi, Justin," Seth was quick to wrap his arms around his brother-in-law's torso inside his suit jacket. "Boy do you clean up nice," he admired.

"Thank you," Justin laughed. "Hey, Gar," he greeted his brother as Seth let him go.

"Nice to see you driving the old boat," Garrett motioned to the car with his chin as the valet drove it away.

"It was made for occasions like this," Justin clapped his brother on the shoulder.

"Where is Edward?" Melinda asked. "He's a Contributors Circle member. I saw his name. Isn't he coming?"

"Eddie either just got home or is still on his way home from the mountain, and he has to head right back up before dawn," Emmett explained.

"I am sorry I will not get to see him while I am home," Nasir commented as he stood with his arm around Emmett's waist.

"Besides, Edward didn't join for the parties, like we did," Seth added.

"Speaking of, shall we go inside?" Garrett gestured. He offered his arm to Melinda who happily took it as they proceeded toward the entrance.

"I know you don't wear a suit to work," Seth walked with Justin. "You put that on just for this?"

"When my wife says put on a suit and tie, I put on a suit and tie," Justin stated.

"You do everything you're told?" Seth teased.

"You know what, Seth? Yeah, pretty much," Justin put his arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "Look at my wife," he gestured to where she walked ahead of them with his little brother. "She's beautiful and you know what I like to do with my beautiful wife?"

"Make babies with her," Seth rightly concluded.

"I sure do enjoy that kind of activity with my beautiful wife, so if she says put on a suit, I say, sure, Honey, whatever you want. And I say it with a smile on my face because happy Mel makes very happy Justin," Justin explained. "You probably don't understand any of this because I'm sure in your house, you're the one who makes the rules."

"Ninety nine percent of them anyway!" Seth laughed.

"Gay or straight, us Thompson men have to keep our spouses happy," Justin was resigned.

"I love all my Thompson men, gay and straight," Seth stated.

"Hey, know what I was gonna wear to your halloween bash?" Justin asked. "My old high school wrestling singlet."

"Oh my God, I would pay money to see you in that!" Seth was thrilled at the prospect.

"I can still get into it, but it's damn tight. You'd love it," Justin teased.

"I sure as shit would!" Seth affirmed. "But why aren't you going to wear it? You'd be the hit of the party!"

"That occurred to me and I'll be honest, it made me a little afraid," Justin admitted.

"I'll protect you," Seth assured.

"I thought you'd say that, which makes me even more afraid," Justin confessed.

"I won't let anyone grab your dick. Anyone else, I mean," Seth gave a sly grin.

"And that's why I'm not wearing it," Justin nodded.

"You're so much fun, Justin," Seth leaned his head on the taller man as they walked into the museum.

They entered into the South Hall of the museum where smiling staff collected their invitations and directed them up the steps to the Taste restaurant and SAM shop terrace. An escalator from here took them up into the cavernous Brotman Forum where the nine identical white cars run through with hundreds of poles pulsing with fiber optic light of Cai Guo Qiang's Inopportune Stage One, were suspended above them.

"Holy crap," Justin looked up as they reached the Forum.

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Justin," Emmett agreed.

"Let me get a shot of this handsome group," the photographer hired to record the event for posterity appeared before them. He wore snug jeans with a dress shirt and tie.

"Dane!" Emmett snatched him up and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Hi, Emmett," Dane laughed as he was set back down on his feet.

"Hello, Dane," Garrett gave the shorter man a kiss on his cheek as well when it was his turn. "You remember my brother Justin and his wife Melinda."

"Of course. Hi," Dane greeted.

"Dane, this is how straight guys say hello," Justin shook his hand.

"Oh, right," Dane nodded. "Thanks for clearing that up!"

"Nice to see you again, Dane," Melinda smiled as she shook his hand as well.

Seth tilted his head. "Hey," he pointed up while he listened. "That sounds like...," Seth looked around to find the source of the music. "It is!"

The man sat on a tall stool framed by potted palms. He wore form fitting dark jeans, a western style shirt with pearl buttons and a brown cowboy hat. His hat held his long blonde hair out of his face, but he hung his head to keep his face obscured by the brim of the hat. He wouldn't have seen the supporters of the Seattle art world here to meet the new director anyway, as he kept his eyes closed most of the time. He let the music flow through his fingers directly from his soul to the strings of his beloved guitar. It helped to tune out the gathering patrons. They would only distract him. All save one that is. The man who drove him here and held his hand in the car without even thinking about it. The man who inspired every note he played.

A microphone on a small stand stood in front of the guitar player and carried his gentle strumming to the Forum speakers.

"It's that guy who played at the gallery that time," Dane stated. "That time you interviewed, somebody."

"I interviewed his husband and I'll bet he's around here somewhere," Seth surmised as he looked around.

Smiling servers from Taste in white shirts and bow ties for the occasion circled through with trays of glasses of wine. Everyone selected a glass of the white wine, except Justin and Melinda.

"Is there a non alcoholic option?" Justin asked. "A coke or something?"

"You want a coke on ice?" Dane asked. "I can get you one."

"Make it two, Buddy," Justin patted Dane on his upper arm.

"You don't want a glass of wine, Justin?" Seth asked as his friend set off to fetch the colas.

"I'm not a big wine drinker, Seth. You know that. I only drink wine with my wife," Justin slipped his arm around Melinda's waist. "If she's not having any wine, I'm not either."

"Aww," Seth was touched.

"He's sweet," Melinda commented. She reached up to take hold of her husband's chin and gave him a light kiss on his lips.

"Careful, you'll get lipstick on him," Seth noted how lightly, but perfectly Melinda was made up.

"I'll get lipstick on him when we get home. All the way around it," Melinda teased.

"Gosh," Justin looked at his watch, "is this thing over already? Seems like we just got here."

"Here we go," Dane returned with two tall, thin glasses filled with ice and dark liquid. "They only have pepsi. Is that okay?"

"Much preferred actually," Justin took them and handed one to his wife. "Thanks, my man."

"Oh, here's Dorothea," Melinda noticed her older friend arrive at the top of the escalator.

"Okay, so catch me up," Seth instructed as Dane snapped a shot of Dorothea being greeted by the Thompsons.

"Wanna see some pictures?" Dane called up the menu on his camera.

"Always," Seth answered.

"Tony bought me a little something to wear around his house," Dane explained as he called up the picture. "And this is me in it."

"Oh, very little I see," Seth admired the shot of his friend in just a black mesh thong.

"And, let's see, here's Tony lifting weights," Dane called up a picture of Tony taken from a low vantage point at the foot of his weight bench. Tony's manhood was not at all contained within the leg opening of his small shorts and was on full display.

"That looks very weighty," Seth assessed.

"Yeah it is," Dane confirmed. "Oh, and here's Tony with my balls in his mouth," he said casually as he showed Seth a shot of him standing over Tony's head at the end of the weight bench. Dane was naked and erect in the picture with slightly bent knees to squat over Tony's face. His sac was entirely in Tony's mouth and even more impressively in this shot, was Tony's full hardness sticking up from the leg opening of his small gym shorts.

"We actually made a whole porno," Dane informed further. "It's on my laptop."

"Which I know you're going to show me," Seth was confident. He scrutinized the photo further. "Tony is hung just like Emmy. Emmy!" Seth called.

"No!" Dane laughed. He lowered the camera and closed the file. "I promised I would only show you!"

"What?" Emmett joined them.

"How's your wine?" Seth asked.

"Exactly the same as yours," Emmett replied flatly.

"Oh, that's nice," Seth was casual. "Tony's Italian dick matches your German one almost exactly, just FYI," he added.

"Oh, that's nice," Emmett repeated Seth's line. "I'm not really sure what I should do with that information."

"Well," Seth considered. "Either Nasir is going to have to blow Tony or Dane is going to have to blow you for us to really know for sure."

"Dane is here and Tony isn't," Emmett reasoned. "You busy right now, Dane?"

"The museum is going to want some more shots," Dane was casual. "Be with ya in a few."

"Okay," Emmett nodded like it was a plan.

"Can I tell you the best news of all?" Dane was serious again. "Cole stopped by yesterday."

"How is that good news?" Seth's face darkened.

"Just wait. He brought me flowers and wants me back, and told me he's really gay after all, and every other damn thing he knew I wanted to hear," Dane relayed.

"Don't believe one word of it!" Seth exclaimed.

"I didn't!" Dane assured. "I invited him to go and fuck himself. And then this morning, he came back, only Tony was there. I had Brooke and Megan last night so we all stayed at my place."

"This is your ex?" Emmett tried to follow.

"Yeah," Dane confirmed.

"His piece of shit ex," Seth added.

"If I were Tony, I wouldn't look too kindly on a guy bringing you flowers. Especially if that guy is an ex," Emmett reasoned.

"Tony greeted him very politely and shook his hand," Dane relayed. "Then dragged him by his necktie out of my apartment, down the stairs, out of the building, down the walk, across the street, and threw him onto the hood of his car."

"Ha! Good!" Seth could not have been more pleased. "I hope we've seen the last of that asshole."

"I wish you could have been there, Seth," Dane smiled at the memory of his man both defending and claiming him at the same time. Two things his ex would never have done.

"So do I!" Seth enthused.

"Sweetness," Garrett appeared at their side, "shall we go say hello?"

"Oh, I guess there was a reason to come here other than to just be seen," Seth flipped his hair over his shoulder and took Garrett's hand. Nasir stepped up to Emmett's side and took his hand. Emmett smiled into his husband's soft brown eyes as they entwined their fingers. It was so nice to have him home.

The new Director stood with the museum Trustees and her hulking assistant toward the far end of the Brotman Forum. The men and women all had their spouses with them, including the Director. One man stood among the Trustees that Garrett, Seth, Emmett and Nasir did not expect. It was a most unwelcome surprise. The very fit blonde man wore an expensive and perfectly tailored suit. His partner was dressed identically, even down to his tie and pocket square, and stood obediently by his side.

"What is that fuck doing here?" Seth spoke quietly, but made no attempt to erase the contempt from his face. The aire of malevolence around the man was palpable. It amazed Seth that everyone couldn't see it.

"Garrett! Seth!" Henrietta Van Cleft caught sight of them. She wore a charcoal gray gown that swept the floor and her usual black shawl and lacquer cane. Her hair was as ever done in a great white poof.

"Henrietta," Garrett smiled as and stepped into her arms. "Always a pleasure."

"My pleasure," Henrietta let go of Garrett and pulled Seth to her. "And my Seth. I have all my handsome boys."

"Hi, Miss Van Cleft," Seth smiled.

"You'll remember our friends, Emmett and Nasir," Garrett reminded.

"Oh, yes, of course," Henrietta took Emmett's hand. "You boys know James. Yes, I'm sure you do. And his sweet boy Krister. You should all be friends," she pronounced. The elderly woman pulled them, by Emmett's hand, over to James and Krister. "I convinced Charles and Virginia to invite James to join us on the Board. He's always been a strong supporter of the arts, just like you boys. As a gay man and a successful entrepreneur, he can bring so much insight to the table. Keep our blood fresh!"

"I'm sure there's fresh blood all too often," Seth quipped under his breath. Garrett put his arm around his husband's shoulders to both convey solidarity and attempt to restrain him. This was not the time or place for a confrontation.

"Garrett, a pleasure to see my banker," James offered his hand with a smile. Seth immediately saw through James' psychological game. The man certainly didn't want to convey that he thought of Garrett as an equal.

"Always nice to run into my clients," Garrett smiled back as he shook James' hand. James was but one of many and not a significant one at that.

"And Seth," James offered Seth his hand as well. And Seth was suddenly placed in a terrible position. How could he shake this man's hand when all he wanted to do was spit in his face? But Lady Van Cleft looked on, and what she knew of him did not jive with the truth. If Seth read this man like the monster he was, here and now, James would come out smelling like a rose.

"James," Seth gave the barest hint of a smile as he accepted. James deliberately took Seth's hand in a very firm grip. It was not enough to cause the smaller man to cry out in pain, but more than enough to let the loudmouth little shit know who was the bigger, stronger and better man.

"I know you remember Emmett," Seth turned the tables.

"Of course," James was less enthused. And now he was forced to shake the hand of the man who had broken his nose years ago. Emmett said nothing but let his grip convey that he would be delighted to do it again.

"And his husband, Nasir bin Omar al Qasimi," Seth made a formal introduction for the first time.

"Marhabbah," Nasir picked up on Seth's use of his full name and greeted the loathsome man in Arabic as they shook.

"I'm sure," James wanted nothing to do with Emmett or his foreign partner.

Seth turned to Dane while Nasir took great pleasure in doing his best to intimidate James. He leaned close to whisper to Dane. "I need you to organize a shot of the Board. Take several, but wait till I start talking to the cute blonde kid," Seth instructed. James ever worked to insinuate himself into the upper crust establishment and this time Seth knew just how to use James' maneuvers against him.

"Okay," Dane agreed. He didn't know what Seth was up to, but trusted his friend and co-worker implicitly.

"Hi, Krister. I'm Seth. We've never met properly," Seth took charge as he offered his hand to the younger man who stood quietly and obediently at James' side. Lady Van Cleft's smiled as she looked on. Seth could use her scrutiny to his advantage as well. What objection could James possibly have to Seth talking to his partner? She wanted them all to be friends. Hadn't she just said so?

"Hi," Krister gave a shy smile as they shook.

"You're at UW, right?" Seth started conversation. "Emmett and I went there with our friends Jasper and Edward," he added with a smile at James. "I'd love to hear about your classes and professors."

"Um, okay," Krister faltered. James introduced him to people at various functions all the time, but he was then expected to be quiet. Krister knew his place. His job was to smile and be pretty. James had explained it often enough and anytime James was forced to repeat a lesson, he did so with his fists. Krister knew James did not like this Native American man, but James had never said why, and Krister well knew better than to ask. He had learned very quickly to stifle his natural curiosity. One question too many, or even one on a topic James did not want to discuss, could send him into a blind rage. Those episodes invariably left Krister in so much pain, the mere act of breathing made him want to die. Now this man Krister knew James didn't like was trying to engage him. He knew James didn't like him talking to anyone and a breach of that rule had serious consequences that Krister had learned the hard way, but he also knew how important it was to favorably impress Lady Van Cleft. If he refused to speak to the man, and Lady Van Cleft found that rude, James would too. The consequences in that case, Krister knew from experience, would be even worse.

"Chairman Wright, Director Crittenton," Dane called as he held up his camera. "Can we get all the Trustees to pose together over here, by the tall sculpture?"

"Oh, good idea," Charles Wright who stood with his mother, Sylvia and Miles agreed. "Everyone," he called. "James," Charles added when he saw that his newest Trustee hung back.

"Let's start with just the Board first," Dane organized.

Seth seized his flawlessly executed opportunity. "How about another glass of wine?" he gestured to a slowly passing waiter.

"Sure," Krister agreed. Just as Seth planned, this gave them the advantage of having their backs to the group photo session.

James seethed and worked very hard to contain his fury as he moved and stood where the photographer directed and redirected for the group pictures. He never took his eyes off of Krister and the poisonous little Native American shit.

Krister grabbed two full glasses of sauvignon blanc from the waiter's tray. "I'll take one for James as well."

"Krister, I only have a short window here," Seth began. "I have something important to tell you. I know that you love James."

"I really do. He has done so much for me," Krister gave the line that he told himself was true.

"I know it seems like that. I know he says that he loves you. He may even believe it," Seth continued. "Krister, I have a dear friend who was with James some years ago. James psychologically, emotionally and physically abused him. James made him feel worthless, guilty, beat him routinely and made him think everything was his fault. I know you know what I am talking about. I know that James is right handed and that your ribs on your left side are bruised or worse. I can see on your face that it's true. I also know that you are a pretty good actor to make like nothing is wrong at all these events where he parades you out and shows you off. You need to act like everything is fine now. Don't let him see that I rattled you. If he suspects he'll grill you and beat it out of you. We only spoke of your classes and professors. I may be able to contact you at school if you would like," Seth offered.

"No," Krister shook his head slowly.

"Okay, I won't. I won't let anyone else either," Seth agreed. "I can't give you anything written down because he'll find it. Can you remember the name Rainbow Beginnings? They help gay men who are being abused. They know all about James. They know how to deal with men like him. If it gets to be too much, if you want out, if you need help, reach out to them. Rainbow Beginnings. If you want, they will alert me. I'll do anything I can to help. I can bring my big friend Emmett. He rescued our friend from James and took him to the hospital. He can do the same for you. Krister, I need you to know that no one deserves to be hit. No one deserves to be made to feel like he is worthless or everything is your fault. No one who really loves you would pound on you with his fists. James is sick and he is a monster," Seth stated. He didn't need a sixth sense to know what would happen the instant the few photos were taken. "I never had Professor Crittenton for any of my classes, but I wish I had. He was still there then. He hadn't retired yet. I'll bet his classes were fun. He seems like such a character," Seth switched to harmless chit chat for James to overhear.

"Krister," James spoke in a firm voice that carried a cold, threatening edge to it as he appeared behind them.

"Oh," Krister smiled as he and Seth turned around. "This is for you, James," he offered one of the glasses of wine he held.

"Thank you, Sweetheart," James used a softer tone as he took the glass. He smiled at Krister and brushed the back of his fingers gently across the shorter man's cheek. That a monster like this was capable of such a loving gesture one moment and ready to pound his fist into the smaller man's ribs another, made Seth want to vomit all over James' beautiful suit. James looked to Seth and his smile faded. He took hold of Krister's arm and led him away. Seth watched them go. The last thing he would do was smile at James. Seth would never want James to suspect that he had gotten away with anything.

"Congratulations, Sylvia," Garrett greeted his neighbor.

"Oh, Garrett," the small woman put a hand on his arm. "I did think I saw Seth. How nice of you boys to come."

"Seth is right over here," Garrett gestured. When Seth saw that, he walked over to them.

"Hi, Sylvia," he gave the one adult in his building that was shorter than him a hug. "You decided to come out of retirement?"

"Charles talked me into it. I helped him find a tenant for the other side of the building, you know. Oh! I'd like you to meet Noah. Mr. Davis!" Sylvia called.

"Yes, ma'am?" the Emmett sized black man moved quickly to his little boss' side.

"Noah, I'd like you to meet my neighbors, Garrett and Seth. This is my assistant, Noah," Sylvia introduced.

"Hi, Noah," Seth smiled.

"Nice to meet you both," Noah smiled politely.

"Noah's been here for some months and I'm most glad of it," Sylvia informed. "I can't find anything without him. I would be lost!"

"Here's an important tip, Noah," Seth began his mischief. "Never let any chardonnay in this building!"

"That's what Miss Crittenton said," Noah smiled. "She think I don't know about that bottle she got in the little fridge in her office."

"Oh! Whatever you do, don't tell Miles," Sylvia protested. "Perhaps we'll have a nice cup of tea in the afternoons, Noah, except on Fridays we'll have a glass of wine. How does that sound?"

"Or you could have a cup of tea around two and then a glass of wine around four every day," Seth suggested.

"Well," Sylvia considered. "That does rather sound like a better idea, doesn't it. You could do that at the bank, Garrett," she pointed at him.

"Oh, no," Garrett laughed. "I don't think the home office would look too kindly on that."

"A glass of wine never hurt anyone," Sylvia proclaimed.

"Until you admit what kind it is?" Seth asked.

"Shhh," Sylvia put a finger to her vividly red lips as she shook her head and patted his arm.

"Evening," a well dressed man inserted himself. He wore an expensively tailored suit that looked to be in a style worn in Europe eighty years ago. "Mrs. Crittenton, may I offer my congratulations?" he offered his hand. "I know our beloved museum is in good hands."

"Thank you, and how lovely to meet you! I've read all of your books you know," Sylvia held his hand in both of hers. "When I saw your name on the Curator's Circle list, I so hoped to be able to meet you."

"You're very kind," the author smiled politely. In truth, he hadn't come to this reception this evening to do anything other than support the man he loved.

"Very nice to see you again, Wash," Seth offered his hand.

"Seth, lovely running into you," Wash greeted. "And Garrett, Jay does so enjoy First Thursday at your gallery."

"We very much enjoy him," Garrett smiled.

"Sylvia," Dorothea led Melinda and Justin into the growing group, "congratulations. I see you hired my cowboy."

"Oh, Dorothea," Sylvia leaned up for the other woman's hug. "I saw him playing at your showhouse and I just fell madly in love. Enchanting, isn't he? He's my cowboy now."

"Wait a minute, ladies," Melinda protested. "He's my cowboy," she asserted.

"I'm glad it's a gay guy they're fighting over," Justin commented to his brother. Garrett just smiled and nodded his agreement.

Seth looked up at Wash and immediately understood the smile on his face. "I know whose cowboy he really is," Seth took a sip of his wine.

"I sleep beside him every night," Wash stated. "Right where I belong," he added quietly.

"Oh! You guys have to come to our Halloween party!" Seth grabbed Wash's arm.

"If you don't already have plans that is," Garrett tempered.

"We have no plans," Wash admitted.

"Then we would love to have you," Garrett smiled.

"Is it a costumed affair?" Wash asked.

"Absolutely. And be sexy!" Seth poked Wash in the arm.

"I'll talk to my better half, but I'm sure we'd love to come," Wash agreed.

"Great. I'll email you the details," Seth concluded.

"Miles and I might pop over this year," Sylvia repeated the line she had used since Seth and Garrett moved into the penthouse. "There will be a few straight men there."

"Justin, Roberto, a few others," Seth confirmed.

"I keep telling him he won't be the only one," Sylvia gave a shrug. "Oh, here come our new tenants," she gestured toward the stairs and clasped her hands. "How lovely."

They ascended the steps at a slow, stately pace. Two flanked a third a step behind at his sides. The man in the center wore a Victorian era black suit with a lapelled, low cut, black velvet waistcoat over a black dress shirt and black tie. The knee length frock style coat had black velvet lapels and was lined in blood red satin. His jet black, perfectly straight hair hung down over his shoulders. The man at his right arm wore a black, double breasted suit with a black dress shirt and a black paisley print ascot. His long, wavy, dark brown hair hung down over his shoulders as well. His counterpart on the other side wore a black, two button, single breasted suit with a black tie and a dress shirt of deep maroon. His long, perfectly straight, golden blonde hair lay over his shoulders. They each wore an identical gold medallion with an elaborate V that hung around their necks on a gold chain and lay atop their shirts and ties.

Aro Volturi wore a small smile that conveyed bemusement as he surveyed the gathering. On his right, Marcus Velosi could not have appeared more uninterested. On Aro's left, Cassius Van Tassel wore an outright scowl. The three pale skinned men advanced at their slow pace, followed closely by two ever attentive assistants. A young blonde woman was dressed very professionally and wore her blonde hair up in a bun behind her head. The young man with her was dressed more like a play thing. His black jacket was cut in an old Russian Imperial uniform style with elaborate embroidery across the chest connected to loop and knot buttons. Only one of these buttons was buttoned and it appeared the dress shirt beneath it wasn't buttoned at all.

"Oh, it's Nasi's attorney," Emmett pointed at the man he recognized.

Seth furrowed his brow and gave an involuntary shudder. "Wuh! Could they be any more creepy?" he wondered aloud.

"Mr. Volturi," Nasir stepped forward, "very nice to see you."

"Oh, Nasir, how delightful to see you," Aro took Nasir's hand and just held it in both of his. "No trouble with USCIS I trust."

"None at all, Sir," Nasir smiled at the eccentric shorter man.

"Splendid. Meet my partners," Aro let go of Nasir's hand and made no attempt at actual introductions. "Sylvia," he spread his arms and advanced on her.

"Hello, Aro," Sylvia leaned up as he bent to kiss her cheek. "Construction begins on Monday, I'm told, and shouldn't take more than a month," she wagged a finger.

"Sylvia, this is an even better downtown location than we already have and nearly twice the square footage for less money," Aro all but performed for the crowd. "How could we refuse?" he spread his hands. "And that side of the building is ideal. I won't have the sun streaming into my office. I cannot abide it."

"Seth," James called as he walked toward the smaller Cullen henchman. The mere sound of James' voice made Seth's skin crawl. He turned to look at the man, bolstered by the calming, reassuring and protective influences of his very nearby husband, best friend and best friend's husband.

"James," Seth spoke in the same tone James had used.

"I'd love for you to meet my very good friend, Morton Danzig," James introduced a dark haired man in a dark blue suit. "That's Deputy Chief Danzig, Seattle Police. I'm sure you don't know him," James gave a very self satisfied smile.

"Very nice to meet you, Deputy Chief," Seth offered his hand.

"How do you do?" Danzig greeted as they shook. He had no idea he was being used in a power play.

"I do very well," Seth assured.

"C'mon, Morty. Let get a glass of wine. I'll introduce you to important people," James led the man and Krister away, and continued to give Seth a beaming smile as he did so.

Once James turned away, Seth allowed himself a satisfied smile. James had used the exact same lines to introduce his friend the Deputy Chief, that Seth had used to introduce Roberto to him months ago. And he had gone out of his way to do it. There could be no doubt that Seth had gotten under his skin that day. Now here he was with a friend who vastly outranked the friend Seth had. That was fine. Cocky people got sloppy. Seth knew in his soul that the day would come when all James' friends would abandon him like rats from a sinking ship. And he was sure he would be there to see it. He only hoped it didn't cost Krister his life in the process.

---

Leah was dressed comfortably in tight jeans, a fitted long sleeved crew neck shirt and flat shoes. What Roberto loved about that was how much it showed that they were completely at ease and comfortable with each other. She didn't need to try to impress him by showing skin or wearing high heels. It was already a given that she was spending the night. He knew what was under her clothes as well she knew what was under his. Roberto was more and more sure that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her every time he looked at Leah. He wore jeans and a loose, plaid, button up shirt of soft cotton with the sleeves rolled up.

They sat to dinner at the black leather, glass and chrome dining table and chairs that sat by the sliding glass door out onto his deck. This door was open for fresh air and, like the window over the sink, to cool off the kitchen from cooking. Roberto made enchiladas the way his mother taught him.

"God," Leah put her fork down when she finished. "These are so good! Don't tell Carmen, but yours are even better than hers."

"It's 'cause they're made with love, Chula," Roberto rose and leaned over to give her a soft kiss on her lips as he picked up their plates.

"Oh, no you don't," Leah followed him. "You cooked for me. I'm cleaning up," she commanded.

"I can clean up," Roberto protested like he always did as he set the plates in the sink.

"Get outta my kitchen," Leah stepped up beside her man and bumped him with her hip. Roberto couldn't help but smile. He loved when she claimed for hers what was his. That was exactly what he wanted.

"I'll put the rest of the enchiladas in plastic containers so we can take them for lunches," Roberto wanted to be helpful.

"I'll do that. Go get the fire going," Leah instructed.

"Okay, Momi," Roberto paused to give her a kiss on her temple and headed for the stairs. Leah smiled to herself as he went to do as he was told. She rinsed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. One of the many things she loved and appreciated about Roberto was that he was always willing to accommodate her. If she wanted to go out dancing, he took her out. If she wanted to do dinner and a movie, he took her to do that. If she wanted a quiet evening at home with just him, he was ready, attentive and more than willing to snuggle. Leah remembered that her brother had some big thing going on this evening which included dinner at a very nice place. She wasn't the social butterfly her brother was. Leah used to be out and about. She used to be a predator. That life held no interest for her anymore.

Roberto had a proper chimenea on the patio outside the family room for cool evenings, but that was not what he wanted tonight. He didn't want to sit in chairs. That would not bring the closeness he wanted for what he knew would be a very special night. In truth, he was a little nervous as he placed newspaper, kindling and logs in the firepit in the backyard. A man did not ask a woman to marry him unless he was sure that was what they both wanted. And hadn't Leah hinted at that very thing as far back as Labor Day? Still, Roberto was 32 years old and tonight would be the first time in his life that he would take this big a step. Yet, he had never been more sure of anything.

The fire pit was a large steel and mesh basin that stood in the yard on a bed of bricks for stability. Roberto wanted to dig a proper one into the ground like Edward Cullen had. It was on the perpetual to do list and someday Roberto would get around to it. He retrieved the big plastic tarp from the garage used for just this purpose. It would keep the old comforter that he spread out over it on the lawn from getting wet. To finish setting the stage he brought a few of the oversized pillows from the family room. He knew Leah wouldn't find this out of the ordinary. They had done it many times. The first time, Leah had commented on how romantic it felt, which only made Roberto want to do this as often as the occasion allowed.

Leah put the food away, washed the oven dish by hand and wiped off the table, all the while watching her man make the fire and backyard ready for them. And this, she decided, called for a glass of wine, or more truthfully, a bottle. One of her favorite things was to relax with him out by the fire and enjoy a bottle of wine. They could and did talk about everything and nothing. And, Leah reflected as she pulled a bottle of Merlot from the rack on the counter, he looked so hot in that shirt she just had to reach into it. Before she unzipped him, that is. She plucked two wine glasses from the set she bought him. There were no wine glasses in this house before she arrived. Just one thing on a long list of touches she planned to make on his life. Leah tucked the corkscrew into her back pocket and headed out to join him.

Roberto almost never put the mesh cage atop the fire and tonight was no exception. The dry logs that he kept in the big box under the back porch caught nicely and the fire gave off a good amount of both light and heat. The Pinyon pine not only gave off a very pleasant aroma, but also had bug repelling properties.

"This is just perfect," Leah commented as she slipped off her shoes at the edge of the comforter.

"Let me do that, Chula," Roberto reached for the bottle. He always opened the wine and she always let him. He knew where the corkscrew would be and reached into her back pocket to retrieve it. Not that he needed an excuse to touch her butt, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Roberto kicked his own shoes off and sat down to open the bottle. Leah sat down beside him and held the glasses while he poured. He propped the bottle against an extra pillow which would also shield it from the fire and they reclined together. Roberto put his arm around his girl as she snuggled up to him.

"This is so nice," Leah commented. "I really love these quiet evenings."

"Me too," Roberto held her close and took a sip of his wine.

"I love being with our families too, but spending quality time with just you is what I love the most," Leah added.

"Me too, Momi," Roberto agreed. He rubbed her feet with his. "Oh, wait a minute," Roberto sat up and pulled his socks off. He really liked when they were naked in bed together and could rub every part of each other with every part of each other. Now, by the fire, if Leah was going to be barefoot, so was he.

"There," Roberto settled back and rubbed her feet with his while he held her. Leah reclined against his shoulder and gave a contented sigh.

"What would we being doing if we were on your reservation?" Roberto asked.

"This," Leah gestured to the fire. "Exactly this, 'cause there's not a damn thing else to do."

"I'm glad you came out here to find me," Roberto gave her a kiss on her temple.

"I am too, Papi," Leah ran a hand over his chest.

"Oh, hey, I have a present for you! Wait right here, okay?" Roberto kissed her forehead and handed her his wine glass.

"Okay," Leah agreed as he got up and dashed barefoot to the house.

If Leah found nothing unusual about this at first, she certainly did when he emerged from the house, arms laden with boxes of various sizes all wrapped professionally in silver, blue and white papers and ribbons.

"What is all this?" Leah asked as he returned to the comforter and sat down. "What's the occasion?"

"I need a special occasion to think of my girl and get her a present or two?" Roberto arranged the boxes around her.

"A present or two?" Leah could not help but note there were far more than that.

"Open them," Roberto took their glasses from her. "This one first," he touched it with the foot of his glass.

"Okay," Leah turned the garment sized box and ripped into the paper from where the edge had been folded. Roberto took a sip of his wine and could not suppress his wide, happy grin as he watched her open her first gift. Leah ripped the paper away and lifted the lid of the box. A thick, coarse, colorful material lay within.

"Oh, it's a blanket," Leah lifted it out of the box, "like your mom's."

"I know that blankets are an important part of your culture. They are in mine too," Roberto began. "This is a falsa blanket. It was made in the village in Mexico where my family is from. Your heritage is so rich and beautiful. I wanted to share some of mine with you."

"Oh, Papi, it's beautiful," Leah leaned forward to give him a loving kiss on his lips. "I love it," she wrapped it around her shoulders. "And I love it even more because of what it means."

"I'm glad you like it. Now this one," Roberto placed a large, more square box before her. Leah again started at the sides and tore the paper away. Just as Roberto expected, he watched her brow furrow.

"A sixteen quart steamer pot," Leah read the box. "You got me a pot?"

"Yep," Roberto worked to keep a straight face. She would understand soon enough.

"Well, thanks. I don't have one," Leah made no attempt to hide her sarcasm.

Roberto had to laugh. "It'll make sense in a minute. This one next," he placed another similarly sized box before her.

Leah eyed her man suspiciously as she tore into this one. Under the paper was a plain white box and when she lifted the lid, was more dismayed than ever. "Maseca corn flour," Leah moved the items in the box around to see them in the light from the fire.

"Corn husks, corn oil, salsa verde with tomatillos, and chiles," Roberto ran down the remaining contents.

"What in the world is all this?" Leah was at a loss.

"So I can make you proper, authentic tamales when I'm at your place," Roberto smiled.

"Oh-kay," Leah gave a slow nod which only made Roberto laugh again.

"Now this one," Roberto moved the box of ingredients aside and placed another large garment box before her.

"If this is an apron, you're so done," Leah threatened.

"It's not an apron," Roberto laughed. Leah eyed him carefully. He was having far too much fun with whatever game this was. She tore into this one much less carefully and was very pleasantly surprised when she lifted the lid.

"Oh," Leah ran her hand over the supple black leather. "What's this?" she asked as she lifted it out of the box. Leah could immediately see that it was a very fine leather jacket. "Wow."

"You know how much I love to take you on my bike, Chula," Roberto took her hand. "We won't be able to do it much more this year. It's getting colder, but I want you to be warm. See the lining?" he opened one side of the jacket.

"Is this real fur?!" Leah ran her fingers through the silky soft hair.

"It's rabbit," Roberto confirmed.

"Guapo, thank you!" Leah leaned forward to kiss him again. "This is so nice!" she looked around her. "Okay, what's going on?"

"You're not done," Roberto produced a small box. "The best things come in the smallest boxes. Open this one," he handed it to her.

"Is this jewelery now?" Leah ripped the paper off the small, flat box. She had been kidding. She didn't really expect to find gold when she opened the box, but she did. Leah gasped as the three galloping horse pendants gleamed in the dancing light of the fire.

"Oh, my God," Leah looked up at him.

"They're mustangs," Roberto stated.

"Like your car!" Leah thought she got it. "They're beautiful!"

"You want to put it on?" Roberto asked. "Here, let me," he took the box and extracted the gold necklace from it. Leah lifted her long, black, lustrous hair for him to reach to fasten the clasp behind her neck.

"Okay, what's going on here? Out with it," Leah pressed.

"Leah," Roberto took her hands in his. "I love you so much. I hope you know that."

"I do," Leah assured. "I love you too," she added. Leah knew how much he loved it when she called him that. "You make me feel special."

"I want to make you feel special. I want to show you how much I love you," Roberto spoke from his heart. "I want to go on doing it for the rest of my life. I can see us being together forever, Leah. That's what I want and I hope you want that too."

"I've thought about that a lot recently," Leah smiled at him. "You make me think about things like that. I feel," she paused to find the word she wanted, "right, with you. I feel right. You feel right. I've never felt like this before. There are no other men now. There's just you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life too. But...," Leah looked over her assortment of presents and the puzzle pieces started to fit together. "You got me a blanket, food, clothes and," she touched her pendants, "horses. How did you know to do that?" Leah narrowed her eyes at him. She knew the history of her people as well as her brother did and suspected she knew very well where Roberto learned this.

"I went to see your brother," Roberto confessed.

"What were you thinking?" Leah made it clear what she thought of that.

"He's your closest relative and since your dad passed, Seth is the man of your family," Roberto explained.

"So?!" Leah found no merit in that fact at all.

"It's how things are done in my culture, Chula," Roberto soothed. "And I believe in yours too. I didn't ask him for your hand or for his consent or anything like that," he hastened to add as he read her frown. "We don't need his permission."

"No, we don't," Leah was firm. She wouldn't have given her father power over who or when she married and she was certainly not going to give it to her little brother either.

"I just wanted to announce my intentions. I felt it was only right," Roberto continued. "And if he was opposed for some reason, I wanted to know about it."

"It's not up to him!" Leah stressed.

"No, I know that. Your brother loves you, Chula and I know you love him. He has your best interests at heart. I didn't tell him when or how or anything, just that I wanted to ask you to marry me," Roberto informed.

"That's why they're having brunch tomorrow," Leah fit another piece into the puzzle.

"I told them it might be a good idea," Roberto confessed with a sly smile.

"So what did he say when you went to my brother?" Leah asked.

"At first he was real friendly," Roberto smiled at the memory.

"Just the two of you, all alone? I'll bet he was damn friendly," Leah imagined.

"No, no. He behaved himself," Roberto assured. "He got real serious real quick when I told him why I was there. Picture him arms folded and glowering."

"Oh, I can and he's gonna get it," Leah threatened.

"No, Chula," Roberto laughed. "He did the right thing. First he told me I was an idiot for coming to him first."

"Yeah, you are," Leah agreed.

"Traditions are important to me," Roberto stated. "This is big, for both of us, and it's too important to screw up."

"So he told you that you had to pay a bride price for me?" Leah well knew the answer.

"Is it enough?" Roberto asked with a warm smile. "He told me that I have until the end of the day to augment my offering if it is not enough."

"I suppose, back in the before time, when my people did this," Leah reasoned, "since dad died, it would be up to Seth."

"Oh, and I do have one more little thing," Roberto produced a ring box from his pocket and opened it.

Leah gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. A beautiful round diamond was brilliantly alive in the dancing light of the fire and was flanked by the midnight blue of matching marquise cut sapphires.

"Roberto, it's beautiful," Leah whispered.

"This gold is certified from the Black Hills. It comes from the land of your people," Roberto revealed. "Will you wear this ring for the rest of your life, and have on your hand something of your people and of me? Will you marry me, Leah?" he smiled at the love of his life so innocently and sweetly that he seemed to her in that instant like a vulnerable boy. Tears of joy sprang from her eyes and instead of words, she launched herself at him. Roberto laughed as he caught her and held her tightly. Leah never thought this level of happiness would have been in her future, until she found this man. She clung to him and cried into the side of his neck.

"I love you so much," Roberto whispered as he tightened his arms around her.

"I love you too," Leah moved back to be able to look into his dark, loving eyes. "I will, Roberto, I will. I will marry you and I will wear this ring, your ring, for the rest of my life!"

Roberto was the happiest man on the face of the Earth as he took the ring from it's box and put it on Leah's finger.

"It's so beautiful!" Leah looked at her hand and wiped her tears with the other.

"Not as beautiful as you," Roberto lifted a hand to her face. "I'm so happy right now, Chula. You just made me the happiest man anywhere, ever. I'll only be happier the day I get to stand beside you and become your husband."

"No," Leah shook her head. "You just made me the happiest woman anywhere, ever," she countered. "You know, it's also tradition, for an Indian maiden to invite her warrior into her blanket."

"Oh, I like this," Roberto ran his hands up her thighs as she climbed into his lap with the blanket he had given her still wrapped around her shoulders. She closed her arms and the blanket around him.

"I know I'm," he paused to kiss her softly on her lips, "not supposed to," another kiss, "kiss you like," and another, "this."

"No," Leah agreed between kisses. "We have to," a kiss, "be good. I can't unbutton," she lightly bit his upper lip, "your shirt like this."

"I know I'm not supposed to put my hands inside your shirt like this," Roberto ran his hands up Leah's back inside her shirt.

"And you can't unhook my bra," Leah pushed Roberto's shirt off of his shoulders.

"Like this?" Roberto did so.

"Seth and Mom would scalp us both," Leah stated.

"We don't want that," Roberto lifted her shirt and bra along with it, right off over her head. The blanket fell, but he immediately pulled it back up over her shoulders. They were in his backyard after all and should there be prying eyes, this magnificent sight was just for him. His shirt was still half on and he was slightly irritated at the tiny delay as Leah made him pull his arms out of the sleeves. He was painfully hard in his pants and his mouth watered in anticipation of his lips and tongue reaching her perfect breasts. Just as soon as his hands were free they, and his mouth, found their desire.

"Oh, you're definitely not supposed to do that," Leah ran her fingers through his thick, black hair as his mouth made love to her right breast.

"Mmm," Roberto closed his eyes as he ran his tongue over and around her sweet nipple. He gently massaged both of her breasts while he did this and let his fingers lightly play over her other nipple. Leah Clearwater was perfect all over and she made his dick throb.

"And I'm very much not supposed to unzip you," Leah reached down to the button of his jeans. Thankfully he was not wearing a belt and it was easy to unbutton and unzip him. In seconds his thick post was out through the fly of his loose boxers and in her hand.

"Ugh, Chula," Roberto let his head fall back a moment as she massaged his hardness. "I want to make love to you," he leaned back on one hand to give her greater access to him and ran his other hand around the small of her back.

"Do you have a condom?" Leah asked as she started to stroke him.

"Not with me," Roberto shook his head.

"You don't keep one in your pocket or wallet?" Leah asked. She imagined her police detective would be a little more like a boy scout.

"Why would I do that?" Roberto posed. "I don't run around the city looking for sex. I'm in a committed relationship. I want to be with just you for the rest of my life. We both keep 'em in our bedrooms. I didn't think we would need one anywhere else."

"Okay, I can't be mad at that," Leah consented.

"I'll go get one," Roberto sat forward.

"No," Leah put her free hand on his bare chest and pushed him back. "I don't want you to go anywhere. Oh, you're starting to leak," she felt it on her fingers.

"The most beautiful girl in the world has me in her hand," Roberto cupped her left breast from the side. "How could I not leak? Are you wet, Chula? Do I make you wet?"

"You know you do," Leah smiled.

"Ohhh," Roberto's hunger was plain in his eyes. "Let me lick you," he reached for the button on her jeans.

"You want to lick my pussy?" Leah asked with a sly grin as she let go of him to unbutton and unzip herself.

"Oh, si! I want to make you come!" Roberto reached into the lacy panties she had revealed. "Straddle my face," he reached to pull another pillow close. "Make me eat your pussy till you come!"

"I'll make way too much noise if we do that out here," Leah pointed out.

"I don't care," Roberto shook his head.

"I don't want my detective to get arrested," Leah stated.

"We won't get arrested!" Roberto laughed.

"I have an idea," Leah took his face in her hands and covered his mouth with hers.

"Mmm!" Roberto welcomed her tongue into his mouth with his own. It made his cock even harder when she kissed him forcefully like this. She gripped his face tighter and moaned into his mouth as his fingers in her panties found her clit. He massaged her button and longed to replaced his fingers with his mouth. Jorge had told him once that a man came to crave the taste of his girl's pussy. At the time, Roberto had not found that to be the case and chalked it up Jorge's long separations from his sister when on his base or deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. And he hadn't really wanted to discuss his sister's pussy anyway. Now, Roberto knew that Jorge had spoken the truth. Perhaps the missing component with others in the past had been deep emotion. Roberto craved everything about the beautiful and intelligent Native American woman who had agreed to be his wife. The woman who held his head and explored the familiar territory of his mouth with her tongue.

"How fast can you get out of those pants?" Leah asked breathlessly as she broke their kiss. In answer, Roberto slipped her off of his lap and stood up. He shoved pants and boxers to his ankles, kicked them off and stood gloriously naked and erect before her.

"Get back down here!" Leah commanded. "I don't want the whole neighborhood to see you!"

"What neighborhood?" Robert asked as he spread his arms and looked around to demonstrate that he couldn't care less.

"Get back down here!" Leah repeated. This time he obeyed. Leah laid back flat and placed the blanket over her as she squirmed out of her jeans and panties. She wasn't too worried. The neighbors on the sides would have to stick their heads through the trees and bushes to see them and that wasn't likely. The neighbors behind on the other hand had a pretty clear view, but that was obstructed by the fire.

"Oh, Momi," Roberto grabbed the lacy red panties and held them to his face.

"Lay down here," Leah directed as she held up the blanket. The sight of his beautiful naked girl made him forget all about her panties. Roberto dropped them and all but dove under the blanket with her. He slipped in between her shapely smooth legs and curled his arms beneath her thighs.

"Chula," Roberto softly moaned into her flower. He ran his tongue through her wet lips and let his eyes roll back in his head.

"No, no," Leah urged. "Ugh," she felt his tongue move slowly up over her most sensitive bundle of nerves. "Turn around!"

Roberto understood and scrambled around to present her with his manhood. Leah made sure they were mostly under her new Mexican blanket. She reached down and pressed his face into her pussy. He needed no urging and immediately attached his lips to her pearl.

"Ugh," Leah was reminded again how good her man was at doing everything exactly the way she liked it when it came to sex. She also knew that he was going to force her to make way too much noise if she didn't get something in her mouth. Leah wrapped a hand around Roberto's bone and gave him one stroke. She liked the way his foreskin rolled up onto his head when she did that, though she couldn't actually see it under the blanket. Her tongue confirmed that his precum had welled up in his slit and she savored his taste. Leah decided that it was just fine that they didn't bring a condom out with them. She loved to feel her man's thick Mexican hardness inside her, but she also liked to make love to him with her mouth. She knew many women did not like to suck their man through his orgasm, but Leah did. She liked bringing him off that way and didn't find the taste of his juice unpleasant at all. Quite the contrary, he seemed to taste all the sweeter every time. Sometimes, like the last time he had come over to her place for dinner, she threw him on the sofa, pulled his pants and underwear off and blew him fast and hard, and made his toes curl. Other times Leah liked to suck him slowly and torture him for an hour or so before she let him come. She knew, as she took Roberto in her mouth, that tonight would fall somewhere in between.

"Umm," Roberto felt her lips close around him as he lapped at her swollen bead. He moved his tongue around her clit at the same pace as her tongue moved around his head.

"Ugh," Roberto felt her lips slip down his length as she went down on him almost completely. He closed his mouth around her inflamed nub as his whole cock rested in the exquisite embrace of her mouth and throat.

"Hnn," Leah made a strangled moan around his pole as his lips and tongue made her squirm. She pulled back until only his engorged head remained in her mouth and slipped back down as she began to suck him.

"Hoh," Roberto's eyes were closed, but he felt them roll back. Leah's mouth was heaven. Her pussy was heaven. Everything about her was heaven. In this position her tongue was on the wrong side of his cock, but her sweet pussy in his face more than made up for it. Roberto rubbed his nose in her lips as he massaged her hard bead with his lips and tongue. She was starting to really flow. It made his nose wet with her juices and he loved it. Occasionally he would give a quick lap through her soaked, sweet lips because she just tasted too damn good, but he would immediately return to her nub.

Leah knew she was soaking him, but concentrated on the hard, leaking cock in her mouth. She didn't want to use her hand in conjunction with her mouth, as this would get him off too quickly. Leah instead took hold of his ample scrotum and massaged his balls while her mouth rode his joint.

Roberto put a hand on her hip in an effort to hold her steady as Leah began to tremble. In truth, he had a hard time keeping his own body still as his girl sucked him so perfectly. He was so turned on by the events of the evening, the promise of a beautiful future with her, her magnificent naked body and most of all by her mouth and her pussy, that he was surprised he hadn't lost it already. Her sweet syrup all over his face turned him on even more. He lapped through her soaked lips and tongued and sucked on her tiny bud.

Roberto could tell he was driving her toward orgasm by the way she quivered and by the way her sweet juices flowed. He wanted more than anything to make her come. "Rrah," he growled into her pussy as he even more aggressively attacked her pearl with lips and tongue. What Roberto hadn't counted on was her response to his vigor.

"Mmph," Leah clutched his testicles in their tightening sac as she increased the pace of her mouth on his cock. Roberto's eyes nearly crossed. He was eating her pussy, but he was entirely within her power. Try though he may, Roberto was powerless to stave off his orgasm. Her mouth was too sweet. Her skill was too great. He was powerless in her hands. And mouth.

Leah would have screamed into the quiet night were her mouth not full. She shook uncontrollably as Roberto tried to eat her alive. Every bit of his desire, hunger and devotion was clear in the way he revelled in her juices and the way he tongued and sucked her bead. Leah shook so much that she didn't even notice that Roberto's own muscles trembled.

Roberto could hardly think as he sucked on her swollen bundle harder and moved his tongue faster. He only knew that he needed in his very soul to make her come. Leah drove her mouth on Roberto's now profusely leaking bone relentlessly. She managed to exert control over just enough of her muscles to go on sucking him.

Leah wanted to tell him. She needed to tell him, but she could not bring herself to relinquish his perfect, throbbing cock. In that moment, Leah wanted to go on sucking him forever. Her rational mind knew by the way he leaked and the way his nuts hugged to the sides of his shaft, that he would spend himself very soon. She wanted so to scream as her orgasm wracked her body. Roberto held fast to his quaking girl and continued to work her distended nub with his lips and tongue as her juices soaked his face. Making her come turned him on no end and he lost it.

"Guuh!" Roberto moaned into her sweet, wet pussy and held her legs tightly as he erupted in her mouth.

Leah continued to shake through her orgasm and went on sucking him as if she didn't even notice that he started blasting in her mouth. In truth, she loved the way he ejaculated so forcefully just as much as she loved the taste of his manly essence. Roberto continued to tongue and suck her bud as she drank his semen. Leah shook in his embrace as she rode the waves of ecstasy he gave her and gulped his seed at the same time. She slowed her pace as his cream slowed to a steady flow and sucked on him gently.

Roberto slowed his ministrations as well, but only briefly. While he was still hard and oozing in her mouth, he was spent for the time being, but knew that she wasn't. Leah nursed on Roberto's still hard cock as his tongue washed over her now extra sensitive pearl, through her dripping lips and back. Her tremors almost subsided before they were back in full force.

"Mmm!" Leah grabbed Roberto's yet hard bone with both hands and held his head, and the first inch of his shaft in her mouth, lest she give into her need to scream at the top of her lungs. Leah very much knew how to play a man's body like a finely tuned instrument and in Roberto she found a man that made her forget that there were any other men in the world. She also found in him a lover whose desire and skill matched her own. It was just one reason among a host of others why she had agreed to marry him.

Leah moved her tongue around the cockhead in her mouth and moaned to it as more waves of orgasm washed over her. She only finally pulled her mouth off Roberto when she needed him to stop. She pushed at his head, but his lips and tongue could not get enough of her.

"Guapo, stop now," Leah panted. "I can't take it anymore."

This made Roberto stop. He sat up and let the blanket fall to grab a nearby pillow. He lifted Leah's head ever so gently to place it beneath her and turned himself around to lay beside her. Leah sighed as he covered them both properly with the blanket and gathered her limp body into his strong arms. Their feet were not covered by the blanket, but toward the fire they were toasty warm. Roberto loved that they were naked together.

"Thank you for inviting me into your blanket," Roberto spoke softly. "Though, your mother and brother probably wouldn't have liked that I licked your pussy."

"Speaking of, wipe your face, please," Leah requested.

Roberto reached for his shirt and did so. "Better?" he asked as she settled back beside her under the blanket.

"Much," Leah confirmed. It pleased her immensely that he liked to do it and was so very good at it, but the desire to go down on a woman eluded her. She didn't understand lesbians. The desire to suck dick and lick balls however, made perfect sense. She understood her brother completely. "They probably wouldn't like that I sucked your cock either."

"We won't tell them," Roberto kissed her softly on her lips.

"But I guess we do have an announcement to make," Leah put her right hand out from under the blanket to admire her ring. "Who all is coming to brunch tomorrow?"

"Your side of the family," Roberto informed. "Then we have dinner at my parents tomorrow night."

"I see," Leah understood. "We should try to bring everyone together at some point."

"And what about your mom?" Roberto asked.

"Oh, yeah. I guess that's a thing," Leah was pensive.

"You don't think she'll be happy for us?" Roberto couldn't imagine it.

"I told you how she and dad treated Seth. And even after dad died, mom could not accept Seth, her own son, at all," Leah relayed her fears. "Listen, this is important. I need you to understand this," she turned her head to be able to look into his dark eyes and put a hand on the side of his face. "I love you. You are the best man I have ever met, or ever will. I will marry you. I want to marry you. I want to have your children and raise a family with you. I will spend the rest of my life with you, loving you. Nothing that anyone thinks or says or does, can or will change that. No one has any power over us, but us. So if my mom does not accept you because you are not Lakota Sioux, it does not matter in the slightest. Okay?"

"Okay, Chula," Roberto understood. He knew that his place in her arms and heart was secure, but it still grieved him that her mother might not give them her blessing. She saw this momentary sadness in his eyes and knew it for what it was.

"Hey, if she can't see you for the wonderful man that you are, then it's her loss," Leah stated. "If she wants to lose her daughter as well as her son, that's on her."

"Oh, please don't say that," Roberto lifted his hand to her face. "Please don't turn your back on your mother."

"I won't turn my back on her," Leah assured. "I just don't know what she'll do."

"What if we do go to see her at Christmas?" Roberto brought up what they had talked about many times. "We can tell her face to face when she meets me."

"That's actually a really good idea," Leah agreed. "We can wait to tell her. There are others we need to tell now. Can you reach our phones?"

---

Emmett popped the cork of the ride home champagne bottle and poured into the fresh flutes Bobby had placed out for them while they dined. Nasir had pressed a hundred dollar bill into their driver's hand when they got out of the car at the door of the Herbfarm, and told him to get himself something if he was hungry. It was dinner time and of course Bobby was hungry. The menu at places like Herbfarm or the Barking Frog at the Willows Lodge directly across the drive, were too rich for his taste. The Forecasters Pub at the very nearby Redhook Brewery, however, was just his speed. The big, juicy burger, fries and coke didn't cost him a quarter of the dinner allowance he had so generously been given. And Bobby had plenty of time to linger while his charges enjoyed their nine course meal accompanied by wines that Garrett selected for them each step of the way.

"The elk was actually really good," Emmett commented as he poured.

"Told ya," Seth held his flute to be filled.

"I thought it would taste strong," Nasir stated.

"Gamey, yeah," Emmett gave his husband the word in English he did not know. "I thought that too, but it wasn't."

"Told ya," Seth repeated.

"Here's to a lovely meal and a lovely evening with all of us together," Garrett gave a toast.

"I will drink to that, Garrett," Nasir wholly agreed. All four of them touched their glasses together and took a sip of the fine champagne.

"Okay, so brunch at ten tomorrow," Seth laid out.

"I want to go to Elliott's for dinner, but you must let me pay this time, Garrett," Nasir gestured at the man who had outsmarted him for the check yet again.

"Agreed," Garrett gave in.

"Can we run out for some racquetball before brunch?" Nasir asked and took a sip of his sparkling wine.

"I'm sure we can fit that in," Garrett smiled.

"Good," Nasir nodded.

"When is your flight?" Emmett asked. He tried very hard to keep his face and voice neutral as he saw his husband's limited time at home eaten up with social events.

"My flight is at ten," Nasir answered.

"Ten? So early?" Emmett took his husband's hand. "Was the eleven thirty full?" his spirits sank as he realized that he would have to see Nasir off from the restaurant again and get no more time with him at home at all.

"Ten, Monday morning," Nasir clarified.

"You're not leaving 'till Monday!" Emmett was thrilled. "I get you another night!" he let go of Nasir's hand and took hold of him by the back of his neck. "That makes me so happy," Emmett gave his husband a loving kiss on his lips.

"It makes me very happy too, Habibi," Nasir rubbed Emmett's denim clad thigh.

"Yay, we get Nasir an extra night," Seth chimed in. "How are you doing that?"

"I have calls I need to make to Italy," Nasir explained. "I am working from home at last," he smiled.

"You won't be up all night, will you?" Emmett asked.

"An hour or so," Nasir gave a shrug.

"Okay, that's not bad," Emmett was relieved. "Oh, I have to get up early though. I'm working longer hours monday through thursday this week, so I can spend more time with you!"

"No irony there," Seth quipped. "Oh, what's this now?" he wondered aloud as his cell gave a chirp from an incoming text.

I love you,

you little shit

Seth read the text from his sister. "Ha! Leah said yes."

"Wonderful news," Garrett rubbed his husband's chest inside his shirt.

"That is good news," Emmett agreed. "I love them together."

"I can't wait to plan this wedding now!" Seth enthused.

When they finally pulled up at the foot of their building, their driver hopped out and opened the rear door for them. Nasir emerged first and Emmett followed.

"Thanks for taking such good care of us, Bobby," Emmett offered his hand only to slip another hundred into the chauffeur's palm.

"Oh, thank you, Mr. McCarty, Mr. al Qasimi," Bobby was most grateful.

Before Seth emerged from the back of the long car, he thrust his arm out. In his fist he held Nasir's once again forgotten belt.

"Oh!" Emmett laughed and grabbed it from his best friend. Seth and Garrett climbed out, bid goodnight to their driver, and headed into their building with Emmett and Nasir.