AN: So I had a plan for this chapter but I've since changed my mind. So ignore the warning at the end of the previous chapter. However, new warning, this chapter has been seasoned with a little lime.
I do want to say that this story is constantly evolving. Until I hit the COMPLETE button, assume chapters might be revised or altered or expanded on, so every now and again it might be worth it to reread earlier chapters. Unless you're reading this on fanfiction dot net, in which case once the chapter is posted, that's it. To read the evolving version you want the Archive of Our Own version.
Part 59
"Of course you guys can have an apartment over the dance studio!" Johnny said excitedly. "And I'm happy to help with the work, Dad." He promised.
Clay nodded. "As am I. I could use a good project." He cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
Ryan held up his hand. "Count me in, Big Daddy!" The rest of the troupe echoed his sentiment.
Five years ago, it was just him, his gang and his son. And his son was barely his son at all. Now his relationship with his son was stronger than it ever was before, he had a new wife and four new children in less than a year, a large pseudo-family.
Marcus had to take a moment to compose himself. "Thank you, all of you. I'm hoping to start as soon as possible."
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Later that evening, after the night's performance, Gunter went to the liquor store down the street. Eddie laughed when Gunter came back with two big bottles of whiskey. "Well if I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to get me drunk." He teased the hog.
Gunter laughed. "Maybe I am." He teased back.
Back at the theater, Crawly gave them a playful warning about drinking before they went upstairs.
"So… uh… last night… it was really wild," Eddie contemplated how to broach the subject.
Gunter nodded. "Ja! I love opening night. I wish every night could be opening night!"
Eddie shook his head. "I mean, yeah, that was wild too but… I meant… after…" He bit his lip. "Look, last night… I haven't felt anything like that in a really long time." Eddie watched him pour the first shots.
The hog passed him two shot glasses and kept two for himself. "Yes, I enjoyed that part of the night too." His eyes twinkled impishly. He moved closer to Eddie. "I know we haven't known each other long. And… I know…" he took Eddie's hand. "I can't replace Mr. Moon. I don't want to. I loved him too. But I can love you and comfort you and care for you…" he ran out of words.
The sheep realized that Gunter was having the same conundrum that he was. "I miss Buster but… he's not coming back… I know it sounds lame but I care about you… maybe it could be love… it's too soon and I need to remember what love feels like." He squeezed Gunter's hand. "But I want to remember and… I think you can help me…" Timidly, he placed a kiss on his lips.
It was adorable how inexperienced he was. He lifted his hand up to caress his head fleece. Learning, last night, that he was the sheep's first was bittersweet but that devotion only made him want him more. Devotion that strong was so rare. Gunter wanted that. To be someone's whole world like that.
The pig moaned into the kiss. "Oh I can help you. I can definitely help you with that." He increased the pressure in the kiss, not wanting it to end anytime soon.
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Porsha washed the blue dye out of her head fur in the hot shower while Nooshy used the sink to clean up. They'd gotten skilled at sharing the bathroom. They were embarrassed about it at the start but only one bathroom meant they needed to share if neither wanted to get up earlier than needed for school.
"Hey, Porsha, did you see the adverts are school? They're auditioning for the school's winter musical," Nooshy said.
The wolf bounced on the balls of her feet. "I know. I think I could be Veruca Salt."
The lynx laughed. "I could see that. I'm thinking I might try out for Charlie."
Porsha scratched her chin. "Hmm, yeah, yeah, that would make sense. Remember what Big Daddy said. Pack up your toiletries and some clothes. After school tomorrow, we'll take the bus that goes to Echo Drive."
"Don't worry, Porsha, I remember," Nooshy said. "Ahhh! It's after nine and I still have to finish my algebra homework!" She quickly finished cleaning up and left Porsha to finish her shower.
The wolf let herself relax for all of a minute before she remembered. "Eeek! I have homework due tomorrow too!" She finished her bath, making sure all of the blue was gone. "Daddy used to just pay the school to pass me. It's interesting actually doing the work."
Nooshy nodded. "Which is why the teachers had to talk to Big Daddy about moving you back to freshman with me." She remembered Porsha joining her algebra class.
The wolf blushed, embarrassed. "Yeah… that's true. I was starting to think I just wasn't smart enough." She opened her books and sat down. "He just wanted me to have an easy life. I just can't believe that he was trying to hurt me."
"That's the point," Nooshy said. "You don't have to try to hurt someone. Some people are particularly good at it but the trick is not hurting the people you love." She saw Porsha trying to sort out the math. "Would you like some help?"
"Please, I don't understand what I'm supposed to do. What is this letter, what is the point? What am I supposed to do with it?" She asked.
Nooshy scooted over. "Alright, so the letter is a mystery number, you're trying to find out what that number is." She explained the concept before moving into how to find the answer.
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Rosita and Norman tucked in the quintuplets before tag teaming the older kids. They were getting too old to be tucked in. Her first litter had just had their eleventh birthday and the second litter's birthday was coming up in mid-spring.
Norman watched as his wife finally settled into her rocking chair with a large blanket with a section bound by an embroidery wheel. "I love watching you work." He admitted, earning an affectionate blush. "You're such an inspiration to me."
Rosita smiled. "And you're mine. You and our kids. It makes it all worthwhile."
"What are you making now?" He asked.
She sighed. "When we cleaned out Buster's apartment, I saved a lot of his clothes and… I wanted a way to sort of keep him with us." She showed him the quilt. She was patching in a large square from one of his suits. "I thought it might be a good Easter gift for Eddie."
He nodded and took her hand. "That's a great idea." He squeezed gently.
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In bed, sheep and hog lay together, sweating profusely, panting as they came down from their high. Gunter kissed his cheek. "You're so adorable."
Eddie blushed. "Sorry, I'm just not…" The pig's lips silenced him.
"You're great," Gunter told him. "You've been pent up for so long. It's normal. You'll build up stamina." He kissed him again.
The sheep sighed. "Tell… tell me… about Buster. Was he as…"
"As green as you are?" Gunter asked, tracing Eddie's long muzzle. "Very much so… the first time, he didn't last more than five minutes. But like him, you'll find out just how… resilient you are." He rubbed his knee in just the right spot to prove his point, extracting a moan of lust from his partner. "See, you're already ready to go again…" He kissed him again, going full tongue.
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Ryan walked out of their bedroom, his eyes wide and his cheeks flushed. Johnny followed him out. "Ryan, it's okay, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to everyone."
Ryan grabbed a beer from the fridge. "Well, it's never happened to me!" He shouted as he sat down.
"It's normal! We're both tired and under a lot of stress," Johnny rationalized. He chuckled and stroked his husband's arm. "It's okay." He grabbed the controllers for his NES. "Here, let's play some Bubble Bobble. Something mindless. It might help."
Ryan took the controller. "It has never happened to me before. I've never had this sort of problem before. Usually I just need to think about you and boom…" he groaned as they began playing the never-ending game of shooting monsters with bubbles to turn them into food. He looked out the window and blinked. "Think we should tell Eddie and Gunter they need curtains? Because they're taunting me right now." He joked.
Johnny looked briefly. "Wow… maybe so. I mean, it's nice for them. Gunter's a nice guy. I'm happy if Eddie is feeling better but… yeah…" He got up and closed their own curtains. "Really though, it's great for them both."
The tiger pulled Johnny back onto the couch to continue their game. "Let's just promise not to tell anyone else. That's their business, not ours."
The pianist picked up his controller and kissed his husband. "Promise. They'll tell us when they're ready."
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Ash was starting to get impatient with Lance. She loved him and wanted to be with him. Why wouldn't he just propose already? She was ready to be a mom to his kids and help him fight off balmy Becky. So why wouldn't he just pop the question.
"Well, if he won't propose, maybe I should," she began looking at rings on her phone. There was a jewelry store downtown. She could afford a nice one easily. But would he accept it? What if he didn't want to marry her?
Tyler. She needed to talk to Tyler. He often worked the same days Lance did. They might have talked. He might know how receptive Lance was to the idea.
AN: Again, I've also posted this story on archive of our own. Vote, should Ash propose to Lance or should something happen to Lance and make Ash adopt his kids?