[Aren't mornings after great?]

Joe woke up to the sound of twittering birds and the morning sun shining on his face. There was something not quite right about that, but he couldn't put his finger on it. It was early, well before coffee, and he wasn't thinking too clearly.

Alex had slept in, something that was unusual for him. Unless Joe was staying over his apartment, which he'd only done a few times, Alex was usually up first and off to work, doing whatever it was. Joe gave a sleepy smile and kissed Alex. He was buried under his blanket, so Joe had to make do with his forehead.

Alex mumbled something and rolled over. He took the comforter with him, leaving Joe exposed and chilly. He grabbed clumsily for it a few times then gave up. It was bright and he felt like he was waking up.

"Lousy thieving boyfriend," he grumbled as he slid out of bed. When his feet hit the floor the first impression he had was cold. There was wood under his feet. That wasn't right. His bedroom had carpet. So did Alex's.

Chris' didn't.

He was in Chris' bedroom. He'd slept with Chris. Not slept slept, but still he slept with Chris. That would've been okay except he liked it. God, he'd even kissed Chris good morning.

This was bad.

Very bad.

He had a boyfriend. He loved his boyfriend. And he just slept with his boyfriend's brother and liked it better. Even with the no sex part, he'd liked it better. Chris was probably a better lover, too.

He really, really had to not go there. He wasn't sure it was a good idea to be on the same planet as there.

There was an overstuffed old armchair in the corner of the room. Joe slumped down in it. He wanted to bolt. He needed to think. He wondered if it was still considered straight panic if it was the gay guy panicking in the morning.

He desperately needed coffee. And his boyfriend.

He just wasn't sure if he wanted his boyfriend right then.

Joe sat there and watched Chris as he let his brain settle. He watched Chris roll over again. Saw an arm wave awkwardly where he'd been asleep just a few minutes before, hands grabbing the pillow Joe had used and pull it in. He even heard the contented sigh.

This was so not right.

Joe was tempted to gather his things and just go. Get dressed, get the hell out, and never ever go back. That'd probably be best all around. Chris might not be straight but he was as good as. He'd been married, he had a kid, he had a gay twin he hadn't talked to in god knows how long. Alex was a good guy. There wasn't any other reason Joe could think of to abandon him.

Maybe that was in the past, or would be some day. Chris had talked about Alex to Toby. But still. Though being honest, it was a good thing for Joe that Chris and Alex weren't close. He wasn't sure how he'd handle it if they were. That wouldn't be good.

Still, Joe couldn't run away. He might be seven kinds of scum, lusting after his boyfriend's brother, but he remembered how Chris had been last night, how much he needed someone. He couldn't just run. Chris deserved better than that.

Sighing, Joe got up and grabbed his clothes from the night before. The shirt was still grimy, but his pants were okay. He slipped them on. By reflex he tossed the shirt and socks into the hamper. He caught himself right after he'd let fly.

He almost went and got them. That might be dangerous. There were things that smelled like Chris in the hamper. Instead he grabbed his shoes and padded downstairs. He just hoped there would be coffee.