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@Bill W I agree with your last sentence, but would change the "can't" to "won't. No child is born a bigot--that is learned behavior. The shame is that people oso ften seem to prefer to follow the lead of the haters, and teach THAT to their children, rather than just simply rejoicing in our natural human differences, or at least accepting them. What has always perplexed me is why so many organized religions seem to make it their mission to encourage that hatred. I'm not sure why they feel that being gay or brown somehow threatens their message.

Please do meander, it can never be too much... there is only one other story I have enjoyed as much as this one, and I can already say with certainty that however many books we end up with, it will still not be enough! Bravo!!!!

Mmmmmmm...great question. I have another one. Can two alphas mate? Cause to me, Asa seems awfully alpha-like. Just saying...

I can only thank God (and Mrsgnomie, of course 😉) that unlike Knotts Kyan did not allow MONTHS to go by before he came to his senses and fixed his mistake. Have to admit, I was more than a little afraid of that passage of time--that Perry would feel all was lost and start to move on, as Pen in Knotts in tried to do. But Perry would probably have felt honor-bound to develop a relationship if he had moved on, and he would definitely have been honor-bound to stick with his new relationship even if Kyan had come to his senses...at least for a while. So, phew! Well done Jed, well done Kids, and above all, well done Kyan!!!!

Why exactly did they not move the boat out into international waters?

I don't see that happening any time soon. Our esteemed author's characters trnd to take literally months to overcome their mistaken impressions and sundry misunderstandings and get to where everyone around them always knew they'd end up. I just hope Perry doesn't spend too much time pining and tries to move on-- the quicker he does that, the sooner Kyan might consider pulling his head out of his ass and seeing the love and the future that is right there in front of him.

I agree entirely, @PrivateTim. As I was reading this, I was saying to myself, both Will AND Casey need to have a long heart-to-heart with Matt AND Wade. If a guy has to follow his dick into every hot hole he runs across, so be it. But why then dies he want a relationship, which I think of as sharing your lives. I can see where a committed couple might say, let's do other people TOGETHER, but each one being 'allowed by the rules' to have fuck buddies on the side sounds a lot like make the partner in the so-called relationship into some kind of 'super' fuckbuddy. What's the point of that kind of relationship? That said, if he knows he can't or won't even try to stay faithful when he's away from ztravus, Will should in fact be honest about and suspend the budding "relationship" until they both reach a point where they can be together and work something out between that goes bound "super fuckbuddy" status. Provided, of course, that is what they both want but that stage.

Yes, maybe it is all still relatively minor, but it is starting to annoy Mac. I don't think Devin is doing it deliberately, though, so Mac needs to talk to him about it directly before it does turn into a real issue.

I agree-no matter what the situation or what Devin is planning to do, he seems never inclined to share his thoughts or plans. Probably a consequence of having had to hide his real life from everyone around him for so long, but his boyfriend us starting to get a bit frustrated. Maybe Mac needs to spell out his frustrations before thus develops into a real problem...

I understand,” I said lovingly, then got so apprehensive I was biting my lower lip. “If you hook up with him, it will really bother me.” “I’m not going to fuck him,” he said, and he was really pissed at me. “Shit, yesterday I hated the dude enough to have most of his bones broken.” “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I guess I was just throwing my insecurities out there, hoping you’d make me feel better.” He looked at me dubiously, then relented. “No, I’m sorry. This whole thing has been completely fucked up. I think the problem is that if either one of us gets with him, it will bring all these issues and this whole nightmare back.” “I won’t sleep with him,” I pledged, letting him know that it was an oath. “I won’t sleep with him either,” Travis said, with just as much sincerity. Both Will and Travis seem to feel the need to reassure the other (and perhaps each is trying to convince himself) that neither of them will sleep with Zach again. Really? Is that even a remote possibility? Why would that reassurance even be necessary? After all of Zach's vile behavior, what could possibly bring either of them to ever want to have anything to do with him again? I really hope that those two "pledges" at the end of the passage draw the final line under the unsavory mess that is Zach, and that @Mark Arbour will finally write him out of this wonderful story... unless of course there is need of a veritable "villain of the piece" for dramatic purposes.

Wonderful chapter, @Jeff Burton. Travis' confession at Tyler's bedside was so wrenching, but it made all the difference to Tyler. His is a beautiful soul, and Tyler now recognizes how important a part of his life Travis will be going forward. I hope Travis can find his soul mate, just as Jacob and Tyler have done--who knows, maybe it could develop with his new love interest (was his name Riley? I forget ate the moment). But, really, what are the chances that that lightning bolt will strike a second time in that small circle of friends so soon after the first time? If you can pull that off, @Jeff Burton, I will be your most loyal fan forever!!!!🤗

E Beautiful Chapter!! This story just gets better and better. I recant everything bad I said or thought about Amanda-- I see now that it was protectiveness rather than self-absorption. Travis needs to be nominated for either sainthood or the Presidency--his magnanimity may be too good to be true, but it has effectively removed the concern I had that a relationship between Travis and Tyler would have totally upended Jacob. So, now, clear sailing ahead for everyone? Hope not, I really need more of this story!!!🙂

I echo the sentiments of everyone--another brilliant chapter-full of insights into Jacob's horrible situation. It has made me change the way I thought about Jacob's reaction to Tyler's flippant statement. It seems to me now more that Jacob was trying mostly to come "out" to Tyler as his best friend, rather than to come "on" to him. His reaction to Tyler's remark is far more understandable now, knowing what he went through with his father. And I'm sure now that with Gabin's help and with the support of those awesome 😊 friends, he'll be able to get over it and start building a relationship with Tyler. Though I do feel a hit sorry for Travis and his pending disappointment.. That said, I couldn't help but be struck by the tone of Amanda's response to Jacob's please for forgiveness (and that's why I quoted that explanation of yours above to start off, @Jeff Burton) ---"Well Tyler has already forgiven you Jacob, don’t get me wrong I hate what you did, and you’ve got a lot to do to rebuild that trust again.” Amanda said as she stood up, “but apology accepted. Show me your sorry through your actions and we’ll go from there okay? Consider yourself forgiven.” Self-important much? She is probably the "least-injured" party in the whole affair, yet she is the one setting conditions for Jacob's rebuilding his friendships--and BTW, Jacob has to show "her" he's sorry, not Tyler, and not the group as a whole. Oh well, maybe it's all good... Makes the group perhaps a little less "perfectly awesome". Sorry for my nitpicking, but it's all your fault, @Jeff Burton--you have me so invested in these characters after a mere three chapters and that is just a compliment to your skill as a writer. It's all just so superb!!! Thank you

Thanks a million, @Jeff Burton, that was an incredible chapter. The exchange between Tyler and Gavin was superb--it gave us all a proper understanding of what was going on in Tyler's mind. I was really impressed at how wholeheartedly he embraced the need for therapy ("My parent’s wanted me to see a therapist, not only for what happened but for the new realization that I was gay. Even though me and my parents had a rather open and loving relationship they understood that I had things in my mind I couldn’t directly come to them with yet and they just wanted to make sure I had all the help I could have to work out what I was thinking and how I was feeling and I agreed.") . He presents as a mature, thoughtful, caring young person. His friends are indeed awesome (sorry, @Summerabbacat😉) . I loved how Travis handled things, checking first whether Tyler and Jacob were "a thing" and whether Travis was available before he declared his romantic interest. Then other friends were surprised but fully accepting--the stage is set, therefore, and Travis is shaping up to be what seems, at least on the surface, to be the perfect "first boyfriend" for Tyler. Except...when he becomes aware of it, what will that relationship do to Jacob in his fragile state? Right now, he feels rejected and exposed thinking that he messed up, got it all wrong, and that Tyler wasn't gay. If Tyler and Travis become boyfriends, when Jacob finds out, his sense of rejection would be a whole lot worse--the rejection wouldn't because Tyler wasn't gay and therefore wasn't interested, but because the gay Tyler just wasn't interested in him, Jacob, as a boyfriend. I can't see that going well. Can't wait to see how it all evolves!!! MARVELOUS JOB, @Jeff Burton

Forgive me, but I can't help thinking that Jacob's vicious physical attack on Tyler goes way beyond what could be justified by his feeling of rejection. I could understand if he was cold and withdrawn and didn't want to speak to Tyler but to beat him so badly is WAAAAAY beyond the pale. I really hope he gets some professional help. And while I can appreciate Tyler's feeling of remorse that he didn't treat Jacob's admission with the appropriate seriousness, and I understand that he will want to forgive Jacob for that nasty attack, I REALLY hope he doesn't get involved emotionally with Jacob until Jacob has sorted out his issues, if at all.

This was a beautiful story, compelling characters, with just the right balance of light-heartedness and foreboding, and masterfully written. We knew from the beginning that Jer and Mat's time together would be limited, and it was wonderful to see how they both embraced what time they had and cherished the memory of each other thereafter. I have seldom enjoyed a story as much as this one. I really hope you have more of them up your sleeve and will soon share them with us. Thank you...

This was a wonderful story, beautifully written. Thank you for sharing it.

An important message delivered in a masterful story, @Biff Spork...I am truly sorry that Zhiv was murdered, but I fear this is the only way his message would have been able to really take hold and change the way people at large see the world and change their behavior in it. I think it is probably better that Zhiv did not live to be captured by the Homeland Security guys and forced down from the mountain-- that was surely where things were headed. But Zhiv would have died in captivity and the animals would have surely risen up in a fight to the death against the humans. This way, his martyrdom offers at least a slim chance that the humans will be shocked awake and recognize the need to start to make changes. We can only hope. Thank you for this wrenching sad, but beautiful story .

Gotta ask—why is it ok for Will to out Travis (presumably without his prior consent) to virtually Will’s entire family AND play for them all the horribly intimate recording of Sierra’s rape? I can understand him being upfront with Grand and Stef and Brad and Jake (especially since Jake will likely investigate), but what business is all this of the rest of them? His altercation with Zach could have presented without identifying Travis. But if his intent was to explain why he passed out, all he had to say was he realized he could have lost Darius. just don’t get why that was necessary at all

I really enjoyed this story, @gdaniel . As you described the “perfect” love between Sam and Dan, I couldn’t help feeling that it might not last, that they’d grow apart. It was very realistic that one should develop an attraction for girls. I’m only glad there wasn’t any cheating and ‘behind the back’ stuff that would have destroyed any chance of the friendship continuing between the two, which it did because Daniel didn’t give in to Sam’s selfish pestering, thank God. for me the best part is that Dan grew into Joe’s love and accepted that he didn’t have to hold back for fear of being hurt again, as happened with Sam. Waiting until they were both ready to take the next step probably helped. A poignant and very lovely story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

I just knew Sam was going to come up with something that, trying to have his cake (with Pam) and eat it too (with Daniel). Hormones here, hormones there, it was absolutely wrong if him to try to seduce Daniel into cheating on the boyfriend who has helped him get over Sam. He's perfectly willing to risk Daniel's emotional peace just to get his rocks off--Sam knows how much he hurt Daniel when he dropped Daniel for Pam, yet he still tries it. I am really glad Daniel was able to resist him and put him in his place. And that Joseph and Daniel were mature enough to play it down and not let Sam's selfishness destroy their mutual friendship. Anyone care to take a bet that Sam will continue trying to cheat on whomever his girlfriend/wife might be with some boy/man in the future?

Thanks for this Chapter. You are right, it really did help to take the edge off from the last one. Kathy seems to be a really selfless and beautiful soul. Even though her seduction failed, she remains the friend and support Dam needs to start getting over Sam. But I really hope Dan refuses to let Sam continue to have sex with him. "Friends with Benefits" can only work if both come at it from the same place. It would also be extraordinarily shitty of Sam to cheat on his new girlfriend that way. He's made his decision, and it was difficult, no doubt. But he has to live with it, and it would just downright selfish of him to want to continue the physical relationship with Dan, and prevent him from really moving on. Can't wait for the next chapter. Great story!!! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Oh, @gdaniel, this chapter hurt although I have e pected something like this to happen. They were so young when their love burned so bright, it was al out inevitable that the changes of adolescence would alter their relationship. Dan is going to suffer deeply, without the consolation of wanting to be with a girl, though it will be interesting to see what develops with Kathy. Sam will probably plunge into a relationship with Pam. Something makes me think he won't achieve the same intimacy he had with Dan, but by then, Dan may well have moved on, at least I hope he does. What a sad situation!

A perfect depiction of a perfect love, @gdaniel, you amaze me more with each passing chapter! I can only hope you will keep this story going for many, many more chapters. Thank you so much!

I hear what @Summerabbacatsays about the "fair-minded" approach and not letting the one fault of Tom's extreme homophobia outweigh the view of his overall innate goodness. Against that I would put the vicious poisoning of Mitchell's young mind and the fact that, had he lived, Tom would have certainly rejected Jason for being gay, and done him, too, irreparable harm. That's the problem with extreme bigotry, or perhaps with extremism in any form. It leads one to think and do to others the kind of despicable things that inevitably outweigh whatever good there might otherwise be in the bigot's life. I applaud Pop for taking the stance he has, and his reasons are commendable, but Mitchell got it right. Tom's bigotry would have cost Mitchell his brother -- it almost did anyway, even from beyond the grave, if Pop's "Plan B" hadn't worked. Mitchell should never forget that and I'm really glad the "Episode" has allowed him to recognize the darkness that was in bio-dad's soul, so that he, Mitchell, can now focus his love on Pop, who really deserves it.