So Called Chaos - 3. Chaos Maybe Not

"Did you get him inside safely?" Aaron asked from the passenger seat as he rested his head against the headrest with his eyes closed.

Steven shut the car door and started the engine before he replied, "I don't know about safely, but he is inside the house."

"What'd you do, ring the doorbell and run away?" Aaron asked. He opened his eyes and looked at his boyfriend expectantly.

"Nothing that juvenile," Steven said with a grin.

"So..."

"I reached into his pants pocket..." Steven began.

"What?" Aaron interrupted as he sat upright in his seat. "You reached into his pocket?"

"Yeah, for his house keys," Steven stated blankly.

"So you felt him up," Aaron accused as he crossed his arms.

"Just because that's what you would've done doesn't mean I would ever stoop to that level of perversion," Steven retorted as he pulled away from the house.

Aaron rolled his eyes and leaned back into the seat. "That would hurt if it weren't absolutely true. Proceed."

"I unlocked the door."

"After you felt him up."

"Of course after," Steven laughed. "Then I opened the door and placed him gently on the floor."

Aaron laughed. "Just like that? On the floor?"

"Pretty much," Steven admitted.

"What're his parents going to say in the morning?" Aaron wondered aloud.

"Not my problem," Steven said as he turned left on the road instead of right towards his house. "Anyone who drinks that much that he passes out deserves whatever happens to him."

"Remind me never to pass out around you," Aaron said with a chuckle.

"I would never toss you on the floor," Steven promised. He added after a moment, "I would only toss you off on the bed."

"Perv."

"Like you said," Steven said matter-of-factly. "It's all we have left."

Aaron noticed they were going in the opppsite direction of either one of their homes, he asked, "Where are we going?"

"I'm thirsty," Steven replied.

"And because of some bizarre drought you have no beverages at home for to drink," Aaron said.

"Something like that," Steven said before he added. "For to drink?"

Aaron ignored Steven and looked out the window. He clapped his hands when he recognized the landmarks. He shouted, "We're going to Chef Andy's."

"I figured you'd be getting hungry about now, so I decided to lift the lifetime ban I had imposed on Chef Andy's and for this one time, I will allow you to consume their questionable fare," Steven stated with a straight face.

Aaron leaned over and kissed his boyfriend. "I don't deserve you."

"I concur but what the hell," Steven said with a giggle.

"I can taste it already," Aaron stated as he did a little jig in the car. "I'm gonna get banana waffles, a cheese omelet with home fries."

"I can hear you getting fatter already," Steven said as he rolled his eyes.

"Will you still love me when I'm old and fat?" Aaron asked as he pulled out his shirt and pushed his stomach out as far as it could go.

Steven looked at him and pretended to give the matter some thought before he said, "I could always get a boy toy while you stuff your wrinkly face."

Aaron crossed his arms and pouted before he turned to stare out the window. Steven added quickly, "But you'll always be my knight."

"Really?" Aaron asked as he turned with a smile."

"Promise," Steven said with a straight face. "My knight in flabby armor."

"That's good enough for me," Aaron said with a shrug.

"That's my stinky boy," Steven said with a laugh. "Keep you're standardslow."

Steven pulled into Chef Andy's parking lot and turned off the engine. He looked around the parking lot and recognized a half dozen cars in the parking lot. He had forgotten how popular Chef Andy's was as an after hours eating spot. It was one of the few places still open after one am and was mostly inexpensive.

Aaron stretched and yawned. He gave Steven a crooked grin and opened the door and headed towards the restaurant at a quick pace.

Steven followed but at a much slower walk. Aaron looked back and noticed his limp so he paused and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Steven shrugged, "Vicodin's wearing off."

"Are you going to be all right?" Aaron asked as he opened the door and waited for his boyfriend to catch up.

"Yeah, I'm good." Steven replied and entered the restaurant as Aaron followed him inside.

The moment he stepped inside the restaurant, Steven was reminded why he placed a lifetime ban on Chef Andy's. The smell was a mixture of sweat, greasy food, and stale cigarette smoke. It was like death was welcoming him to an early grave. He shook his head and looked around the crowed restaurant. He waved to those he knew and wondered how long the wait might be.

Aaron smiled and said to the tired waitress who walked over and said hello. "A table for two darling."

The waitress, an older lady that looked like she would rather be anywhere else but stuck in a diner at 2am, managed a smile at Aaron's comment. She smiled and said, "Follow me hon."

"To the ends of the earth," Aaron said with a smile.

The waitress laughed and led them through the crowded restaurant to a table near the back and in a booth by the window. She placed the menus on the table and said, "Can I get you two handsome boys something to drink?"

Aaron slid into the booth and said, "A large Coke."

Steven sat down opposite of his boyfriend and asked, "Do you have any bottled water?"

"Where do you think you are sugar, Denny's?" The lady asked as she laughed at her own joke.

Steven rolled his eyes but said, "I'll take a glass of water, thank you."

"Be right back," The lady said with a big grin directed towards Aaron.

Once the lady walked away, Steven said, "You're pathetic."

"What?" Aaron said.

"Do you have to flirt with everyone you meet?" Steven asked. He really wasn't annoyed. It was more like falling into an old comfortable routine they had perfected to hide how they really felt about one another in public.

"I'll have you know my flirtatious behavior gets me all kinds of extras that many other customers don't receive," Aaron declared as he pulled his cigarettes from his pocket.

"Do you have to smoke?" Steven chastised.

"I don't have to smoke," Aaron said as he paused to light a cigarette. He drew the smoke deep into his lungs before exhaling loudly. "But I really like too."

"It makes your breath stink," Steven accused.

Aaron countered as he stared at the end of his cigarette," That's why I always carry gum and breath mints."

"My clothes stink after a night out with you," Steven continued.

"That's why I always offer to shower with you."

"Okay, I give up," Steven said with a laugh.

"And one more time, I win," Aaron stated as he raised his hand in imaginary victory.

"It's only because you have an inferior intellect."

"A win is a win," Aaron said with a grin. "It doesn't matter what the reason behind the win."

"Feeling pretty proud of yourself aren't you" Steven asked.

"Just a bit," Steven admitted as he took a long drag off his cigarette. "But since I always win with you, the thrill has kind of gone."

"I've not begun to fight." Steven said in a mysterious tone.

"I don't like the look on your face," Aaron stated.

"Who me?" Steven said. He stood up and said, "I have to go to the bathroom. You know what I want, order for me."

Once Steven walked away, Aaron crushed out his cigarette. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy smoking, but sometimes he smoked just to annoy his boyfriend.

The waitress returned with the drinks and as she put them down, she asked, "Should I wait to get your order?"

"I got it darling," Aaron said with a smile. "I'll take the banana waffles, a cheese omelet, and home fries, smother then and cover the shit out of them."

"Is that all?" The lady asked. "You sure you wouldn't want a side of sausage or bacon with that?"

"I'm watching my weight," Aaron said with a smile.

"And what about your friend?"

"He'll take the fruit plate."

"Is he watching his weight too," She asked as she shook her head.

Aaron shrugged and said, "He thinks his ass is getting flabby."

She turned her head and watched Steven as he limped back towards the table before she replied, "I don't think he has much to worry about."

"Worry about what?" Steven asked as he slid back into the booth.

"Whether or not you're getting fat," Aaron said with a wink to the waitress.

"Better be safe than sorry," Steven said with a shrug.

"I think sometimes you have to spoil yourself, its just to remind you what you're missing," The lady said while maintaining eye contact.

"My thoughts exactly," Aaron agreed. "I spoil myself crazy all the time."

"That's because you are crazy," Steven interjected.

"Like a fox," Aaron stated as the lady said the same thing. This caused both of them to laugh. She was still laughing as she walked away.

"I like her," Aaron said.

"She's pretty nice," Steven said in agreement. "I wouldn't want her job thought."

"Me neither," Aaron said. "Putting up with people like me all night, people who had been drinking, that would drive me crazy."

"Like a fox," They said in unison.

"What did you order for me?" Steven asked as he tried to find a more comfortable position in the lumpy booth.

"Fresh fruit plate."

"Good boy."

"Why do I feel like a dog all of a sudden?" Aaron asked.

"If the feeling fits..."

"Aaron, you naughty boy." A loud voice seemed to echo around the restaurant.

Both boys cringed as they heard that voice. They turned around and saw Sara standing there at the door with three girlfriends. Steven gave her a wave and mumbled under his breath, "It's like she's a dog or something."

"Her nose isn't big enough to sniff me out," Aaron muttered but gave her a friendly wave.

"Are you sure?" Steven asked. "She seems to have the knack of tracking you down no matter where you go."

"There's the nasty jealous boy I've come to love," Aaron said with a faint smile.

Sara left her friends by the door and walked over to the table. Well, it really wasn't a walk, it was more like a swagger that offered a challenge to any boy in the restaurant.

She moved Aaron's feet from the cushion and sat down. "Leaving me all alone at the party without so much as saying goodbye. That wasn't very nice at all. Bad Aaron."

"There goes that dog feeling again," Aaron said as he glared over at Steven.

"What?" Sara asked as she cocked her head to one side.

Steven couldn't help but laugh at the image of Sara cocking her head to one side like a confused dog. Once he started laughing he couldn't stop.

"What's so funny?" Sara asked with a glare.

Aaron changed the subject and said, "I'm sorry about leaving you, but Mike was really drunk and we had to get him home before he embarrassed himself."

"That's what I like about you, Aaron," Sara said as she patted his cheek affectionately. "You always look out for your friends."

"Yep, that's our Aaron, he's loyal like a dog," Steven said through his laughter.

Aaron flashed an angry look to Steven, he hoped it carried all the anger and frustration he was feeling at that moment. But his look only caused Steven to laugh harder. Aaron ignored his boyfriend and said, "Look's like you found a ride anyway, so that's good."

Sara turned and saw her friends were seated at another table with three boys. She turned back and as she rubbed Aaron's leg, she said, "Yes, but I was hoping you'd be able to give me a ride home from here."

Steven looked at his boyfriend expectantly and sat back in the lumpy seat with his hands behind his head. He couldn't wait to see how his boyfriend would get out of this one.

Aaron stammered for a moment while he reached for his cigarettes. He lit on and made sure to blow as much smoke as he could into Sara's face. "Sorry, I"m staying at Steven's house tonight, I promised I'd help him clean out the garage tomorrow."

Sara waved the smoke from her face and said, "That's okay, it's getting late anyway."

"Maybe next time," Aaron said a bit more comfortable now that she seemed appeased.

"I agree," Sara said with a sudden smile on her face. "I'll see you over at your house tomorrow night. We can do something then."

"What?" Aaron asked with wide eyes.

"Didn't you're mom tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Silly boy, you are so forgetful." Sara said with a shake of her head. She patted him on the cheek and said, "Your mother and I are on the Feed the Homeless program sponsored by the First Methodist Church. Tomorrow night we'll be going over the preparations at your house. We can go out for ice cream after the meeting."

Aaron's mouthed dropped open and Steven frowned. Sara, oblivious to the thoughts running through both boy's minds, stood up and said, "So, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Fuck," Aaron stated once she walked away.

"I concur," Steven said.

"Breakfast is ready," The lady said as she started placing the dishes on the table.

"Thanks," Steven said while Aaron sat there with a scared look on his face.

She looked at Aaron and once she realized that Aaron wasn't going to say anything, she turned and left them alone to enjoy their breakfast.

Steven couldn't help but grin at Aaron's predicament. And it wasn't that he didn't like Sara, she was a sweet and caring girl. But sometimes the way she threw herself at his boyfriend caused a jealous streak that threatened on violence. And when she wasn't around Aaron, Steven found that he actually liked her. This particular time, her constant meddling in Aaron's life caused much amusement.

"I don't know what to do about her anymore," Aaron muttered as he dug into his breakfast. "And this isn't funny anymore."

"So I guess, you're busy tomorrow night."

"I mean it," Aaron said through a mouthful of food. "Knock it off."

Steven pretended to study his breakfast, or late-night snack, depending on how you judged such things. He was surprised the fresh fruit actually looked like they might be fresh, pineapple wedges, strawberries, chunks of apples, kiwi fruit, and red and green grapes. He took a bite of the pineapple and smiled. It was good. His stomach started to rumble and it reminded him how hungry he was though he hated to eat this late.

Aaron finished more than half his breakfast when he dropped his fork and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I've got to do something about her. I can't take another year of her following me around everywhere."

"You could always do what Sean suggested," Steven offered as he remembered a piece of advice from one of their friends.

"What's that?" Aaron asked as he grabbed a slice of apple from Steven's plate.

"Just get it over with." Steven stated though he eyed the slice of apple as Aaron put it in his mouth. "Once she's had you, she'll forget about you and move on to some other sucker."

Aaron asked in between chewing. "Are you trying to say I'm forgettable?"

"I wouldn't presume to know one way or the other if you're forgettable," Steven said as he popped a piece of apple in his mouth. "All I'm saying is that the rejection is what started this, uh, obsession with you in the first place. If you would've been any other normal male, when she tried to break you, you would've accepted her proposal, and she would've had her fun and moved on to the next target."

"Normal male?" Aaron asked as he eyes narrowed. He lowered his voice and said, "Am I hearing this correctly? My boyfriend, the love of my life, is telling me to fuck a girl so she can get over me?"

Aaron reached over again for another slice of apple. Steven glared at him but continued, "All I'm saying is that if you didn't want her to have this fatal attaction for you, you should've slept with her two year ago."

"If I recall," Aaron said as he rubbed his chin. "I was trying to figure out how to sleep with someone else at the time."

Steven smiled and said, "And if I recall, you pretty much did the same thing to me that she is attempting to do to you."

Aaron leaned back against the booth and placed his hands behind his head. "What makes you think I was talking about you."

Steven didn't hesitate, he kicked Aaron's leg as hard as he could.

"Hey, that hurt!" Aaron called out as he turned red in the face and rubbed his leg frantically. He got a look of embarrassment on his face when he realized that half the restaurant was staring at him. "That wasn't funny."

"I found it rather amusing," Steven confessed as he blocked Aaron's attempt to grab another piece of apple from his plate. Instead, he speared the same piece of apple with his fork and held it up a few inches from his face and said, "It's like that time in the garden of eden."

"How'd you figure?"

"Out of all the fruit in the garden, god said you can eat anything you want, any animal, any plant, any fruit, anything except fruit from this one tree."

"Nowadays, we use the apple as the symbol of that fruit. Though realistically, if it was truly an apple, it wasn't like any apple we know of today," Steven said with a shake of his head. He put the apple in his mouth. As he chewed methodically, he swallowed the bit of apple and then continued, "Once they ate the apple, the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil to be precise, the covenant with god was broken. Now I ask you, did this fruit really have that power?"

"I don't know," Aaron said as he eyed the last slice of apple on the plate.

"No, it did not have the knowledge of good and evil. It was the symbol of good and evil. You see, once Eve ate that damn apple..."

"Or whatever fruit it was," Aaron interjected.

"Right, but once she ate it, she talked Adam into eating it as well. They broke god's law and he cast them out of Eden," Steven said with a firm shake of his head that signified he was finished.

"And?"

"No and, I'm done," Steven said as he a strawberry.

"What the hell does that have to do with Sara stalking me?" Aaron asked as he grabbed the last slice of apple from the plate.

Steven grinned and leaned back. "Do you think they continued to eat that forbidden fruit after god kicked them out?"

"I don't know. If it was good, maybe, yeah," Aaron said with a shrug.

"I don't think they did. Matter of fact, I think they would've starved to death before they tasted that fruit again," Steven said with a confident shake of his head.

"And why is that?"

"Sara is a lot like Eve," Steven explained. "She really doesn't like apples, but if someone tells her not to eat one, she will try, on principle alone. And after the core is thrown away, she'll move on to another type of fruit."

"You make my head hurt sometimes," Aaron complained as he pushed his half-eaten breakfast away.

"Now unlike Sara, Eve if you will," Steven said with a wicked grin as he grabbed a chunk of pineapple. He popped it in his mouth and said, "I like pineapples, but I love apples. I tasted my first apple two years ago, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of apples. God, my parents, society, popular opinion, moon men, or the president on a twitter rampage couldn't get me to stop eating apples."

"I don't care what you say, I"m not wearing a dress," Aaron stated with a frown.

Steven said with a twinkle in his eye. "Well, clothing is optional though I must admit its highly discouraged."

Aaron looked around with growing excitement. "Would you like to go and find somewhere quiet and secluded?"

"Yes," Steven said as he took a deep breath.

Aaron reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He looked around for the waitress and after he couldn't see her, he threw a few bills down on the table. "Let's go."

They stood up and left the restaurant as fast as they could. They climbed into the car and Steven turned to his boyfriend and said, "I will always love you, even when you get old and fat."

"I concur."

About ten minutes later Steven parked the car on the curb in front of his house. Aaron opened the door but before he could get out of the car, Steven pulled him into an embrace and kissed him. For a few minutes they sat there, making out. It had been a long day and an even longer night, so they were quickly overwhelmed and the raw emotion they were experiencing threatened to wash them away. All the pent up tension from the long day of trying to be alone finally exploded all at once. As they groped one another, they lost themselves in the feeling of being with one another. Though it started with a kiss, it as progressing rapidly into a full-blown make-out session.

"Steven."

For the second time that night, both boys cringed at the voice interrupting their activities. The first time it was Sara, annoying, but one they could easily forget. But this voice was one they knew better than to ignore. It was a voice that caused their once boiling blood to freeze.

Steven looked over Aaron's shoulder and stared right into the eyes of his mother.

"I..." He began but was silenced by the look on his mother's face.

"We won't talk about what time it is," Lynn said in a very calm voice. "Sometime in the night, a pipe broke in the basement. Your father's down there right now standing in three inches of water."

"Mom, I can explain..."

"I expect both of you to go down there and help him clean up that mess," Lynn ordered.

"Mamma Carter," Aaron tried.

"Did you two hear me?" She barked.

"Yes ma'am," They said in unison.

Lynn wrapped her robe tighter about her body, and stared at them with an unreadable expression. She watched them exit the car and then walked into the house with their heads down.

Steven looked at Aaron as they walked into the house, he tried to make eye contact with him but Aaron refused to look at him. They silently walked through the living room and into the kitchen.

Steven said as he opened the basement door. "Aaron, I'm sorry."

"I said downstairs," Lynn ordered from the living room.

Aaron shrugged and walked down the stairs into the basement with Steven closely behind.

Once downstairs, Steven saw his father standing in the center of the basement with a faraway look in his eyes. When he noticed the boys, he smiled and said, "This reminds me of the time when I was a boy, in the middle of winter, and this stupid bird flew headlong into one of our basement windows, shattering it. All that cold air caused the pipes directly under the window to freeze and burst."

Steven was only half listening to his father as he walked over and picked up the hose of the Shop Vac. He turned on the machine and started the slow process of sucking up all the water.

For the next few hours, the three of them took turns at the Shop Vac, while the other used mops and buckets to get all the water. On one of the several occasions they went up to empty the buckets in the kitchen sink, the saw Lynn sitting in the kitchen, drinking a mug of hot tea. She had prepared drinks for them and a few snacks to keep up their energy.

For the first time in his life, Steven felt uncomfortable around his parents. Aaron, who normally made silly comments to keep everyone laughing, was uncharacteristically silent. Lynn just sat there drinking her tea, quiet. She neither said anything good or bad, just going through the motions.

David, as usual, seemed to be oblivious to everything. He rambled on about this or that, unaffected by the dark mood of the rest of his family. At around five am, David declared the basement dry enough and the three of them headed upstairs. Lynn was waiting in the kitchen.

David walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "It's as good as its going to get tonight."

Lynn smiled weakly at her husband. "You must be tired."

"I've been more awake," David admitted as he sat down on the kitchen stools.

Steven glanced at Aaron who has somehow managed to stay quiet the entire time and gave him a smile. Aaron returned the smile, as weak as it was, it was at least a start.

Aaron spoke first, not looking at either David or Lynn, "I'm gonna get going, I"m sure my mom is worried about me."

"I don't think so," Lynn said sharply. "I called her after you two came home three hours after curfew and said you would be staying here tonight."

"Mom..."

"Don't worry boys," Lynn said in a softer tone. "I didn't tell her Aaron had been drinking. Sometime parents don't need to know every little thing their child does."

"Thank you Mamma Carter," Aaron mumbled as he raised his eyes to meet her.

"Don't thank me just yet young man," Lynn said as she raised her voice again. "I might still tell her."

"Mom, I can explain," Steven stated as he walked over and stood next to his boyfriend.

David, for the first time realized there was more going on than arriving home late and having a few beers at a party. He said, "Steven, you know how we feel about drinking."

"I don't drink," Steven interrupted though he never took his eyes off his mother.

"Which is why I didn't say anything about Aaron's drinking," Lynn admitted. "If there is one thing I know, you two boys look after one another. I also know that Steven drove home, so that issue is pretty much dead."

"You boys are both intelligent, and I know that you'll try and experiment..." David began in a voice that could only mean he was beginning a lecture. "And it's perfectly natural to want to know about drinking. All we are saying is be careful. Like tonight, Aaron drank so Steven drove."

Steven exploded out, still staring at his mother. "It's not an experiment."

David, shocked by his son's outburst. He held up his hand as if he was going to say something but Lynn shouted right back, "How do you know? You're too young to know anything!"

"Now Lynn, I don't think either one of you should be yelling," David said as he tried to calm everyone down. He looked at his wife, then over to his son, and then over to Aaron, and slowly the pieces started falling into place. He saw the fear in Aaron's eyes and he got a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Aaron had been staring at the floor throughout the whole conversation, raised his eyes and looked at Lynn. He had been embarrassed when she caught them in the car, and scared at what that might mean, how she might look at him differently now that she knew the truth about him. But as Steven and Lynn continued to argue, a different fear began to consume him. He had seen Steven and his parents argue before, but this time the undercurrents were dangerously close to someone saying something that could never be taken back. And he couldn't help but think it was all his fault.

"Oh really," Steven shouted out his dad. "I'm too young to know. I'm older than you were when you met dad."

"That's different."

"How?" Steven countered as he took a step towards her. "What's so fucking different?"

"Because!"

"Great answer," Steven blurted.

Aaron by this time had had enough and he took off running from the kitchen. He dashed through the living room and threw open the front door and disappeared into the night. "See what your bigotry did?" Steven yelled out.

Aaron ran down the driveway and fumbled for the keys to his car. After a moment, he realized that Steven still had the keys and he hit the roof of his car and screamed out. He had never been one to cry but as he slumped down the side of his car he felt the tears run down his cheeks. "Fuck!"

David had took one look at his wife and son, and followed Aaron out of the house. He knew that as stubborn as his wife and son could be, they would find a way to work things out. But Aaron was out there all alone and he made a choice to go after the boy he often felt was a part of his family.

David paused in the driveway when he saw Aaron slump to the ground. He walked over and said, "I don't think you should be driving in your condition."

"This is so fucked up," Aaron muttered in defeat. He was so distraught he forgot to watch his language. He buried his head in his knees and wiped the tears from his eyes.

David walked over and sat down next to the crying boy. "I'm not really good at these types of thing, but I don't think this is about drinking at some party anymore, is it?"

"No," Aaron replied in a soft voice. He reached for his cigarettes and put one in his mouth before he realized who was sitting next to him. He blushed and said, "Sorry."

"Don't be" David said with a smile. "It's not like I didn't know you smoke, Aaron. Besides, you look like you need one right about now."

Aaron lit the cigarette and they sat in silence for a moment. After a bit, David asked, "So do you want to tell me what all this yelling is about?"

Aaron hung his head even further and said, "She saw us."

By this time, David had his own suspicions but didn't want to jump to conclusions. He asked, "Doing what?"

"We, were, um, kind of..." Aaron tried to formulate the words but couldn't. He had too many years of hiding and denying his emotions to speak.

"Aaron," David said as he got up so he could face the young man. He placed his hands gently on Aaron's knees and said, "For the last few years, I've come to think of you as a son."

"I..."

"Be quiet for once and listen to me," David said in a firm voice. He then continued in a softer tone. "Along with those feelings comes everything else."

"Huh?"

"I worry about you just as I worry about Steven. I care about you just as I care about him. I'll try to advise you just as I would my own son." David paused as if to collect his thoughts. He chose his words carefully before he continued, "For the longest time, it's been you and Steven. Sometimes I can't distinguish where you start and he ends. Do you think there is anything in this world that would make me think less of you...or him?"

"No," Aaron said in a quiet voice.

David took the half smoked cigarette from Aaron's hand and took a long drag. "I haven't had one of these in seventeen years."

"You used to smoke?"

"Yeah," David said as he settled back down next to Aaron against he car. "I don't think even Steven knows this, but he was our miracle baby. The doctor's didn't think I was capable of having kids, a very low sperm count."

"Really."

"Yeah, Lynn and I tried for months. We saw fertility doctors but nothing happened. For a while we discussed maybe trying donors, or maybe adopting," David paused to take another drag off the cigarette. "That's good."

Aaron lit another cigarette for himself and listened as David continued. "But then a miracle happened, Lynn said we were pregnant."

"How?" Aaron asked.

"Fate, maybe, I don't know. But it really doesn't matter," David said with a whistful smile. "Because we were pregnant and I was going to be a father. All through the pregnancy I smoke, not around her but I smoked. Then came the day when Steven entered this world. I held this tiny little human in my hands and saw him take his first breath. I held him, this tiny thing with ten toes and ten fingers, and two closed eyes. And he was perfect, he was ours, he was mine."

David wiped a tear from his eye. "I introduced myself to him, I said, 'Steven, I'm your father, and this beautiful lady beside me is your mother. And you will have lots of love in your life from lots of people, but always remember we will always love you best'."

"I had always wanted a son and now I had one. And I was afraid." David admitted.

"Why?"

"Because for the first time I realized what it would take to become a father," David paused as he tried to find the words to explain to the boy how it felt. "Holding him, I saw what an awesome responsibility being a father entailed. He was perfect, but also empty, an empty vessel waiting for me to fill up with knowledge. It was up to me to teach him right from wrong, teach him how to become a man others would be proud to know. What i taught and what I did would affect him the rest of his life. That's the day I quit smoking."

"For him, you quit for Steven," Aaron said in wonder. He had never thought what a father must go through each and every day. He looked over at the man he had always respected and got a glimpse of unconditional love. And it was overwhelming.

"Yes, I quit so I could be there for him when he needed me most," David said as he took one last drag from the cigarette.

"I love him." Aaron said simply.

"I know," David said with a sigh. He patted the boy on the leg and said, "I can see it in your eyes. I think I've always known that."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before David said, "It's going to be hard for the two of you."

"I'm beginning to understand that," Aaron said.

"This is a day when I'm glad I stopped smoking," David said with a tired smile He looked at the dawn that was creeping across the sky. "Looks like my boy is going to be needing me all the more over the next few months."

Aaron grabbed the older man in a tight embrace and let the tears flow freely down his face. David hugged him just as tight and murmured, "It's going to be okay Aaron. I"m not done caring for my boy, or for you."

Aaron broke the embrace and wiped the tears from his eyes. That was the moment that David stopped being Steven's cool dad. For the rest of his life, no matter what the future held, he would always think of David as a second father.

David stood up and cleared his throat. "We should go inside and make sure they're not killing each other."

Aaron smiled and let the older man help him to his feet. "Thank you."

"Well all right," David said somewhat embarrassed by Aaron's new found affection.

David opened the door and paused for a moment. He didn't hear any signs of violence, just subdued voices coming from the kitchen. He motioned to Aaron to follow. "Seems like they're past the yelling stage. That's a good sign."

They walked through the living room and into the kitchen where Lynn and Steven was sitting at the kitchen island.

"Do you have any idea what people are going to say about you?" Lynn asked with watery eyes. David could tell she had been crying and his heart broke.

Steven replied, "It's not as if I'll be broadcasting it to the world."

When Steven noticed Aaron walk back into the kitchen, he jumped up and gave him a big hug. Aaron gripped him just as tightly. Steven buried his face in Aaron's neck and whispered, "I"m so sorry."

"Don't be," Aaron said as he looked over at David. "I think maybe it was for the best."

David walked over and kissed his wife. "Don't worry, it's going to be okay."

"Have you been smoking?" Lynn asked.

"Later," David said with a small smile on his face that was directed at Aaron.

"Mom," Steven said as he broke the hug from Aaron. He reached down and grabbed Aaron's hand. "I love him."

Lynn took a deep breath and walked over to Aaron. She grabbed his head and pulled it down so she could kiss his cheek. "Don't take this the wrong way, Aaron. I love you, you know that. But I don't understand this, I don't know if I'll ever understand this."

She straight up and walked over to her husband. "Your father and I are going to bed, I suggest you boys do the same. It's been a very long night."

"I love you, mom." Steven called out.

"We'll discuss your punishment later on today," Lynn said and walked out of the kitchen towards the stairs.

David walked over to his son and gave him a big hug. "She'll come around. She loves you way too much. Just let her process everything."

"I love you too, dad."

"Of course, who wouldn't?" David exclaimed with a laugh. "Now you boys get to bed." He turned around and followed his wife up the stairs. From the look on his face, he knew this conversation was far from over.

Steven looked at Aaron and yawned. "Let's go." He pulled him towards the stairs. Neither boy spoke until they were safely behind Steven's bedroom door.

Steven walked over and sat down on his bed. Aaron took a step but stopped and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I'm very tired," Steven said as he took off his shirt. He dropped it on the floor and stood up and unbuttoned his pants.

"What are you doing?" Aaron asked with a wild look in his eye even as he turned to the closed bedroom door.

"Getting ready for bed," Steven replied as he pushed his pants down. He sat on the bed and untied his shoes. He noticed that Aaron hadn't moved from where he stood by the door. He looked up and asked, "Aren't you coming?"

"I don't know if that's a very good idea," Aaron said haltingly.

Steven took off his shoes and kicked his pants off. He stood up and crossed the short distance between them. He took Aaron's hand and led him towards the bed. "She told us to go to bed."

"I don't know if she meant in the same bed."

"Aaron," Steven said with a grin. "Don't you want to sleep with me?"

"Of course," Aaron said as he wrapped his arms around Steven's waist.

"Do you think my mom is stupid?" Steven asked, as he grabbed Aaron's shirt and helped the blond take it off.

"No," Aaron replied as he straightened his hair.

"She told us to go to bed," Steven continued as he focused on unbuttoning Aaron's pants. "With a blessing like that, I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor anymore."

"Good point," Aaron said as he let his boyfriend take off his pants.

Both boys stood there in their underwear. Aaron kissed Steven tenderly and said, "I still love you in that jock."

"Oh yeah," Steven said as he looked down. "I had forgotten I was wearing it."

"Its always nice to see you in a jock," Aaron said with a yawn. "But I'm too tired to do anything about it tonight."

"I concur."

Steven pulled Aaron into his bed and after adjusting the covers they held each other getting as close as possible. Though they had done this same act for almost two years, this time it felt different. Maybe it was the fact that if anyone walked in on them they knew it would be all right. For the first time, they felt like they had some kind of acceptance.

"You know what," Steven said after a few minutes.

"What?" Aaron replied half asleep.

"I'm thinking I might be wrong," Steven said as he pulled his boyfriend closer.

"About what?" Aaron asked as he kissed Steven's cheek.

"About god hating us."

Aaron said right before he drifted off to sleep, "We can always hope."