Water - 3. Surf's Up

Geminy, age 18

"Are you sure you're going to be OK?" Geminy asked Ameka, rubbing her huge belly again, his son stirring within.

"Yes, silly. You would think I never gave birth before. He's not due for another couple weeks you'll be back by then." Twenty-month-old Gaea ran up to her daddy to get another hug.

"It's just a party, I don't' have to go." Gem gave his daughter a hug.

"It's not just a party and you know it. Dillon's folks give you this party every year and you had better attend. I'll here waiting when you get back. I have your phone number, the hotel numbers, and the Forest's number. Now go." He kissed her and smiled. He had a plane to catch, sort of... It was his and wouldn't leave without him, but no sense in messing up their flight plan form the start. The cab had been sitting outside the house for ten minutes all ready, but he would be well paid so no big deal.

"Gaea, you be good for mommy... 'Kay?"

"Kay." He kissed his little girl and was out the door. The cab ride was a short one, and the plane stood ready when he got there. The stewardess smiled as he approached.

"Morning Mr. Milburn, the rest of your party is aboard. Enjoy your flight." Gem smiled and nodded. Geez had he changed that much in four years? He looked down at his clothes... Button up oxford shirt, dress slacks, leather shoes, tie. It no longer hurt to think about Dillon, but he was no longer the boy who loved him either. It seemed a part of him died that day as well. He hadn't painted, hadn't surfed, and almost completely walked away from his old self. Hell, he'd even been monogamous with Ameka. She still had her lover, but they had a daughter, and soon a son together. He graduated his high school program the spring after Dillon died. Then went on to complete his undergraduate course in two years, and his masters in a year, but that didn't even interest him anymore. It was like his creative spark was gone. Then there was this party...

"Hey guys... You ready to take off?" He took a seat in the back, wanting t be alone in his thoughts.

"Sure Gem. You feeling all right?" Someone passed him a soda.

"Do I ever this time of year?" They would leave him alone, they always did. He drank the soda and went back to his thoughts... He wished he could get out of going to this party, but it would hurt ma and pa Forest. They thought of him like their son, hell they were better grandparents to Gaea than his own folks, who thought he was worse than evil for having a child with Ameka and not marrying her, but to get her pregnant again... That was horrid. They practically disowned him when they found out he had been in a homosexual relationship. He would never forget their faces the day he returned from Dillon's funeral and announced he was moving out. He had been fourteen...

"Where do you think you're going to get the money to live on your own?"

"My bank account. Dillon left me quite a bit in royalties and then there are my paintings... I'm sure I'll survive." He bought his house that same day... Paying cash. He packed up and moved. His folks didn't speak to him for a long time after that, but he didn't care. He poured himself into anything that kept his attention away from how his life used to be. Except for Ameka and DM, INC.., he separated himself from everyone and everything that tied him to Dillon. Once a year they all boarded this plane and went to celebrate his birthday with the Forest's in California, and he hated it.

"Is he asleep?" Duncan whispered to Smitty.

"Yeah." Smitty laughed... "How much did you put in the drink?"

"Enough to know him out, but not enough to kill him... We have plans to me." The guys laughed... They made this trip with Gem every year, and each year he was worse. Well, they weren't putting up with it anymore.

"Can you believe how he's dressed? There was a time we had a hard time keeping his clothes on, now.... Geez." Albert shook his head, then started stripping Gem. When he woke up, he would be more comfortable...

"Shame Kym's missing this."

"I'm kinda glad he's staying behind... Someone needs to keep an eye on Ameka."

"True, but he should be here."

"Has anyone heard from Austin?"

"I did. Everything is going as planned on his end. People are arriving as we speak."

"Geez, I hate to do this to him, but something has got to shock him out of this state he's been in. How many people are coming?"

"Four or five hundred RSVPed."

"Boy, you don't know how many people love you." Duncan laughed as he mixed the paint. The plane would arrive at dusk, and the party would be beginning before they actually arrived... Five hundred young men who wanted to meet the model responsible for Neptune's Spawn and all those Dillons. He had lived in obscurity long enough. Albert poured the phosphorus into the green paint. Everyone there would be dressed like a Dillon, except Jade Rising. That was reserved for Geminy alone.

Spandex shorts were the only piece of clothing on him. He was painted green with body paints, when they arrived they would pour on the paint mixture to wake him up, they had it on ice to make sure. Duncan wore blue, Smitty - rose, Albert - yellow, Simon - purple, Mark - brown. The plane touched down and they disembarked, their limo was waiting, and took them directly to the party.

"Wow, guys, he starting to stir." Duncan pulled Gem out of the limo and sent it on it's way. Each of the guys poured their paint on, but it was heated and felt good going on. Gem, however, wasn't so lucky. His was ice cold and shocking enough without having the doors pushed open just as the oil hit his skin.

"What the..." He was groggy, but he felt different.. He was cold... Sticky... Gem looked at his hand as he tried to wipe his face...

"Happy birthday love." Duncan whispered in his ear. "You are anonymous in here... And everyone loves you... Enjoy." Gem looked at Duncan who was crying...

"What's going on?"

"We knew how you hated going to the party because everyone reminded you of the Dillon you lost... We're trying to remind you of the Dillon you loved, and who loved you." Gem started to cry... Then something inside him broke and he started laughing... He looked at everyone in the room, all basically nude and all looking like they stepped out of a Dillon.

"Thank you."

"Enjoy it, get laid... Have a good time."

"But Ameka..."

"Who's idea do you think this was? She's tired of you acting like you do... Straight laced and professional... Hell, she fell for an artist and got a computer programmer. What a switch." Gem smiled and went to meet his fans.

"Jerry you've got to wear this... It came with the invites."

"It's just there's not much there."

"This was a mistake. Look, I'm getting dressed... You can if you want." He threw the red pants, body paint and liquid paint at him. Pete went to the bathroom and put on his blue ensemble. When he came out Jerry had on the red... It looked good. They arrived at the party a little while later and poured the liquid paint on as requested over their heads before entering the room. Everything was slippery and it was great... So many guys all in one place. Jerry stayed near Pete who had explained most of the guys who would be attending were gay. Jerry was uncomfortable, but he would loosen up with a stiff drink... And the extra kick Pete supplied in the drink. Before long, Jerry was on the dance floor with a group of guys, enjoying himself to the hilt.

"Eric, I feel silly." PJ stood just outside the door covered in rust colored paint.

"No sillier than I do." PJ looked at him and laughed... Eric was in pink. "Well, let's get this over with." Eric poured the paint over PJ and PJ poured the paint over Eric.

"How did you get invited to this thing?"

"Posters were up in the art department... It looked like fun. I called the number, answered some questions and the invites arrived by special courier." They opened the door and looked in. Everyone was dressed like them.

"Well, I don't feel so bad anymore." Eric laughed and they joined the party.

Mat had argued with Banes over going to this party. He had insisted he go... He would meet some interesting people there he said... People like himself. Then he saw the storms guy who was nodding and the ring glowed. It seemed that even though he wasn't being allowed to have the ring yet, he was still being guided as if he was wearing it. So he went.

He was bathed in yellow, from head to toe and all over the floor, then he was surrounded by color in motion and music, it vibrated off the walls and floor. He couldn't help but to enjoy himself, just from the shear anonymity of it.

Gem hadn't felt this alive in four years... He was on the dance floor dancing with whomever when he noticed a guy in mostly red. He danced over to him and smiled... The guy smiled back... There was something familiar about him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The rubbing of person against person was making the colors smear.

"Hi, I'm Jade, you must be Ruby." Jerry nodded... He had been told he was Ruby. Jerry looked in Jade's eyes and he felt strange...

"Do I know you?" Gem shook his head.

"I don't' think so." Jerry grinned.

"Well, I want to know you." Gem smiled... Then laughed... Well why not?

"Really? Well, let's get out of here then." Jerry nodded and followed when Gem led his to the rooms reserved for this type of interaction. Messy mats were on the floor and paint everywhere... Geez he missed Dillon, but this was probably the best thing the guys could have done for him. Duncan noticed his passing and smiled... Now he could enjoy this party.

"I've never..." Gem kissed him.

"I have. Don't talk, just enjoy." Gem led the way and Jerry followed down the path the cosmos had chosen for him since before his birth... He found pleasure that night, pleasure not even Jill had gotten from him. Water and Light watched from the shadows.

"Who would have guessed Water could light that kind of fire in Light?"

"I thought it would have been Storms who did it... but I guess it don't matter so long as it was done. Even one of the mortals could have for all I cared." They laughed and faded out.

When they separated, Gem noticed his lover wore an earring like his. "Do you mind... I'd like to remember you. The earring... Could we swap a stone?" Jerry laughed and nodded. They did and then they went back to the main room and danced some more. Jerry was even less inhibited than he had been before, and Gem was almost back to himself. Now most everyone was brown, but it didn't matter. It was the first impression that had been important. PJ bumped into Mat, apologized to him and went to back off.

"No, wait, the earring." PJ stared at him.

"You see it?" He looked closer. "You have one too."

"I think we need to talk."

"Yeah." They went together to the rooms and found one not in use. They discussed how they got the earrings and the ring PJ wore for quite a while.

"My guardian told me to exchange a stone with anyone of the six I meet. You're the first one, do you mind?"

"Not at all, but why are you here if you aren't... You know like the rest of us?"

"I don't know. I guess to meet you." They exchanged the stones and Storms appeared behind PJ.

"Let him show you his kind of pleasure... You are like him, it's just unexplored." Storms told Mat.

Earth also spoke to PJ telling him to kiss him. PJ did it without thinking... He was getting used to doing strange things. Mat responded and found he liked it... Then PJ taught him how to make love slow and easy... Like a man should.

Gem passed out just before dawn and Duncan put him to bed. "Happy Birthday, buddy." Water stood beside the bed watching... This one had been a trail, but he was the chosen one. Water pulled the ring from his finger and slid it on Gem's hand. Gem stirred and Water faded out. "Embrace life and live it to it's fullest, my son." He whispered at the sleeping form.

When he finally woke up, he embraced the day, pulled on the clothes that had been left for him, went out to an art supply, and bought the things he would need. Then he went t the beach and began painting. It wasn't his best, the stokes were sloppy and the whole thing looked unbalanced to him, but it was nothing to be ashamed of either. Even in it's crudeness it was his.

It felt good to be near the ocean again. Gem gathered his things and went back to the hotel. Duncan was waiting for him, the others were out.

"How do you feel?"

"Dunc, you knew what you were doing yesterday didn't you?" He looked surprised.

"We weren't sure if it was going to work. You've been so tense, so unlike you."

"I know and I'm sorry." He stretched and felt the sunburn across his shoulders. "I can't believe I was outside most the day with no shirt on. It's been years Dunc."

"Geez, you talk like an old man. You're 18. Embrace life and live it." Gem smiled... "Are you ready to face the Forests? They called and asked if you wanted to come over tonight. I told them you were out and I would talk t you when you came in." Gem laughed...

"Sure, let's go see my in-laws." Dunc laughed... This was good. They drove over in a car borrowed from Austin. This time the gates opened with out question or challenge. Gem got out of the car and ran up the steps. Pa Forest opened the door and Gem pounced him with a bear hug. Pa laughed... And hugged back.

"I take it the party was a success?"

"Thank you." He spotted ma and greeted her with as much exuberance.

"How have you been Gem? And Ameka and Gaea?"

"We're doing just fine. I'm better now. Gaea's growing like a weed. Amera is getting ready to drop our son. Thank you for the presents... Gaea thinks it's neat to have grandparents here. My own folks haven't even seen her." Pa chuckled...

"Well, you certainly look different from the last time we saw you." Gem blushed... He was wearing a borrowed pair of jeans that were snug as best and a tank top that was too big, and he was barefoot. Paint was smeared across his face and hands, either he didn't know it or didn't care. He was sunburned, but he looked happy. "What no suit this time?"

"Yeah, I'm wearing my suit, where's the pool, I'll show you." They all laughed. Dunc had seen to it his luggage had disappeared. Pa looked at Ma and winked... Everyone had been hard pressed to deal with Geminy as he dealt with his grief, but this... This was the kid they liked the first time they met him.

The other guys were out in the pool with Austin and a couple of his friends, but Gem needed to spend some time with ma and pa. Dunc excused himself out to the pool, more to report the party had been a success than anything else... Most of them had been on edge since Gem woke up yesterday. Gem settled on the floor, relaxed like he hadn't been before.

"Gem, why don't you and the family come live here?" The question took him by surprise.

"I don't know... I guess it's worth thinking about." Ma smiled.

"We just want to be near the children. At least promise you'll bring them to visit more often."

"I can do that." Gem looked up at the painting of Dillon over the hearth, and smiled.

"Hey, Gem, come on out and join us!" Albert yelled. Gem excused himself and went out to see what was up.

"I didn't' bring a swim suit guys." Austin laughed...

"I got one you can use. Come on." He pulled himself out of the pool and headed to the pool house. Gem followed.

"Austin, you've been like a brother to me, take care of my kids, OK, you and Kymble." Austin wasn't sure what to say.

"Sure." He nodded and handed Gem a suit. "This should fit."

"Yeah, but stripes?" He slid it on.

"Live in the now. Come on." They ran back to the pool and jumped in.

"Gentlemen, I have the pleasure to introduce to you my brother by default, Geminy Kriket." They all applauded. They were mainly artist and other friends of Austin. One came over after a bit and introduced himself.

"I'm Alex, I teach art at the university. Would you come and talk to my students?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Gem wasn't teasing... He really didn't.

"You are an artist, Geminy. My students admire you, but they all think you are an old man. They don't understand passion can come at any age. Many believe an artist never truly becomes famous until he is dead, but you -- they know your work, and you are their age." Gem smiled, he wasn't being patronized. Alex was trying to drive home a point to his students.

"Who is your best artist?" Alex smiled.

"Which style?"

"Just the best. If the heart is that of an artist, style doesn't really matter."

"Rista. She is excellent, but insecure."

"Do you know how to reach her?" Alex nodded. "Hey Austin, would you hand me the phone?" Austin tossed it and Alex looked up her number in his book. "What's the number?" Alex told him. "Has she ever worked with a model before?" A negative shake. Gem laughed... Then sobered as she answered the phone. "Hello, Rista please."

"This is she."

"Rista my name is Gem Milburn, your professor, Alex Kelton, just contacted me about a modeling job. He said you were possibly interested in working with a model, and I was interested in working with you."

"Gem Milburn? I'm sorry, Dr. Kelton must be mistaken. I've never used a model before."

"Oh," Gem did his best to sound disappointed. "Well, maybe you'd like to get together and give it a shot. I've been out of work for quite a while and, well, could really use the work. I mean it's for art and all, besides, the school is paying me for my services... Work study you know. Would it hurt you to try?" The other guys were trying their collective best not to make any background noises, but Gem sounded pitiful, begging like that.

"Gem, are you for real?" She sounded interested. "It's just I've never used a model before and I wouldn't know where to begin."

"Well don't let the untried stop you... Part of being an artist is delving into new territory and making it yours. I'm willing if you are."

"OK, I'll give it a shot, but my studio is not set up for a model."

"I've got a friend with a studio he's not using right now, or if it would make you more comfortable we could do it at school."

"School is too formal, I get graded there. If I'm going to try something new it may as well be in a new place. When do you think your friend would let you use his studio?"

"When ever you want. Today would be good, if you're not busy."

"Today? It's late, how about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is good. The address is..." Gem gave the Forest's address. Austin's eye popped out of his head. Alex couldn't believe it. "OK see you tomorrow. About what time should I expect you? Wow. That early huh... Yes, the light is good at that time of day... See you Rista." He hung up the phone and all the guys burst out laughing.

"I don't' believe it. She agreed?" Gem nodded.

"She'll be here at oh-my-gosh 6 am, geez... Don't she know the sun won't even be up then? What light could there possibly be?"

"You were good... work study? Out of work? I still don't believe it and I was sitting here listening." Gem laughed.

"Hey Alex, if she's any good, I'll do the lecture free of course."

"What do you mean if she's any good? I told you she was our best." Gem looked at Alex and laughed as he dove under the water. Dunc finally caught his meaning and choked on his soda. The old Gem was back that was for sure. "I still don't understand."

"He offered to be her model." Dunc finally caught his breath enough to talk. "He always sleeps with the artist for whom he models." Mark looked at him.

"But you did that painting of him and Dillon together."

"Then I should know what I'm talking about." He turned scarlet... Dillon and Gem had given him a wild ride that night. Smitty and Albert blushed remembering their fee paid as well. "Well boys, he's back!"

Gem stayed over that night and Austin explained things to his mom and dad, who were all too glad Gem was starting to paint again. They allowed him to open up Dillon's old studio and everyone helped get it ready. Even Alex helped. Smitty had been up to his tricks and the place was wired for both sight and sound. At five to six, the gate guard announced she was here. Gem went down to meet her. She was blond, petite and slim.

"Hello, Rista?"

"Yes, you are Gem?" He nodded. "Nice place you have here."

"It's not mine... My friend, remember." She nodded. "Do you need some help carrying anything?" She nodded and he took what she offered. "The studio is around back, this way please." He led the way and she followed.

"So when did you start modeling?"

"I was eleven the first time. When did you start painting?"

"I think my mom said I was born with a brush in my hand." He laughed.

"And you never used a model? Not once?"

"No I like to paint what inspires me, and I've never looked at people for that."

"Interesting... Who is your favorite artist?" They arrived and he helped her set up.

"Picasso, I think."

"How about someone living?" She blushed.

"There is this artist that hit the more interesting galleries a couple years back. His name was Geminy Kriket." She blushed and laughed... "You don't know how hard it was to convince my mom to allow me to go see his work. There was this other artist, but he's dead now... Dillon was his name. He painted the same model all the time. He lived here in the city, too. A local hero. I actually bought one of his paintings in reproduction."

"Really? Which one?"

"Sapphire Dream, it was his first." Gem smiled... No way, she would connect the 11 year old of the painting to him.

"I know that one, too. Uh, how do you want me?" She looked at him and frowned.

"I don't know. You're the one with the experience here what do you do?"

"The last gig I did I modeled nude, or I can be next to nude, of fully dressed... How do you want to paint me?" He was staring into her eyes...

"I... I'm not sure."

"Tell you what... I'll start stripping over by this window... The light's good here and you tell me when to stop. Do you like music?" She nodded, in response and started opening tubes and pulling out brushes. He turned on the stereo and stood by the lace curtains. The sunlight was beginning to filter through them, bathing the floor in a golden glow. He pulled over a wooden chair, it would make a decent prop. He had been wearing the snug jeans and a T-shirt, under the jeans he wore nothing... It would be a quick undress. Gem straddled the chair with the back of it against his chest as he pulled off the shirt and dropped it. She was watching spellbound....

In the other room, the camera panned by remote to catch all that was going on. "I can't believe you guys are watching this." Alex commented.

"You said you wanted to see him work... You watch... He'll be painting her before noon." Dunc chuckled... Austin was a spellbound as some of the others, but he had seen Gem work before. Gem was an exhibitionist if there was ever one born, and he knew where the camera's were.

He stretched back and cocked the chair to one side, letting the music move him, he closed his eyes and began to unzip his pants, leaning so far back she thought he would fall out of the chair. Her eyes grew wide as he sucked in his bottom lip and pulled the pants apart a little exposing about an inch of pubic hair, then reached his left arm up over his head and hooked his right thumb in his pocket, pulling the pants open more. Then he hooked his legs in the chair rungs so he wouldn't fall out.

"Hold it." He stiffened and waited. "Don't move." The muscles froze, suspended at her command, and he stayed that way, flexing ever so slightly so he wouldn't move and wouldn't cramp.

"Wow, it looks like he would fall out of the chair by now." Alex remarked.

"Nah, he's got another hour before he starts to cramp. Gem's good." Duncan laughed. "How's the painting coming Smitty?"

"Pretty good. She's about done, wanna see?" They all nodded. He switched cameras and it came up on the screen.

"Damn, I would have never thought it in her."

"What do you mean Alex, you said she was your best."

"She is my best, but she's never painted that well before. She's always lacked passion, but this... WOW!"

"Rista looked at Gem, he could have been a piece of furniture, a sensual, sexy, vibrant piece of furniture, but an unmoving one. "Are you still alive?" He opened his eyes.

"Do you want me to be alive?" She giggled, looking at her work.

"Yes, you can move now. Wanna see it?"

"In a minute, right now my legs are cramping." He was moving slowly, letting the pressure off slowly, and stretching as he went.

"Oh, I didn't realize... Let me help." She went over to him and started rubbing his shoulders. Geez, just being near him was torture after painting him... He arched his back to let her hands do their work. She kneaded the knots out of his muscles... Then tentatively kissed his neck. He flexed into it and allowed her to seduce him, which she did. When they separated, he smiled...

"Do you mind if I paint you? I dabble at it sometimes, please?" She smiled and nodded. "Just stay like that." He took one of the curtains down and draped it across her and went over to his easel and began to put her on canvas. In about twenty minutes, he had penciled her on the white background. "OK, you can move, but stay over there. If I'm watched, I get nervous. Relax, I'm not going to bite." His brush danced over the canvas... She had seen artists paint before, and Gem reminded her of them. From his stance, to the way he held his brush. Almost as tenderly as he had held her only moments before.

"Who are you?"

"I thought we covered that yesterday, on the phone." He smiled at her. "My name is Gem. Gem Milburn."

"What are you studying in school?"

"Computers. You like technical things?"

"Yeah, but you don't' look like a computer geek."

"I think the proper term is programmer, not geek."

"Damn... I don't believe it, first he bangs her, now he's painting her."

"Hey she seduced him... I watched even if you didn't. I guess you're going to get your lecture for free, too. Want to see what he's painting?" Heads turned...

"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. Look at her."

"A model through the eyes of passion. She's beautiful."

"Rista, do you want to see it?" She nodded. "Tell you what, I'll show you mine if you show me yours." She laughed.

"Uh, we're both naked. I think what we got is visible." He blushed.

"So it is... But I was referring to the paintings."

"OK." She went over to her easel and turned it around so he could see. His eyebrows arched and he grinned. Then spun his around. "Wow! That's me?"

"You as I see you." She blushed. "Just as that's me as you see me. You're good. Better than I thought you would be using a model for the first time. I haven't seen any of your other work, but how did this one make you feel?" He started getting dressed.

"Alive. I really did like it, and I live what you did of me, but you forgot to sign it." He laughed.

"So I have." He picked up the tiniest brush and signed his name... Geminy Kriket, then the year. "That better?" She looked and fainted when she read the signature. He laughed and signaled for the guys to come down. It was mid afternoon. When they arrived, Gem was grinning... "I think I shocked her."

"I see that you have. What did you expect, surprising her with her idol like that?" Rista was starting to come around.

"Geminy Kriket?"

"In the flesh. Sorry about shocking you, but Alex here wanted to see how you could paint when inspired. Alex take a look, it's good." All the guys were gathered around the two paintings...

"It is good, Rista. I didn't know you were so talented." She blushed....

"It was easy with him."

"You didn't know who I was... Just a model. Use that knowledge. Do you mind if I use your painting during the lecture I'm giving at your school soon?"

"No, I don't mind at all... But you lied to me. You said you were in school... A computer programmer."

"I am, down under. I have my masters and am working on by doctorate."

"But your art?"

"It's a hobby for me. My folks said I should have a real job, something to fall back on."

"Your folks? Geez, how old are you?"

"How old do you think I am?"

"I don't know, I thought you should be like old, but you look so young. Almost thirty?" Everyone started laughing. Gem blushed.

"I turned eighteen yesterday. You're what twenty, twenty-two?" She nodded.

"Twenty-one. You said you were a model, and you certainly acted like one... Who did you model for?"

"Dillon."

"Oh, my.... It is you.... The eyes are all that is the same... But it's you!"

"I was fourteen when Dillon died, he painted me and only me and had for four years."

"Geez, he must have been old."

"You're really hung up on age meaning talent aren't you? Get dressed, I want to show you something." She realized she was draped in a lace curtain then and blushed all the way to her toes. "Out guys.. We'll meet you in the living room." It was only a few minutes before Gem escorted her to the living room. He stopped when she had her back to the painting. "Now, explain to me why you think Dillon was so old."

"Because he was, I don't' know... So passionate. Everyone was shocked by his art. They were so sensual. I mean... I don't know what I mean."

"The painting you did was sensual... Are you old?"

"No, but there were so many Dillons. I thought he was older, you know because of his hart. Then we heard he died. His funeral was outrageous, but you couldn't tell how old he was. I just assumed." Gem was fighting to control himself, Duncan saw it in his body language.

"You were there for his funeral?" She nodded.

"Weren't you? I mean as his model...?"

"I was there. I dressed him for it, planned it, and led the procession."

"Oh. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... I'm sorry." She looked close to tears.

"Turn around and tell me what you see." She turned and saw the painting.

"Oh." She stood and looked at it. "You did this?" Gem nodded. "Of Dillon?"

"It was the only time I painted him. A person can tell a lot about the artist when the artist paints from the heart... Tell me what you see."

"The sun is setting... So, it was near the time of his death... But he's happy, everything is so bright." She looked some more... "Oh, you loved him and while he was alive your world was bright, but with his death would come darkness... He's happy because he loved you, too. Were you two intimate?" Gem smiled... She understood....

"Dillon was seventeen when he died. We had been lovers for three years. I painted this while I was feeling his death. I was fourteen." He turned and looked at her. "Do you still think a person has to be old to feel?"

"No. I guess I just haven't found something that makes me feel like that."

"You will. You're talented. Find your passion and paint it. Then you will make people feel what you want them to feel." He smiled. Alex clapped.

"I haven't been able to get that through to her, one day with you and she's sold. When do you want to talk to the rest of the department?"

"When can you set it up? If not in the next couple days it'll have to be in a month or so."

"Pressing business back home?"

"You can say that." Alex arched his eyebrow... "Rista do you need me to help you get your things?"

"Sure." They went back to the studio. Duncan looked up at the painting and smiled. One day he would find his soul mate, he knew he was out there... Dillon and Gem were proof.

Ameka was waiting for Gem when he returned home as promised, safe, sound, and still pregnant. Two weeks later she delivered a baby boy, whom Gem named Dillon. Three months ago when she suggested the name, Dillon, he had a tantrum and was unapproachable for two days... Men! Life was going well, but Ameka wasn't going happy. She had stayed with Gem because she felt sorry for him and he needed her, now he was doing fine. Dillon was three weeks old when Alex called about the lecture, it was the following week if he could make it. Gem agreed and went to tell Ameka. It was early in the morning and she hadn't slept with him, so he looked for her in Jolee's room. They weren't there, but there was a note taped to the mirror...

Dear Geminy,
I'm glad you are getting your life back together,
but now I need to tend to my own. I really hate
to do this in this way, but Jolee and I are gone.
Don't try to find us because we haven't told anyone
where we're going. Don't worry Gaea and Dillon are
in the nursery, I wouldn't dare dream of taking them
from you. The only thinking I ask is you tell them
I love them and only did what was best for all of us.
For all the tears we shared,
Love,
Ameka.

He had known it was bound to happen, had expected it even, but it didn't soften the blow as it actually occurred. He picked up the phone and called Duncan..

"Dunc, do you know where Ameka may have gone?" He asked after he explained what had happened.

"No, this is news to me." Duncan lied smoothly, he had known exactly what was happening, just not when, until Ameka showed up in the middle of the night. He sent her on her way... To stay in France for a while with Jolee.

"Well, if you hear from her, tell her I'm taking the kids to California and we're not coming back for a while. I understand why, but it still hurts."

"Sure. I'll see to it someone keeps an eye on the house. Take your time... Embrace life and live it, buddy." Gem went to the nursery and packed up the kids as he called the airport to hire a pilot. Dillon wanted his bottle and Gaea held it for him as Gem packed...

"Where mamma?" Gaea asked.

"Momma gone bye bye. Daddy's taking Gaea and Dillon bye bye. Wanna go ride the plane?" Gaea's face lit up. "Wanna go see gramma and grandda?" She nodded smiling ear to ear.

"Momma come?" Gem shook his head.

"Momma stay with Jolee." He picked up the baby and got him changed and dressed, then turned his attention on Gaea. The pilot called with his confirmation, the plane could leave in an hour. Gem packed his things hastily... What ever he needed he could have sent or replace. He called a cab, grabbed the passports and laptop. The kids were ready when the cab arrived. Gaea was excited, this wasn't her first plane ride, but it had been a long time since the last one. Dark brought them riding up to the gates of the Forest's. The guard knew Gem, so he let them in.

"Ma, Pa.... Guess who has come to visit?" The older couple saw the kids and didn't' mind he arrived unannounced. "Do you mind if we crash here tonight? I'll see about more permeate lodging starting tomorrow."

"Uh, yeah. You can bunk with Austin and the kids in Dillon's old room. The other rooms are unusable right now. Is everything all right with you and Ameka?" He shook his head...

"I need to get them to bed. Come on Gaea, sleep time." The little girl followed her daddy to a bed. An hour later Gem came back down and Austin, Ma, and Pa were waiting for him.

"So, what brings you to our neck of the planet? It's not like we live around the corner."

"Ameka left us. She decided it was time and left. I understand her doing it, hell, except for the kids I thought about it myself the past two years."

"So you came here?"

"Well, you said you wanted to see more of the kids and I just needed to get away from everything. Besides, I have that lecture to do next week. Should I not have come?" He looked at them and they smiled.

"No, we're glad you're here. You just surprised us is all. Go to bed. We'll talk more in the morning." Austin led the way to his room.

"Uh, there's only one bed. Just so you know." Gem looked at him and laughed.

"Austin I could care less right now. Dillon'll probably be up in an hour or so anyway." Gem looked tired and Austin felt sorry for his assumed brother.

"I'll get up with him if he cries... we need to get to know one another anyway." Gem smiled weakly, then fell into the bed fully dressed... it had been a rough day. He didn't stir until the morning sun shone on his face and Gaea pounced him.

"G'mornin' love."

"Morn'n daddy." Gaea was laughing... Gem hugged her and gave kisses, then drug himself out of the bed and down to breakfast.

"Gem, about you looking for a place..." Ma started before Gem could have his coffee... "Why don't you find a place and the kids stay here with a nanny?" He looked at her in complete disbelief. "You need a studio and time to paint, the kids would be here for you to spend time with and we would get to spend time with them, too. We discussed it last night, Dillon's old studio would be a perfect nursery." Gem didn't know whether to jump at the chance or grab his kids and run, but then the ring on his finger began to glow and he felt comforted by the thoughts of his kids' safety.

"I think that would be great, Gaea, would you like to live with gramma and grampa for a little while?" The little girl grinned. "I'll get you all the information you need to access the account to cover their needs." Ma and Pa smiled. Gem ate, then went looking for a place to live and paint.

In a scant four days, the studio had been transformed into a beautiful nursery and Gaea moved in with Dillon. Gem found a nice apartment near the campus and the beach both, and settled down to paint. He put out feelers to contract out his programming abilities and had the calls to GK Enterprises forwarded to his new number. Duncan had his computer equipment shipped along with his paintings in progress and his personal collection, including the two Dillon originals. By the time the Friday afternoon seminar arrived he was back to feeling almost normal. He was nervous, but Alex told him not to worry, everything was going to be fine. He had the painting Rista did of him and some of her other work as well. He had the entire Dillon series in reproduction and some of his in both original and reproduction.

"Alex, exactly what did you tell these people?" Gem sounded nervous.

"I told them they had to attend this seminar, and their grade depended on it. We had a guest speaker and that was all they needed to know."

"How about Rista? What did she say?"

"Nothing yet, just having painted you seems to have made her serious about her art." Gem nodded.

"Good." He had put a lot of time and thought into how he presented himself to the students today and decided to dress as comfortably as possible. He had on spandex shorts and a baggy T-shirt, his old, worn sneaks and his hair slicked back. It was getting long again, he had it cut shortly after deciding not to paint anymore. Two months ago, it needed a cut, now it curled at his nape and hung in his eyes. Alex was out on the lectern... This hall held better than a thousand seats.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the art department, and it looks like most of you are here. Today we have a very special guest who will introduce himself. Mr. Mystery Guest... Please enter." Gem put on his best grin and followed Alex out.

"Thanks, Alex. Hi. I guess by now you're all wondering -- who the hell is that? But who I am is not important. It's what I'm going to tell you that is. You are all artists, each of you are capable of becoming great, but only a few of you will. Do you know why?" A few answers were called out. Gem blushed. "Let's look at some paintings and figure it out." He started to unveil the first painting. "You know what... I need to know something... if you are over the age of say... fifty, please stand." He looked, and only some of the teachers were standing. "Forty?" A few more teachers. "Thirty?" The rest of the teachers. "Twenty-five?" A handful of students. "Twenty?" Most of the audience. "OK, everyone sit down... if you are under the age of eighteen please stand." There were three. "Could you come up here please?" Alex didn't know were he was going, but trusted Gem's instinct... "What's your name and how old are you?"

"Sam, 17."

"Brandy, 17."

"Harley, 15." The audience laughed at the last boy. Gem nodded.

"Do you paint?' The three nodded. "Sam, Brandy, you are students here right?"

"Yes."

"What do you paint Sam?"

"Still life."

"Do you know Rista?" He nodded. "Did Rista paint this?" He uncovered a painting that Rista had finished prior to meeting Gem.

"Yeah, it looks like something she would paint." Gem nodded.

"Do you agree Brandy?" The girl nodded. "You two can sit down, I want to talk to Harley." He turned to the boy. "Harley, do you attend university here?" He shook his head. "So why are you at this seminar?" The boy blushed.

"I attend a lot of the seminars on campus. If it's about art, it's important to me." Gem nodded.

"But why this seminar?" The boy was confused.... "I know why. It's because you have something most of these others will never possess without going out and looking for it. It's passion. Alex you know this kid?" Alex nodded. "I want to talk to him later."

"OK, Harley, stay after." Harley nodded.

"Harley I want you to stay up here and help me out because I've never done any public speaking... And I'm kinda nervous." Harley nodded. Gem faced the audience again. "All righty then... Back to Rista... Yes, Rista painted this, but she also painted this." He uncovered the painting Rista did of him. There were gasps all over the audience. He waited for them to die down before continuing... "So now you know... I'm a model." Gem watched Harley... The boy was blushing. "And just so you know, I'm not really a famous model because I don't have people calling up and asking for me. Most people don't even know my name. I don't care... I do care about art though. Harley, who is your most favorite artist dead or alive?" He gave an obscure name. Gem nodded. "Rista told me she liked Picasso, Dillon, and Geminy Kriket. Have you heard of them, Harley?" He nodded. "Who in here has heard of Picasso?" There was quite a bit of applause. "Dillon?" Thunderous applause. "Kriket?' Gem nodded at the applause, less than Dillon, but Dillon was a local hero. "Harley have you ever heard of Dillon?" He nodded. "Have you ever seen a Dillon?" A shake. The audience laughed. "Did you know you have more in common with Dillon than anyone else in the audience?" That shut them up. "No, well you do... See Dillon had passion, and he acted on it." Gem lifted the drape off a reproduction piece. "This is a Dillon Do you know what else you and Dillon shared?" Harley shook his head. "He was your age when he painted that." You could have heard a pin drop. Then there was a shout from the back...

"Everyone knows Dillon was old... He died four years ago." Gem smiled.

"Dillon was seventeen when he died. If that's old then most of you are ancient. Oh, but you should be wanting to know how I know so much about Dillon." Harley nodded. "I was his model." He let that sink in then continued, "You see Dillon found something he loved and he painted it. He felt passion about a subject and painted it. He felt passion, and he makes you feel passion." Gem started uncovering paintings... all Dillon's except the last -- it was his of Dillon. "Age don't' mean jack squat when it comes to art. Passion does... my advice to you is find something you feel passionate about and paint it. For me it was the ocean. I'm only 18 years old, but I learned about passion with Dillon, Duncan and Artworks. Talent is something you're born with, but passion brings that talent t life and gives it form. It breathes fire into the work and causes everyone who sees it to feel what you feel. See, all of these are Dillon, only the last one wasn't painted by Dillon, but by someone who loved him more that life itself. By his lover, his life mate, his model... by me." Gasps were heard, soft and barely audible, but Alex knew Gem had reached them. He uncovered the last series of paintings... all GK's... "And these are other's I did." The last one being the painting of Rista. "It's all about passion, ask Rista... she knows... now." He walked off the platform and out into the hall. Harley followed.

"Geminy, can I paint you sometime?"

"Harley, you couldn't afford my fee."

"Yes, I could, because that's something else Dillon and I have in common." Harley walked off. Gem let him go, Alex would find him later. It didn't occur to Gem until later that the boy knew what his fee was. Alex was waiting for him inside the door.

"I'll talk to them individually or in small groups, if you want Alex." Alex was beaming...

"They all want to hear about your life with Dillon, and they're all still waiting."

"Who is Harley, Alex?" Alex blushed.

"He's my son." Gem was taken back, but he followed Alex back into the hall to answer questions for the next two hours. When the kids started filing out Gem had promised to come and look at some of their work. Alex would be able to see who he helped the most. A few minutes later Alex pulled Gem to the side.

"Rista wants to talk to you." He nodded and went over to where she was standing.

"Hello, Alex tells me you're painting much better now."

"I am. I just wanted to thank you for helping me out and to let you know you are going to be a father." He looked blank. "I'm pregnant."

"Oh, wow." He whispered, because it was surprising news. She laughed...

"So much for your life experience theory... How much life had you experienced? Ready to try something new? Her voice raised with each accusation.

"Excuse me? I'll take care of the baby of course. But life experience? Rista you can't pop anything on me I haven't already done." His voice was steady and calm.

"You sure will take care of this kid... Too bad you'll never see your first born." She screamed getting the attention of those around her.

"Well, for that you have to get in line. My son and daughter are with their grandparents right now, because my girlfriend just left me for a woman!!!! This will be my third child. When he's born just send his SSN to my accountant at DM, Inc.., he'll know what to do. Damn women... I'm sticking to guys form now on! Alex, find Harley for me and tell him I'll model for him for free!" Gem stomped of to the bathroom and bawled like a baby for a good fifteen minutes. His eyes were red and puffy when he came out of the stall. Harley was standing there.

"You know if Dillon was 17 when he died and you are 18 now, then you were only 14 when he died. I'm older now than you were then, why would you of all people think I shouldn't know my mind?"

"I never said that Harley. It's just I don't know myself lately..."

"All I want to do is paint you."

"OK."

"Now, the way you look right now."

"OK." Harley led the way to his father's campus studio.

"Just sit in the chair." Gem did and Harley painted, not saying a word... When he finished, he put the brush down and opened the door. "Dad asked me to bring you home. Rista said some mean things, I'm sure she'll apologize when she calms down."

"You heard?" Harley nodded.

"You were still wearing the mike... Everyone heard. Dad turned it off when you started crying, but now everyone really understands the lesson you were trying to teach them. To be an artist means you have to feel. Did she really leave you for a woman?"

"Yeah." He laughed. "She did. Left me and the kids and took off, just last week."

"Wow, do you like to surf?"

"Me? Like to surf? Sure thang!" Harley laughed...

"Well, come on, dad's just going to have to wait. Where do you keep your board?"

"Back home. I haven't bought one here yet."

"Oh." Gem reached in his pocket... Pulled out his wallet and a credit card....

"But being rich does have it's advantages.. want to surf here or Hawaii?"