Bad Boy B Rok

Here I am again, folks! Here's the follow up to the wedding-slash-Christmas-slash-honeymoon episode. From what I've gathered, you all enjoyed the last one. There's gonna be sex in this chapter, so don't worry about me writing another chapter without a good fuck scene. I know we all enjoy a good storyline and plot, and tons of character driven drama and development. However, what's the point in slash-fiction if you can't get one good wank out of each chapter? Right? So, for those of you that are looking for something completely bawdy, nasty, and downright sinful to read and stroke to--well damnit, Lep delivers (usually). Anyhoo, have fun wanking and all. I don't know any of the celerities mentioned in this story. Whether or not they are homosexual is of no consequence to me, since I'd fuck 'em all. Well, 'cept Howie. A boy's gotta have his standards, afterall. They're probably all straight. But, that's fine with me. I like the hard to get type. WINK If you have any questions, answers, comments, want to say you hated or loved the story, feel free to e-mail me at bbbrokworknprog@aol.com! Here we go again.....

"What a player fool. Go through ups and downs. Knowin' all the time you wouldn't be around. Or maybe I liked the stress, 'cause I was young and restless. But that was long ago. I don't wanna cry no more. No more pain (no more pain). No more game (no more games messin' with my mind). No drama (no more drama in my life)."~Mary J. Blige, 'No More Drama'.

Whatever It Takes Bad Boy B-Rok By-Lep

(Part One)

Just another photo shoot. Another day where I was asked to remove my clothes and strike naughty poses for the cameras. I was becoming desensitized to the whole "nakedness" thing. It didn't bother me in the slightest anymore to strip my clothes off and let someone take pictures of me nude. Well, I wasn't exactly nude. I was strategically behind several different props that stuck up high enough just to cover my "pubic region".

Barb and Garrett were cussing people as they usually did while the photographer took picture after picture. Apparently someone had screwed up the arrival time of my limo, and Barb was trying to get them to "get their shit together and pick Matt up, like, NOW!" and Garrett was trying to sort out a problem with Dolce & Gabbana. Apparently, they had heard how much I loved their clothes, and wanted me to appear in a series of ad campaigns. However, they didn't like my price very much.

"Lovely, Matt. I think that's about all I need." The photographer winked at me as I took a drag on my cigarette.

"Alright." I nodded, not really showing any emotion, then walked over to collect my boxers.

It somewhat amazed me at how nonchalantly I strolled across set, completely nude, dick swinging, and slipped my boxers on. I was definitely getting less prudish with age. It was getting on towards sunset, and I wasn't even sure my work day was done or not. The first movie I had to appear in for Bob had begun shooting three days earlier.

The movie was a romantic comedy starring myself and Rachel Weiss. Clinnon Davis was directing it, which was quite a genre change for him. It was going to be a big hit. I hoped, anyway. The first three days, we only managed to get two scenes shot. I was used to a more intensified shooting schedule, and things got done much quicker. However, Bob was marketing this movie as a transition to superstardom for myself and Rachel. He was investing big time, so money and time were of no consequence. Well, as long as we were done shooting by April. That's when the musical began shooting.

After the musical got done shooting in July, I began work on the second movie for Bob. Then I could set about reading scripts that Harvey had, and pick out a second movie I was contractually obligated to star in for him. Life was going good, but damn I was tired just from thinking about my schedule for the next year. I knew my planned transition to superstardom was basically going to be baptismal my fire. It just hadn't begun yet.

"I'll be with you in a second, Matt." Barb gave me a quick smile, then went back to yelling into her cell phone. "You don't know who you're fucking with here, buddy. Get that goddamn limo over here NOW!"

I sighed to myself and pulled on the rest of my clothes, then lit another cigarette. Barb definitely took care of me, but she sure could be pretty damn hateful to the hired help. I'd hate to ever be on the pissed off end of her attitude. Ofcourse, I probably had a big enough attitude to match her's.

Ever since all of us had gone back to our respective homes after the honeymoon, things had been a blur. Brian was already talking to the architects, contractors, and everyone else that was involved in building our new house. He spent all day taking care of Booker and working on getting our perfect home built. Meanwhile, I was working my ass off and not getting to see him or Booker. I wanted to be at home, helping with all the planning for the house.

I knew Brian felt bad for me since I couldn't be with him and Booker. However, he took time every now and then to remind me that I was the one that wanted to be the big time movie star. That always put my pissy moods in check. I asked for it after all. And I was getting it in spades. Luckily, it was a Friday afternoon, and I, as far as I knew, was going to have Saturday and Sunday off. Unless something popped up unexpectantly, I could rest a bit.

"Sorry about that. Some bastard over at the studio got times confused and sent a limo to pick Rachel up an hour early and you an hour late." Barb sighed as she walked over to me, trying to shove her phone in her purse. "Ready for the dailies?"

"Hit me with your best shot, Babs." I gave a weak smile as I exhaled smoke.

"Okay." She pulled a few papers out of her leather case she had slung over her shoulder. "A few reruns. You're dating Sandy Bullock, you're on drugs, kinky sex, cults, blah blah blah. There's a new one that you're possibly going to be playing opposite Julia Roberts sometime in the near future."

"Don't we wish?" I chuckled and took the sheet of paper from her to read for myself.

"You've been named the 'Most Intriguing Actor Under 25' by People Magazine. The 'Sexiest Under 25' also, but you lost out for 'Sexiest Man Alive'." She handed me a new sheet.

"Well shit," I replied, then added,"whale shit. That's what's at the bottom of the ocean."

"Very cute." She rolled her eyes but chuckled. "The Enquirer's running a very compelling piece about your 'troubled past'."

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, I know, right?" She laughed at my expression.

"What exactly was in my troubled past?" I asked, just for curiosity's sake.

"Um, let's see." She held up the piece of paper to read. "Looks like the normal. Drug abuse in your mid-teens. Busted by the cops for it when you were around sixteen, blah blah blah, you know the story...."

"Can't they come up with something more original than that?" I laughed, waving her off.

"Well, sort of. To shake things up, they threw in a case of sexual assault." She rolled her eyes.

"Oh goodie. Who'd I sexually assault?" I sighed, absolutely tired.

"No one. It says YOU were sexually assaulted." She laughed. "That's why they say you turned to drugs."

"Oh." I replied.

"All a bunch of bollocks." Garrett came to look over Barb's shoulder. "Spikey--the lot of 'em."

"They even got some fuckwad you went to high school with to coroborate the whole thing." She was absolutely cackling.

"Who?" I squinted. "And how old was I exactly when this assault took place?"

"Um, it says like sixteen or something. But I don't have the name of the source." She had to look at the paper.

I just gave a painful smile.

"You know they'll make anything up that they want," She rolled her eyes, then added,"they even went to the trouble of writing a whole story about how it happened, how it effected you, blah de blah blah."

"You know the Enquirer. Sensationalism at it's best." I swallowed hard and gave another smile.

"Just a bunch of crap, that's all." Garrett shook his head, then gave me a confused look. "Matt, you're looking a bit flushed, mate. You feel alright?"

"Yeah."

"You do look a bit sickly." Barb grabbed my chin and turned my head to look at her.

"I'm fine, really." I gave her a smile. "So, when's the limo gonna be here?"

"Fairly soon, I'd imagine." She lost her interest in my health long enough to glance at her watch.

"So I assume I'm free for the weekend, then?" I asked quickly, swinging my backpack over one arm.

"Unless something comes up." Barb replied while Garrett nodded along. "Go home and get some rest. It'll do you good."

"Alright." I replied simply and began walking, trying to make my way out of the building.

"What with Thanksgiving, the wedding," Barb and Garrett flanked me and followed me as I walked,"your honeymoon, Christmas, then starting the new movie, it's no wonder you look so tired. You can't get worn down, Matt."

"I know." I sighed.

"If you get worn down, you're going to catch cold." Garrett added.

"And we can't have you getting down right now. There's way too much that needs to be done. You're the big star now, you need to keep at it. Don't get sick on us." Barb nodded as she followed up on Garrett's comment.

"I'm not going to get sick. I just need a good night's rest, that's all." I replied.

Barb and Garrett took me at my word. Instead of complaining to me about getting tired and sick, they talked to each other about business issues as the three of us made our way to the street. They were still gabbing once we got to the sidewalk outside of the building. I lit a cigarette and crossed my arms over my chest while I waited for the limo to finally arrive.

My managers probably wouldn't even know I was here even if I whipped it out and pissed on their legs, I thought to myself as I puffed away on the smoke. The only indication that they were aware of my prescence was Garrett waving my smoke out of his face every once and awhile. Barb on the other hand, didn't even look at me. She just continued to talk about all the money we were going to make with such and such deal.

"Well, there's my car." I stated loudly as I dropped my cigarette and crushed it out with my foot.

The limo pulled right up next to me, not stopping until the back door was right in front of me.

"I guess I'll see you two later." I sighed as they barely waved goodbye to me.

I climbed into the limo, and Garrett pushed it shut for me. As soon as I was inside, I rolled down the partition between the driver and myself. I gave him the address to my house, and asked him to make it quick.

"On the way, I want to stop somewhere where I can pick up an Enquirer, though." I mentioned as he pulled away from the curb. "And a Starbuck's."

"Whatcha doin' you sexy thang?" Brian growled lowly and slid into my lap.

"Nothin' much, baby." I gave him a quick smile, and placed the Enquirer I had been reading face down on the patio table before wrapping my arms around Brian.

"Booker's all nuzzled up in bed. It's just you and me now." Brian wriggled his eyebrows at me.

"That sounds eeeeeeeexcellent." I rubbed my hands together as I spoke.

"I was thinking I could fix my favorite guy in the WHOLE world a late dinner," Brian leaned down to nuzzle my neck with his face,"then give him a long, hard massage, then he could give me a long, hard something or another."

I giggled. "I hope you're refering to me?"

"Oh shaddup." He laughed, then gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "Whatcha reading?"

"Oh." I glanced over at the mag. "Nothing really."

"Do you know," Brian moved so he could straddle my lap in the chair, putting a leg on either side of me,"how much I love you?"

"Probably not as much as I love you." I played along.

Brian leaned forward and rubbed his nose against mine, then let his lips press against mine for a moment. I wrapped my arms around his middle and held him lightly as we kissed. Brian let his hands run up and down my chest, over my stomach and then back to my chest. He slowly unbuttoned a few buttons on my shirt and slid his hands inside to rub my naked skin.

"I love you more than that." Brian pulled back with a satisfied grin as he rubbed me under my shirt.

"You're gonna get bumps on your tongue if you keep lying like that." I winked at him.

"Nyah." He shook his head. "So, oh great husband of mine, what do you want to eat?"

I just grinned evily at him.

"I'm dessert." He rolled his eyes playfully. "What do you want for dinner?"

"Well damn." I huffed. "I don't care, baby."

"You better think of something, or you'll be eating Macaroni and Cheese like Booker did."

"I'm sure Booker wasn't the only one eating it." I teased.

Brian gave me a look like "well, duh".

"Just heat me up a can of Oriental soup, baby." I shrugged.

"You sure?" He turned his nose up.

I was the only person in the house that liked Campbell's Oriental Soup. It wasn't my fault I was the only person with any taste at all.

"Positive." I nodded.

"Okay. I don't know how you survive on what you eat." He shook his head as he walked back into the house.

"It's called Starbuck's!" I hollered at him with a laugh.

Brian popped his head out the door quickly again. "By the way--that Enquirer you're reading--wonderful story in there about you."

I just smiled weakly as he cackled loudly and went back into the house. The Enquirer. As I went back to the article on myself, I realized why Garrett refered to all tabloids as "sad rags". They really were. I was beginning to hate to hear any press on myself anymore. Everybody seemed to want to know every little thing about my life and me. There was probably some magazine printing another story right at that moment about what type of toilet paper I preferred to wipe my ass with. They'd probably write an in depth article about how often I go to the bathroom.

I knew I created most of the press stories about myself, so I don't know why I was getting shocked at some of the stuff said about me in the papers. However, tabloids were the fruit of the Devil in my mind. Ofcourse, before I became famous, I thought they were the most fabulous thing in the world. Gossip of the stars, how excellent is that? Gossip about celebrities was always interesting, but usually not true. When they speculated about who I was fucking, it was always hilarious, because they never got it right. It was definitely a lot more fun when they just made stuff up--instead of digging into my past.

(Part Two)

When I rolled over in bed Saturday morning to look at the clock, I almost jumped straight up in bed. It was ten o'clock in the morning, and the sun was shining brightly thru the window above the bed. My first thoughts were that I was missing a photo shoot, interview, screen test, or some other boring job related appointment. However, my mind cleared quickly enough that I realized I had the weekend off. I was supposed to be sleeping late.

Brian was still in bed next to me. However, he was wide awake. He was laying on his side, propping himself up with his elbow as he watched over me with a smile.

"What are you doing?" I chuckled and rolled over to look at him.

"Just watching you." He smiled wider as I snuggled up in the blankets and shut my eyes again.

"Mmmm." I made a satisfied noise. "Do you realize I just slept for almost twelve hours?"

"I know. I actually checked your pulse once." Brian joked. "You probably needed to sleep, baby. Besides, anytime you pass out while I'm trying to put the moves on ya', you're obviously tired."

I suddenly remembered something. Brian had fixed me soup for dinner the night before, then we cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. When we got to bed, he had me lay on my stomach while he massaged me. I know I must have passed out sometime during the massage, because that was the last thing I could remember.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that, by the way." I giggled.

"It's alright, baby." Brian stated lightly, then spooned up against me and wrapped his arms around me.

"Where's Booker?" I asked, nuzzling back against Brian.

"Aaron's keeping an eye on him."

"Normally, that would worry me. However, I'm too tired to go drama queen right now." I replied lazily.

"You just sleep as long as you want." Brian stated happily as he nuzzled the side of his face against mine.

"I really should get up." I yawned, knowing I didn't mean it.

"Why? You have the day off." Brian laughed lightly. "Just stay in bed, baby."

I can't remember what I said in response because I passed back out from being so comfortable under the covers and being held by Brian.

"Good afternoon, sexy." Brian laughed loudly as I sauntered into the kitchen.

"I can't believe you let me sleep until two in the afternoon." I groaned playfully and plopped down in one of the chairs at the table.

Aaron gave an appreciative laugh as Brian just went back to washing dishes. I felt like flipping them both off, but instead settled for resting my head on the table. I could hear Booker laughing at something in the den, probably Sponge Bob was on T.V. Aaron was studiously working on some homework, and Brian was doing dishes. It was like The Twilight Zone.

"What's that smell?" I asked, detecting a strange scent in the general vicinity.

Both Aaron and Brian just looked at me, sniffing a bit to see if they could figure out what I was talking about.

"I don't know." Aaron shrugged.

"It smells like it's coming from you." I sniffed in his direction.

"Oh, are you trying to say I stink?" Aaron teased.

"In this case, yes." I laughed. "Are you wearing some cologne or something?"

"Um, yeah. Crave by Calvin Klein." He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Well it smells like rotten grapefruit." I scrunched up my nose.

"I'm guessing I shouldn't buy more, then?" He asked.

"No." I stated, then went back to resting my head on the table.

"It did smell funky when I sprayed it on this morning." Aaron grabbed his shirt and held it up to his nose. "Ah crap. I'm gonna go change."

"Good idea." Brian laughed as Aaron dashed off.

I still had my head on the table when Aaron came back into the room, with a new shirt on and no noticeable grapefruit smell.

"Mission accomplished." He announced as he sat back down at the end of the table and went back to his school work.

"Matt?" Brian asked as he walked over and sat down next to me.

"Yeah?" I grunted with my face still buried in my arms.

"Whatcha wanna do tonight?"

"I don't know." I sighed contentedly as his hands moved to my shoulders to massage me.

"Wanna rent some movies?"

"Yeah, okay." I wasn't enthusiastic about anything but getting massaged.

"Whatcha wanna see?" Brian asked as I tried not to pass out again under his skillful hands.

"I don't know." I couldn't think of anything with him rubbing my back. "What do you want to see, Aaron?"

"It's just you and me tonight, baby." Brian answered for Aaron.

"Oh, well I see how it is. No one wants to spend time with us." I teased. "I don't care what we get, baby. As long as it isn't something I've been in."

"Deal." Brian agreed, then pulled his hands away from me. "Do you want some lunch?"

"Coffee." I grunted, finally sitting up straight.

Brian just shook his head and went about making a pot of coffee and making other noises around the stove and fridge area. Booker had stopped laughing loudly in the den, and was instead talking to himself. Well, he was actually playing with his Power Rangers and "making them talk to each other". So, he wasn't really having a conversation with himself.

"Matt?" Aaron looked up from his books.

"Yeah?" I yawned as Brian set my "Grumpy the Dwarf" mug in front of me, full of coffee.

"What's 'prate' mean?"

"To babble," I yawned again,"or chatter, talk too much, etcetera."

"Cool. Thanks."

"Yeah. Just save the math questions for Brian." I gave a tired smile.

"He'd probably have better luck with Booker than the two of us when it came to math, baby." Brian joked.

"Unless it's a word problem that asks 'if Barney's is having a fifteen percent discount and you've collected five hundred dollars worth of merchandise, how much will you pay'. I can answer those." I teased.

"Or if it asks 'how many Caramel Machiattos can you buy at Starbucks with fifteen dollars'." Brian winked at me.

"Okay. We've established that I'm a big fat queer." I announced teasingly, making both Brian and Aaron snicker.

The two of them went back to their own little worlds while I tried to drown myself in the first cup of coffee of the day. As I sat there, drinking my coffee, I couldn't help but notice that something was weird all the sudden. Ofcourse, I just couldn't put my finger on it. That was probably due to the fact that that the caffeine had not started working yet. Suddenly, I realized, the weird feeling was coming from it being so quiet.

"Booker?!?" I hollered, realizing he wasn't making any noise anymore.

There was a slight pause. "Yeah?!" He tried to yell back in his tiny voice.

"What are you doing?"

"Nuthin', daddy." He replied, then quiet again.

"Want me to go check on him?" Brian asked a little too soon.

Booker entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, sauntering over to me. I couldn't help but laugh when I realized he was just tired.

"What's wrong buddy?" I asked as he climbed into my lap.

"I'm tired. I don't think I got enough rest last night." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Is that so?" I laughed and let him straddle my lap, then lay against my chest, his head just beneath my chin.

"Uh huh." He nodded softly, nuzzling my chest with his little face.

"Want to take a nap?" I whispered in his ear softly as I set my coffee mug back onto the table.

"Nuh uh." He shook his head, but his voice wasn't as sure.

"I'll lay down with you." I sang softly in his ear.

Booker laid there for a minute against me, weighing his options. Stay up and be tired, or take a nap and rejuvenate yourself with daddy. Options, options.

"Okay." He wrapped his arms around my neck with a large, tired smile.

"Oh good lord, Matt's off to bed again." Brian teased, but looked happy that I was resting like I should.

"We boys will be back after awhile." I winked at him as I stood from the table, cradling Booker in my arms.

It was five o'clock when I woke up again. I probably would have just snoozed right thru the evening, except I realized that Booker was no longer in bed with me. The light coming from the window over the bed was becoming softer, trying to work it's way from soft yellow to a blue. I didn't know how in the hell I managed to sleep the whole day away. That was totally out of character for me. Before I had too long to bitch at myself mentally about sleeping like a crack-whore, I rolled out of bed.

Some effort had to be made, but I finally got myself into the bathroom and stripped out of my sleep pants and t-shirt, ready to bathe. Just looking at the big jacuzzi tub made me smile. I could barely wait for the tub to fill with nice, hot, bubbley water before I crawled in and laid back, resting my head on the edge of the tub. As things usually went, right as I crawled into the tub, everyone decided to have a meeting in the bathroom.

"Matt?" Aaron just barged right into the bathroom.

"Yeah?" I didn't even worry if the bubbles were covering all my body parts--I was too relaxed.

"Can I borrow that mercerized cotton sweater you bought the other day?" He asked, seemingly not worried that I was trying to have a bath in peace.

What sweater?" I couldn't even think straight I was so happy in my bath.

"You know--that blue ribbed one. The Hilfiger one." He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Miss Drama, you can borrow it."

Aaron smiled wide and started to head back out the door. However, he paused, looking as though he were in deep thought.

"How about the jeans you got the other day from Hilfiger?"

"Oh, you mean the ones they shipped specially to me as a gift?" I stated whimsically.

"Yeah!" He grinned. "Can I borrow those, too?"

"Not no, but hell no." I snorted. "Those are mine."

"What about your retro football shoes.."

"Get out of here!" I screamed thru laughter.

"Okay, okay." He rolled his eyes. "Jesus."

With that, he was gone. Ofcourse, I knew I wasn't lucky enough to expect that to be the end of it.

"I forgot." He bounded back into the room.

"For Christ's sake, what?" I pretended to be more upset than I was.

"Will you help me do my hair and crap?"

"I'll help you with your hair when I'm done here, but the crapping part you'll have to do on your own." I winked.

"Shut up." He laughed. "Alright, I'll wait on you."

Just as he was leaving and I was starting to get comfortable again, it was Brian's turn to bust in on me.

"Baby? Do you want me to go pick out the movies, or do you want to come with me?" He asked as he walked over and sat down on the side of the tub.

"Mmmmm, leave...me...alone." I grunted out with a mischeivious smile.

"Well, someone is being pissy." Brian lisped as he leaned down to kiss me softly.

I puckered my lips and kissed him back, then laid my head back against the edge of the tub to rest some more.

"Baby?" Brian's eyebrows furrowed, as if he wasn't sure he should say something.

"Mmmm-hmmm?" I sighed contentedly as my eyes drooped shut.

"Well, um, are you feeling okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine, baby." I opened my eyes and smiled at him.

I was feeling physically fine. So that was the truth. However, I was emotionally and mentally worn out at the moment. Things just needed to be slow for one weekend, I supposed. Things needed time to blow over.

"Okay." He gave me a forced smile. "I guess I'm just not used to you resting so much. It's got me worried."

I had to laugh a bit at that. "I know. I'm just tired this weekend, Brian."

"Alright. You just seem sorta distant is all." Brian sighed, but gave me a smile. "But, with the way you've been workin' and all....well, I'll wait for you before I go pick out movies."

"Good deal, sexy." I pinched his butt as he got up from the tub.

"Hey now." He shot me an evil grin as he left the bathroom.

I tried not to take too much time as I finished soaking, washing myself and my hair. However, I was just too chilled out and relaxed to want to rush anything. Once I got out of the tub, I went directly to the closet to find something comfy to slip into. I knew I was going to have to do Aaron's hair, and then go out in public to rent movies, but I didn't care how I looked. I quickly picked a pair of blue plaid sleep pants and a white tee with the caption "Don't Make Me Get My Flying Monkeys" on it, then headed to Aaron's room.

"Hey, there." I stated as I walked right in and plopped down on his bed.

"Hey. What should I do with my hair?" Aaron asked, staring into the mirror over the dresser.

"Why are you doing your hair? Where are you going?" I asked, laying back on his bed.

"To a party." He answered, running a hand thru his hair.

"And Brian said 'yes'?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah."

"I'm not even gonna lecture you on how you better behave. I'm too tired for it. But you best behave." I stared him down.

"Right, right." He rolled his eyes. "Now, help me with my hair.

Wanting to warn Aaron about the dangers of drinking, doing drugs, and sex was in the back of my mind the whole time I was working on his hair. However, instead of voicing it, we talked about fashion and "this really hot chick" he saw when he was out shopping with Brian during the week. We ended up leaving his hair like it was, parted in the middle and laid to the sides. However, I got his hair damp, moussed it up, and blow dried it to give it more volume and make it behave.

By the time we were done, a limo had arrived to pick Aaron up and he was quickly on his way after thanking me for the help. Brian and Booker were waiting on me in the den, watching Sponge Bob on T.V. I was always amazed at how much Sponge Bob Booker could watch, and still never get tired of the thing. After one episode, I felt like I was in a coma. I was in the habit of using the quote "Bring it 'round town", but otherwise, I knew nothing about the show.

"You guys ready to go rent some movies?" I asked as I padded down the stairs into the den.

"Yeah, you need to get dressed first?" Brian asked, glancing up at me.

"No." I laughed. "I'm going like this."

Brian just stared at me, expressionless. Booker was fascinated with the cartoon.

"Okay." Brian shrugged.

"Then, let's go." I stated as Brian flipped off the T.V., bringing Booker out of his trance.

"Daddy said we could get a movie you're in, daddy." Booker grinned up at me.

"I don't think so." I ruffled his hair as he got off the couch.

"Daddy!" He stuck his bottom lip out as I refused the request.

"He wants to see a movie you're in, baby. It's cool you're an actor, but he has never seen you in a movie." Brian explained.

"I don't mind watching one of my own movies, Brian. But I haven't made a movie I want him to see. They're all," I put my hands over Booker's ears,"full of sex, drugs, and cursing. He doesn't need to see any of that."

"Oh, yeah. I didn't think of that." Brian looked defeated.

"Hey, Booger." I knelt down. "How about this. When Daddy's new movie comes out, I'll take you to the movie theater to see it. And I'll buy you tons of popcorn, candy and a coke to eat while we watch it."

Booker looked like he was concentrating for a minute. "Okay, Daddy."

"Good boy." I scooped him up in my arms with a smile and followed Brian towards the garage.

The next movie that was going to come out with me in it was going to either be the romantic comedy with Rachel Weiss or the musical I was doing. Both were okay for a kid Booker's age. I didn't mind him seeing those. I'd probably even take him to the premiere for not busting my balls about it.

(Part Three)

"It's only ten o'clock. I feel like a total wuss here." I chuckled as I crawled onto the bed as Brian closed the door behind himself.

"Don't, baby. It's not like I'm gonna let you go to sleep right away or anything." He gave me an evil grin as he clicked the lock on the door.

"Oh yeah? And what are you gonna keep me up doing?" I laid on my back looking at him, propping myself up on my elbows.

Brian just gave me another evil grin as he slowly stalked over to the bed in front of me. He moved towards the bed until his crotch was pressed against my foot that was hanging over the side of the bed. I could feel Brian's half-erect cock thru his sleep pants with my bare foot. I just kept my eyes on Brian's as he moved his hips slightly to press his cock against my foot and toes.

"Are you exploring the possibilities of a foot fetish lately, or is my foot just convenient for you?" I asked slyly, tongue in cheek.

"Maybe a bit of both." Brian winked as he pushed his crotch harder into my foot.

"Whatever floats your boat, baby. Well, as long as mine gets floated, too." I teased.

"oh, I think I can manage that." He replied, then slowly lowered himself onto the bed until he was on top of me, holding himself above me.

I reached up and ran a hand thru Brian's hair, brushing his bangs away from his forehead. Brian smiled down at me as I laid a hand on the side of his face and slowly rubbed his cheek.

"And just what can I do for you, sir?" I asked lowly.

"Give me a kiss." Brian bit his bottom lip coyly.

Brian leaned down slowly as I placed my hand on the back of his head and sat up slightly to kiss him gently. Brian made a soft, satisfied noise as our lips met. Slowly, he rolled his tongue into my mouth, trying to probe every inch of my mouth as we kissed. As I pushed my tongue back at his, Brian pressed his crotch against mine, letting me know that he was completely hard.

As Brian continued to kiss me, rolling his tongue in my mouth, I reached down between us. He raised his hips slightly so I could reach into his fly and pull his cock out of his sleep bottoms. Brian grunted slightly in my mouth as my hand connected with his hard flesh. I slid my hand slowly along the length of Brian's cock, pumping precum to the tip as we kissed.

Brian moaned loudly into my mouth as I stroked him inside his sleep bottoms. His hips involuntarily moved back and forth a bit, pumping his cock in and out of my fist, making more precum ooze out of his cock. I ran my hand over the head of his cock, collecting his precum, then used it as lube for Brian as he fucked my fist with his hard cock.

"I love you, Matt." Brian grunted as his hips thrust at me.

"I love you, too, baby." I replied lowly. "But, be careful or you're going to shoot in my hand."

Brian giggled as I gave him a quick kiss and squeezed his cock.

"How about we get you out of these?" Brian winked at me as he tugged at the waistband of my sleep bottoms.

I complied with Brian's request after he moved off of me and laid to my side. Brian's cock was sticking out of the fly of his pants, and he stroked it lightly as I slowly pulled my pants off for him. His eyes went right to my cock as it was exposed, and sticking straight up at him. Brian unconciously licked his lips as he stared at my cock. I stripped my shirt off over my head, then turned on my side to look at Brian.

"You just gonna look?" I teased.

"Stroke it for me, baby." Brian growled.

"Huh?" I was actually shocked.

"I wanna watch you jerk off." Brian got to his knees and knelt in front of me, his cock sticking out of his fly at me.

"You wanna watch me do what?" I laughed nervously.

"I want to watch you stroke your cock." Brian winked and motioned at my cock.

Okay. I'd jacked off plenty of times. I'd probably jerked off enough in my teens to set a new record. Probably enough for myself and one other guy, actually. However, I never did it with anyone else present. No one had actually ever asked me to, either. It seemed a bit embarassing for some reason. I didn't know why, but I was embarassed at the thought of jacking off in front of Brian.

"Um, why?" I got to my knees, too.

"I want to watch your hand work your cock, and watch your face as you get off." Brian replied.

"Wouldn't it be more fun if you were involved?" I swallowed hard.

Brian cocked his head and looked at me for a second. "Oh my God. Are you," he faked a gasp,"embarassed?!?"

"Oh shut up." I shoved him playfully as he giggled.

"Come on, baby." Brian grabbed my hand and held it in his. "I want to see you jack off."

I just kept my eyes on him as he moved both of our hands to my dick. I swallowed hard again as he used both of his hands to wrap my hand into a fist around my hard cock. Brian leaned forward and kissed me as he kept his hands wrapped around my fist and cock. As Brian's tongue rolled into my mouth, he pulled my hand outwards towards the head of my cock. Precum oozed out of the piss slit. I tried to return Brian's kiss and not pay attention to what was going on below my waist as Brian slid my hand back down my shaft.

"That's it, baby. Stroke that cock for me." Brian moved away from my mouth to whisper.

Brian slowly withdrew his hand from mine, and I continued to slowly stroke my cock, keeping my eyes down so as to not look at Brian. Brian sat back on his knees, his cock sticking straight out, and watched me as I jacked off in front of him. It felt so weird, having Brian right in front of me, but jacking off instead of having sex. Very weird--not to mention embarassing.

"I love watching you play with your cock. You're soooo sexy." Brian urged me on.

Slowly, my embarassment went away. The more my hand slid over the length of my cock, the less and less I became ashamed. I began moaning lowly, showing my appreciation of the feeling. Brian leaned in to kiss my neck, running his tongue along my skin as I pleasured myself with my fist. His mouth moved down to my chest, to my right pec and began sucking on my nipple roughly as I jerked off between our two bodies.

"Uh, uh....oh shit." I began to feel the orgasm building deep inside me.

"Oh yeah, shoot for me, baby." Brian growled from somewhere low.

My eyes were shut so tightly I didn't know where he was. My fist pounded my cock, jerking it frantically, trying to draw cum from my balls as I moaned and groaned.

"Shoot your wad, baby. Cum for me." Brian growled again.

With another loud moan, I filled Brian's request. My balls tightened up. As soon as I felt my cum about to shoot, I felt Brian wrap his lips around the head of my cock as I kept sliding my hand up and down my cock. Each time I stroked out, my fist touched his lips, almost hitting him hard on each stroke.

"Oh fuck!" I groaned as the cum ejected from my balls and out of my cock, spraying into Brian's mouth.

Brian gave satisfied moans as I shot wad after wad of cum into his mouth. Finally, I gave up on jerking my cock and grabbed his head, slamming the length of my cock into his throat and holding it there as it finished blasting cum. Brian swallowed over and over on my cock, milking it for every last bit of cum in my body. As soon as I let go of his head, Brian slowly pulled off of my cock, then kissed the tip lightly, making me shiver and fall backwards onto the bed, totally spent.

"See? Wasn't that fun?" Brian grinned evily as he moved up to lay on top of me, his lips wet with spit and cum.

I barely had time to smile before Brian leaned down and kissed me, the taste of my cum still on his lips and tongue. Brian pulled away long enough to give me a grin as he pressed his still hard cock into my thigh.

"Now....what shall I do with that?" He chuckled evily.

Okay, so it wasn't the best way to wake up in the middle of the night. I sat up with a jolt in bed when I heard the "crash" resonate down the hallway. Immediately, I thought "burglar". However, a quick glance at Brian's side of the bed, and I saw that he wasn't there. The clock at my side of the bed was blinking a digital red "2:34". I figured Brian must have gotten out of bed for one reason or another, and probably knocked something over while on his way back to bed. However, I decided it was best if I went to check it out instead of just laying in bed wondering about it.

I crawled out of bed sleepily and pulled on my sleep bottoms and t-shirt, yawning the whole time. I could hear muffled noises coming from down the hall as I approached the bedroom door and opened it. The house looked pretty dark from where I was standing, except Booker's bathroom door was closed, a sliver of light peeking out from underneath the door. Booker was still tightly tucked into his bed and sleeping when I peeked into his room.

"Shhhh, be quiet." I heard Brian state in a hushed voice as I got to the bathroom door. "Matt will kill you if he wakes up."

"I think I'm dying." I heard a voice, but didn't quite place it.

"You're going to wish you had if Matt wakes up." Brian spoke again.

Then there was the sound of someone vomiting, and water hitting water. Obviously, someone was tossing up their cookies in the toilet. At first, I was just plain confused. I didn't know who the hell would be in our house this early in the morning and throwing up in Booker's toilet. However, after my sleepiness wore off, I finally realized that it was Aaron. I raised my fist and knocked lightly on the bathroom door.

"Holy fuck, hide me!" I heard Aaron's voice clearly this time.

"Shhhhh!" Brian tried to silence him.

"He's gonna go off, Brian. He'll kill me." Aaron stated so loud anyone in the house could have heard him, however I think he thought he was whispering.

"What's going on in there?" I sighed, getting sleepy again.

"Oh shit!" Aaron again.

"Shhh!" Brian silenced him again, then spoke loudly. "Nothing, baby."

Nothing my white, gay ass.

"Are you sure?" I asked, knowing full well something was seriously wrong.

"Positive." Brian stated shakily right before I heard Aaron vomit again. "Holy fuck!" Brian stated, reacting to Aaron.

"Oh, God....I'm dying." Aaron stated pitifully.

Instead of asking more questions, I tried the doorknob. Brian had left it unlocked. As soon as I pushed the door open, I wished I had just stayed in bed. Brian was trying to hold Aaron's head over the toilet. However, from the puddles of puke around the toilet, I could tell they had both missed a couple times. Aaron was red in the face, and looked sweaty and dirty. His eyes were wide as Brian held him. He looked stunned--or appropriately--like a "deer in headlights".

"Well, it smells lovely in here." I turned up my nose and folded my arms over my chest, leaning against the door jam.

Aaron responded to me by shoving his face back into the toilet and dry heaving.

"He's just a bit sick, baby." Brian knew I was running ways to murder Aaron through my head.

"Looks more like he's fucked up." I replied, not really upset yet.

"Not....fucked.....up." Aaron gasped between heaves.

"Maybe a little." Brian gave a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, maybe a lot." I sighed, and shut the door so we wouldn't wake up Booker.

"He'll be fine." Brian tried to make me feel better as he rubbed Aaron's back.

"I hope so." I leaned back against the door.

"Oh fuck." Aaron pulled his head out of the bowl and practically fell to the floor.

Brian just sighed, embarassed for Aaron, as Aaron put his head in Brian's lap.

"What did you take, Aaron?" I asked, getting tired again.

"I just drank some beer." He reached up and pushed hair out of his face.

He had gotten vomit on the front of the sweater he had borrowed from me. The kid must die, was the first thought to enter my head.

"What did you take with the beer?" I asked calmly.

"Nothing." He managed to sputter out as Brian stroked his hair.

"You look tweaked." Brian's head shot up to look at me as I said it.

Aaron just groaned.

"How much did you drink?" Brian asked Aaron, still looking at me.

"About six beers." Aaron thought hard before answering.

"Six beers won't do that to you, Aaron." I answered for Brian. "What the hell did you take with the beer?"

"Nothing!" Aaron shouted, then jumped out of Brian's lap and hung his head in the toilet again.

Brian got on his knees and held Aaron against the toilet, running his hands thru his hair to comfort him. He just looked up at me with an "I'm sorry" look on his face.

"That kid's tweaked out, Brian." I pointed at Aaron, but controlled my anger.

"He's burning up." Brian's statement was punctuated by Aaron's dry heave. "When he came in, he was all jittery, bouncing off the walls and happy. Then all the sudden, he got sick."

I just cocked an eyebrow at Brian.

"He couldn't stand still. And his eyes look all wild and shit, like he didn't know where he was. He was asking me stupid stuff like did I want to dance with him, and could we make macaroni and cheese. And he kept saying how hot it was in here." Brian looked extremely worried.

Aaron was too busy dry heaving to defend himself.

"I'm going to bed." I shook my head.

"You've gotta help me, baby. I don't know what to do." Brian pleaded with me.

"Give him an ice bath, keep him cool, feed him." I shrugged. "If his temp gets too high or his heart starts pounding extremely hard, take him to the ER." I grabbed the doorknob, then paused. "There's some candy in the third drawer in the kitchen under the silverware drawer."

Brian looked confused. "Baby, I don't think I'll want candy, let alone have time to eat it."

"It's for him. He'll probably want something sweet." I replied and opened the bathroom door.

"Baby!" Brian stopped me in my tracks.

I just turned to look at him.

"What's he on?" He whispered, as if Aaron wouldn't be able to hear it.

"Meth or X." I shrugged. "My money's on meth, though."

"How do you know?" Brian squinted.

I rolled my shoulders and left the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The door was barely shut when I felt a tug on the back of my shirt. When I spun around from the shock, Booker was standing behind me, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands.

"What are you doing out of bed, buddy?" I knelt down to look him in the eye.

"You guys are noisy." Booker stated matter-of-factly.

"I'm sorry." I gave him a smile and wink.

"Where's Daddy?"

"He's in the bathroom, buddy. Taking a bath." I hated lying, but little white lies don't count.

"Come sleep with me." Booker reached out and grabbed my hand.

"I can't, buddy." I ran a hand thru his hair. "I've gotta go to my bed."

"Okay." Booker looked like he'd cry, almost breaking my heart.

"But I'll sleep with you tomorrow night, k?" I asked.

Booker seemed halfway satisfied with that response. Either that or he was too tired to put up much of an argument. As penance for not doing exactly what he wanted, he made me take him back to his room, tuck him in, and sit on the side of his bed 'til he fell asleep. However, that probably took all of five minutes. I was able to leave his room and close the door without him waking back up. As Booker's bedroom door closed, the bathroom door opened.

"Baby." Brian hissed, trying to be quiet. "Please don't make me do this alone."

Brian looked desperate, and exasperated.

"What?"

"I can't deal with this. He's out of his mind." Brian responded, looking back in the bathroom.

"He's tweaked out, not crazy." I shrugged, indifferent to the whole situation.

"Well, he's acting crazy." Brian's eyes got wide, as if that would prove his point.

"You can handle it, just give him an ice..." I began.

"Everytime I try to get him undressed, he asks me if I'm going to fuck him." Brian cringed, closing the bathroom door.

"He doesn't know what he's saying. He doesn't realize you're trying to help him." I explained patiently.

"It's not that. It's like he doesn't care one way or the other." Brian stated, silencing me.

We both stood there, staring at each other. We probably would have stood there forever. However, Aaron decided to break into a chorus of "Hot In Herre". By the third time he had sung "It's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your clothes", Brian was tugging at his hair. It was probably true that Brian wasn't going to be able to handle it all on his own.

"So?" Brian urged me.

"Good song. But he's off pitch." I shrugged.

"It's not funny!" Brian squealed desperately.

"It's kinda funny." I replied.

"He could die!" Brian pointed at the bathroom for emphasis.

"If he's singing, it's a pretty good sign that he's gonna be fine." I rolled my eyes. "Well, sooner or later he'll be fine."

"Just help me." Brian pleaded, practically getting on his hands and knees to beg.

"Fine." I sighed heavily. "Go to the kitchen, and get all the ice we have made." I headed for the bathroom door. "Take your time and refill the ice cube trays. We might need more later."

"Thank you, baby." Brian gave a smile that showed how relieved he was.

"Yeah, yeah." I gave him a forced smile and opened the bathroom door as he took off towards the kitchen.

Aaron was still on the floor, but he wasn't sprawled out like before. He was sitting "indian style" and bobbing his head up and down as he sang to himself about wanting to take his clothes off. He stopped singing to smile psychotically at me, then broke into a chorus of "Lose Yourself". I just rolled my eyes and walked over to get in front of him. Aaron didn't even pause his singing as I knelt down in front of him.

His eyes were still wide like a deer's, but they were bloodshot beyond belief. His hair looked greasy, as if he'd been dancing for a week non-stop without showering. Upon further inspection, his left cheek was smudged with dirt, and something that I couldn't place. He couldn't hold his hands still, and his chest was heaving from the breaths he was taking. He definitely looked and acted tweaked out.

"How ya' holdin' up?" I asked evenly.

"I'm groovy, man!" Aaron stated playfully, giving me a "thumbs up".

"You look like shit." I looked him up and down.

The front of his jeans were smudged with what looked like tar, but was probably something else that was black. His shoes were scuffed and scratched.

"I don't feel like shit." Aaron's head moved back and forth.

"What happened to your clothes?"

"I fell." Aaron bit his bottom lip in a smile.

Obviously, he thought it was funny.

"Off a bridge?" I snorted.

Aaron looked at me for a second, then cackled loudly.

"Shut up." I slapped a hand over his mouth.

It did nothing to shut him up. However, it severely muffled his laughter. I wrapped an arm around him and held him tightly, covering his mouth. Patiently I held him in my arms and kept his mouth covered as his laughter climaxed, then subsided. Finally, when he was no longer laughing, I let go and moved back slightly from him.

"You're funny." Aaron sighed and chucked me in the chin with his right fist.

"I don't know whether you smoked or injected it, Aaron. But this is by far the stupidest thing you could have possibly done."

"Oh fuck off. I'm just having a good time." He stated with a grin.

"Yeah. Let's do something that makes our teeth fall out and our skin get all scabby and nasty. Party on, dude!" I mocked him, making the "sign of the devil" with my hand and speaking in a surfer voice.

Aaron just stared quizzically at me, totally not comprehending the dangers of drugs at that point in time.

"Whatever." He sighed.

He probably would have rolled his eyes, but that was too much work at that point in time.

"Okay." I sighed. "Here's what we're going to do. You're going to get undressed..."

"Are you gonna fuck me?" Aaron wriggled his eyebrows at me.

I slapped him. Atleast he was sane enough to look shocked.

"Then," I continued, completely unfazed,"you're going to take a bath. When you're done, we're going to walk. The way it looks, we'll walk alot. After that, you're going to eat. When all is said and done, you can sleep for a good twelve to sixteen hours."

Aaron reached up and rubbed his cheek where I slapped him.

"Any questions?" I asked evenly.

"Do you have any gum?" He perked up.

Brian couldn't have come at a better time. He had the ice with him.

"Yeah." I responded to Aaron and took the ice from Brian. "Brian, bring me some gum and water."

"Okay." He left again without any questions.

"Do you need help getting undressed?" I turned back to Aaron after setting the tub of ice by the tub.

"Hell nah." He snorted at me.

I would have let him attempt it on his own, except that when he tried to stand, he fell back hard to the floor. His ass hit the tile hard, and his head hit the wall. Aaron managed to groan before laughing his ass off.

"It's hot in here." Aaron tugged at the neck of the sweater he was wearing.

"Let me help you."

Aaron giggled as I pulled the sweater upwards from his belly and then over his chest and off of him. I just rolled my eyes at him as I bunched it up and chunked it in the corner of the bathroom. His shoes and socks came off next. It almost killed me to see a pair of Gucci shoes get massacred in such a way. I'd have to hold a funeral for them later.

"Oh, yeah." Aaron teased as I reached for his belt.

"You're going to enjoy this much more than I will." I sighed as I undid his belt and yanked it off of him.

"This is the best part." He winked at me.

It was time for another slap. Without even looking up at him, I gave him another good whack to the cheek.

"Ow! Damnit!" Aaron rubbed his cheek again.

"Maybe that will remind you to keep any comments you may have to yourself." I smiled fakely up at him as I unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped them.

It took some doing, but I finally got his jeans rolled down over his hips and pulled off of him. Brian returned just as I was throwing them into the same corner as the sweater, shoes and socks. He had a pack of gum in one hand and an Evian in the other.

"Here." He held them out at me with wide eyes, obviously stunned that I managed to get this far without killing Aaron.

"Thanks." I stated blandly as I took both from him. "Drink this."

Aaron snatched the water from me desperately, as if his life depended on drinking that whole bottle. However, his hands were too shakey to get the cap off. After I had twisted the cap off for him, Aaron tilted his head back and began to chug the water like it was his life-force. I unwrapped a few sticks of gum as Aaron drank. His Adam's Apple moved up and down as he chugged the water until the whole bottle was down him.

"Here." I took the empty bottle from him and handed him the gum.

He snatched them from me and crammed them in his mouth, chewing like a mad man.

"Don't swallow that." I warned him as I chunked the water bottle in the trash.

He just nodded and chewed faster.

"I'm gonna take your boxers off of you, Aaron." I squinted at him. "I don't want to hear any rude, derisive comments from you. I won't think twice about punching you this time."

Brian was just staring at me, his eyes practically popping out of his skull.

"Uh huh." Aaron seemed to be in a trance with his gum chewing.

Brian stood back as I took a deep breath and yanked Aaron's boxers off of him and threw them in the corner. I kept my eyes on Aaron's, not daring to give him the satisfaction of looking down at his naked body.

"Baby, run a cold bath." I looked over my shoulder at Brian.

Brian just nodded, his cheeks red, and set about quickly running the bath. I put my attention back on Aaron, my eyes on his. He just stared at me with his wide eyes, chewing incessantly. He was looking at me, but I don't think he was actually seeing me. It was if he were looking thru me to something else.

As soon as the bath was halfway full with cold water, I picked Aaron up, cradling him in my arms, then lowered him into the tub. He didn't even make a noise as his bare skin connected with the freezing water. However, his chewing became faster and more desperate. I waved a hand in front of his face as Brian poured the ice into the tub. Aaron didn't respond.

"Wake up, Aaron." I snapped my fingers right in front of his nose.

Still no response, just chewing.

"Stop chewing the fucking gum and look at me." I spoke thru clenched teeth.

"Baby, is he okay?" Brian knelt down beside me, looking scared shitless.

I slapped Aaron again, harder than the other two slaps.

"Goddamnit, I told you to stop fucking slapping me!" He pointed a finger in my face.

"Yeah. He's fine." I glanced at Brian.

"I mean it, you slap me again, I'm gonna kick your ass!" Aaron growled.

I rolled my eyes at Brian, then grabbed a handful of Aaron's hair roughly. Before he had time to respond, I shoved him down, shoving his head under the cold water. Aaron flailed about, sending water everywhere as I held him under the icey water.

"Let him up, baby!" Brian squealed desperately as I calmly held Aaron under the water.

"He's fine. Don't worry." I replied.

I held him down a few more seconds as Brian looked panicked.

"Jesus!" Aaron hissed as I pulled him back up by his hair.

"You lost your gum." I stated blandly as I noticed the wad of gum floating on the water surface with the ice.

"I'm surprised he didn't swallow it." Brian replied.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Aaron gasped, trying to catch his breath.

"Watch your language." I stated. "Brian, go get some clean, comfy PJ's for Aaron to change into after I've gotten him washed up."

"Yeah, okay." Brian stood. "You're not gonna drown him while I'm gone, are you?"

"I'll try not to." I winked at Brian.

"Don't drown me!" Aaron gasped again.

"I'll be right back." Brian gave a genuine laugh and left.

Aaron gave me a terrified stare as I turned to look at him again.

"So, feeling a little more like yourself yet?" I asked him, propping myself up by the elbows on the side of the tub.

"Damnit, I want more gum." Aaron shivered. "Please."

"Getting there, anyway." I replied, then went about unwrapping more gum for him.

As soon as Aaron had the gum in his mouth, chewing away, I figured I could talk some more.

"Aaron, unless you feel up to doing it yourself, I'm gonna have to bathe you." I started.

"I can't." He stated blandly, but didn't zombie out like the last time he had the gum.

"Okay. Then I will. I'm gonna have to touch you." I sighed. "Is that gonna bother you?"

Aaron actually stopped chewing to think about it. That made me realize he was getting better already.

"No." He answered simply.

"Okay. Then let's start. And again, no rude comments while we're doing this." I requested. "Or I'll have to dunk you under water again, twinkie."

Aaron gave me a tweaky smile, realizing I was trying to lighten the mood.

(Part Four)

When I woke up at noon on Sunday, Booker was in bed next to me. Brian wasn't. Booker had probably woken up right after Aaron went to bed, but wanted a nap around noon. We had managed to get Aaron into bed at six-thirty that morning. It had been quite a chore, but eventually we got him to sound like himself enough to trust that we could put him to bed without him coma-ing out on us. Brian decided to stay up in Aaron's room with him in case something happened. That was perfectly fine with me.

I really didn't want the chore of staying up ALL night with Aaron. After having to bathe him, I really didn't want to have to sit up with him. The bathing part wasn't too bad, save he popped a bone halfway thru. Brian giggled quite a bit, but I kept my steely facade and worked around it. Deep down, I wanted to laugh my ass off, but I figured that would make things worse for Aaron when he snapped out of his drug induced state. He was going to be severely embarassed anyway. That was the bad part, total hibition without that convenient forgetfulness.

Aaron needed alot of help getting out of the tub, drying off and putting on the clean pajamas. While Brian made breakfast for him, I helped him walk thru the house, outside, around the pool several times, and back into the kitchen. By the time we got back into the house to eat, he was walking pretty good on his own. And being drugged out sure hadn't killed his appetite. Ofcourse, Brian had made biscuits and gravy as part of breakfast, so I had to eat some, too.

"Baby?" I looked at the doorway as I heard Brian's voice.

"Yeah?" I whispered back, trying to not wake Booker.

"He's still asleep. What do I do?" Brian looked utterly tired.

"Let him sleep." I replied. "He'll probably be sleeping until this evening. Maybe tomorrow morning."

"Alright." Brian sighed, then went to leave.

"Hey," I crawled out of bed slowly,"why don't you take my place, and I'll stay up to wait for Aaron to wake up?"

Brian thought about it for a second. "You're not going to strangle him to death when he wakes up are you?"

"I wouldn't have bothered taking the time to sober him up if I just wanted to kill him." I batted my eyes innocently.

"Riiiiight." Brian chuckled lowly. "Yeah, okay."

I gave Brian a quick "goodnight kiss", and let him lay down with Booker. Aaron was probably going to be asleep for a long, long time, but I guess I did want to be awake when he woke up. I definitely wanted to be the first person to chew him out for being a totally irresponsible jackass. Ofcourse, I'd try to say it nicer than that. I'd probably fail to make it sound the least bit nice at all.

Ofcourse, I couldn't just sit around and wait for him to arise from the dead. So, the best way I could think of to pass time, was to return phone calls. There were about two bajillion messages for me on the answering machine, so I figured I could start there. About half of the messages were from Barb, asking how I was doing, and did I know that there was a new rumor that I was fucking J Lo. now. Nice rumor, but didn't know the chick.

Garrett called to inform me that all the other tabloids had picked up on the Enquirer story and were going to run it for themselves. However, they each were going to add more juicier details. Just what I needed to start the day off right. He also mentioned that we'd have to get together with Barb for lunch Monday, just to fill each other in on the weekend.

After Garrett and Barb's messages were notated and deleted, there were several messages from Clinnon. He wanted me to know that his first "big studio funded romantic comedy" which he mentioned was "so beneath him" was going to make huge bucks all because of myself and Rachel Wiesz. Everyone else "smacked of amatuer behavior". Clinnon did this every now and then just so I knew how cool he was compared to everyone else. He had a hard time making the transition form indie director to sell out. I was sure glad I made the transition better. Ofcourse, I had made it much quicker, too.

Harvey Weinstein wanted me to come down to the lots for wardrobe fittings. There was also a cocktail party at Miramax celebrating one thing or another. They were probably just using it as a reason for everyone to get loaded and talk about how fabulous they all were. Not that that was ever boring. Madonna had also left a message that she and Rosie were both going to be in town, as well as Rupert, and we just had to do lunch.

I returned all the calls. I called Barb to let her know I got her messages and I was fine, and the J Lo. thing was a great rumor. Garrett got informed lunch was fine, and he had to do something about stifling the tabloid rumors. Clinnon talked my ear off about how everyone in Hollywood was a bunch of "wankers", but was much happier when we got off the phone. Harvey was happy to hear I'd make the party, and I would come down to the lots for wardrobe fitting as soon as possible. When I called Madonna and got her assistant, she wouldn't take a message, she told me she'd get her on the phone right away.

It took some doing, but I got Madonna to tell me a time and date for lunch with her, Rupert and Rosie. She also had to fill me in on what was going on with the kids and Guy. Also, I just had to check out the Versace spring line. Donatella was just dying to give me a private showing of what she had in store next time I was in that part of the world. Or, if I wanted to wait, she'd be in L.A. sometime soon. Madonna had apparently gotten several free items when she went to see her, so I had to, too.

When I finally looked up at the clock, it was after five in the evening. Since I hadn't heard anything from anyone else in the house, I had to go investigate. Booker was the one I was the most concerned with. I knew he couldn't possibly still be asleep with Brian. It just wasn't his nature to nap more than an hour or two. He was in his room, playing with his toys. When I showed up, he asked me if I wanted to play, too. However, I let him know I had to make dinner, and he went back about playing by himself.

"Baby?" I asked as I entered our bedroom to find Brian not in bed.

"In here." I heard Brian holler from the bathroom.

He was in the shower, washing his hair.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked.

"If you're cooking, Papa John's." Brian laughed loudly.

"Har, fucking har." I snorted. "You seem to forget I helped make that fabulous Thanksgiving dinner."

"Yeah, but that's like the only meal you haven't jacked up." He replied playfully.

"Point taken." I sighed, knowing he was right. "Aaron's still asleep."

I put the lid down on the toilet and sat down.

"Is he okay?" Brian turned in the shower to look out at me.

"I'm sure he is." I shrugged, yawning widely. "And our answering machine is clear."

"It's about time. You wanna join me?" Brian smiled at me thru the glass in the doors.

"I'd love to." I smiled. "But Booker is awake."

"He's onto our plan, we must kill him." Brian teased in a German accent.

"There's a cocktail party Tuesday night at Miramax. I need a date if you want to go."

"Sure, baby. And I need someone to scrub my back." He wriggled his eyebrows at me.

"You're such a horndog." I laughed and got up from the toilet.

"I know." He opened the shower door wide enough to stick his head out.

As I went by, I gave him a quick kiss, then made my way back towards the kitchen. After weighing the good against the bad, I picked up the phone and called Chinese delivery. Booker loved Sesame chicken with broccoli, and I figured that was healthier than anything I could actually concoct in the kitchen. And it would cost less in the end, as well.

"My fortune says 'You'll get laid tonight by a gorgeous actor with perfect lips'." Brian stated as he read the little sliver of paper from his fortune cookie.

"That's weird." I cocked my head to the side. "Mine says 'Your husband will get the wrong fortune in his cookie'."

Brian laughed loudly. "Just eat your dinner and shush."

It was already nine o'clock. Booker had eaten his dinner, played like a maniac for two hours, got his bath, and crashed. I was glad he didn't want to stay up late since he had school the next day. He was too tired to even beg me to read Harry Potter. However, he didn't forget my promise to sleep with him. He made me promise to come get him when I was ready for bed and let him sleep in my bed. That was going to be difficult since Brian wanted to have sex, too.

Brian had actually went in to check Aaron's pulse as I was putting Booker to bed. Apparently, Aaron was still breathing, but normally now. His heart was still beating, and he looked okay. I think that made Brian feel much better about the whole situation. I hadn't been too worried. When he had gone to bed early that morning, he was acting fairly normal, so I knew he'd be okay.

"You know, Booker wants to sleep with us tonight." I stated before opening my own container of Sesame Chicken.

"Well, he can. After we make mad, sloppy love." Brian winked.

"I don't know how you can think about sex all the damn time." I sighed, then playfully added," But I love it."

"I know you do, baby." Brian leaned over from his seat next to me to give me a kiss.

"You taste like Kung Pao." I paused to announce before locking my lips back over Brian's.

Brian let his tongue roll into my mouth as we kissed, laying a hand on the back of my head.

"Mmmmm, Sesame kisses." Brian teased back.

I was about to reply with another witty remark when I heard someone clearing their throat from the kitchen door. Without looking, I knew it was Aaron. He was standing there in his sleep bottoms and a heavy sweatshirt. He looked pale, but good otherwise. He definitely didn't look as happy as he had the night before.

"Good morning, sunshine." Brian announced, pulling away from me slowly.

"Hello." Aaron stated meekly.

I got a forkful of chicken and began to eat as Aaron sauntered over to the table with his head down and plopped down across from us. He looked pitiful. Probably felt that way, too. I didn't blame him. More than likely, he knew how pissed I was at him. However, I really didn't want to be pissed. He was a kid, and he had made a very bad choice. Mainly, I was pissed because he put himself in a position where very bad things could have happened to him, and I wasn't there to protect him.

"You hungry?" I asked.

"Starving." He replied lowly.

"Alright." I got up from the table and grabbed a bag from the kitchen counter.

"You look better." Brian told a little white lie to Aaron as I set the bag on the table next to Aaron and opened it.

"Thanks." He squeaked.

"I figured you'd be hungrier than hell." I stated as sweetly as possible. "I got you some of that beef and broccoli stuff you like with the brown rice. There's an egg roll here, and some of that egg drop soup you like. I don't know how you eat that shit, it smells like farts."

I kept talking about the Chinese food so I wouldn't go off on a rant about how stupid Aaron was for doing drugs.

"They didn't have any dumplings. They were out or something, so I'm sorry about that."

"Okay." Aaron muttered as I handed him some silverware from the drawer.

"Well, chow down." I ruffled his hair before making my way back to my own seat.

Brian continued eating his food as I went back to my own food. Aaron began to eat tentatively, as if expecting the food to be poisoned, but soon enough, he was shoveling it in.

"Did you hear about how I'm fucking J Lo., baby?" I asked Brian, trying to avoid Aaron for the moment.

"No." Brian smiled, but didn't seem fazed. "That's a good one."

"Yeah, apparently she's the next conquest on my growing list." I shrugged.

"Well, I guess if you're going to screw around, J Lo. is a good chick to start with."

"Yeah, and I'm sure next week there will be a story about how Ben Affleck wants to kick my ass. Or has." I laughed.

"Oh well, atleast you got to sex J Lo. up first." Brian laughed loudly, slapping the table, causing me to cackle with him.

"My head hurts." Aaron dead panned as he took his last bite of food and set his fork down.

"Remember that." Brian replied as he slowly stopped laughing. "This food was an excellent idea, baby."

"Why thank you, baby." I leaned over and gave him a kiss. "I sure know how to order that Chinese food, don't I?"

"Definitely."

Aaron just watched us both, as if studying us for some project he was working on.

"Just wait 'til you see how I order Indian." I winked devilishly.

"I can't wait, baby." He giggled.

"Are you guys going to completely ignore me?!?!" Aaron snapped suddenly, making Brian and I both turn our heads to look at him.

Brian and I looked at him for a second, then I felt my eyes begin to narrow and my mouth turn into a scowl. I was about to say something to Aaron, but I felt Brian's hand on my leg, his fingertips digging into my thigh. Obviously, he thought it was not the best time for one of my rants about how stupid Aaron had been.

"What do you want us to say, Aaron?" Brian spoke calmly.

"Anything." He snapped again. "Don't just sit there and act like nothing happened. That's exactly what my mother would do!"

"I think maybe we don't know what to say." Brian answered as I got more mad. "I let you go to a party, under the pretense you won't drink or do anything stupid. You do drugs and something stupid. I feel just a bit too pissed to think clearly about what I should do."

"Well do something! Don't just treat me like the singer that hit a hard patch in life. Treat me like a kid goddamnit!" Aaron got louder.

I knew I was shaking with anger because Brian's fingers dug deeper into my thigh.

"Aaron, it would be best not to piss either of us off anymore than necessary right now." Brian's voice shook as he spoke.

"Fine. Just ignore the whole thing. I don't care." Aaron got up from the table, tipping his chair over backwards.

"Come pick that chair up." Brian demanded before Aaron could get out of the room.

"No." Aaron turned around to reply. "I'm going back to bed."

"Oh, that's it." I gave a defiant laugh and got up from my seat slowly.

Aaron's eyes got wide. Obviously I looked as pissed as I was.

"You get your...butt...over here, pick up that chair, clean your...mess up, and then you can take your...self back to bed." I spoke thru clenched teeth, stopping myself every now and then as to not begin cussing. "I really don't want to hear about how you feel you're being treated while you do it, either."

"I didn't mean to..." Aaron began to apologize.

"You really didn't mean any of it, I'm sure." I hissed. "You didn't mean to do anything wrong last night. You didn't mean to come home in that condition and make us stay up all night making sure you didn't go comatose on us. I'm sure it was all just one big accident, Aaron. And I'm sure your issues with your mother play some part in it."

"I'm sorry." He backed up a step.

"Do you have any idea what could have happened to you last night, Aaron?" I snapped. "Do you?"

"Baby..." Brian grabbed my hand.

I snatched my hand away from Brian, but kept my eyes on Aaron. "Do you have any FUCKING clue?" Okay, so I was going mental.

"I know, Matt. I'm sorry. I could've killed myself." He looked desperate for a way out of the conversation.

"Fuck dying." I snapped. "You don't even have the first clue what can happen to cute little tweaked out teenage boys."

Brian and Aaron just looked at me with wide eyes.

"Especially those just looking for a good time." I stated in a mocking tone. "You just went to some random party--where you probably didn't know a goddamn person, might I add--and decided to tweak out."

"I didn't know..."

"Yeah, yeah." I put my hand up to stop him. "I'm just glad you didn't find out what happens to cute little teen boys that ask people if they want to fuck."

Aaron's eyes almost popped out of his head. Brian sat back in his chair, looking utterly amazed at my speech.

"Just, fuckin', go to your room and sleep more. Brian will talk to you in the morning." I shook my head, finally calming down.

He made a movement, like he was going to say something as I sat back down in my seat, but then decided against it. Slowly, I got myself composed, picked up my fork and took another bite of my food. Brian was completely silent as I finished my food, then went about cleaning up the table. He stayed silent the whole time I cleaned up my part and Aaron's part of the table. However, it proved to be too quiet for him as I was wiping down the table with a wet washclothe.

"Baby, are you okay?" He asked quietly.

"Mmm-hmm." I replied, and gave him the best smile I could muster.

"You sure?"

"Positive." I stated.

"Anything you want to talk about?" He asked with a sigh as he got up to throw his cartons away.

"Yeah. Talk to the little bastard in the morning after you take Booker to school. I've gotta be outta here by five-thirty in the morning, or I'm gonna be late as shit for everything."

"I meant..."Brian trailed off.

"Meant what?" I asked, wiping down his side of the table.

"I meant....was there anything you wanted to talk about with me.....about yourself." He drug it out.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I gave him a smile and put the dishrag in the sink.

Ofcourse I knew what he was talking about. He wanted to know how I knew what drug Aaron had been on. Wanted to know how I knew what to do for Aaron to stable him out. He wanted to know what the "what happens to cute little teenage boys" comment was about. Well, he wasn't going to find out by tiptoeing around it.

"Sometimes you worry me, Matt." Brian shook his head, but not because he was upset.

"I don't mean to." I sighed. "I'm going to go get Booker and head to bed, baby."

"Matt." Brian stopped me as I was standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Yeah?" I smiled as I turned around, trying to be nice since I was extremely pissed at the moment.

"Um, this may sound weird..." He looked down at the floor and reached up to scratch the growth of whiskers on his chin.

"What's that?"

"Is it true?"

"Huh?" I cocked my head to the side. "Is what true, baby?"

"The Enquirer story." Brian floored me.

Obviously, I wasn't prepared for that question. The next question was, how do you answer that?

"What Enquirer story?" I smiled nervously and walked out of the room quickly.

(Part Five)

"Well, it's official, 'Superstar' is a hit." Barb finally appeared at our table in the restaraunt.

She had on a wide grin and looked like she was as rested and perky as a teenager. Garrett and I had been waiting for her for over twenty minutes, wanting to order our food and eat. We were starving. However, since Barb brought good news about my movie with Juliette Lewis, I was willing to look past it all.

"Oh yeah?" Garrett inquired further.

"Yeah." Barb winked at me as she sat down across from me and put her bags under the table. "It's at the one-fifty mark, just about to tip over the line. It's a hit."

"Well, it's good to know people will still pay good money to see me half naked and in sex scenes." I laughed.

"Well, atleast several million people will." Barb slapped me on the back. "Cost of production, twenty-two million. Return, one hundred fifty million and counting. Well done."

"Half the cost was Matt's salary." Garrett brayed.

"Well, let's just hope the next three do that well. Especially since I'll be making a salary that could have funded my last project three times over." I laughed loudly.

"I'm famished." Garrett groaned as he opened the menu.

"I'm sorry boys, but I just had to wait for the numbers before I came over."

"Not a prob, Barb. We were able to catch up on publicity crap whilst we waited." I winked. "I think I'm gonna go all out and have a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. Ooooh, and to top it off, a thick, chocolate milkshake."

"Translation," Garrett stated,"Matt's going to have the portabello burger, carrot and celery sticks, and hot tea."

Barbara brayed loudly, making people at other tables glance over.

"Oh bite me." I chunked the menu at him, not really intending to do any harm.

Barb and Garrett laughed about my eating habits as we ordered our lunches and drinks. Once I had my hot tea, Garrett had his beer and Barb had her diet Coke, we set about business once again.

"Don't forget your wardrobe fitting this afternoon." Barb pulled open her organizer to look at notes.

"Go with me to that one." I requested.

"Okay." She smiled. "You have that cocktail party tomorrow night for Miramax. Madonna and Rosie lunch on Thursday, two o'clock. Interview with this horrid lady down at Spin on Friday. However, she begged and promised a big ole ass kissin' in the mag for it, so I said yes. Sandy Bullock wants to set up a dinner date sometime soon to thank you for signing on to be in her movie. What's your shooting schedule look like this week?"

"Um, I've got the seven to twelve slot." I replied. "We're doing most of the outdoor crap right now, so it's pretty much compressed into the early morning to noon hours. That should go on for another three weeks."

"Right." Barb jotted it down.

"I need to set up a date with Donatella Versace. Madonna said I should get a sneak peek at the spring line and get some freebies. See if you can set that up." I requested.

"Done." She kept jotting.

"All the mags have something on you in them this week." Garrett jumped in. Most of the rumors are still circulating. You got a mention for your fashion sense in People magazine. Rolling Stone published some unused quotes from your interview, so you're in there again this week. Ofcourse, not on the cover, but there's a good quarter page sized photo of you in there."

"Cool." I replied as I squeezed a wedge of lemon into my tea.

"The Enquirer is printing more nonsense about your past, and The Globe, The Examiner, blah blah de blah, have all jumped on the band wagon. Expect to see your face on all of those the next few weeks to come." Garrett explained, as if it were inconsequential.

"The sexual assault thing?" I asked, stirring my tea carefully as I dribbled in some honey.

"That's the one." He laughed. "All a bunch of crap, really..."

"I'd prefer we put a stop to that." I interrupted him.

"Oh, it'll blow over." He waved me off.

"I know. Sooner or later, it'll be yesterday's news. However, I don't want to wait for sooner or later to come. I want it stopped. Like now." I stated evenly, trying to be nice.

"Yeah, let's try to stop the Enquirer from printing a hot story." Barb cackled, taking a sip of her diet coke.

"Tell them whatever you have to tell them. Threaten them--lie if there's no other way around it. But make that particular situation go away." I replied, making both Barb and Garrett look at me.

"Matt, baby, it's no big thing." Garrett cocked his head to the side. "Just let it go."

"Listen, I know it's no big thing for the Enquirer to print shit like that. But," I took a deep breath before blurting it out,"for my own personal reasons, I want that story stopped. I don't want to see that headline whenever I go to the supermarket. And if it keeps running in the Enquirer, it's going to become a standard interview question. I've already had Brian ask me about the validity of the story. So, before this becomes one big stain, please, do what you have to do to stop it."

Barb and Garrett both just looked at me. They didn't look confused, maybe a bit curious, but not confused. However, they didn't ask any questions, they just accepted the fact that I wanted this done, and as soon as possible.

"Yeah, okay." Garrett broke the silence gracefully. "Barb, let's, um, call around to whoever we can."

"Right." She took her eyes off me. "I think I can talk to Linda over there and squash the thing. It might be pretty easy."

"Good." I gave them both a genuine smile, happy for once they did what I asked without questions.

The rest of the lunch went without incident. We discussed movie schedules, parties, luncheons, teleconferences, cocktail parties and movie premieres. Barb and I agreed that I would turn down the request to present at the upcoming Academy Awards, as well as the Grammy's. I wasn't really in the mood for televised appearances at the moment. Once we were done eating, we lingered a bit, just gossiping before we left the restaraunt.

"Christ, it's a beautiful day." Garrett snorted as he put on his sunglasses outside of the restaraunt before turning to Barb. "I'm this way, you coming?"

"I'm going to walk Matt to his car, thanks." She waved him off with a smile.

"I will see you both later, then." He winked at me, and headed the opposite way from us.

"You don't have to walk me to my car. You're an agent-slash-manager, not a concierege." I teased as Barb took my arm by the elbow and followed me down the street.

"Oh well, I thought maybe we could have one of our little girl chats." Barb smiled warmly.

"I'm not telling you about my sex life, Barb." I laughed.

She just chuckled along with me. The rest of the way to my car, she followed me, keeping completely silent. It was kind of unnerving. I hit the button on my key chain to unlock the car and deactivate the alarm as we approached, finally turning to look at her.

"Well, if you want to talk, you better start. I'm almost out of here."

"You doing okay?" She asked, then reached up to my cheek to pull a piece of whatever off.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, looking to see if it was a bug she had found.

"Eyelash." She showed me. "You've just been very depressed lately, I suppose."

"I'm not depressed." I was being honest. "Maybe stressed, but that's it. I appreciate your concern, Barb, but....."

"You'll be fine, and you don't need me worrying over you. I know, I know." Barb sighed with a crooked smile. "I may be your agent and manager, but I still think of you as a friend. So, tell me what's wrong."

I bit my bottom lip, wondering if I should spill the beans about what all was going on with me. Should I 'fess up about Aaron's situation bugging me? Should I tell her why the Enquirer article was bothering me? Should I tell her how I felt like Booker is going to suffer without me there? Was that egotistical of me to feel that way? Brian was a capable father, so why did it bother me that I couldn't be there all the time, too?

"There's nothing wrong. I'm probably just still tired and stressed, Barb." I lied. "I swear."

I'm going to hell, I thought.

"Alright." She shrugged. "I love you, sweetie."

I let Barb wrap her arms around me and give me a tight hug.

"Just let me know if you ever want or need to talk. I'm here for you." She replied.

"My goodness, an agent with feelings!" I teased as she pulled away from me.

"It's one of those things for Ripley's, huh?" She winked.

"Exactly."

"Well, you go home and rest up since you're done for the day." She patted my shoulder. "But, do me a favor, okay?"

"Sure, Babs."

"If anymore rumors," I could practically see quotation marks around the word as she said it,"like this one come up....well, just let me know. We'll do our best to make them priority. I'll assume you know what I mean."

I stared at her for a moment, but relented. "Yeah. I've got you."

"Alright. We understand each other." She nodded, then put her smile back on. "Have a good night, and tell all the heathens back home I said 'hello'. Oh, and give Booker a hug and kiss for me."

"Will do." I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Thanks."

She gave me a sly wink, and then was gone, on the way to her car.

"Take those shoes off, before you go anywhere, mister." I told Booker as we walked into the house.

"Okay, okay." He rolled his eyes, making me laugh.

Booker kicked off his dirty shoes and pulled off his socks before dropping his back pack and wind breaker and tearing off to the den. Since I was done with lunch around three, I had called Brian and told him I would pick the kiddo up from school. Brian had told me I didn't have to, that he would, but he didn't realize how much I loved picking Booker up. Whenever I picked him up from school, he always ran up to me with a smile, and leapt into my arms. It let me know how much I meant to him. Sometimes, I needed that.

"Hey, baby." Brian hollered to me from the laundry room.

"Hey baby, hey. Girls say.." I began with a laugh.

"How was your day, dear?" Brian asked as I entered the laundry room.

"Same ole, same ole. Barb and Garrett say 'hello'. Well, Barb does. Garrett says it more like 'ello'."

"That's the English for you. Limey bastards." Brian teased.

"You can say that again." I played along.

"Well," Brian turned the washer on and turned to me,"you have to go talk to our child."

"About what?" I asked as I leaned in to give Brian a peck on the lips.

"His little hellion ways." Brian sighed.

"Booker's not a hellion." I replied. "Maybe demon seed, but never a hellion."

Brian laughed loudly. "I meant Aaron."

"Oh."

"He's upset that he pissed you off, and doesn't want you to be mad at him." Brian explained.

"Good."

"AND," Brian stopped me from being too harsh,"he knows he did wrong. I already talked to him. However, I think he thinks this is his momma's house and he has to do bad things to get noticed. Maybe we should make an effort to be around him more. That's what he needs."

"Baby, he's fifteen." I replied quietly so Booker couldn't hear. "Do you realize what my mother's house was like when I was fifteen?"

"Matt." Brian snorted. "Not everyone's a hardass like you."

"I'm not a hardass."

"Well, I know that. You know that. But you sure pretend sometimes. Maybe you should think about how hard alot of things are for a fifteen year old, and go talk to the kid." Brian leaned forward to kiss me, but then paused. "You know he adores you."

I rolled my eyes, but leaned forward and pressed my lips to Brian's.

"Fine." I pretended to huff. "But if I kill him, it's all YOUR fault."

"I'll take my chances." Brian stated happily.

"I figured you would." I replied playfully before leaving the room.

I stopped in the den to make sure Booker wasn't choking on a small toy, and found him playing Harry Potter on Playstation. After promising to come back and help him stop Peeves from throwing food at Nearly-Headless Nick's Deathday Party, I headed towards Aaron's room. I was going to take my time, because I couldn't work a Playstation controller to save my life. There were just too many buttons. Needless to say, I'm technologically impaired.

Aaron was laying on his bed in a jeans and a tee, belly down and reading a textbook that was spread out in front of him. He looked like his normal self finally. He wasn't pale or sick looking, he just looked like a normal teenager doing homework. Ofcourse, in this case, he wasn't in a classroom with thirty other students and a teacher. I had to admire his dedication. Brian and I never had to tell him to hit the books.

"What're you studying?" I didn't know how to begin the conversation.

"I'm reading some Shakespeare for English." He replied. "Did you know that Lady MacBeth was one crazy bitch?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "She was something else, wasn't she?"

"You haven't read this." Aaron rolled his eyes with a smile.

"Sure I did." I pretended to be insulted. "I read it when I was your age."

"Riiiiiight."

"Boil boil, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble? Yes sir I did." I played back with him as I walked over and sat down on the bed beside him.

"Okay, so you know the most famous quote from the play. Big deal." He rolled to his side so he could look at me.

"That was the thing about Shakespeare." I closed the book for a second to look at the cover, then opened it back up to Aaron's place. "There was always a fight and a crazy person."

"Yeah."

"It was the Jerry Springer of his time." I winked.

Aaron gave me a wide grin, letting me know he realized this was difficult for me, and he appreciated the effort.

"Aaron, I'm not still mad at you." I relented.

He just waited for me to talk.

"But what you did was an extremely ignorant, no, that's not right." I thought for a second. "Goddamned retarded thing to do."

Aaron smiled, but in a way that let me know, he knew what I was saying, and appreciated my saying it.

"You could've killed yourself. You could've hurt someone else. You would leave behind so many sad people if that happened. And, God forbid, something even worse could have happened to you." I began my speech as Aaron just listened to me talk. "Not to mention the fact that Brian trusted you to do right by him. He trusted you to go to that party and act like someone with half a brain, and you fucked up. You ruined his trust. That was a horrible thing to do to him. He may not say it, but I know it hurt him to see you in that condition."

Aaron nodded, hanging his head.

"I know," I didn't know if I was overstepping my bounds,"that this is the thing you probably have to do to get your mother's attention at home."

Aaron's head shot up and he stared at me.

"That probably hurts for me to say it, but I want you to know I get it, alright?" I laid a hand on his shoulder. "And you don't have to talk about that with me right now if you don't want to--it's not required. But, just know that you don't have to do that here. Actually, we'll kill you if you do it again and survive."

Aaron lost his glare and giggled.

"If you want or need any attention, or just someone to listen to you, just tell us. We didn't let you come stay with us so we could ignore you. I know sometimes we get all wrapped in our lives, and we forget about you. We don't mean to, though, alright?"

"Alright."

"We both love you to death, and we just don't want anything to happen to you."

"I know."

"Brian and I are kinda new at this whole parent thing. We were just getting used to a young child being around. We weren't prepared for a teenager. And, fuck, I thought because I was a teen, I'd know how to handle everything." I leaned in with a smile to whisper. "You kinda forget what assholes teens can be."

Aaron laughed.

"Just do me a favor, and don't pull that shit again, k?"

"Promise."

"Good talk, then?" I asked.

"Good talk." Aaron sat up and offered a hug to me.

I pulled him into a hug. "You're grounded for a month." I stated into his ear.

"I saw that coming." Aaron laughed loudly.

"Good." I laughed and pulled back. "Besides, under 'Meth Use' in the Parenting For Queers handbook, it says that's a fair punishment. I always go by the book."

"It's fair." Aaron agreed and hugged me again.

"Now, hit the Shakespeare again." I gave him a tight squeeze before I pulled away.

"Alright, alright."

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked as I stood up.

"Are you cooking?"

"No, Brian or delivery." I shrugged.

"Oh, then anything." He teased.

"Smartass." I hissed playfully before leaving the room.

Aaron gave me another smile, then went back to reading his book as I was shutting his door. As to be expected, Brian was standing outside the door, arms folded over his chest. He had a big smile on his face, and looked way too smug for my tastes.

"Oh, fuck off." I rolled my eyes and started down the hallway.

"That was so precious." Brian grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him.

"Bite me." I teased.

"Mmmmm, you might like that, baby." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tightly against him.

"I don't need anymore stitches, thank you." I teased as I rubbed my nose against his.

Brian ignored the comment and gave me a kiss as he held me. I wrapped my arms around him in response and returned his kiss, letting my tongue move into his mouth.

"So," Brian reluctantly pulled away from my mouth,"are you ever going to tell me how you knew which drug he was on?"

"Let go." I pushed his arms down and off me.

"And what exactly DOES happen to cute little teenage boys that tweak out?" Brian followed up his question.

"I can't hear you." I tried to play it off as a joke by clamping my hands over my ears and strolling down the hall.

Brian wasn't going to have any of that. He caught up to me, and stopped me. He stared me in the eye, and slowly pulled my hands off my ears. I almost wanted to look down at my feet and mutter incomprehensibly like Booker when he's been caught torturing the the dog. This time, he wasn't going to let me get by with playfully ignoring him. I could tell by the way his sad eyes burned into me.

"Baby, I want to know what all this stuff's about." Brian took my hands in his and held them.

"Oh fuck it all." I sighed. "I need a cigarette."

TO BE CONTINUED...