This is a story of love between two young men. If you are under age, or live in an area where reading stories that include sex between males is illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave. The story began in 1969. While the characters and their story are completely fictional, it is set at places that are real and is told against a backdrop of some real events. This was a time when all sex was safe. It isn't now, so please respect yourself and others enough to always play safe.
I would like to thank all of those who have written to me with comments, suggestions and encouragement, especially my fellow writers in the Nifty Six. The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at NJMcMick@yahoo.com.
Danny
Once Lucy had left for Hawaii, it just didn't seem that much like Christmas any more. We were all excited about Brad and couldn't wait until he was able to come home. The holiday had been pushed to the back of our minds. We'd opened nearly all of the presents early before Lucy left so it was almost like Christmas was over, even though it was only Christmas Eve.
Charles was the one least affected by the news about Brad. After all, he had never met him. He spent the day Christmas Eve hanging out with his friends. Billy and I stayed in taking care of the boys, trying to get Jason to accept formula. Lucy had been breastfeeding him but once or twice when she was out we had given him regular formula and he didn't have a problem with it. Now that she was flying halfway around the world he decided to get fussy. At least he was taking a little baby food so we weren't too worried that he'd starve. We could always call Dr. Stern if he didn't start accepting the formula soon.
After lunch we put the boys down for their nap, plugged in the lights on the tree in the living room and snuggled on the couch. Billy had one arm wrapped around me and was running the other hand through my hair which was starting to get long. He stopped and played with my ear a minute.
"You know, babe, it was five years ago today we got these ear rings. Remember that day in the Village?"
"How could I ever forget? You proposed to me, right there on Christopher St. I was so shocked."
"Not too shocked to accept, though. So what do you think now, Danny? Now that you've had a few years to think it over, do you still want to marry me?"
"More than ever. I've spent five years with you and I want five hundred more. I want to be with you forever, Billy."
"I feel the same way. I can't imagine that life could be any better."
We just lay in each other's arms for a few minutes and didn't talk.
"We were such kids then, Billy. So young and naïve."
"Yeah, I would never have thought of myself as naïve back then but I was. It goes without saying that you were."
"We were both still living with our parents, only working for pocket money, not to support ourselves. We weren't even out to anyone except Lucy and Aunt Connie. It's amazing how things have changed."
"Almost all for the better, too. Yeah, there have been a few bumps along the way, but life with you just keeps getting better. And I still want to marry you, too, Danny. Some day we will, I promise you."
"I'm afraid some things aren't in our control, Billy. Don't make promises you can't keep."
"We'll see, baby."
Christmas itself was an odd sort of day. We had the big holiday meal at home with Charles and Aunt Connie but it didn't seem the same without Lucy. Mark had gone to his parents' but came by to visit later in the evening. He had been floating on air since he got the news about Brad. Shortly after he arrived Lucy called from Hawaii. She had seen Brad as soon as they arrived the night before and was about to go back to the hospital to see him again. Although he was thin and a little weak, she assured us he was fine. She kept using the word beautiful, actually. It had been a long time since she had sounded so happy. We were all that happy. None of us had ever fully accepted that Brad could be gone from us forever. We all loved him so much and he was such a central part of our family. Now that we knew he was alive and well we just couldn't wait to have him back with us.
Charles
Within a week of my modeling session with Lucy she had developed and printed the pictures. She and I went over them in private and I was amazed at what she had managed to do with me. Some of them were just so beautiful. I don't mean that in an egotistical way. It wasn't that I was beautiful, God knows I'm not, but the way she captured me was a work of art. Part of it was that my skin is so dark and she used light backgrounds. Even at that she had to get the lighting just right or I might have been just a dark blob. She managed to pick up every detail of my body. I couldn't believe that I even looked sexy in some of them. At some point in the session I'd relaxed enough so that I got a little aroused, not hard, just a little swollen so my dick didn't look so small. Overall I was pleased with the results but I'd still asked her not to show the photos to anyone else.
"Why not, Charles? They came out great. I'm really proud of them and you should be too."
"I know, Lucy. They look good. It's just that I feel self-conscious about them. The guys have never seen me naked and there's no way I can measure up to them."
"There's nothing to measure up to, Charles. This isn't a competition. I think the guys will love these as much as I do."
"Let me think about it, okay? Maybe after Christmas."
I had been really looking forward to my first Christmas with my new family. In the past it had always been a weird holiday. Some foster families were better than others but it was never the way you imagine it should be when you're a kid. The news about this Brad guy really messed things up, though. I'd heard some stuff about him but not a lot. Everybody had always seemed to withdraw into their own heads whenever his name had come up. I knew he was huge in everyone's life but I just couldn't picture it. He wasn't part of the family as I knew it.
It was still the best Christmas I'd ever had, though. The early gift opening before Lucy left for Hawaii was just the way Christmas morning should be. Everyone was excited about Brad and even though I couldn't identify it added to the festive mood. Christmas dinner with the guys and Aunt Connie was quiet but wonderful. I really felt like I was with my family, with people who loved me.
I was a little uneasy though because I was beginning to realize how much I didn't know about everyone, how much of their lives hadn't included me. I guess Brad was the main thing there, but there were others. Like that guy Joe who had shown up at the open house. Mark was all over him but I had no idea who he was. I'd heard all about Peter, of course, but who was Joe? Then Lucy called from Hawaii Christmas night and told us how things were going. When I got on the phone she sounded so happy but at the end she said something that confused me. She asked me to keep an eye on Billy and Danny the next day, that it was always a bad day for them. I had no idea what that was all about. The guys were so good together. Even when things went wrong they got each other through it. Why should she be worried about them?
I asked them about it the next morning. They were a little reluctant to talk at first but then they decided to tell me the story of what had happened with their parents five years ago. I was shocked. I knew they'd both had a falling out with their parents over being gay. Obviously they hadn't had any contact in years but the guys had never talked to me much about it. I couldn't believe that parents could treat their own kids that way. Of course, I didn't have a very high opinion of parents in general, not having even known mine, but I still thought that what had happened to them was a horrible thing.
By the time they finished they were both pretty subdued. So was I.
"God, I'm really sorry, guys. I had no idea how bad you had it. I guess I look at your life now and see how great things are and how well you handle everything and I don't realize what you've been through."
"Yeah, I wish I could say it sounds worse than it was, but it really was that bad. Maybe even worse. For a while I wasn't sure either of us would get through it. I know I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for Danny."
"We got each other through it, Billy."
"So how do you guys feel about it now? Do you think you'll ever see your parents again?"
"To be honest, we don't think about it much any more, Charles. I was pretty obsessed with it for a while but December 26 is just another day to us now. Maybe Billy or I will see our families again someday but it's not something we waste our time wishing for any more."
Damn, there was so much about these guys I didn't know. I just always took them at face value. Maybe I was a little self-centered. I'd felt so bad about what I'd gone through in my foster homes and at school this year but I never realized that other people had things even worse sometimes. I made up my mind that when Lucy got back from Hawaii I would let her show the pictures to Billy and Danny. It was stupid of me to feel so insecure around them. They were guys just like me and they loved me.
Billy
One afternoon a few days after Christmas, Charles had gone out somewhere with Keith. I had just changed Tyler's diaper and Danny was in the kitchen trying to get some formula into Jason. I just sat and watched as Jason refused the bottle and Danny got more and more frustrated. The doorbell interrupted the show.
I opened the front door and there were two guys around thirty standing on the porch. The one in front had curly black hair and dark eyes. The other was standing just slightly behind him and to his left. He had reddish hair and light blue eyes. I was sure I'd never seen either of them before.
"Yes, can I help you?" I reached down and grabbed Tyler as he to charge out through the open door. The dark-haired one spoke.
"You must be Billy. I'm Paul Romano, Mike's son. This is Kenny O'Brien. We're here visiting my dad and I wanted to meet you guys."
"Hey, great to meet you. Come on in. Danny's in the kitchen."
"I hope we're not interrupting anything. I told Paul we should have called first."
"Don't worry about that, Kenny. We're very informal around here. We've got people coming and going all the time."
I led the guys down the hall to the kitchen. Danny was sitting at the table. Jase was in his arms finally sucking on the bottle. I introduced our guests and carefully took Jason and the bottle from Danny. He got up and shook hands with both of them and then took Jason back. We went into the living room and got comfortable. I brought along a pitcher of iced tea and some glasses and poured while Danny talked to the guys.
"Your father mentioned that you were going to visit, Paul. I was hoping we'd have a chance to meet you. He talks about you all the time."
"We've just had the most incredible couple of days with him, thanks to you guys. I couldn't believe it when I got his letter a few weeks ago. He didn't come right out and say he knew I was gay but he did go on and on about you two and told me how much he loved me. I guess we've both known all along but neither of us could talk about it so it had driven us apart and practically made us strangers."
"He does love you a lot, Paul, and I know how much he hated not being close anymore."
"Yeah, he was the greatest dad when I was growing up. My mother's illness and death really tore him apart but he was always there for me. He always took such good care of me. When I realized I was gay in my early teens I was so afraid he wouldn't love me anymore. I kept my secret buried inside me for years but then I met Kenny in college and fell in love. I started having to live my life on two different levels. I hated not being able to share my happiness with Dad but I couldn't risk losing his love. I nearly lost it anyway."
"I've never seen Paul as happy as when he got that letter from his dad. We'd already made plans to be with my mother in San Diego for Christmas but we decided to come here as soon as the holiday was over."
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to Dad in person, not on the phone. I was a little nervous about him meeting Kenny but they got along great. I have so much to thank you for."
"We really didn't do much, Paul. Danny was just his usual loveable self at school. Very few can resist his charms."
"Cut it out, Billy. I think your father had already pretty much come around before I even met him, Paul. He missed you and loved you so much. Meeting us was just the spark that got him moving back toward you."
"Well, whatever it was I'm glad it happened."
We spent another hour talking and getting to know the guys until they had to go back to Mike's for supper. They invited us to have dinner with the three of them later in the week. We saw quite a bit of them in the few days they were in Morristown and had become friends by the time they left. The last time we saw them they insisted we spend our next vacation visiting them in San Francisco.
"Vacation? What's that? I don't think Danny and I have had a real vacation since our spring break in Ft. Lauderdale in 1971."
"All the more reason to come see me and Kenny. San Francisco is a beautiful city and we'd love to show it to you."
"Maybe we'll take you up on the offer. I think Billy and I could use a vacation. Maybe next summer."
Lucy
For a few days Bill, Marcie and I spent every minute we could with Brad. Sometimes one at a time, sometimes two, sometimes all three of us. We gave him a break now and then to rest. He didn't have much strength and tired easily. The doctors were optimistic about his condition but couldn't say when he'd be able to go home until all of their tests were done.
Brad didn't want to talk much about the last few years but we did get the basics from him. His unit was ambushed at a river crossing. Their truck hit a land mine. In the explosion, he and another engineer, a Craig Osgood, were thrown into the brush. They were both banged up pretty badly and Craig had a broken leg. Brad was able to drag him into the river and they floated downstream away from the fighting. Unfortunately, shortly after they got back on land they were captured by a renegade band of Viet Cong. Their captors took them to a small village and splinted Craig's leg and bandaged their wounds but then locked them in a shack and left them alone.
Apparently the group they were taken prisoner by was as much a gang of bandits as they were a political militia. They attacked American and South Vietnamese army units, but they also raided villages for supplies and loot. Brad and Craig couldn't communicate much with them due to the language barrier. Craig knew a little French from high school and that was it. Their captors keep them as trading pawns in case they were ever cornered. They were never put into a prisoner of war camp, just held in a hut. Now and then they moved to another village. They weren't tortured or abused but weren't treated very well either. They were given the same food to eat as their captors, just not very much of it. The worst part of their captivity was boredom, as weeks became months and months became years. Brad and Craig tried to keep their minds occupied by telling each other everything they could think of about their pasts-their families, their friends, their schooling, anything.
I caught Brad up on what had been happening in everyone's lives. I told him about the house the boys had bought and their jobs. He was angry when I told him about Peter and Mark. I didn't give him all of the details because I didn't want to upset him too much but he got the general idea of what had happened. I told him all about Charles, too. About the only thing I couldn't bring myself to talk about was Tyler and Jason but he knew something was up. He knew me too well and could tell I was holding back.
I finally got up the courage to tell him everything, starting with that horrible summer in Puerto Rico after we got the news about him. I tried to make him see what my state of mind was, how I was feeling, how I was trying to cope. It seemed like I talked for an hour with absolutely no interruption from him. He just lay on the bed in silence. At first he looked right at me but about halfway through he turned and just stared straight ahead at the wall at the foot of his bed. After I got it all out I stopped and waited. There was a silence that seemed to go on forever.
"Brad? Are you okay? Are you upset?"
"I don't know what I'm feeling, Lucy. You've got to understand this is quite a shock. I need some time for it to sink in."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not right now. Actually, I'm kind of freaking out a bit inside. Let me think about it and we'll talk later."
"I love you Brad, more than ever. You've got to know that."
"I know, Lucy. But later, we'll talk later."
I felt sick all night after that. I didn't know what I had expected. I was hoping that he'd think about it a few minutes and be okay, that we could just move on. I guess because I had made the decision to have the babies after thinking about it for several months it seemed more understandable to me.
I hadn't really thought it through, though. Once Billy, Danny and I had made the decision we just went ahead, living each day as it came. I did realize that I couldn't live with Billy and Danny forever. Even if Brad hadn't been found I would have moved on with my life at some point and that would mean either leaving my sons or taking them away from their fathers. I hadn't wanted to think about that so I hadn't. Billy and Danny had to be aware of those possibilities as well and I don't think they wanted to face them either. There had been so much going on in our present we hadn't thought much about the future.
Over breakfast the next morning I discussed Brad's reaction with Bill and Marcie. They offered to talk to Brad about it on my behalf. I couldn't believe these were the same two people who had been so rude and nasty to all of us just a few years ago. They went in to talk to Brad and I wandered around the hospital grounds for a while. Even though it was late December it was still a tropical paradise though I wasn't paying too much attention to the scenery or the weather. After an hour or so I went back inside and made my way to Brad's room. Bill and Marcie got up and excused themselves as soon as I walked into the room. Marcie held up her crossed fingers to me as she passed me on the way out of the room. I sat in the chair next to Brad's bed.
"We need to talk, Brad. I want you to understand all of this. I don't think I was very clear yesterday."
"You were pretty clear, Lucy, and I think I have a pretty good idea of what you were going through. It was just such a shock, not something I ever expected. You'll have to admit it's unusual, but then again, nothing about you and the guys is ever usual. I mean, it's not like you're engaged or married to another guy. And you did think I was dead. Still, it's going to take me a little while to get used to the idea. And it makes for a lot of complications."
"I know, but I'm sure we can work it all out, Brad." I was so relieved that he was being understanding, or at least trying to be.
"There's one thing that's pretty important that I have to know, though, Lucy. You have two sons now. We always talked about having lots of kids of our own. Are you interested in having more children or do you feel the boys are enough for you?"
"That's something I've given a lot of thought to the last few days, Brad. I love Tyler and Jason so much and I suppose I could have been happy never having any other children, but I do want to have children with you."
"Thank God. I know that once I get used to this I'll love Tyler and Jason because I love their parents, but I do want to have children of my own, too."
"We'll have as many as you want."
"I don't want to wear you out, Lucy. Besides, I don't think I'm ready to start just yet. I've got to get my life and my head together before we can even start thinking of that."
"Whenever you're ready I am."
"It may take me a while to get used to this situation so bear with me, Lucy. I'll probably go through a bit of an adjustment period all around when I get home."
"Take all the time you need. I'll be there for you in every way I can."
We were quiet for a few minutes. I just sat there and held his hand. I thought he was starting to doze off when he spoke.
"I know this is a dumb question, considering who I'm talking to, but do you happen to have any pictures of the babies with you?"
It was a dumb question. I not only had pictures in my purse but I had a small album back at the hotel. The tension that had been between us when I had walked into the room completely thawed as we went through the pictures I had with me. I knew it would be awkward for a while but the worst was over. Everything was going to be okay.
Brad
For the two and a half years I'd been held prisoner, I had spent hours every day thinking of Lucy. I tried not to obsess about her but picturing her always made me smile, always brought joy to my heart, and considering where I was that was something pretty great. Craig and I spent most of our time talking, trying to keep each other company, trying to stave off boredom and insanity, but there was lots of quiet time each day. I know he was thinking about his girl, Julie, back home in Omaha. And I was thinking about my Lucy, hoping she was waiting for me in Morristown.
When I was admitted to the army hospital in Hawaii I was given a brief message that my parents and my fiancée were on their way. It was the best news I could have imagined. The three of them arrived at the hospital and it was like a dream. It was so great to see Mom and Dad come through that door, but Lucy, oh man. I'd left behind a beautiful girl and there was this beautiful woman. She literally took my breath away.
I was on cloud nine for the next few days, visiting with my parents and Lucy, getting caught up on everyone's lives. They wanted to know how I was and what had happened to me and while I really didn't feel like talking about it I had to tell them the basics. As excited and loving as Lucy was, however, it became clear as time went on that she was holding back something. I began to worry that maybe she'd found someone else and didn't know how to tell me. After all, they all thought I was dead. Why wouldn't she move on with her life after a while? I didn't really believe that, though. She wouldn't fly halfway around the world with my parents to be with me if that were the case. Also, I knew how strong our love was when I left. I wasn't trying to inflate my ego or anything, but there's no way she would have gotten over a love like ours so fast. Still, there was something she wasn't telling me.
When she told me about the babies, it blew my mind. No way I was expecting anything like that. My mind went into a bit of a tailspin; with all kinds of images were flying around. I couldn't think clearly at all. I knew I shouldn't be jealous; I'd known right from the start that I was sharing Lucy with Billy and Danny, but their relationship wasn't a threat to mine. It was deep, but different. But babies, that was something that Lucy and I were going to do.
I didn't want to pull away from Lucy, but I just couldn't think. My mind couldn't process the information she had given me and come up with anything rational. After she left, I just lay there, wondering what all of this meant to our future. I didn't get much sleep that night, if I got any at all. I still loved Lucy as much as ever and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, but I also wanted children, my children, our children, and I didn't know if she still wanted that. I loved Billy and Danny and I knew that, as weird as the situation was, I would love their boys, but I wanted to have children with Lucy also.
When she told me that she still wanted to have kids with me a huge weight was lifted off me and I knew that somehow it would all work out. It would take some getting used to, but it would be okay. Our family would be a little unusual but nothing about us has ever been usual. The most important thing was love, and we all had plenty of that.
Mark
It was a very quiet New Year's Eve. Charles went to a party at Keith's house. Because I was single and not even dating, I chose to work at The Restaurant. They always had a special menu and a full house. With the holiday spirit it was usually a very profitable evening for the waiters. Billy and Danny said they were going to stay in with the boys, listening to music as they cuddled in front of the fire, then watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV. It sounded romantic but I teased them about starting to act like an old married couple.
New Years Day Aunt Connie had us all over for brunch. We still didn't know when Lucy and Brad were coming back from Hawaii and school started the next day so we were planning the babysitting schedule.
"Mark is taking tomorrow and Friday but we've got to work something out for next week in case Lucy isn't back by then." Danny was writing down the schedule.
"I told you guys I could handle next week too if you need me. I don't go back to law school until the middle of the month."
"You shouldn't have to spend your whole vacation babysitting, Mark. Billy and I can each take ay least one day off. After all, they are our kids."
"It's no problem, Danny. I love the boys and normally I don't get to spend much time with them between school and work." I meant it, too. These people were my family and I loved them all.
"I can take as much time off from school as you need me for, guys."
"Forget it, Charles, you're not missing any school."
"But I want to help, too, Billy."
"We're sure you do, but you help plenty all the time. It more important for you to go to school."
In the end we decided that Billy, Danny and Aunt Connie would each take one day off next week and I would cover the other two, but as soon as we had the schedule set Lucy called with the news that we wouldn't need it. Brad had been released from the hospital and they would be flying back Friday, arriving in Newark Saturday morning. Even though the Uncle Bill had arranged for a limo to pick them up we all wanted to go to meet them at the airport.
We all got up early and had breakfast at Aunt Connie's Saturday morning. She had offered to baby-sit but Charles insisted that she go to the airport. Since he had never met Brad he was the one who could wait at home. I knew that I would have gone to the airport even if I'd had to walk. A big part of my life had died the day Brad disappeared. He was finally coming home and I was whole again.
Danny drove Aunt Connie's big Buick sedan. They weren't taking any chances on their old junk breaking down. We were all waiting at the gate when their plane taxied up. Uncle Bill and Aunt Marcie were the first ones off, followed by Lucy and Brad. He looked like a skeleton with his uniform just hanging on him. He smiled when he saw us and my heart nearly exploded. I ran up to him and hugged him tight and began crying like a baby. He held me tight and kissed me on the cheek.
"I missed you, man. I'm so glad to be home."
We just stood there a minute, hanging onto each other. I finally let him go and Billy and Danny took turns hugging him. Aunt Connie finally got a turn to welcome him home. By that point we all had tears running down our faces. We walked together toward the baggage claim. It seemed like we were all talking at once. After they got their bags we had to separate again. They got in the limo and we went out to the car in the parking lot. Uncle Bill had the limo go to Morristown and Brad got out with Lucy. As tired as he was he wanted to spend some time with us before going home.
Charles was in the living room with Ty and Jase. He definitely looked ill at ease as he was introduced to Brad and tentatively held out his hand. Brad pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I've heard so much about you the last few days, Charles. I think I'm going to like having such a great new little brother."
Charles relaxed a lot after that though he still didn't talk much. Knowing his shyness it would be a while. Lucy had gone to Tyler and Jason as soon as she came into the house. Brad turned toward the boys. Billy and Danny each picked one up and introduced them to Brad. Brad took each one, looked him over, gave him a kiss and then gave him back to his father.
"They're amazing, Lucy. They've both got your coloring, and even though I can see Danny in Tyler and Billy in Jason, they still look like brothers. They honestly do look like they have three parents."
"Now they've got four, Brad. We're all family."
I looked around the room and saw a family that was finally happy, finally whole.