Brothers Like Us

BROTHERS LIKE US

Chapter 25

By Lawrence Michael Martell

I awoke with a start. I looked at the digital clock and saw that it was 4am in the morning. I looked next to me to see Jermaine still sound asleep and snoring softly. I laid back down hoping to drift back to sleep and wondering what cased me to wake up so damn early but sleep would not come. So I slid out of bed and went into the living room, flipped the TV on and was watching TV Land and just thinking. Thinking about what had happened and what changes and things had taken place. Here I was sprung over a brotha that I peeped jacking off in the locker room of the gym and now we were all into each other and with the exception of a few things still at my place I had all but moved in with him. Not only am I crazy about this man but his son, Jermaine, Jr, who is the spitting image of his handsome daddy and will be a heartbreaker as well. The more time I spend with both my Jermaine's the more I fall more and more in love with both of them. I now knew how Mo-Mo felt. It is amazing to watch these little people as they go through this world with this wide eyed wonder and none of the preconceived ideas and prejudices. Always full of questions, always awed and in wonder of the miracles of life and seeing adults as people who can do no wrong. Mo-Mo and Jermaine are fine example of fathers raising sons and being role models makes you wonder why we never see these guys being held up as the prime example of fatherhood instead of those deadbeat dads out there. Even though Jermaine says that I would be a father to J.J, my nick for Jermaine, Jr, I can't help but wish I had a son of my own. A little image of me. What would I teach him? What would I show him? I don't know but I would do the best I could and follow the example of men like Mohammed and Jermaine.

The show on TV Land went off and I still wasn't sleepy. I walked into the kitchen and poured me a glass of lemonade and started channel surfing for something to make me sleepy that was when I ran across a wrestling match. I started to turn the channel when I recognized one of the men in the ring as Sonny. I watched the match as he was wrestling some big masked man and was whipping his ass. As I watched him move in the ring like some big, burly and yet graceful dancer I could see one reason why Mo-Mo was sprung over this guy. That got me thinking about Mohammed and the changes he had gone through. Getting Brett out of his life, meeting Sonny and then dealing with Jamal and his accident and recovery and then dealing with Teena and the changes she's going through, all for the better as it appears. Mohammed is a good brotha the kind of brotha who you want on your side no matter what. He loves without condition and all he wants is the same thing back. I'm glad he found that in Sonny and now he has Jamal with him and it seems that his life is going great.

The match ended and I continued my surf and landed on some movie on Showtime but I was only half way watching. I started thinking about the twins, Sean and Shane. They had gone through so much more than any two people should ever go through. Sean's rape effected both of them in ways that neither one was aware of. Even if they weren't twins I know that they would still be as close as they are. I know Sean's going to the counseling groups have been helping him deal with the situation of his rape and to reconcile those feelings. It dawned on me that there are men out there who have been and are in Sean's same situation and kept it all to themselves. I mean how many men would even report being raped? Our society doesn't make it easy to do that. The fact that Sean went through it and refused to be a silent victim was a testament to his strength and determination. The situation ended in a way that none of us would have nor could have imagined. The rapist murdered, killed by Shane's boyfriend, Victor and then Victor killed by the cop investigating the rape of Sean and the subsequent murder of the rapist. God it was like some sick soap opera or an episode of Jerry Springer. I was concerned about Sean though. He had changed since the rape some good and some bad. I prayed for him every night and day since he was raped that he would survive this and so far he had. The explosive fight between him and Shane was something that I had never seen between them before. After it had happened and the twins had left we all kind of sat and talked about the situation. It was terrible all the way around for them and everyone close to them. Shane having seventy-five thousand dollars, that Victor had left him, in the house did concern me. What if some of Victor's former associates found out about it or even knew about it? It was dangerous business. Yes, I never really cared for Victor and I wasn't crazy about Shane getting back with him but that wasn't my place or business to say anything about it. Or was it? I mean, am I my brother's keeper? If I knew Victor was HIV positive would I have kept that to myself and not even say something to Shane? Damn it was too damn early in the morning to be so philosophical. I was about to get up when I heard someone at the door. It was probably Andre coming back in, I flipped off the TV and was about to go back to my bedroom with Jermaine when I heard voices. One was Andre's and the other I didn't know but it sounded familiar. Very familiar.

"I'll be right back." Andre was saying. "I just have to get a few things."

"Okay, you need any help?" said the other voice, definitely male.

"Naw man. It won't take long."

"You want me to stand out here and wait?" There was a pause as if Andre was checking to see if the coast was clear. Andre hadn't told me about this man in his life and I had not said anything else about it. He would tell me when he was ready.

"Naw man. C'mon into the living room." Andre said. Shit, I was in the living room, I didn't want Andre to think I was spying or anything. I was going to sneak right out before Andre and his company could get to the living room and discover me when the lights suddenly came on. Andre saw me standing in the living room in my BVDs and his eyes grew wide.

"Eric? Whatcha doin'?" He asked as he looked back at someone. I was quick to explain. "Dre man! I couldn't sleep and I came in here and when I heard you coming in I was trying to get to my room before...Oh shit." My jaw dropped open as Detective Julien Linton rounded the corner. Andre's expression changed as he looked at Julien and then me and then back at Julien. Was this Andre's new man? Detective Linton didn't look like he was on duty. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a football jersey. He looked like a man who had had some hot sex and he wore it well. There was a long awkward silence as we stood there looking at each other. It was Julien Linton that broke the silence.

"Hello, I'm Julien Linton." It sounded so matter of fact it was ridiculously funny and I couldn't help but laugh. Here I was in my underwear in the middle of the living room facing my college friend and room mate and one of the detectives that was investigating a crime against and involving another friend. My laughter was contagious as Julien laughed and Andre followed as well. We laughed loud and hard and that was when Jermaine came in, a concerned and puzzled look on his face. I explained what had happened and he shook his head and laughed too.

Thirty minutes later Andre and Julien were gone. Andre promised that he and I would have a long talk and all I could do was smile. Jermaine and I went back to bed. I looked down at all the monopoly money on the bedroom floor. The money we had made love on. He looked at me and smiled.

"There's a few thou left here." He said as he bent over and sprinkled the monopoly money all over my bed. I couldn't help but smile back and my dick began to twitch as I picked up the money around me and put it on the bed as well. We crawled on the bed and on top of the money. We looked into each other's eyes and kissed. It started off soft and slowly but the longer the lip lock lasted the more harder the passion between us went. My dick was rock hard and ready for action and my ass itched for Jermaine to do what he does so well. Jermaine began kissing down my chest, sucking on my nipples and making me moan.

"OOOh...yeah baby...yeah." I could feel his hands moving up and down the side of my body as he sucked my nipples going from one to the other and the back to the first one. I ran my fingers over and through the hair on his head. My baby knew how to use his lips, mouth and tongue just as well as he knew how to work that dick of his. He began moving down my body stopping at my belly button and tickled it with his tongue. There was a ticklish sensation as well as an erotic sensation that drove me wild as I arched my back. My dick was dripping pre cum and my ass was hot for Jermaine's dick. He moved down my body further and was between my legs. He began playing with my balls with one hand and jacking my dick with the other. I laid back as he went to work on my dick. He was pumping my dick so hard that I could feel myself close to coming.

"Oh Shit...Oh Shit...b...baby...don't make me come yet." I pleaded. I felt his hand leave my balls and start fingering my ass. Oh shit that was driving my crazy but I was fighting myself to keep from coming. I didn't want to come now. I want to feel Jermaine in me before I came. I wanted us connected before we both came.

"J...Jermaine...put it in...oh baby...put it in...please." I was begging. I knew I couldn't last much longer. Jermaine didn't make me wait. I felt his dick at my ass and I couldn't wait. He spread my ass cheeks and I could feel him gently put his big dick into my ass. I spread my legs wide and then gripped my ankles to spread my ass even wider. I wanted Jermaine deep in me.

"Ahhhh yeah..." I felt his dick slide right in and hit that 'spot'. I began squeezing my ass around his dick and rotating my hips.

"AHHHH SHIT!" Jermaine shouted. I smiled, I had him right where I wanted him doing what he loved for me to do. I wrapped my legs around his neck and pushed my ass against him. That drives him wild.

"Love me...work that dick in baby!" I said as wiggled and worked and rocked his world.

"Damn baby...damn baby...do that shit...do it!" Jermaine yelled out as I continued to work my magic on his dick. Jermaine was bucking as he was fucking. He was holding on to my thighs but he wasn't in control anymore, I was. I arched my back and I could feel his dick in me. I smiled as I slowly rolled onto my side.

"Oh no..." Jermaine said, he knew what I was about to do. His dick was still in me as I turned one more time until I was my stomach with my ass in the air...yep doggie style and I jammed my ass back against him as he rammed his dick into me.

"Ahhhh DAAAAAMN!" Jermaine growled as he fucked my ass like a mad man. It felt fucking good, it felt absolutely fucking good!

"Do it baby! Do it baby!" I was encouraging him on. I wanted Jermaine and I to come together and once I felt him come in my ass I knew I'd blow too.

"Ahhh shit...yeah...ooh that ass...that ass...I love that ass." Jermaine was babbling and when my baby babbles that means only one thing.

"You gonna come baby? You gonna come baby?" Jermaine started smacking my ass as he thrusted in deeper and harder. "OH YEAH! OH YEAH!"

"Come for me baby!" I chanted. I was ready to come and I knew that it wouldn't take me long before I was going to come all over the bed and money.

"S...Shit...I...I'm...AHHHHH..." Jermaine was about to let it go.

"Yeah baby...do it baby...give it me..."

"Ahhh shit...ahhh shit...fuck...fuck...I'm...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Jermaine came like a motherfucker and when he did...

"YESSSSS...OOOOOOOH AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" My body jerked and jacked as hot come shot out my dick. Jermaine didn't remove his dick from my ass, which I didn't mind cause I liked to feel his dick getting soft in my ass. He laid on top of me his arms wrapping around me. He kissed my neck and whispered in my ear how much he loved me. Yeah and that was how I fell asleep and brothers that's the best way to sleep if you ask me. With the man you love saying I love you in your ear.

Shane and Sean went to the bank where Victor's note said there was a safe deposit box. Shane wanted Sean to be there when he opened the box. Inside the box was a video tape as Errol had told Shane and a sealed legal envelope that had confidential marked on it in red. Shane pulled out the video tape and the envelope and handed them to Sean as he closed the safety deposit box. He then took the envelope and opened it. Inside were a bunch of financial documents. There was also a letter from Victor inside. Shane read the letter aloud

Mon Cher,

If you are reading this then something has happened to me very bad and Errol has done what I asked him to do for me a long time ago. Shane, I know that things between us in the past was not always right and I wasn't always right to you. What I'm giving you may not erase the bad things I have done but I hope that you will make good things happen with it. I know it's a lot and you are going to need some help. There is a man at First Community bank who will help you set up the accounts, that's those documents that were in the envelope. Now, I know that your brother probably thinks this money is all drug money.

Shane turned to Sean and they smiled.

Well, it's all straight so don't worry about that. Remember when I was telling you I was working with a singing group, trying to get them a deal and all? Well, this is where that money came from. I guess that's all except for this, I love you. I always have and I always will. Be happy, baby. Be happy.

Shane folded up the letter and put it back in the envelope as he wiped his eyes. Sean went to his brother and embraced him in a tight hug and they held each other long and tight. Shane looked at the paper work looking for the name of the man Victor had mentioned in his letter. He found the name and he and Sean left the room where the bank personnel had left them and Shane went to one of the tellers.

"Is Mr. Tate here?" Shane asked. The teller answered yes, smiled and dialed a number. A few short seconds a light skinned man in his late thirties walked out. He was wearing a very expensive gray suit and wore a very eager to please smile. He introduced himself as Jerome Tate. Shane introduced who he and Sean were and showed them the paper work that Victor had left him. He escorted both brothers into his office and explained what Victor had set up.

An hour later Shane and Sean left the bank everything in place that Victor had set up and the money he'd left now secure in several investment accounts that would provide Shane financial security.

"Do you think I could come to one of your group meetings?" Shane asked as they drove home. As they pulled up to a traffic light Sean turned to his brother.

"What did you say?"

"Could I come to one of your group meetings?" Shane asked again. The light changed color and they pulled off. "I don't know Shane..."

"Hey," Shane began, "I can handle it." Sean shook his head. "It's not that it's just that...I'd have to ask I mean I don't think the group is set up for family members to come." Shane looked out the car window at the traffic going by. "Sean...when you were raped...it was like I was raped." Sean looked at Shane, stunned. "How do you figure that?" Shane took his brother's hand in his. "Cause you were in pain and there was nothing I could do about. That punk ass...hurt you...my brother and I wanted to...I wanted to..."

"Kill him." Sean answered for him. Shane went silent. "I wanted to kill him. I wanted to kill him so bad..."

"And Victor did what we couldn't do...he did what we were afraid to do." Shane remarked. Tears rolled down Sean's face and fought back the sobs. "I wish...I wish you would have killed him." Shane looked at Sean his face stained with tears. "I wish I would have too. You are my brother...I was supposed to take care of you..."

"We are supposed to take care of each other." Sean interrupted.

"So why didn't I say something to you about meeting someone you didn't know. Meeting someone online in a private place instead of out in public." Sean shook his head. "I wouldn't have listened...Shane there is no fault on this end cause he was the bastard that did this and he got what he deserved."

"Amen to that." Shane agreed. He was silent a moment before he spoke again. "I love you Sean." Sean gripped his brother's hand tightly as the tears flowed down his face. "I love you, too."

They were about to pull into the driveway when they noticed the car parked in front of the house. It was Shane that noticed the tall, lean brother with the twist locks.

"Who is that?" Shane asked. Sean looked and couldn't help breaking out into a smile.

"That's Matthew." Sean answered. Shane let out a low whistle. "He's a handsome brother." Sean shook his head. "Stop it, Shane."

"Hey, I'm only telling the truth. What's he doing here?" Shane asked. Sean shrugged. He wasn't expecting Matthew to come to the house. As the pulled into the drive, Matthew looked at them, waved and smiled. By the time Sean and Shane got out of the car Matthew was there. He greeted Sean and Sean introduced him to Shane and Shane invited Matthew to join them in the house. They all settled down in the living room; Shane, Sean and Matthew.

"What are you doing here, Matt? Is something wrong?" Sean asked. Matthew shook his head. "No, everything is fine. I was actually in the neighborhood..." At that Shane let out a laugh that he disguised, rather weakly, as a sneeze. "OOOH! Excuse me."

"Bless you," Matthew said and continued. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I would drop by and say hello."

"Hello!" Shane said with a giggle. Sean glowered at his twin while Matthew smiled shyly.

"Shane..." Sean turned to his brother. Shane suddenly got to his feet. "You two will excuse me, I just remembered I have something to do in my room. Matthew it was nice to meet you."

"Same here." Matthew replied. Shane left them both alone in the living room and walked into his bedroom. Matthew watched him go and smiled. "He really cares for you." Sean nodded his head. "Yes, he does and I care for him too." Matthew smiled. "I can tell. How is he doing?"

"He's doing okay. He has his moments I guess but he's making it. We went to the bank today and had to take care of some business."

"Great." Sean remembered what Shane had asked him earlier and he figured he would ask.

"I have a question." He began.

"Go ahead."

"My brother wants to come to one of the group meetings, is that possible?" Matthew seemed to be thinking. After a second he smiled. "I don't see a problem with it. I'd have to ask the doc. Why do you suppose he wants to come to a meeting?"

"I'm not sure," Sean began. "I think he wants to see what it's all about and talk about how my rape and how it has affected him and our relationship."

"Yeah, like I've said, rape doesn't just happen to and affect the rape survivor but their family and friends as well." Sean had to agree. "Yeah, I'm learning that. So what should I tell my brother?"

"Tell him that we would be glad to have him attend. It will have to be next weeks meeting. Even if the doc approves it he'll want to tell the group and give those who may not want to be there when your brother is there a chance to leave." Sean made a face. "Why would they want to leave?" He asked.

"Sean, you have to understand that some of the group members may be uncomfortable with him being there and not being a victim but then again they may like it but we have to give the chance and the choice." Matthew explained. Sean smiled. "I understand." Matthew smiled back. "And remember Doc still has to approve it. We have had family members come to group meetings before and it's been pretty good. It allowed the family to see that their loved one isn't the only one to have this happen to him." Sean and Matthew talked for nearly an hour when Matthew excused himself, saying that he had to get back home. They said their goodbyes and Matthew was gone.

Shane was in his room reading over all the paperwork that he'd received from the bank and fighting the emotions and tears that over came him. When was the pain going to end? When would he stop hearing Victor's voice, smelling his scent, feeling his hands and lips on him? When was it going to end? All this pain. He missed Victor so much and he was angry with him too. Why did you have to go and get yourself killed? We were supposed to be together forever. Shane loved Victor despite the type of things Victor did, he couldn't help himself from loving him, because he knew the type of man Victor was. When they were alone he was tender and caring. Yes, they hand problems in the past. And yes, Victor had gotten physical with him before, in the past but it had changed, Victor had changed. Now he was gone and he was alone again. On impulse he made a call.

"Hello?" Momma V sounded like she was asleep. Shane suddenly felt bad for calling her.

"Momma V? It's..."

"Shane honey!" Momma V exclaimed, her voice warm, soft and filled with love. "Baby, is everything alright?" Shane couldn't stop it. Tears flowed and he sobbed hard. "I...I miss Victor." Momma V was filled with understanding. "I know baby. Momma V missed him too."

"Oh Momma V!" Shane wailed as his heart let out what he had been keeping in check for so long. Shane and Momma V stayed on the phone and cried and talked until exhausted, Shane said goodnight to her.

"Shane honey, why don't you come down here and visit us?" Momma V said before he hung up.

"Momma V...I don't know if I could impose on you like that." Shane replied.

"Now you listen to me." Momma V said. "You are family now so don't worry about imposing. Besides, I think you coming down here would be a good thing for you...and me." How could he tell her no? He nodded his head. "Okay, I understand."

"Good, I think you should come as soon as you can." She suggested.

"Well when is good for you?" There was a pause. "Have you ever been to Mardi Gras?" She asked.

Mohammed was working out in the weight room when the doorbell rang. He ignored the ringing and continued working out until the bell ringing went on. It was then that he remembered that Sonny had agreed to take Jamal to his doctor's appointment. Mohammed had wanted to go but Sonny had insisted saying that what Mohammed needed was to rest and take a break. Jamal seemed to agree with Sonny and stated that he wanted Sonny to take him. So with that Mohammed stayed home, he tried to read a little bit but he was too distracted and he decided that working out would be best.

Stopping his workout he grabbed a towel and headed to the door. It was times like this that he considered hiring a housekeeper. He was still toying with the idea of returning or retiring from professional wrestling.

The doorbell was still ringing when Mohammed got to the door. He opened the door to be greeted with the back of young man with long jet black hair.

"May I help you?" Mohammed asked. If this was a fan he was going to be pissed. The boy turned around. He was very handsome with an olive colored complexion that had been lightly tanned. He had to be no less than 6 feet tall and no more than 185 lbs. He had wide powerful shoulders and a big muscled chest, which he showed threw the thin shirt that he wore. He was wearing a pair of denim shorts, sandals with no socks, and was carrying a duffle bag. The young man looked Mohammed up and down and as a smile crawled across his face he removed his sunglasses.

"OH YEAH!" The young man said, smiling in a way that made Mohammed nervous and that turned him on. "You can really help me." Mohammed stood there waiting while this young man with the fresh mouth looked him up and down. There was something very familiar about this young man that Mohammed couldn't put his finger on. "Well?" Mohammed said impatiently. "What can I do for you?" Suddenly the young man put the palm of his right hand on Mohammed's chest. The feel of the young man's strong bare hand on his sweaty bare chest brought Mohammed to the realization he had answered the door almost naked. He had not been expecting anyone and so he was wearing only a pair of gym shorts, that were bordering on being too revealing, no shoes nor socks and ofcourse, no shirt.

"You can tell me that you are not my daddy's new boyfriend." Mohammed blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You are Mohammed Moyenda aren't you?" The young man asked with his hand still on Mohammed's chest.

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" The young man smiled and extended his left hand for Mohammed to shake with his right hand still on his chest while his pinky finger casually caressed across the erect nipple. "Keilani Dexter but I prefer Kei. I'm Sonny's son." Mohammed shook the offered hand with a surprised expression on his face. Sonny didn't tell him about his son coming. As he looked at him though the resemblance was there. This was definitely Sonny's kid.

"Hello, Kei. Your father didn't tell me..."

"Dad didn't know." Kei interrupted. Kei's eyes roamed to Mohammed's chest and the erect nipple he'd been caressing. That was when Mohammed became aware of the situation too and backed up so that Kei had to remove his hand.

"Well, how did you..."

"Dad and I talk and he told me he was staying with you. He wanted me to know where to get in touch with him just in case." Kei said.

"Just in case what?" Kei flashed a smile. The same smile that his father had. "Nothing in particular, just in case."

"Oh." Was all Mohammed could manage. Kei looked around a bit and then said. "So are you going to invite me in?" Mohammed snapped back. "Oh yes, I'm sorry...come in, please." Kei smiled and entered the house. As he walked past Mohammed the back of his hand brushed across Mohammed's dick. Mohammed ignored it and led Kei into the living room, where he sat his stuff down. Mohammed excused himself and when he returned he was wearing one of his wrestling T-shirts and a pair of jeans. Kei had turned on the satellite TV and was watching a movie with his bare feet on the sofa. Mohammed started to sit next to him but moved to his recliner instead.

"So Kei, what brings you here?" Mohammed asked. Kei pressed the mute button on the remote control and then crossed his legs underneath him. The bulge was hard to miss in Kei's pants.

"Well, I've been traveling and I hadn't seen daddy in a minute so I thought I would come and visit and meet this new man in his life." Kei smiled again and Mohammed smiled back.

"He'll be surprised." Mohammed said quickly.

"Where is dear ol' dad?" Kei asked.

"At the doctor's. He took my son in for his check up."

"Oh cool. You have a son too?"

"Yes, your father didn't tell you?"

"Nope but when we talked he went on and on about you." Kei smiled at Mohammed as he uncrossed and then crossed his legs under himself again. Mohammed couldn't help but wonder how big Kei's dick was. He stopped the thought and smiled back. "So are we stepbrothers?" Kei was saying.

"What?"

"Your son and I? Are we stepbrothers now?" Mohammed shook his head as he smiled. "Well not quite yet." Kei rubbed his chin. Suddenly he jerked up and grabbed his leg. "OW! OW! OW!" Immediately Mohammed was up and over to where Kei was sitting. "You okay? What's wrong?"

"OW OW OW! Leg cramp...leg fucking cramp!"

"Here let me." Mohammed reached for Kei's right leg and began massaging his muscular thigh. "I don't feel a cramp." Mohammed said.

"OOOH...It's there...damn...OOOH it hurts...go higher." Kei said, obviously in some kind of pain. Mohammed moved his hand up a little higher but he could still find no cramp.

"Ahhhh...keep doing that." Kei sighed. "You got it." Mohammed continued though he was certain he didn't feel a cramp. That was when he noticed the bulge twitching and the look of pleasure on Kei's face. Mohammed released Kei's leg as if it was molten lava.

"That was great. Thanks." Kei said. Mohammed got to his feet.

"No problem." Suddenly he heard the front door open and Sonny and Jamal talking.

"Hey Mo!" Sonny was saying as he made his way to the living room. "You won't believe what you son did. When we got...Kei?" Sonny stopped short as he saw his son on the sofa. Kei got to his feet slowly.

"Hi daddy!" Sonny walked over to Kei as if he was an alien, then he broke out into a huge smile and embraced his son in a big powerful hug. As the two men hugged, Jamal walked over to his father.

"Is that Sonny's son?" Jamal asked. Mohammed nodded. "Yes, that's Sonny's son." And he had best remember that. Sonny ended the embraced and held his son at arms length as he looked at him.

"Keilani, you look great. What are you doing here son? When did you get here? Why didn't you call me?"

"Dad, you're being rude. I met Mohammed but who is this?" Kei asked looking at Jamal. Sonny slapped his forehead. "Damn. Kei this is Jamal Moyenda, Mohammed's son. Jamal this is my son, Keilani but we call him Kei." Kei extended his hand to Jamal. "Sup man?" Jamal returned the handshake. He turned to his father and said something in Hawaiian and Sonny smiled and replied in Hawaiian.

"Hey...we don't speak Hawaiian." Mohammed said. Sonny giggled. "Sorry Mo. Kei just said that he could see the family resemblance. You are both handsome."

"Well thank you." Mohammed said.

"So Kei how about telling me what you are doing here? You are supposed to be with your mother?" Kei pulled a face and sat back on the sofa. "Is this what I get when I come visit my dad?"

"No...it's just that, son, you know how your mother worries." Sonny said.

"Well, in three months I will be 18 and..."

"She'll still worry. But I will lay off for now, if you assure me that she knows where you are." Sonny said. Kei looked down at his barefeet. "She will when you tell her." Mohammed sensed that this was a father and son moment between them.

"Jamal, let's go up to your room while they talk." Mohammed said. Sonny stopped them.

"No, don't...I mean this is your home, we'll take this outside." Mohammed shook his head. "No Sonny...I want you to think of this as your home too. Jamal and I will get out of your way..."

"Hold it." Kei said, getting to his feet. "I'm the uninvited one here. I'll go."

"Where are you going, Kei?" Sonny asked.

"I'll find someplace to go." Kei said putting on his sandals. Sonny looked lost as if he didn't know what to do and before Mohammed knew what he was saying he invited Kei to stay as long as he needed. Both Sonny and Kei smiled.

"But you have to tell your mother where you are and explain to your father what you are doing here." Kei looked like a little kid who had just been given permission to spend the night at a friend's house. "Okay but do I have to do it now? I'm kind of tired." Mohammed shrugged. "Okay, Jamal why don't you show Kei where the guest room is." Jamal nodded. Kei grabbed his duffle bag and followed Jamal. When both their sons were gone, Sonny walked over to Mohammed and gave him a hug and a kiss.

"Thank you." Sonny said.

"For what?"

"For opening your home to my son." Mohammed smiled. "It's our home and any family of yours is welcomed here." Sonny beamed again as he kissed Mohammed deeply and passionately.

Here I am. Sitting at my computer looking at a blank screen. Ideas a plenty in my head but for some reason I just can't put them down. Maybe it's because my mind is full of many other things? Jermaine and I are moving in together and for me that is a big commitment but it is something that we are ready to embark upon. I know that I love him and that is all that matters. Ofcourse, that means change, living with someone everyday and seeing all the sides of them but loving them anyway. Taking the good with the bad, the pretty with the ugly. Yeah, that's what it's all about. Dre is going to stay in the apartment for the time being, I'm still blown away with the whole situation with Dre and Julien Linton. This is all very new for my boy and I hope that he is taking things slow and I hope he finds happiness, like I have. So much has happened and so much has changed and yet the important things and that's the love, friendship and brotherhood that I share with Shane, Sean, Mohammed and Andre. I smile at the blessing God has given me, to have these wonderful friends in my life and the wonderful that he provided me. Amen, for that.

So what now, brothers? Live life. It's all very simple. Live life. Put God first in everything you do and just live life. Cherish your family and friends. Take time to smell the flowers. Don't worry about shit that you can't control and don't kill yourself working so hard that you can't enjoy what you have worked hard for and don't ever, ever give up on love because when you do, you just may miss one of the best things to happen in your life. Hold on brothers, I have an idea in my head and I have to put down or I will forget it.

My name is Eric and I want to tell you about my friends, my brothers...

THE END

Words from the Author:

My dear brothers and readers of Brothers Like Us. I want to thank you all for the kind words, support, positive critiques and praise for this piece of work. I want to thank you all for your patience as the chapters came...sometimes quickly and sometime very slowly. It is hard to believe that I started this more than a year ago and in that year so much for me changed. I have moved from South Carolina to North Carolina since starting this. I've gotten older, maybe a bit wiser. I have lost friends and made many more. But ending this story...or rather this part of it is an emotional one for me because, like many of you I have become attached to these characters, who to me, are alive and real. But I will be back and so will they...very soon. I am often asked which of these characters are me. The truthful answer is that they all are and they all aren't. In creating characters I try to make them believable as human beings that a reader will identify with or say "Hey I know a cat like that!" I hope that I have done that. Many people have asked me about the situations the characters have been in. 'Did you really have sex with a guy in a sauna?' Not telling stories out of school, I have had sex in some...'different' places but not in a sauna. I few situations in this story I have been in either as an active participant or as an observer but most were told to me from others experiences that I used here.

As you can tell, my work is not all about sex...though my sex scenes are very descriptive but why wouldn't it be. Who has the typical 'romance novel' sex. You know..."He took him in his manly arms and kissed him softly as the waves of their passion increased." I don't know about you but my sex life is more like...well...I think you get the idea. But I hope that you as the reader continued to read not for the hot sex scenes alone but because you enjoyed the story, the plots, the characters...okay and yeah..well the sex!

I want to send out special thanks to the following: To my 'Lil Brotha' Lester, for being a friend and a brother. To Da DL Crib and Nappyheadedboy.com for posting my work on your sites and for making sure the word got out there. To all the numerous readers and fans who emailed me and supported and encouraged me with kind words. To Nifty for posting my work without fail and ofcourse, none of this could have happened without God, who blessed me with the talent and who has been with me everyday and night of my life.

In closing let me say this. My heart is full with the response from this piece of work and I hope that when I start submitting part 2 of the "Brothers" saga that you will enjoy that work as well. There is still so much story to tell about Eric, Andre, Mohammed, Shane and Sean as well as their lovers, families and friends. I appreciate and love each of you and wish only the best. So please stay safe, take care of yourselves and each other and remember the blessings God has given us...each of us. Remember that no matter what we are all BROTHERS!

Love and God's Blessing to you all! Lawrence Michael Martell (but you can call me Mike)

Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brothers_like_us/

Let me know what you think about my work or post your own work for others to read and share.

Coming Soon: BROTHER 2 BROTHER: Part 2 of the "Brothers Like Us" saga!