"Man, this place is going to be crowded," Scott said as he and Greg watched TV in the den.
"If Jeff and Jeremy agree to move in it will be," Greg replied.
"Do you think they will?"
"Who knows, they might like their privacy."
"How do you feel about it?"
"I think it is a good thing. David graduates this year. Nathan, Philip and I will be gone the next so this place will seem pretty lonely."
"I guess, but don't parents like having the nest empty."
"You've seen my dad."
"Yeah, he is a real party animal. You leaving would just mean more fun for him," Scott said in reference to Andrew.
"Not my real dad, but Josh? dad dad."
"Ok? makes me wish just one of them called himself the wife."
"And who would that be?" Greg laughed? thinking Scott would say Josh.
"Andrew of course? he is my dad's bitch."
"Hey!" Greg said offended.
"It's true. While you and he have not been talking, my dad has been telling me everything."
"I don't think I want to know," Greg sighed.
"Well, you need to know. You're his son, he might listen to you."
"Ok tell me then, but don't give me the gory details."
"Alright? your dad has been having risky sex with people I wouldn't even touch for fear of catching something."
"But you said my dad was only sleeping with your father."
"Yeah? and you know how many different men my dad sleeps with in a week. By sleeping with my dad, your father is sleeping with all of them when it comes to STDs."
"How bad is it?"
"Well, let me just say your dad just had to start treatment for herpes."
"No?" Greg said in disbelief. "How long have you known and why has he not told me."
"I learned when I went to my dad's bathroom looking for condoms. I noticed that next to my dad's pills were now Andrews."
"So your dad had herpes and didn't warn my father."
"Yep? that's just how my father is? you sleep with him at your own risk."
"I need to go back," Greg said nervously as he got off the couch.
"Go back where?"
"Back to your place," Greg said, still refusing to call the place home.
"Alright, but you know they are having one of their parties tonight."
"I don't care? I need to talk to my dad," Greg said as the tears grew in his eyes.
"Damn? I know I should not have told you."
"SCOTT! He is my father. I have a right to know. Who else in that house cares about him? He's not your dad and your father is just making things worse."
"Well for the past month you've not cared about him much as well."
"I know? and looked what happened. Please Scott, we need to go back."
The last thing Scott wanted to do was go back to the hellhole that was his home. Greg and his family had been good for him. He no longer let the football team take advantage of him. With Greg he had found new respect for himself and his body. Josh was the dad he always wanted and Robert was a perfect mentor. He was half tempted to just stay here when it was time for Greg to go back to his real dad's home but Scott knew that back home, he was the only one looking out for Greg.
After making a quick apology to Josh and Robert as they came down the stairs with Jeff, Scott drove Greg back home where the party was just getting started. Scott sighed with relief that the partiers were still in the getting drunk and stoned stage and still had their clothes on. Not seeing Andrew, Scott pulled Greg up to the second floor to his dad's bedroom where the sounds of sex were easily heard.
"Andrew get out here? your son needs to see you," Scott said angrily as he banged on the door."
"What the hell are you doing here?"" Edward, Scott's father, shouted back.
I need to talk to you, dad," Greg said in a nervous voice.
After hearing some grumbling the door opened, but not to Andrew. It was Vale, the in-house shrink, wrapped in a bathrobe. "What are you kids up to?" He snickered as he blocked the doorway with his body.
"I want to see my dad," Greg said as he looked up at the tall man's face.
"Well he's busy. We are all busy."
"I don't care I need to talk to him."
"Well, you are not going to, you brat?" Vale tried to reply but was stopped when Scott tackled him backwards into the bedroom.
Greg walked in while Vale and Scott continued to wrestle on the floor. He saw his dad? really saw him for the first time since he moved here. His body was in the best shape it had been in years, but his face looked older? haggard.
"Dad, I need to talk to you," Greg said, taken aback by his father's face.
"Alright?" Andrew sighed as he got out from under the sheets with Edward.
Not bothering to put on any clothes, Andrew walked past Scott and Vale as they continued to fight and led his son upstairs to Greg's own room. Locking the door behind him, Andrew went to Greg's bed and laid down.
"What is it you want to talk about, Greg?" Andrew asked in a tired voice.
"Scott told me you now have herpes. Is that true?"
"Yes?" Andrew sighed.
"Dad? why didn't you tell me."
"You seemed to be happy not talking to me."
"Yes dad, I am mad at you but I'm still your son. I love you, dad."
"Glad that someone still does," Andrew sighed as he patted the spot next to him. He waited till Greg was lying next to him before continuing. "I guess I screwed things up? didn't I."
"You were acting a little crazy."
"I know and I'm sorry Greg for all this. If you want to live with Josh I understand. You don't have to come back here ever again."
"But dad? what about you."
"Greg? you only know half the truth. I do have herpes, but I also have AIDS."
"No!" Greg cried as he pounded on his father's chest.
"It's ok, son," Andrew tried to comfort.
"No, it's not. Whom did you get it from! Why were you not safe!"
"It doesn't matter who I got it from. It won't change the fact that I now have this illness. You know? with today's drugs I can live for a?"
"No dad, no? this can't be happening!" Greg continued to cry.
"It is, son, and we have to deal with it? at least I have Edward and Vale so I won't be alone."
"Edward and Vale are also infected?" Greg said with raised eyebrows. "They infected you? those bastards infected you!" Greg shouted as he went back to pounding on his father's chest.
"It was my fault. I chose to have sex with them without a condom. I joined them in their sex parties. I was lucky though, I caught it early. I kept on bugging Edward for the two of us to get tested. I knew he had herpes and I felt I could deal with that, but when we both came up positive for AIDs? well as you can imagine I was shocked. Edward wasn't though? he immediately blamed Vale. Vale would join us in threesomes at least once a week. Edward insisted that Vale get tested or be kicked out. Vale agreed and came up positive with a more advanced case than either I or Edward have.
"And you were in bed with him just now?" Greg said not understanding.
"It's not like I have much choice in men anymore, son. I'm not going to infect another person, so the only person I can be with is another guy who is positive. Edward knows the same, as a lawyer I have warned him of his legal liability if he knowingly infects another person. I've told Vale the same, but I don't think I had the same effect on him as Edward. So the good news is that I now have a boyfriend who can't leave me," Andrew chuckled.
"Dad? Josh did not leave you."
"No? but he wanted to. He might of never consciously thought it but deep down he wanted to leave me for Robert. How ironic? Robert turned down marrying Josh because he caught syphilis?. I leave Josh and I catch AIDs. Now I can't go back to him even if I wanted to."
"Dad? do you want to go back to Josh?"
"I love him, Greg?" Andrew began to cry. "I loved him so much that it hurt when I knew he didn't love me as much. I wanted to hurt him like I felt he hurt me. I used you to do that and I'm sorry."
"Dad? you can still ask Josh to move back in."
"Knowing Josh, he would let me come back but not as his lover. I would just be the sick friend everyone takes pity on."
"But he is your family, dad? you need your family right now."
"I can't, Greg? at least not right now."
"Come over for Thanksgiving then. I can't remember a Thanksgiving where you didn't carve the turkey."
"I'll come, Greg? if they will have me."
"Talk to uncle Mike too. You know he has all those connections in the drug industry."
"I'll do that? he cured Robert. Who knows, he might have an early trial cure for AIDS."
"Ok Dad. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"You can give me a hug."
"Ok?" Greg said but hesitated on hugging his naked father.
"Here let me do this." Andrew smiled as he reached behind him, grabbed the pillow and used it to cover his groin.
"Thanks?" Greg said as he climbed on to of his dad and hugged him. "I might be mad at you but I still love you, dad."
"I know? I love you too, son, and I so sorry that all this happened."
"We'll survive," Greg said as he let his tears fall on his father's face
Jeremy had not believed Josh at first when he explained what had happened. Jeff just seemed to be in one of his daddy fantasy modes he would always get into after sex but after Josh explained some of Jeff's complicated past Jeremy began to relax.
Dinner was a noisy affair. Dan announced that he was looking for an apartment. He felt it would be easier for him to date guys outside the family environment. This made things simple for Jeremy and Jeff. They could move into the now empty room and sublease their apartment to Dan. As there was no space for Jeremy's collection of Ken dolls and musical posters, most of their things would be put into storage. Robert announced to the family that starting this summer he and Josh would start construction of a new home in either Florida or California. He didn't expect the others to make a decision tonight but he wanted them to think about moving with them after Nathan and Greg graduated for high school. Mike, whose business was based in Kansas, said that he would have to remain here till he retired but as soon as that happened he wanted a place with Josh and Robert. This meant that Patrick would do the same. Jessica said she was unsure, raising the hopes of everyone else that she would remain behind. Nathan, who wanted to remain close to home, began to ask Robert questions about colleges in California. Philip, not sure what he was going to do said he would go wherever they went. For the two new members, Jeff and Jeremy, the idea of leaving Kansas for sunnier shores excited both of them.
This left only David. David had been thinking he would either take a year off or go to KU so that he could remain close to Nathan until he too graduated. Then the two of them could discuss where they would go to school. With news of the move, however, it now seemed that David would have to be ready for two possible options? California or Florida. Between the two, David would have to prefer California as they had a better university system. He hoped uncle Josh considered the same when looking for a firm to buy out.
It took a while for everyone, including Josh and Jeremy, to get used to Jeff calling Josh dad at every opportunity? how are you, dad? dad, can you please pass the salt? Josh is my dad you know? dad, can I have an extra slice of pie? Jeremy felt his boyfriend had reverted to a child, which Josh had, warned him would happen. Jeff was going back to the day when his life had gone so wrong, trying to relive his childhood as if nothing had gone wrong. In many ways Jeff had been stuck in his childhood, and only by going through the emotions would he be able to move on. Jeremy just wished sometimes that it was him that Jeff would call dad, but as Josh explained that Jeremy's role was to be the understanding lover. The problem was Jeremy was not feeling much love when Jeff's eyes seemed glued to his new dad.
Jeremy complained to Josh about this while Jeff helped the other kids with the dishes. "I don't know if this is going to work out."
"What? getting cold feet already." Josh grinned as he and the other gown ups drank coffee.
"No? it's just that I know Jeff. He wants to get you into bed and he can be very persistent when he wants something."
"Just like most kids," Josh said knowingly. The fact remains that I'm the parent and parents don't sleep with their kids. It's going to take some time but Jeff will finally see that. You, Jeremy, are more important to this than I am."
"I don't see how."
"You are his lover and more importantly the one person he does not see as a father figure."
"Because I'm such a child myself."
"No? how can I say this? your campy personality lets him see you as something more."
"You mean that my flaming gay persona is so outrageous that not even he can take me seriously as a father," Jeremy translated.
"Yes?" Josh admitted "But that is a good thing. You are the one person in his sexual past that he has had a normal relationship with."
"I guess that's good."
"Jeremy, if you fear that Jeff does not love youm wait till you get him back in bed. He has had many father's but you are his only lover."
"Awww? you are making me blush."
"Well it's true," Josh said as he patted Jeremy on the back.
"Ok? but I think it's going to be slow going? I think Jeff thinks that Dan is moving out tonight and that he gets to sleep over."
"Ya'll can sleep in the den," Josh offered.
"With my back? hell no. Jeff can sleep over though."
"Thanks?" Josh smiled sensing trouble.
"You know he's going to test you? make you try to prove to him that you love him."
"I know? the kids tried that all the time with me."
"But he is a grown adult with a child's emotional maturity."
"Yes? which means that sexual feelings will get mixed up when he feels loved."
"If it takes sleeping with him to get him healed, you have my permission."
"Jeremy, if I have sex with him it would mean that I failed."
"I know? but I also know that it would make him happy, at least in the short run."
"It is his long-term happiness that we are worried about though."
"Thanks Josh? most guys just think Jeff is weird. You're the first one he has come on to who has offered to really help him."
"It's what family is all about."
"Not my family," Jeremy sighed.
"Your family is just the people you chose to have part of it. You have your family that you are born with but beyond that it's all up to you."
"Becoming a part of your family is the greatest honor you could give a guy like me? thanks."
"It's an honor to have you as a member."
"Well? I don't know how much honor I will bring to your family but?" Jeremy started to joke but was stopped when the front door banged open and the sound of Greg crying filled the house."
"Dad!" Greg called out, triggering Josh to run over to him, leaving Jeremy behind.
"What is it Greg?" Josh asked as he took Greg away from Scott and into his arms.
"It's dad!" Greg cried.
"What is going on? ya'll left for Andrew's but didn't say why."
Scott, whose right eye was swelling from his confrontation with Vale, didn't know what to say.
"Will one of you tell me what happened?"
"I don't know? he and his father went upstairs to talk. When Greg came back down he insisted we go back home right away. We were halfway back when he began balling like crazy.
"Tell me why you went there in the first place," Josh pressed.
"I don't know if I should tell you? it is a little private."
"Scott? Greg is clearly upset and I would like to know why."
"Uhmmmm?" Scott hesitated.
"Well?" Josh pressed, wanting to get to the bottom of things.
"Andrew has herpes?" Scott finally confessed.
"NOOOOooooooooooo!" Greg wailed.
"Greg, it's ok? herpes is not that bad."
"Nooooo? not herpes."
"Andrew does not have herpes?" Scott asked confused.
"Dad? please? I need to be alone with you."
"Ok Greg? Josh said as he led his adoptive son up the stairs. Robert, who had been nearby, made to join them but Josh waved him away. If Greg wanted them to be alone, then alone they would be.
As soon as the bedroom door was closed, Greg got under the sheets and covered his face with a pillow. Josh sighed, sad at seeing his son so upset. He did not know what was wrong and therefore whether he could do anything about it but he would try like always.
Joining Greg on the bed, Josh stroked his now short blond hair. "You want to tell me what is wrong now."
"Yes? Dad is sick."
"He has herpes?"
"Yes, but that is not the bad part dad has? dad has?" Greg was unable to finish.
Josh could only think of one thing Andrew could have that would disturb Greg in this manner. As he knew that Greg could not say the word, Josh said it for him. "AIDS?"
"Yes? Greg whimpered."
Josh let himself sink under the sheets as well, the tear building up in his eyes. Josh had known people with AIDS, people who later became his friends, but this was the first time a person he had loved had caught the disease.
"I'm sorry, dad," Greg said as he switched from clinging to the pillow to Josh's arm.
"Is he ok?" Josh asked between the falling tears.
"He sees fine. He is in an early stage of the illness."
"Ok? did you tell him to see Mike?"
"Yes?"
"Will he?"
"I don't know? he feels bad about everything."
"I bet he does," Josh said before he could stop himself. This triggered more crying from Greg. "I'm sorry that was a stupid thing for me to say."
"It's ok, dad? I'm mad at him as well."
"So what are his plans?"
"Since he and Edward? his lover? are both infected, dad feels that Edward will never turn him away."
"I see? so he doesn't want to come back home?"
"He said no, but I think he does," Greg replied.
"He is welcome to come back," Josh sighed.
"Thanks, dad. Can he come over for Thanksgiving so he can at least cut the turkey?
"He can come, but I think that Robert has his heart on cutting the turkey. You should have seen him with the baked chickens."
"Ok I'll tell dad, he can come over but he can't cut the turkey. Dad? can I spend the night here."
"Of course you can? you still have your room."
"No? I mean sleep here with you and Robert."
Robert and Josh had been hoping to enjoy a good night of sex but seeing the sadness in Greg's eyes told Josh that his son's needs came first. "Ok? but I have to warn you? we both snore."
"That's ok? I'm just scared? dad is going to die? you'll be my only father soon."
"Not for a long time. The drugs can keep Andrew going for many years to come and they might find a cure."
"Dad? they don't even have a vaccine. I don't think there will be a cure for those already infected in my lifetime."
"Maybe, Greg, but we have to keep our hopes up."
"Dad? I'm so scared," Greg said as he tighten his hold on him.
"I'm scared too. It hurts when those you love are in pain."
Josh remained stroking Greg's hair until he was sure he was asleep. Getting up carefully Josh left the bedroom and went searching for Robert. He found him and Mike sipping beers in the kitchen.
"You're up late," Josh said to Mike.
"Well, Patrick gave me strict instructions. I'm not to go to bed until I learn what all the ruckuses was about."
"Then I better tell you? Andrew has AIDS," Josh said getting right to the point.
"Damn? well, that will give Patrick some nightmares. I'll leave the two of you to talk it out? goodnight," Mike said as he left the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, Josh," Robert said as he hugged his lover.
"He's going to die," Josh let himself cry. "Andrew is going to die, Greg will lose his father and it's all my fault."
"Why do you say that?" Robert said concerned.
"If I had been a good enough of a husband he would have never left and gotten infected."
"Josh, you know why Andrew had to go. None of us were happy under the old arrangement."
"But is us being together worth his life?"
"Josh? you know that's not true? or at least I hope you don't blame yourself that way. Yes? you and I just feeling the way we did about each other drove Andrew away but that was his problem not ours. And even if you do see that as your fault, you can't blame yourself for the risky sex Andrew was having? for that he only has himself to blame."
"I just feel so bad," Josh said as he cried against Robert's chest.
"I know you do, babe, but we'll get over it. I'm losing a friend as well, you know. I would have been perfectly happy sharing you with Andrew but some things are not meant to be."
"I want him to move back home," Josh sighed as he let Robert rub his back.
"That's fine? it might be a good thing as he would have family taking care of him. I can confidently say I don't think you will be slipping into his bed."
"I might want to hold him though."
"Like you used to hold me when Andrew was still around?"
"Yes?" Josh admitted.
"I can live with that. Knowing Andrew, he feels untouchable. He will need to know that people can still love him."
"Greg is going to invite him over for Thanksgiving."
"What, but I still get to cut the turkey? right?"
"Yes, you get to cut your precious turkey," Josh chuckled.
"You know what you need right now?"
"No? but I bet you are going to tell me."
"Yep? I think you need several hours of loving," Robert said as he slipped a hand down Josh's pants and rubbed his ass.
"Mmmmmm, that sounds nice, but we have a guest in our bed."
"Jeff?" Robert said with raised eyebrows.
"No, Greg? he asked if he could spend the night in our bed. I know we had other plans, but?"
"It's ok, Josh, no need to apologize. I said I wanted to be a dad and darn it I will take the bad as well as the good."
"That means you have to wear underwear to bed."
"OK?" Robert sighed.
"And a t-shirt," Josh added, ready for the complaints.
"Hell no? I'm not wearing a t-shirt to bed."
"Robert?"
"Oh come on, Josh, I find them so uncomfortable."
"Just for one night, Rob."
"Ok?but as soon as Greg is out of bed you owe me a week of going commando."
"Fine" Josh laughed
After giving Josh a final good squeeze the two of them made their way upstairs to the bedroom. Greg was still asleep, snoring lightly. While one watched over Greg the other would shower. Robert found the largest t-shirt he could find in the hope that the bagginess would help him forget it was there but when he tried hugging Josh goodnight he missed the feel of skin on skin contact so he tossed it for one of his tighter ones.
After giving Josh a test hug and liking the feel, it only now became a question of who was going to sleep where. Josh first suggested that they sleep with Greg in the middle but that would mean that Robert could not assume his favorite sleeping position which was spooned up behind Josh. Seeing that Robert had given up enough by letting Greg sleep in the bed and agreeing to wear clothes Josh relented. Josh would sleep in the middle, Robert's arms wrapped around his waist . As soon as they got settled, Greg turned to face Josh. He grabbed hold of his dad's arm again and nuzzled up close so their foreheads touched.
"Good night, son," Josh sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Night, dad."
It was a lonely night for Scott. He had waited in Greg's bedroom for Greg to show up but he never did. After midnight Scott went looking for him but had no luck in any of the common areas. This led him to the private offices where David and Nathan slept. Guessing that Nathan was most likely in bed with David, he knocked on the door of what had been Robert's office.
"Yes? David's naked torso popped out a few seconds later.
"Have you seen Greg?"
"Ummmm no?" David said. He was careful to not expose his lower half.
"You and Nathan having a little fun?" Scott grinned.
"Yeah? you can say that." David blushed."
"Man? I bet Philip feels left out."
"Who says anything about me being left out?" Philip showed up jumping on David's back, kissing him on the cheek.
"So where's Nathan?" Scott asked.
"I'm here." Nathan grinned as he hugged both Philip and David from behind.
"So ya'll are really a threesome."
David knew how he felt but wanted Nathan to answer. "Nate?"
"Yes we are?"
"But how? David I know you are crazy about Nathan," Scott said confused.
"Philip?" David passed the explanation.
"I'm allowed to join them because I know where I stand with them," Philip explained.
"Which is?" Scott asked.
"I'm their best friend? no more, no less. David and Nate, on the other hand, are lovers pure and simple. They love me but not in the same way they love each other."
"But don't you wish they loved you more?"
"Nope," Philip said as he kissed the back of David's neck. "Right now I need friends and family, and a pair of good bed buddies, a lover can wait."
"Man? I don't know if Greg and I could be like that."
"Well, Greg is different," Nathan agreed.
"You mean insecure," Scott replied.
"Yes? he needs to know he has all your love? just like his father. You need to know that," Nathan explained.
"I'm learning?" Scott agreed in reference to cutting out his team sex.
"Greg is a very loving person, but very fragile. It will take a sensitive, but strong person to make him happy."
"Well I'm definitely stronger than he is but I have to work on my sensitivity. I wish he would have told me what upset him so much."
"He'll tell you when he is ready but if I had to guess where he is, it would have to be with dad."
"Sleeping in his parents' bed?" Scott said surprised.
"If he is that upset? yeah."
"Ok? so I guess I know where I need to be," Scott said as he began to leave.
"Where are you off to?" David asked.
"Going to sleep in front of their door? that way Greg will know that I care."
Well folks for those of you who love a good romance not to mention a good fantasy story as well, the Centurion and the Academy have just both gone on sale, taking around 4 dollars off the original price so now is the time to get a copy or two while you still can. Book III of the series is still going through the final planning stages but should be coming out in the near future as well. Read and enjoy.
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