"Did you ask Josh?" Mike asked when Robert came out of the kitchen a little angry.
"No? and don't bother me with that right now."
"Hey come on!" Mike grabbed Robert's arm before Robert could hurry up the stairs.
"What!" Robert almost shouted, eyes filled with frustration.
"I think we need to talk? In private."
"Fine," Robert grunted as he followed Mike to his office.
"Have a seat." Mike grinned.
Instead of chairs there was a futon on the ground and three large bean bag chairs. Robert would rather kill himself than sit on something that tacky, so he sat himself on the futon while Mike landed backwards on one of the bean chairs.
"Tell me what this is about?" Mike asked with concern in his voice. "You were supposed to ask Josh if he would be interested in a foursome with me and Patrick."
"I was going to, but then I saw the two houseboys with their shirts off and Josh standing there looking uncomfortable. I thought that was an opportunity to have some fun with Josh, but he pulled away."
"Robert? you know that Josh is very conservative, both as a person and as a sexual creature. For Josh sex is only for love. You, on the other hand, have always enjoyed sex both for love and for pleasure."
"I know," Robert said as he held his head in his hands.
"This is not a new problem, you know. You had the same problem of staying with Josh twelve years ago."
"I love Josh, I really do, it's just that the sex can be?" Robert was unable to finish.
"Monotonous? boring? uninspiring?"
"No? I would not say that. I mean we make passionate love. I just feel something is missing."
"Do you know what that 'something' is?"
"I guess I do now. I didn't know what it was until David, Nathan, and Philip became a threesome. A best friend."
"I see? you don't have any best friends, do you, Robert?"
"No I don't. When Josh and I were separated Dan was my lover and Josh was my best friend. Yes, I wanted Josh to be my lover the whole time, but with Dan now gone I feel as a part of me is missing."
"Do you want Dan to be that 'best friend'?" Mike asked.
"No? he's not the best friend type of guy."
"Do you know anyone who could be?"
"You could." Robert pointed to Mike.
"Well, I don't think that will work. You know I had feelings for Josh. No, what you need is a best friend who can love you both equally. Me?well? I could just not feel about you the way I do Josh."
"That Aidan fellow seemed to be attracted to Josh."
"Yeah? he also has those amazing violet eyes."
"Too bad he's is most likely infected," Robert pouted.
"Well, there is a lot you can do in bed besides fucking and sucking." Mike grinned.
"Yes, but you know how uptight Josh is. Worrying about getting AIDS in the process will do nothing for his libido."
"True? but you should talk to Josh about it. He too has a lot of friends, but not a best friend. Nothing like what his own son has with Philip."
"But how do I tell Josh that I want a third partner in our bed without upsetting him," Robert sighed.
"Well, tell him what you want? a best friend for you two to share but if you want my advice?" Mike left it unfinished.
"Yes?"
"Let him choose. Let him ask you to let the other person in ya'll's bed."
"But Josh will never ask me that."
"Well, if what you say is true, Josh gained you as a lover, but lost you as a best friend just like you. If he notices that kind of relationship is missing in his life he will go looking for it. Your job is to remain loyal to him until he does make that choice."
"That's just it? I don't know if Josh ever will."
"Then you have to ask yourself. What is more important to you, Josh as a friend or as a lover?"
"Lover? hands down."
"Then you have to be willing to wait," Mike said as he stood up and lifted Robert up into a hug. "Now go ask Josh if he can join us in bed tonight."
When Andrew finally came back home with the rest of the guys' clothes he was dead tired and hungry. He was glad that Josh left the turkey noodle soup on the stove and ate three bowls. He then went to the den to find Josh resting on the couch.
Josh looked so cute and peaceful with his eyes closed, head resting in his arms that Andrew had to join him. "Hey love?" Andrew smiled as he brushed Josh's hair off his forehead.
"Hey Andrew." Josh smiled.
"Why are you not in bed?" Andrew asked.
"Well, if I go to bed I know I will get into a fight with Robert."
"Awww? trouble in paradise?" Andrew chuckled softly.
"You know me? I'm such a pain as a boyfriend."
"Yeah right? why do I think this has to do with sex?" Andrew said knowingly.
"It's a major thing for Robert."
"But not you."
"No?" Josh admitted.
"Josh, are you telling me that when you see a cute guy you don't feel yourself getting a woody?"
"NO! I mean yeah but I'm not proud of it."
"That is the difference between you and Robert. Robert feels proud, excited, alive when he sees a hot guy. You, on the other hand, feel guilty."
"I'm not ashamed of being gay," Josh defended himself.
"I know, but you are afraid of sex." Andrew grinned, waiting for Josh's response.
"No I'm not!"
"Oh come on, Josh, you were well into your twenties before you even had sex. And while the sex had been good, you are very vanilla."
"Compared to Mike and Patrick maybe?" Josh admitted.
"Compared to most guys exploring their sexuality. The craziest thing you have ever done is have a threesome with me and Robert."
"That was pretty wild," Josh admitted.
"Yeah it was," Andrew agreed. "And you have never done anything like that since."
"I know," Josh agreed.
"Aren't you lonely, Josh?"
"Why do you ask that?" Josh said confused.
"Cause I was," Andrew admitted.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Josh, that I loved you like nothing else, but I was also lonely. Mike, Patrick and even Robert are great guys? friends even, but I missed the closeness of a good friend, someone I could talk to who was not you?"
"Was there stuff you didn't want to tell me?" Josh said almost hurt.
"Of course? just like you couldn't tell me how you felt about Robert. I felt I could not talk to you about my jealousy."
"I had Robert," Josh said.
"Yep, but look how things change. You and Robert are now together, but you are sleeping here to avoid talking about sex."
"You're right," Josh admitted, almost sadly. "But I have you now."
"Oh no you don't? you can't ask your ex to be your best friend. Too many emotions and biases are built up into that relationship."
"I guess I do need a best friend. But how do I go about getting one."
"You have to work at it. Find some one you feel a connection with. See if he feels the same. Let yourself get close to him without worrying about Robert. If he gets close to you as well, then you have a best friend."
"But if I let someone get that close to me?" Josh said nervously
"Yes? the two of you might end up sleeping together? especially with you being you, Josh."
"Why do you say that?"
"Josh, name one best friend you have not slept with."
"Well, I have had only three best friends."
"I know? me, Terry, and Robert and you have slept with all of us. Believe it or not, Josh, but under your conservative mask is a sexual creature who wants to make love and be loved by the men close to him."
"I can't cheat on Robert," Josh said sternly.
"I know you can't, even though I think it would do you a world of good," Andrew said as he gave Josh a peck on the check before running off to escape Josh's glare.
After getting over Andrew's annoying parting comment, Josh made his way sleepily upstairs to his own bed. All he wanted to do was undress, slip under the sheets and go to sleep, but as he expected Robert was wide awake and ready for him.
"Mike and Patrick would like us to join them. And before you go off on me?it's not for sex, just a cuddle."
"Not tonight," Josh said as he let his pants fall to the floor.
"Tired?"
"Yes," Josh said as he slipped off his underwear as well.
When he finished undressing, Josh joined Robert in bed, wrapping his arms around him.
"Are you lonely, Josh?" Robert asked after he was sure Josh was comfortably snuggled up against him.
"You are the second person to ask me that," Josh sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Who else asked?"
"Andrew."
"Well, he should know. I think we both need to do something about that."
"About what?"
"Finding a best friend," Robert said as he stroked Josh's cheek.
"You are my best friend."
"I'm your lover? it's not the same thing."
"Andrew told me that as well," Josh sighed as he reopened his eyes.
"Mike told the same to me."
"Then let's go talk to Mike," Josh said as he got out of bed. It seemed he was not going to get any sleep until this issue was taken care of.
Josh slipped his underwear back on and left with Robert to Mike's bedroom. "Hey Mike," Josh said as he came into the room.
"Hey, Patrick, they're here." Mike grinned as he elbowed his lover awake.
"Yea!" Patrick said sleepily as he moved over to the far side of the bed.
"Where would you like me," Josh said as he pulled his underwear off.
"Right here in the middle." Mike grinned patting the spot next to him.
Josh climbed into the king-size bed and wrapped his arms around Mike, triggering a low sigh from him.
"Don't even think of steal my hubby from me, Josh." Patrick laughed as he also wrapped his arms around Mike.
"Don't mind Patrick? he's just joking," Mike said with a satisfied grin. He was in heaven now that he had both of the Harper men's arms around him.
"Are you, brother?" Josh asked.
"Oh, you know I am, hon." Patrick giggled. "Come on, Robert, hop in."
Robert had stood there watching the three guys snuggle together. He knew he had promised Josh no sex, but he could not hide the fact he was getting a hard-on.
"Put that sword of yours away and get in here." Mike laughed.
"Hey, it has a mind of its own." Robert laughed as he gave his groin a healthy squeeze.
"We know." Josh laughed. "The problem is you let it do too much of your thinking."
"Hey be nice to it? you'll hurt its feelings," Robert pouted as he joined them in the bed, wrapping his arms around Josh.
"What a foursome we make," Mike laughed.
"So why did you want us to join you?" Josh asked after all of them were comfortable.
"To let you know how grateful we are for what you did for David."
"Yes." Josh smiled as Mike gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Also to celebrate the growing union between our families," Robert added.
"Me marrying your half-brother and David and Nathan hooking up makes us pretty close now."
"Yep it does."
"Since we are so close now, I am going to give you a piece of advice," Mike said as a lead in to why he had invited them here in the first place.
"Yes?" Josh sighed, sensing a lecture.
"You both need to get some friends. Not Glenn and Kyle, they are more like older brothers, not Patrick and me, we are like family. No, what the two of you need is a Philip? some hot stud that the two of you can talk to."
"I don't know if I really want a threesome," Josh said as he rested his head against Mike's.
"Why do you think it will turn out that way?" Mike said knowingly.
"I don't know," Josh lied.
"Come on, Josh, tell him," Robert encouraged.
"I don't want to fall in love with anymore people."
"I know, Josh? you are a good person but you have only let three people into your life, Andrew, Robert and Nathan. You have lots of people who are really fond of you, I included, but you have not let any of them close."
"I'm happy," Josh defended himself.
"Josh?" Mike warned.
"I am."
"Well, let's look at recent history. You have let Scott, Philip, Jeremy, Jeff, and three houseboys move in even though we don't have the space for it."
"I want to help them."
"Yes, but you know what I think?"
"You are going to tell me. You always do," Josh sighed.
"Andrew's leaving upset you more than you have let any of us know. I think you have been letting all these people move in because deep down you are lonely or afraid of it."
"I guess I am," Josh admitted. "All the kids will be gone soon. Robert and I will be moving away. You and Patrick will be staying here. I don't know why but the idea of being in a house with only one other person to talk to scares me. I'm afraid of feeling alone."
"Robert feels the same. That is why you need to be open to letting another person get close to you and yes Josh I know that means you might start having sexual feelings for the guy but for your happiness and Robert's happiness, it is something you need to do."
"So you and Patrick have that sort of friends?" Josh asked.
"Yes we do."
"Who?"
"Well?" Mike said a little guilty, "You don't know him."
"What, you mean you have lived here for 12 years and you have not introduced me to your best friend!" Josh said as he sat up.
"It is sort of a long distance relationship." Mike blushed.
"Oh really? Who?"
"Uhmmmm?the gardener."
"The gardener? What gardener?"
"Adam? the one who takes care of the lake house."
"And how do you know the name of my gardener when I don't even know?" Robert laughed. "All I know is the company name." Josh admitted.
"Well remember six years ago when Patrick and I spent a year sabbatical there." Mike started to explain.
"Yeah?" Robert said. It had been to celebrate their five-year anniversary.
"Well, we met Adam. He had dropped out of college a year ago and had moved here to become a landscaper. All that summer sun gave him a killer tan and I have to say both Patrick and I found him very hot. So one day Patrick invited him in for a cold beer and one thing led to another. It was only a week later when I got a surprise when both of them slipped into the shower with me. What started off as great sex became a very deep friendship."
"Does he have a lover of his own?" Josh asked.
"He dates but no one has lasted long with him. Adam is a little on the crazy side."
"How so?"
"Uhmmmm?" Mike hesitated.
"Yes?" Robert pressed.
"He is sort of a drag queen," Mike finally confessed.
"You mean he thinks he is a woman trapped in a man's body?" Robert grunted.
"Oh no? he's all male. He just likes to dress up in women's clothing when he goes to the clubs in Austin."
"So he does not garden in women's cloths?" Josh wanted to be sure.
"Yep? before he started his own company he wore a uniform. Now that he works for himself he tends to only wear a speedo and a tank top."
"Hey? I've seen the guys who does our yard and none of them wear speedos" Robert frowned, feeling cheated.
"That's cause you still have the same boring landscaping company. Adam runs his own and I have to say he does great business? thanks to all those housewives that is," Mike chuckled.
"We were going to tell you about him before the wedding. He's going to be the maid of honor," Patrick explained.
"In a maid's dress I suspect," Robert groaned.
"He would have it no other way?" Mike beamed.
"So that is why you wanted the wedding at the lake house. You wanted Adam to be able to attend," Robert realized.
"Yes? as we said we only wanted family to attend," Mike explained.
"And Adam is family?"
"To us? yes," Patrick confirmed.
"Ok? they we'll be glad to meet him."
"Good, cause he will be here for Christmas," Mike said as he pretended to fall asleep.
"Mike?" Josh said when he heard a false snore. "Mike? MIKE!"
"Come on, hon, you're getting cranky. Time to get some sleep," Robert said as he nuzzled his head against Josh's back.
"He's just pretending so I can't yell at him for not warning me in advance," Josh pouted.
"Would it do any good?" Robert asked, sleepily.
"No? but still?" Josh complained.
"Babe? go to sleep. There will be plenty of time to yell at Mike in the morning."
"Alright," Josh said as he lay back down.
A minute after closing his eyes for the final time, Josh felt Mike's hands wrap around him again and a light kiss on his nose. "Night, Josh," Mike whispered to him just as Josh fell into a sleepless dream.
"I want Christmas to be special," Nathan sighed as he recovered from the third go around of sex.
"I promise to make it very special." David smiled as he kissed Nathan's neck. He didn't know about the others, but he was good for another round.
"David, I don't know if I have another load in me," Nathan chuckled as David played with his nipples.
David noticing the strong smell of cum that clung to the sheets replied; "I don't mind if you dry cum. I just want to give you another orgasm."
"You horny freak," Nathan replied.
"Oh, I plan on us doing a whole lot of freaky things before I have to?" David's voice trailed off.
"Come on, let's not think about it," Nathan said as he hugged his lover.
"It's just so hard to forget," David sighed as he ran his finger through Nathan's hair.
"No matter how hard you pound my ass," Nathan agreed.
"Was I too rough?" David asked worried as he looked at Philip who had passed out after the third go.
"I'll be sore in the morning that's for sure," Nathan chuckled as he hugged David close.
"Then I promise to be extra tender this time," David said as he pushed Nathan's head back so he could get at his neck. "Would you mind if I left a few love spots?"
"I think you have already left a few."
"On the back of your neck? I want a few on the front."
"I do have school, you know."
"So what? everyone knows or suspects that you and I are now together."
"But that does not mean we need to shove it in their faces."
"Yes it does! How else do you think society will accept us? As long as we stay quiet and invisible people can pretend that we don't really exist."
"I guess you're right," Nathan agreed. The last thing he had expected from David was political activism.
"Hey? don't you feel the same?" David said with a hint of disappointment.
"I'm like my dad? I don't like showing off."
"Nate? I'm not asking you to walk down Main Street in a pink spandex outfit and a blond wig."
"Good? cause there is no way you would ever get me into one."
"No? what I want is to be able to hold your hand and kiss you in public and maybe get you to march with me in a gay pride parade."
"Holding hands and kissing are fine, but a gay pride parade?" Nathan said nervously.
"Why not!" David pouted.
"They are sooo? tacky."
"Campy?. is the correct word and I have to ask you again? why not?"
"It is so sex driven," Nathan also complained.
"Yep? but as I said, I'm not expecting you to wear spandex, leather, or drag. You can march in a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt for all I care. Of course, I am hoping that the jeans and t-shirt would be extra tight."
"You just want to show me off," Nathan accused his boyfriend.
"You better believe I do. Do you think we can talk our dads into letting us go to the king of all parades in San Francisco this summer?"
"I think the correct term is queen, but yeah we can ask. Your dad will be no trouble but mine?."
"Yeah? I can see how it would be hard for uncle Josh to agree to the two of us going to San Francisco for a week? alone," David grumbled.
"Maybe we can talk them into it if they go with us?"
"Uncle Josh go to a gay pride parade?!?! That would be a stretch for him. David laughed.
"Well, maybe it's time for dad to loosen up? explore his inner queer." Nathan grinned.
"Oh man? with Robert exploring Josh's inner 'something' I think your dad is queer enough."
"Is that another one of your vain attempts at 'bottom' humor?" Nathan warned.
"Yeah I know? I'm bad," David confessed.
"No? you are just plain terrible," Nathan corrected.
"But not in bed!" David said with a wicked smile as he tickled Nathan's sides.
Nathan gave David a wink of the eye as he raised his legs up. "One more before bed," he offered.
"One more before morning," David corrected as he looked at the clock. The time was already 4:00 AM.
"Gosh and I have school tomorrow," Nathan sighed.
"We can wait and do this at a later time?" David offered.
"What about your hard-on?" Nathan asked concerned.
"I can take care of myself. You go to sleep, babe."
"Thanks." Nathan smiled sleepily as he lowered his legs and curled up into a ball.
David waited till he was sure Nathan was asleep before he got up and left for the den. All of Robert's porn videos had been returned the same week David had signed the deal as it was clear that they held no value as evidence. Not feeling sleepy and still as horny as he had been at the start of the night. David loaded up the DVD player and sat himself down on the leather sofa next to the box of Kleenex.
The scene he was watching was of two privates being drilled by their sergeant. David smirked while imagining Philip and Nathan dressed up in military uniforms while sucking his cock. Such imagining did the trick as David fired his load halfway into the video. He then cleaned himself off with the nearby tissues.
"Nice shot," a voice chuckled behind David, causing him to jump out of his seat, covering his dick with his hands and the damp tissues.
"Don't mind me? just getting up to make some coffee," the man said, still in the shadows.
"Who are you?"
"Aidan," the man replied as he stepped into the glow of the television offering his hand.
"Oh man?" David let out as the Adonis came into the light. The only thing Aidan was wearing was a dark blue thong that barely covered his crotch. Above it was a thin line of hair that led up his chiseled stomach to spread out in a light coat over his built chest. His skin was well tanned showing off his Southern Europe roots. His straight black hair gave full view of his face, which had a mischievous look.
"Sorry? I forgot there are kids living here. I should have put on more clothes," Aidan apologized.
"Hey? don't worry, it's only us guys here. Well, except for Jessica, and we are about to give her the boot. Besides? I'm the one who should be embarrassed." David blushed in reference to him being caught jacking off.
"Well yeah. I guess you have me beat," Aidan chuckled nervously.
"Do you need any help finding the stuff to make coffee with?" David asked after a moment of awkward silence.
"How about you get some clothes on and then come back to help me," Aidan offered.
"Alright," David chuckled as he walked out, keeping his crotch covered with his hands.
David hurried off and put on a pair of gray sweats, Nathan and Philip still deep asleep. He then ran back to the kitchen expecting to find Aidan waiting there with the hope of seeing him in full light but no luck. Aidan was just entering the kitchen himself and this time he was covered with a bathrobe.
"So tell me? where's the setup?" Aidan yawned.
While trying to hold back his disappointment David led Aidan to the double brewer. "The left side is for regular and the right is for decaf."
"I will never understand why someone would want to drink decaf coffee. It sorts of defeats the purpose," Aidan said as he took the regular pot and filled it with water.
"Well almost everyone here drinks regular except for uncle Josh," David explained.
"Uncle Josh?" Aidan questioned.
"Yeah? 5'8", brown hair, blue eyes? he sort of runs things around here."
"Ahhhh? Andrew's ex," Aidan realized. "He seems a little up tight but cute though. I guess caffeine just stresses him out?"
"Sort of? Andrew made the mistake of serving Josh regular coffee once. Josh couldn't fall asleep for almost two days."
"Then he should drink more not less? get his body an immunity to the stuff."
"I think uncle Josh is perfectly happy the way he is." David grinned, proud of saying it.
"What about the scar on his wrist?" Aidan asked straight face.
"That? well that happened a long time ago?over 13 years."
"But he did try to kill himself once," Aidan said as more of a statement.
"Yes but he has never gotten depressed again."
"Not according to Andrew," Aidan said as he scooped the coffee into the filter.
"What do you mean?" David said nervously.
"What I am saying is that your uncle Josh has been on and off antidepressants for the past 13 years."
"I didn't know and I'm sure that Nate doesn't know. How do you know?"
"Cause Andrew told me. Even while Andrew left Josh he still cared for him. He worried that his leaving would send Josh into another depression."
"Well, Robert made sure that didn't happen." David grinned.
"Yes but Josh's history shows he is susceptible to relapses."
"I don't see how that is your concern," David grunted as he flipped on the power switch.
"I want to become a doctor? it is my calling to treat people with Josh's type of problems."
"You are also the guy sleeping with Vale," David said bitterly.
"David? I swear I knew nothing about that. There is no way I would let you take the fall for a guy like Vale."
"I would be lying if I said I believed you."
"I understand that," Aidan agreed. "There is no reason for you to trust me."
"It's not just about me. What about Thomas? did you know that Vale had slept with him?"
"Specifically about Thomas? no. I did know that he slept with many of his patients though."
"And you slept with Vale," David added.
"Yes? I did. Do I feel any regrets? No."
"How can you say that?"
"Well, let me think about it. Yes, Vale is a shady character. Yes he probably gave me AIDS, but what of my own responsibility. I knew what I was getting into when I hooked up with Vale, that's the reason why I never let him fuck me regardless of what the other's say. I fucked him plenty of times, a few without a condom, but I'm the one who made that choice. I've also have had sex with a few of my own clients."
"What's your point?"
"My point is I make mistakes but I don't give myself a life sentence of guilt over them. Many people with depression do have that problem. They let their feelings of guilt eat them up inside."
"I'm sure that is not uncle Josh's problem."
"How do you know that?"
"He has nothing to feel guilty about."
"How about living? he was the only member of his family to survive the car wreak."
"But he was only a little kid then. That can't still be bothering him."
"What about being gay? That is what caused Josh to attempt suicide once."
"But he is perfectly fine with being gay now," David said, his anger rising.
"David? I'll stop. I don't want to upset you."
"Well you have? Josh is more than an uncle to me? he is like a second father."
"Yes? Andrew told me that Josh had that effect on all of you," Aidan replied as he hugged David
"Andrew should keep his mouth shut," David grunted but did not pull away.
"Andrew wants me to help Josh," Aidan confessed.
"What?" David said as he looked at Aidan's sincere face.
"Andrew wants me to help your uncle."
"Then you better not sleep with him," David warned.
"Hey if I got AIDS I will be lucky if he doesn't put me into a plastic bubble." Aidan laughed.
"That does not mean the idea didn't cross your mind," David chuckled.
"Hey? your uncle is hot? what can I say. I was really hoping to see what was under his shirt last night. You're not bad yourself," Aidan said as he gave David's ass a squeeze.
"Hey? I'm not into older guys." David grinned as he swat Aidan's hand away.
"Yeah? not to mention the fastest way I could get on Josh's bad side was to try and seduce you or one of the other kids."
"You better believe it? not that I would mind but the folks would get pretty pissed." David grinned as he relaxed.
"To confess, your uncle Josh is just my type? the hot body, straight acting, family man. I have found that many married men who keep in shape are closet queers."
"And you enjoy seducing them."
"You better believe I do. There is nothing like giving a straight man what he really wants."
"But how many families have you wrecked?"
"By my hand none? I have had two who have left their wives for other men, but those guys were really gays in denial. Both they and their wives are much better off divorced. But oh well? those days are over. There are not too many married, straight, and HIV positive men out there."
"You might not be infected," David said just as the coffee started to pour out.
"You're right, I might not be, but it would not be because I practiced safe sex? I didn't. It was not because I was careful in picking my partners? I wasn't. The only reason I would not be HIV positive would be due to luck and lady luck is a fickle character just like most women."
"Trust me I don't plan to take any risks with Nate and Philip and I know they won't do anything to put me in danger."
"Still? you practice safe sex?"
"Yes? I still use a condom."
"Good, most kids your age don't think they need to worry. Do you get tested?"
"Yes once a month."
"Good? smart kid."
"No? just good parents."
"Coffee ready!" Aidan grinned as he poured himself a cup. "Where is the sugar and cream?"
"I'll get them. So tell me about your family?" David asked while heading to the walk in fridge."
"Well, my mom divorced my dad when I was five. She then married an American when I was nine, forcing me to move to the States. Ted was an alright stepfather but I missed London."
"London," David interrupted. "You're a Brit? where's your accent."
"Oh man, that dies off in puberty. I can switch back to it but I have to concentrate."
"So you moved from London to Kansas City? that had to suck."
"It took some getting used to," Aidan agreed. "But I survived. For college I went to Northwestern but came back to Kansas for medical school. That brings you up to date."
"So how did you come out to your folks?"
"I never had to tell them."
"You mean they just knew?" David said amazed.
"Well yeah, they got a pretty good idea that I was queer when I would invite one of my soccer teammates to sleep over. My folks could hear us fucking on the other side of the wall."
"Were they mad, disappointed, happy?"
"They seemed fine with it. Yes mum gives me a hard time about not giving her a grandchild but it is all in good fun. Ted bought me condoms and lube. Their only rule was that I always practice safe sex? I guess I've let them down," Aidan explained as he took the cream from David.
"I hope you don't mind, but you don't really look British."
"I know? my mum is British, pale with bad teeth and all. My father was a Spaniard. I'm told I take after him."
"Do you remember much about him?"
"Not really. But I was told it was not a good marriage. I don't feel I've lost anything in not having him around."
"No regrets?" David replied, as it seemed to sum up Aidan's motto.
"Yep? no regrets. Life is too short? especially for us gay men to waste time with regret."
"Oh no? you are another one of those people who think gay men are over the hill past 30."
"Not at all? some of my best fucks have been with guys in their 40s. What I am talking about is all the time we as homosexuals worry about how society sees us. My view is that there is nothing I can do to change their bigoted views so why bother. They are not going to be accommodating to me so there is no way I'm going to act as anything other than the gay man I am."
"Good for you? I'm trying to get Nate to see the same thing."
"Give him time? he's just coming to terms with his gay self.
"But you were very quick to accept it."
"That is because I know that my folks wouldn't care. Nathan, on the other hand, has a father who clearly cares for him."
"His dad is gay and uncle Josh has made it clear he would love us regardless how we turn out."
"There is still society's pressure. Nathan might know his father would love him regardless if he is gay or not but what society might be telling him is that it is a son's duty to marry and produce a grandchild."
"Nate has said he wants to have a kid. I don't care but I know it is very important to him."
"You see? Nathan feels the pressure. I think Josh also feels the pressure."
"How so."
"Well, Josh might feel he needs to act straighter than he really is just to fit the role of a father. Gay parenting is still a new thing, there is not the history of handed down behavior from father to son on how to raise a gay family."
"I see your point. Still, I think Josh is a great dad and I am sure that Nate would be just as good."
"You are most likely right? good dads produce good sons, who become good parents themselves," Aidan agreed.
"Actually, the more I think about it the more I like the idea of raising a child with Nate."
"Then it is only a problem of finding a surrogate mother or adoption agency."
"Yeah? but we don't have to worry about that for a long time. If worse comes to worse we would just move to Canada."
"Too cold for me," Aidan laughed.
"You ever thought about having kids?"
"Nah? I don't mind them, but I really don't want them living with me. I want to be able to bring any guy I want home without worrying on how it would effect the kid."
"So I'm just a pest to you?" David laughed.
"Not at all? older kids?seventeen to twenty one are cool to hang around. They know enough to be able to take care of themselves, but stupid enough to make things interesting."
"Thanks? I think."
"Don't worry, it was a compliment? what I meant by stupid could really be called innocent," Aidan explained.
"Man? you are actually cool," David realized.
"Thanks? glad I'm not so old that I can't relate to the younger generation."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty six."
"So you are almost done with med school?"
"Almost? I still need to finish up a fellowship in psychiatry, then I am on my own."
"You are going to move out?" David asked, hoping he would say no.
"We'll just have to see," Aidan said with a smile as he brought up his mug for a drink.