This story contains sexual situations between males. If material of this nature offends you then you should not read this story. If you are under 18 years of age you are probably not legally allowed to read this story. This story is purely a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead, or to events that may have occurred, is purely coincidental. The author claims all copyrights in this story and no duplication or publication of this story is allowed (except by the web sites to which it has been posted) without the consent of the author.
I was in a distant place, cosy and warm, but I was instantly wrenched from it when the bedroom light was switched on. I felt like a baby must feel when the time comes for it to be expelled from its mother's womb. The shock of it made me bury my head in my pillow and curl up tightly. I could feel Ty behind me, doing the same.
"Up and at `em, boys!" Frank chirped in a whispered tone. "Time to get ready for Christmas."
In response, he got a groan from me and a grunt from Ty.
"I'm serious guys. We've got to get moving if you want everything ready by seven. Let's hit the showers."
This time there was no response. I figured if I went back to sleep, Frank would go away. But no. A few seconds went by and the doona was suddenly pulled off us. Luckily, we were both in our boxers.
The next sound we heard was a chuckle, as Frank whispered, "Looks like someone was having a good dream!"
It was a second or three before I realised Frank was referring to my morning boner, which was poking angrily through the fly of my shorts. In trying to cover it up I grabbed it, and Frank chuckled again.
"That's forbidden on Christmas Day!" he laughed. "It's a sin!"
Ty and I smirked. "Tell me where in the Bible it says a guy can't give thanks on Christmas Day to Priapus, the God of Lust and Fertility?" I asked.
"Yeah Dad, what Mike said!" Ty giggled.
"Don't you boys get smart with me!" Frank grumped. "Now stuff that nasty thing back in your shorts and both of you get to the bathroom. No more mucking around."
From behind, Ty pushed me almost to the edge of the bed. "He means business, mate," Ty sighed. "The next thing's either a glass of water poured over us, or a whack on the ass. To the bathroom, Batman!"
Ty's Batman reference took me aback. But there was no smirk so I figured it was just a coincidence.
We got to the bathroom and found Frank already at the basin shaving, a towel wrapped around his waist. "Tyson, you shower first. And don't sing. You'll wake your brother."
"Yes sir!" Ty saluted, as he dropped his boxers and stepped into the bathtub under the shower head.
Frank handed me a can of shaving gel and a disposable razor. "Come on, sleepy! Some of that blood must have made its way back to your brain by now, surely?"
"Happy Christmas, Frank!" I yawned. "Ho fucking ho!"
"Yeah, happy Christmas, Dad!" Ty grinned, as he stepped dripping from the shower.
Frank wiped the remaining traces of shaving cream off his face with a washer before dropping his towel. "Yeah, right back at you boys!" he said as he stepped under the spray Ty had left running.
As I shaved, I caught glimpses of Frank washing himself and realised that his method was much the same as Ty's face, neck, shoulders, arms and underarms, chest and stomach, fronts of both legs, backs of both legs, ass and then cock and balls. Ty usually spent considerably longer on the dangling bits than Frank did!
Ty suddenly giggled. He pointed at Frank's cock and said, "Hey Dad, you reckon old Frank-furter will see any action over Christmas?"
Frank laughed. "Well seeing you asked, Tyson," he smirked. "You know that poem `Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring ...'?"
"Yeah ..."
"That's nonsense, son," Frank replied. "The creature certainly was stirring!"
Ty convulsed. "You and Mum? Last night? You old dog! Pity the Carols aren't on every week, eh Dad?"
As Frank stepped out, I dropped my boxers and replaced him under the showerhead. I tried not to think of Frank and Dot doing the horizontal mambo, and concentrated on trying to recall everything I'd learnt about Granite Belt apple varieties.
By the time I'd dried myself, Ty and his Dad were dressed and waiting for me. We tiptoed to the kitchen for cereal and coffee. We were washing up when we heard the sound of cars on the lawns, a prearranged instruction to lessen the chance of waking the others.
We walked around the side of the house and there they were; the cars Ty had bought for his brothers, and which Frank had carefully chosen from the Mazda dealership in Warwick. For Scott, a demonstration model, celestial blue Mazda3 Maxx sports sedan, and for Lachlan and Ellie – soon to be parents of two – a crystal white Pearl CX-9 seven-seater.
"Mate!" I sighed, slapping Frank on the back. "Great choices! The perfect cars for both of them."
"Yeah Dad!" Ty agreed, giving his father a squeeze. "Excellent job!"
Ty had the drivers park the cars on the lawn as you'd see in a magazine ad, and before they joined the third driver who'd followed them, Ty thanked them by giving them each a bottle of wine.
Frank handed us both long reels of tinsel and we set about tying each car with a bow. We stood back and admired our handiwork before following Frank back into the house. In the kitchen I suggested that we use the remaining half hour by making breakfast, before everyone got up at seven.
"Dot won't like that!" Frank cautioned. "You know what she's like about the kitchen."
"Nah Dad," Ty chuckled. "It'll be cool. Mum'll be too exhausted after last night to think about cooking!"
"Now that's just between us, Tyson," Frank replied. "Don't you go telling Scott. There'll be no end of references to it."
"Yeah, I wouldn't wanna be around when the pork is served!" I laughed.
Frank grinned as he turned on the urn and started lining up teacups and saucers. I used two fry pans to fry a dozen or so eggs, while Ty used another two to fry mounds of bacon. Twice I made him turn the heat down, but he did a reasonable job. For Ty.
When it was all cooked we transferred it to dishes and placed them in the oven to keep them warm. Frank brought out the supersize toaster and started toasting bread, while Ty and I set the table and lined up the condiments.
I wasn't surprised when the smell of cooking brought a sleepy Scott through the door, scratching his head and his nuts at the same time. "I went into your room to get into bed with you guys, but you weren't there," he yawned.
"The kid's a genius!" Ty laughed.
"We couldn't sleep. Too excited about Santa coming!" I kidded.
"Yeah right! Can I have some of that bacon and egg?"
"No son, you can't," Frank replied. "We'll all eat together. I can hear your Mother up and about, so do up the button on those shorts. I can see your penis."
"Shouldn't be looking!"
"It's hard to miss!"
Scott laughed and punched the air with his fist before giving his father an enormous hug. "Merry Christmas Daddio! Merry Christmas brother, and brother's lawyer-with-benefits!"
"Merry Christmas, asshole!" Ty chuckled.
"Tyson Hill!" was our signal that Dot was on deck.
"Sorry Mum!"
Dot bustled through the door, dressed in Sunday best. "What are you boys doing in my kitchen?" she demanded. "I was going to make breakfast. I had it all planned and ..."
"Merry Christmas Mama!" smiled Ty.
"Oh, merry Christmas to you too, son," she replied, reaching up to pull Ty's face down for a kiss. And systematically she worked the room with a kiss and a Merry Christmas for all of us.
"Now what temperature's the oven on? Are the eggs properly cooked? Will you look at this mess? Goodness gracious, you should have just waited for George and me. Scott, go and put some pants on. It's Christmas morning. I can see your ... thing ... through that opening!"
"Muuuuummm!" groaned Scott, covering himself immediately. As he sauntered off to his bedroom, he mumbled "It's not a thing'. It's The One-Eyed Muck Slinger' ..."
"Scott Hill!"
"Sorry Mum!"
An impeccably dressed George soon joined us and despite their protests, he and Dot were led away to the table and made to sit with Scott while we got breakfast ready to serve. The moment Frank heard Ty's car rattling along the road, he bolted for the door.
To the others he just seemed keen to help them in, but we knew he was making sure they parked in front of the house and not around the side.
Lachlan hauled two baskets of presents into the lounge room, while Steve helped Ellie up the stairs to the verandah. The noise when they joined us in the kitchen to do the whole Christmas `thing' was deafening. After much hugging, kissing, back slapping and kidding around, everyone sat as Ty, Frank and I served a not- half-bad breakfast.
George and Dot inspected it like they were judges on `Masterchef', but we took their silence to mean we'd done a good job. Either that, or they were going to bitch about us later.
As always during a Hill family meal, the food was quickly gone and the boys had gravitated back to the kitchen for seconds of whatever they could manage between them. Cereal and fruit was the best they could do.
Once we'd finished, we helped clean up while Dot and George got Christmas dinner underway. This was to be a traditional Aussie lunch – roast turkey, roast pork and glazed ham, with potatoes, pumpkin, peas and broccoli (extra for Ty I noticed), and of course Dot's famous gravy. Followed by steamed plum pudding with ice cream and brandy custard.
We filed into the lounge room and sat where we could around the Christmas tree, ready to hand out presents. Frank and Dot gave theirs first; two sets of baby chinaware for Lachlan and Ellie's twins, and a set of matching towels for their new home, and for Scott, an iPod to replace the one he'd left behind in his haste to leave Africa.
This was the latest iPod Nano, and Dot made us all laugh with her story of going into a department store in Brisbane and asking for an "`I Poke Nanna"!
Dot and Frank had been warmly welcoming towards my brother Steve and they surprised him with a pair of carpenter's overalls and R.M. Williams work boots. And for Ty and me, matching jumpers that Dot had knitted, and a silver framed photograph of us they'd taken the last time we were on the farm.
As we all unwrapped, Frank turned on the cassette tape machine and we could hear a young voice in the background, singing Christmas carols. Ty listened for a few moments and then started to laugh.
I looked at him quizzically. "That's me!" he chuckled. "When I was, what Mum? 11?"
"No dear, you were 12," Dot smiled. "Scott was a baby and you wanted to make him a tape of Christmas carols to listen to in his cradle!"
We listened as a young Ty worked his way through "Once In Royal David's City". It was definitely a boy's voice, not yet the powerhouse tenor it would become, but Ty was in perfect pitch and he sang with great feeling.
"That's Lachie singing harmonies," Ty smiled.
"You sing?" I asked Lachlan.
"Not like Ty can, but yeah, a little," he replied with a shy grin. "I used to like to sing, but once Ty started there was no point!"
Lachlan leaned over and kissed Ellie and together they handed out gifts. For Frank and Dot, a brand new microwave oven to replace the relic that sat in the kitchen. For Scott, new luggage to replace the battered suitcases he'd used for his recent trip abroad.
George was given a book of 12 double movie passes for the Double Bay cinema he visits with Henri, Steve received new jeans and a set of three tee-shirts suited to the warm climate, and Ty and I were presented with a beautiful leather-bound photo album containing pretty much every photo that had been taken of us since we met. It stunned us, and when we looked at Lachlan he immediately pointed to George. "That man there stole your photos!" he laughed.
George looked at us nonplussed. "Guilty, sirs," he sighed. "Another night in the dungeon for me?"
I laughed. "You're forgiven George! Guys, this is ... incredible. Thank you."
George handed out his gifts, the same for all - $50 gift vouchers for Myer & Grace Bros. stores. "It's only something small," George sighed. "I don't get out much to shop. I'm virtually held prisoner at Point Piper."
"Mine's only small, too," said Scott, reaching for his gift bag ...
"Yeah we know, weeny wiener!" Lachie chortled.
"Lachlan!"
"Sorry Mum! Too good a line to ignore!"
"I made you all one of your presents," Scott said proudly.
Scott handed his parents their present first and they unwrapped it to find his charcoal sketch of the farm, which he'd block-mounted himself. Lachlan and Ellie received a charcoal sketch of the new house, both block-mounted, and George and Steve were given excellent sketches of themselves. He handed Ty and me a joint gift, a sketch of the two of us sitting up in bed with him at Point Piper. Again, such thoughtful and touching presents. We all thanked him while Dot and Frank remarked yet again about Scott's natural skill as an illustrator.
"That's one present each. I have another one that's not gift wrapped but I hope you like it," Scott said, before moving around the room to each of us in turn.
He crouched in front of his Mother and took her hands. "I love you Mum. You're the angel on top of my Christmas tree, and you're an angel all year round, too. I'm so proud to tell everyone you're my beautiful Mum."
Suddenly, the mirth we'd enjoyed as we joked at each other's expense gave way to goose bumps, as we listened to what Scott was saying and watched his Mother's eyes fill with tears.
He moved to take his Dad's hands, and said, "I love you Dad. See how it works is, when I was getting ready to be born, God asked me what I'd want in a Father. So I rattled off this list, and I that's what I got – the perfect Dad. Except for the spankings. I didn't actually have spankings on the list."
He moved to Lachlan and Ty and took a hand each. "I love my brothers too. You guys are the best! I've got a bit of growing up to do still, I know. But if I can become half the men you guys are, I'll be a man you can be proud of. I still stay my prayers every night and I still thank God that you're my mates."
OK, so there were tears. The brothers hugged for a while before Scott moved to me. "I love you Mikey," he smirked. "I'm stoked I met you first, and introduced you to Ty. You're like my third brother and my best friend all rolled into one, and I hope one day I'll find someone just like you."
Ellie was next. Scott took her hands and said "I love you, Ellie. You've made Lachie so happy and proud, and it's awesome that you're part of our family. And thanks to you, I'm gonna be an uncle. Woo hoo! Uncle Scotty!"
Someone dropped a box of tissues on the coffee table as Scott moved on to George, taking hold of his hands. "I love you too, old man. You put up with all the crap we carry on with in Sydney, and you get us up and moving every day. And your cooking rocks. You gotta stop hitting me across the head, though. I could get brain damage!"
"Too late I'm afraid," George sniffled as he reached for a tissue.
Steve was last. "I love you too, Steve. You had that talk to me about stuff and I've taken it all on board. It's been good to get a kick up the arse from someone other than Ty or Lachie. It's great to have you in the family. I'm not sure though, are you my brother-in-law?"
We all laughed as we dabbed eyes, and Scott found himself the recipient of hugs from all around.
A damp-eyed Dot disappeared into the kitchen to check on lunch and when she returned, Ty took over. "OK!" he announced. "More pressies."
To his parents and George, he handed envelopes. Dot and Frank looked at each other as they opened their gift – a card with a photo of the penthouse at Grand Apartments and inside, a booking confirmation for 10 days accommodation at the start of February.
"What's this, boys?" Frank asked.
"It's a holiday, Dad!" Ty grinned. "Mike and I are taking you on a holiday to the Gold Coast, staying at the place in Coolangatta where we met, and where we found George. Ten days of penthouse living, sun and beach, and good food. And no chores."
"But who'll look after the farm?"
"We will," Lachie jumped in. "We'll make sure the cows are milked and the apples are picked, Dad. You and Mum can dress up in your holiday clobber and have cocktails on the terrace!"
"Oh Tyson and Mike. This is so lovely," Dorothy sighed. "I can't remember the last time I had a holiday."
"Nobody can, Mum!" Scott chipped in. "About time you and Dad had some fun away from Stanthorpe!"
Ty turned to George and told him that his present was the same, a holiday at the Grand, as a guest for the first time.
"Five people in the penthouse will be a challenge, sir," George replied. "Are you sure you want me there?"
"It's just you and Mum and Dad in the penthouse, George," Ty smiled. "Mike and I will stay in my apartment. The renovators have finally finished."
Dot and Frank seemed excited, for the first time, at the prospect of a holiday away from the farm, possibly because their first born would be with them. Ty had been apprehensive when I suggest this gift, but I was pleased I was right.
I looked at Steve and said "Merry Christmas, mate," handing him an envelope.
He opened a card with a cheque inside for $6300, all the money he'd so far diligently paid me back. "What's this?" he asked, confused.
"I'm giving you back the money you've been paying back mate," I grinned. "I want you to have it and put it towards something you need. And there's nothing more owed."
Steve seemed shocked. "I can't take this, Mike," he said. "This is your money and I'm trying to pay back everything I've sponged from you."
"I know, Steve," I assured him. "But I want you to keep it, and maybe have a holiday when you've saved up some annual leave. Merry Christmas mate!"
Steve leaned forward and grabbed me behind the neck, pulling me into a hug. "I don't deserve this, Mike," he said in a trembling voice. "After all I've done to you ..."
"Hey!" Lachlan cut in. "We're coming up to a brand new year, and that means new beginnings. I'll put the cheque in your account for you!"
"OK guys!" Ty said, clapping his hands. "Time for the little brothers to see what Santa brought them. Follow me guys!"
We all traipsed after Ty out the front door and stood for a moment on the verandah. Lachlan and Scott looked at one another and shrugged.
"Is he giving us fresh air?" Scott asked Lachlan.
Ty chuckled. "No, assholes! Take a wander around the corner."
With Ellie and the crew in tow, the boys walked around the side of the house and moments later, there were gasps and hollers. There were so many "holy shits" and "fuck me deads" and "holy fucking shits" that poor Dot didn't know where to start!
Lachlan and Scott ran around their cars like schoolboys at Disneyland, and when Ty finally rounded the corner and caught up with them they pounced and wrestled him to the ground.
Dot threw up her arms when the tirade started ... "you're fuckin' kidding, right?" ... "you're a fuckin' legend Ty" ... "we fuckin' love you mate!" ...
"It's Christmas Day!" Dot gasped. "Where did they learn this sort of language?" she muttered to herself as she walked back into the kitchen.
For several minutes, the three brothers rolled around in the grass, hugging and smacking each other before Frank whistled and made them get up and brush down their clothes. A tearful Ellie took the opportunity to put her arms around Ty's neck and kiss his cheek. "There are no words I can find to thank you for what you've done for Lachie and me," she whispered. "You are a beautiful person."
"Nah," Ty shrugged, blushing. "Just some wheels for the boys. And besides, Uncle Ty needs to know his nephews or nieces are safe at all times! They're the future heirs to the Hill millions!"
Lachlan and Scott circled their vehicles, opened and closed doors, sat in the driver's seats, check out the boots, inspected the tyres and excitedly compared accessories. When they finally came back inside there were questions and more questions, and we explained that it was Frank who had done the car shopping. The boys thanked their Father, hugged Ty, and pored over their respective car manuals before asking their Mother if they could go for a spin?
"Certainly not!" said Dot. "You're both messy enough now. Look at your clothes! Go and clean yourselves up for Christmas lunch and then we're all going to Church."
Lachlan and Scott slumped in their chairs, but Frank winked at them. "Go scrub up nice, boys! You can drive us to Church in your fancy new cars!"
We all cleaned up – in the Hill boys' case it required complete changes – and joined everyone in the kitchen for Christmas lunch, followed by pudding and cream and Dot's homemade Christmas cake.
The meal was extraordinary; there's something about a Christmas spread on a farm that makes it special. Dot, George and Ellie went the extra mile to ensure that everyone's favourites were included, and the table groaned under the weight of dishes of meats and vegetables.
It was one of the happiest Christmas lunches I'd ever had and I looked over at Steve occasionally and saw how much he was enjoying himself, too. Love and laughter, and great gravy!
The pudding was overstepping the line, but it couldn't be resisted, and Dot – being an old fashioned Mum – still made it with old Australian currency silver coins – threepences and sixpences - hidden in the mix. It was the norm for the Hill boys, but it took Steve and me back to our childhoods, and Christmas at Grandmas.
Lunch over, George and Ellie cleared plates away while Dot lined her `men' up and checked that they passed muster. As she straightened Frank's tie, she looked at her sons and. "Can't you boys wear a tie, just one day of the year?"
"Come on Mum," Ty chuckled. "Guys our age don't wear ties to Church. Guys our age don't usually even go to Church!"
"But you all looked so nice in your shirts and ties ..."
"Yeah, when we were 12, Mum," Lachlan laughed as he kissed his Mother's cheek.
"I'll bet that cute minister won't be wearing a suit after the service!" Ty laughed.
"Reverend Wall? Oh, he's no longer our Minister, dear," Dorothy said.
"What?" asked Ty, surprised. "Did they get rid of him because of his sexuality?"
"Oh no, it was nothing like that Tyson. He was very popular in the parish. But he's actually left the Ministry. He said he'd lost his calling."
"Where did he go?"
"He's still living here," said Frank. "He's just trying to work out what he wants to do with his life."
"Reverend Clarke came back from Inglewood to fill in until they find a permanent replacement."
"You mean the really old guy who forgets what he's saying half way through his sermons?"
"Yes, that's him dear," smiled Dot. "I really think he's probably past it now, but someone had to fill in and it was good of him to volunteer."
We sorted the travel arrangements; Lachlan driving Ellie, George and Steve in his CX-9. After fixing his `P' plates to his front and back windows, Scott drove Dot, Frank, Ty and me in his Mazda 3. Ty tried not to be miffed when Scott insisted that I sit in the passenger seat. "You get too stressed if I make a mistake, Ty," Scott said apologetically.
We were just in time for the Christmas Day service and surprisingly, the Church was full. We managed to find seats towards the back and no sooner had we sat than we were on our feet again, singing hymns. The time passed quickly enough, until we got to Reverend Clarke's sermon.
Based on Luke 2:1-20, it started off well enough. The good Reverend muddled his way through the story of the shepherds in the field watching over their flocks by night, and suddenly in a starlit sky there came an angel and the heavenly host proclaiming good news to all humanity. So far, so good. He did pretty well until he got to the bit where the shepherds followed the direction of the angels and found the baby Jesus lying in a manger surrounded by the silent, innocent benediction of the animals in the stable.
Things went awry when he couldn't remember the baby's parents' names. As he faltered, Scott started to giggle and was slapped on the arm by a backhander from Frank. Ty also started to giggle and was glared at by Dot. As worshippers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, a man near the front of the congregation lifted himself slightly out of his seat and whispered "Mary and Joseph", and the Reverend was back on track.
Scott craned his neck to see. "Who was that?" he whispered to Lachlan.
Lachlan shrugged, and Ty leaned around Lachlan and said "That's Andrew, the Minister who left. He's obviously still part of the congregation."
Reverend Clarke droned one for another 40 minutes, by which time both Scott and Ty were fidgeting.
"Jeez, is it New Year's Eve yet?" Ty whispered, which set Scott giggling again.
Frank glared at them both and whispered "You boys knock it off! You're in Church."
Both boys behaved themselves as the service drew to a close and despite our attempts to scurry, we were prevented from leaving the Church until Reverend Clarke was in place at the front doors.
We waited patiently until it was our turn to congratulate the Reverend on his "wonderful sermon" and we tried not to laugh when Reverend Clarke mistook Scott for Ty and applauded his success. Dot and Frank were clearly annoyed with Scott's giggling, and when the Reverend mentioned he needed volunteers to help dismantle and store the Church's Christmas decorations, Frank was quick to offer Scott's services.
"But Dad," Scott protested. "I need to drive everyone home."
"Don't worry about that, son," Frank smirked. "We'll all fit in Lachlan's car."
Ty ruffled a pouting Scott's hair as we filed out the door and got into the CX-9. "That was pretty mean Dad," Ty chuckled as he did up his seatbelt.
"Well that'll teach him to behave badly in Church," Frank grinned. "It'll do him good."
Back at the farm, we all changed into more relaxed clothes. Dot, George and Ellie got working a meal together of cold meats and salad, in time for us to eat when Scott got home.
Dot walked into the lounge to hand around more cake slices, when Frank suddenly remembered that Ty and I hadn't given each other Christmas gifts.
"Nah," I laughed. "We decided not to."
"Why not, dear?" Dot asked.
"Well, there's nothing we need. We've got each other."
Lachlan stifled a snort and when we all looked at him, he stuck his fingers down his throat in a mock-barf gesture.
"Oh really smart arse?" Ty smirked. "I don't recall you and Ellie giving each other presents!"
Lachlan smirked back. "Well, certainly nothing gift-wrapped!"
"Oh really?" asked Ty. "What did he give you for Christmas, Ellie?"
Before she could reply, Lachlan jumped in with, "Ellie got herself a whole lotta Lachie Lovin' last night!" he laughed.
"Lachlan!" gasped Dot as she returned to the kitchen.
"Sorry Mum."
"There was a bit of Christmas Eve loving going on here last night too!" Ty whispered with a smirk.
"Which of you two guys got his stocking filled?"
"Lachie!" Ty said, shocked. "We don't ... er, do that here. It wasn't us."
Lachlan grinned at his Father. "Hey Dad!" Lachlan guffawed, holding both thumbs up. "Way to go!"
Dot, George and Ellie joined us and as George poured more tea, Frank noticed there were still two gifts under the Christmas tree.
"Whose are those?" he asked, pointing.
Ty and I suddenly realised we'd completely forgotten our gifts for each other to mark the 12 months we'd been together.
"Oh," Ty responded. "See, Mike and I have been together for about a year and we decided that because we weren't exchanging Christmas presents, we get each other something small for ... you know, the anniversary thing!"
Ellie was the first to lean forward. "Well congratulations you guys!" she smiled, rubbing her tummy. "You really are the most wonderful couple. You're so perfect together."
Everyone else added their own variation on `congratulations' and Lachlan urged us to open our gifts. I handed Ty the large white box tied with ribbon, and he passed me a small soft package, beautifully wrapped. I looked at him in surprise, and he rolled his eyes. "OK, so George wrapped it!"
"I had to, sir," George said to me. "He tried and it looked like the gift had been wrapped by Edward Scissorhands!"
"You go first," Ty smiled, and I unwrapped the paper to find a layer of tissue paper, just like my gift for him.
I opened it to find a top quality black tee shirt which, when I unfolded it, had the entire front printed with one of Ty's chord charts, the manuscript pages he uses to jot down the notes when he's working on a melody. He'd had it screen-printed in white against the black background.
"That's beautiful, Ty," I sighed. "Thank you!"
"Do you know what song it is?" he asked.
"Well, it doesn't say," I replied. "And I can't read music ..."
Ty looked at the shirt and started to hum the notes and after a few seconds it dawned on me. "`Until You Came Along'"! Ty, that's awesome!"
Lachlan and Ellie looked at one another and then at Frank, who shrugged his shoulders.
"It's the song Tyson wrote for Michael when they were living in Melbourne," Dot informed them.
"I didn't ever tell you that, Mum," Ty questioned.
"No dear, but when you sang it at the concert we went to, I knew straight away it was about Michael. It's lovely, dear."
As an aside, she whispered, "Frank never wrote a song about me!"
"I'm composing one in my head, right this moment," Frank replied.
"Really?" beamed Dot.
"Yes, it's called `More Christmas Cake Please, Mother'!"
Dot sighed and passed around the plate again as I handed Ty his gift. He undid the ribbon, took the lid off the box and unstuck the folded tissue paper. He lifted a flap and looked inside so nobody else could see, and then he shrieked. And Ty never shrieks ...
"That is fucking awesome, mate!" he almost shouted.
"Tyson!"
"Sorry Mum!"
"Well, what is it?" prompted Lachlan, and Ty pulled back the tissue paper and held up two garments.
Ellie blinked in disbelief. "Batman and Robin costumes?" she giggled.
Ty and looked at one another before kicking our legs up and down singing "Na na na na na na na na ... BATMAN!!"
"Tyson's a `Batman' freak?" she asked.
"Oh yeah!" Lachlan assured her. "Big time! So's Mike!"
"Oh Frank," giggled Dot. "Remember when Tyson was a boy, running around in his little Batman suit yelling kapow' and biff' all day long?"
"Yes, and getting me to dress up as Robin so he could boss me around!" added Lachlan.
"Well the shoe's on the other foot now," I chuckled. "I'm Batman, and Ty is Boy Wonder!"
"I'm a little hungry, Batman," Ty grinned.
"Of course, Robin," I replied. "Even crime-fighters must eat. And especially you. You're a growing boy and you need your nutrition."
Ellie shook her head in bewilderment, while George let out an audible groan.
"Are you alright, George?" Dot asked.
"Yes, Dot," George sighed. "But I know what I'm in for back home. Their bedroom will be the Batcave, the Mazdas will be the Batmobiles, the mobiles will be the Batphones, and I now have two outfits that will need to be hand-washed at least once a week ..."
"Tyson's hungry ..." Dot began.
"No Madam," I corrected her. "Boy Wonder is hungry!"
"Well, of course he is," Frank interjected. "It's 9.30!"
"Scott's very late, Frank," a worried Dot suggested. "Do you think you should go and see if he's OK?"
"He doesn't want me chasing after him," Frank shrugged. "He'll be fine."
"I'll call him," said Ty, as he wandered out to the porch. A few minutes later he returned and told us that Scott would be home soon. He'd been talking to some of the other guys and time had got away from him.
We had just opened a bottle of liqueur when Scott came bouncing in the door, all smiles.
"It's about time, Scott Hill!" Dot admonished. "We were worried about you!"
"Sorry Mum," Scott said, as he kissed her on the top of the head. "Just got talking and didn't realise how late it was."
"Talk to anyone interesting?" Ty asked.
Scott momentarily bristled. "No," he answered quickly. "Just some guys I haven't seen for a while, and a couple I haven't met before."
Ty let it drop and we all enjoyed a Christmas toast with Bailey's Irish Cream over ice. When Dot, George and Ellie disappeared to do the dishes and Scott went to his room to take a call on his mobile, we all lazed on the lounges and Frank started to stretch. "I think it'll be an early night for Dot and me," he yawned.
"Dad's just hoping for a bit more Christmas cheer, like last night!" Ty winked at Lachlan.
"Tyson!" Frank admonished. "That'll do!"
"Dad's right though," Lachlan said. "It's getting late and we oughta go. We've got a tough day tomorrow, doing a lot of fuck-all!"
"Yeah," I yawned. "Us too!"
"Ellie and Steve can spend the morning in bed ..." Lachlan continued.
Steve couldn't resist. "Oh really?" he asked. "Things are looking up!"
Lachlan realised his faux pas. "You know what I mean, dumbass!"
"And why will you be getting up early, son?" Frank asked.
"I will be driving my fancy new automobile around the streets of Stanthorpe, trying not to enjoy the looks of envy from locals who drive un-fancy automobiles!"
We all stood and the others joined us from the kitchen. There was the usual round of goodnight hugs and kisses, when Lachlan realised that Scott was missing.
"Hey asshole!" he called out.
"Lachlan!"
"Sorry Mum!"
Scott walked down the hallway talking on his mobile and we heard him say "I'll call you back", before joining us at the front door and hugging Ellie, Lachlan and Steve.
As we closed the front door, Ty casually asked, "Who've you been talking to?"
"Why?" asked Scott.
"Just interested."
Scott looked annoyed. "Just one of the guys I talked to at the Church. He likes Mazdas, and he just rang to thank me for driving him home."
"Who is he?"
"Jeez, talk about the third degree!" Scott shot back. "You don't know him!"
Before Ty could respond, Scott ended the conversation by announcing he was going to bed. "Goodnight everyone," he smiled, before disappearing down the hall and closing his bedroom door.
Ty and I said goodnight to everyone, and went to the bathroom for piss and toothbrush duties, before walking across to our bedroom. We were standing either side of the bed undressing when Ty said, "Scott's acting a bit weird."
I was about to answer when there was a knock on our door.
"Come in if you're cute!" Ty called out. The door opened and Frank walked in. Ty looked at me and asked, "Is he cute?"
I looked Frank up and down. "Cute enough I guess," I replied.
"I'll forget I heard that!" Frank said. "It's about what you said before Tyson. About how you and Mike didn't ... haven't ... well, you know ..."
"No, I don't know, Dad?" Ty replied with a smirk.
"Well, you two don't, well ... you don't do the things here that you do in your own home. And I want you to know you can ..."
It was my turn to smirk. "You mean, like when we're at home and we run around the house naked and play sword fights with our penises? You're saying it's OK to do that here?"
Ty started to giggle, and even Frank cracked a smile. "Stop taking the piss!" he chuckled. "I'm just trying to say that Dot and I wouldn't give it a second thought if Lachlan and Ellie were here and ... having relations ... in the privacy of their own room and the same applies to you two. Especially seeing it's your anniversary and all."
I was momentarily shocked. "I think he's giving us permission to play with each other's Batparts, Boy Wonder!"
Ty laughed. "I'm getting a Batpole, Batman!"
"Seriously boys! ..." Frank sighed.
"Do we need our Batshorts on, Robin?" I asked.
"I believe not, Batman!" Ty replied, and as we dropped our boxers at the same time, Frank backed out of the doorway.
"Goodnight boys!" he chuckled. As he closed the door, he added, "Happy anniversary!"
I looked at Ty. "I love your Dad!" I said.
"So do I," Ty agreed. "I love you too ..."
"Into the Batbed, Boy Wonder, and show me what you mean!"
We slid beneath the covers and went into a cock-mashed-against-cock embrace, and I kissed Boy Wonder until I took his Batbreath away.
He pulled back from me and gasped a couple of times. He leaned in and was about to kiss me again when he suddenly stopped. "Don't you think Scott's acting weird?"
I sighed. "No, he's not being weird. He's being eighteen. He doesn't want to have to account to anyone. It's one of the first rights of manhood."
"Yeah, I guess," Ty agreed. "But I reckon something's going on ..."
I reached down and wrapped my hand around his half-hard dick. "Let's get something going on down here for now ..."
The next morning, I woke before Frank had banged on the door to let us know that farm life had begun for a new day. I turned over and spooned Ty and held him as he slept. My cock was registering a serious interest in the ass groove in which it was resting, and that wasn't a good thing given the fact we'd be woken in a few minutes. I figured I'd wake Ty so I bit him lightly on his shoulder. He grunted and swatted his hand back over his shoulder, narrowly missing my face.
I needed to get his attention so I grabbed his nuts and that instantly did the trick. "What the fuck?" he gasped.
"Morning mate," I whispered, relaxing my grip on his Batballs.
"What time is it?"
"It's almost Frank o'clock," I whispered. "Let's put the costumes on!"
I knew Ty was grinning as we got out of bed and quickly pulled on the outfits.
"God, Boy Wonder's costume is a bit tight!" Ty laughed.
"I deliberately bought one size down," I grinned. "Makes your ass look even hotter!"
We were just back under the covers when the knock came.
"Is that someone at the Batcave, Batman?" Ty called out.
"Bid him enter, Boy Wonder!" I replied.
Frank walked in and smiled at us with the covers pulled up to right under our chins.
"Don't know what you're being so shy about," he chuckled. "I've seen you both naked before."
Ty and I looked at one another, threw the covers off us and stood either side of the bed in our Gotham City best.
I knew it would get a laugh, and Frank almost convulsed. "Dot, come and have a look at this," he called.
Dot came running and she too started to laugh when she saw us. "You used to sleep in your costume when you were a boy, Tyson," she giggled. "Mind you, the little pants didn't look as obscene as they do now."
Ty immediately covered his groin. "Muuuuum!" he protested.
"Your Mother's right, Tyson," Frank nodded. "Put that salami back in the fridge!"
"Frank!"
"Sorry Dot," Frank grinned. "Hit the showers boys. Breakfast's in 15 minutes."
The few days between Christmas and New Year's were relaxed and enjoyable, although there was an undercurrent of tension between Scott and Ty. I figured that Scott might possibly have met someone but didn't want to tell us yet because his only other relationship had hit the skids. It was niggling him that Ty was prying. Ty was indeed being Ty. He seemed incapable of seeing his own over-protectiveness. Rather than worry about it, I chose to ignore it.
Scott spent a lot of time away from the farm, using his new car as a handy excuse. The fact that he didn't ever ask anyone to come for a drive with him suggested he was meeting someone else. I ignored, while Ty stewed. We had a couple of meals at the house, and we were all very impressed with the work that had so far been completed, and the plans Steve had had drawn up for the more major structural improvements.
On these occasions, Ty seemed to forget all about Scott's secretiveness, and immersed himself in sharing the vision he had for the house. He spent one entire afternoon with Lachlan, Ellie and Steve, where rough sketches were made of the ideas he had for the twins' nursery.
A couple of times Vince called to discuss business, and Ty was side tracked into needing to think about his career.
On New Year's Eve, Monique called to ask Ty when we'd all be back in Sydney so she could arrange to `celebrity siblings' photo shoot? We'd all just finished dinner, so we heard the exchange.
"Lachlan and Ellie won't be coming back to Sydney, Mon," Ty said. "They're living in the new place now. Well no, Lachlan's not going to want to fly down on his own, not with Ellie being pregnant. Scott will be back at Point Piper, but it'll probably be a while before we'll be together with Lachlan. OK, OK, I'll talk it over with them and we'll see if we can work something out. I had a feeling this would all end up being a hassle ..."
When Ty finished the call, a lively discussion ensued about when the brothers might all be together for a magazine photo shoot. Frank and Dot cleaned up the dishes while Ellie was insisted that Lachlan could fly to Sydney, but Lachlan wouldn't hear of it unless Ellie came with him. Ellie was disinclined to fly so driving was discussed briefly before Scott suddenly spoke.
"Um, Ty," he said. "I haven't decided yet that I'm going back to Point Piper with you guys."
"What?" Ty asked, assuming he'd misheard.
"Well, I might look at university courses in Toowoomba."
"Are you serious? When Lachie first mentioned you were coming back to Stanthorpe, you begged him to change his mind! The last thing you wanted to do was leave Sydney!"
"Yeah, but Lachie said I had to stay here until I could prove I had some sort of plan for the future. I think I want to go to university, and I like the courses they offer in Toowoomba."
"There are excellent universities in Sydney offering way more choice," Ty protested.
"I haven't made my mind up, Ty," Scott said. "I'm just letting you know that the plans might change if I decide to stay here for a while. Maybe we have to forget about the magazine shoot?"
"That's something else you were gagging to do," Ty shot back. "Now you're saying you don't want your photo in a magazine?"
"I didn't say that, Ty!" Scott bristled. "I'm doing what you and Lachie wanted me to do, I'm starting to think about my future."
"Really?" asked Ty tersely. "And this `future' wouldn't have anything to do with someone you might possibly have met, would it?"
"What business is that of yours?" Scott snapped.
Dorothy and Frank walked back into the room to see what the fuss was about. Lachlan seized the opportunity to diffuse the moment.
"Could the magazine photo be shot up here?" he asked.
"Probably," I said. "There are photographers in all the magazine's state bureaus. But they'd need to hurry – we leave the day after tomorrow."
"Well," Lachlan said cautiously, looking at Ellie. "We may have a solution. We weren't going to say anything until Christmas and New Years was out of the way, but ... I've asked Ellie to marry me ..."
Any tension in the room immediately dissipated amid whoops and hollers and hugs and handshakes.
Lachlan continued, "We thought we'd tie the knot locally at the start of February, just before some of you guys have your holiday in Coolangatta. We were going to suggest you come to Stanthorpe in the last week of January, so we could have the photo done that week before the wedding. Then you can go off and play tourists on the Gold Coast!"
"Oh Lachlan, Ellie!" Dot fussed. "That doesn't allow much time to book the church, and find your dress and organise the reception ..."
"Actually Dot," Ellie said tentatively, "we don't really want a big fuss. We thought we might just get married at St. Michael's and then have a party back at Sugarloaf Road, if we can get some of the renovations done by then."
"We thought we might hire a marquee," Lachlan continued. "And we'll just get a caterer to come in Mum, to save you any trouble."
"Cooking for my own son's wedding is not a trouble, Lachlan," Dot assured him.
"I know you'd willingly do it, Mum. But we want you, Dad and George to just enjoy the day with us."
"What, we don't get to enjoy the day too?" Ty chuckled.
"You'll be too busy. You're my Best Man, and Mike, Scotty and Steve will be groomsmen. Ellie's sisters will be bridesmaids along with her two best girlfriends from Sydney."
"Seems like you've got it all planned, son," Frank stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, we've talked about it Frank," Ellie smiled. "But nothing's set in stone. We don't want anything overly elaborate. Just a nice day we can always remember, surrounded by the people we love."
"This is fantastic news you two," I grinned. "Congratulations! Decided where you're going on your honeymoon?"
"We'll probably just stay home," Lachlan said. "There'll still be stuff to be done around the house, and we'll need to be a bit careful with money before the babies come along."
Ty let it go, but I knew the wheels were turning in his mind. While the wedding of the century was being discussed, I quietly slipped Scott some cash and asked him to nip into town to pick up a chilled bottle of French bubbly.
He returned 15 minutes later and found everyone still engrossed in discussion about the nuptials. He certainly got everyone's attention when he popped the champagne cork and we all got to toast the happy couple.
Lachlan's well-timed announcement certainly set the tone for a happy Hill family New Year's Eve. George and Dot got masses of finger food organised, while Frank brought out the cases of Iron Horse Pale Ale that Ty had bought for him the last time we stayed on the farm. The strain between Ty and Scott eased as we mellowed out on beer and some excellent food, all seated around the television in readiness for the televised fireworks spectacular than would ring in the new year on Sydney Harbour.
Ty was in a celebratory mood, although he seemed annoyed when Scott disappeared to talk on his mobile in his bedroom. I distracted him with food and more beer, to get him focussed once again on the future Mr and Mrs Lachlan Hill. By the time the New Year countdown rolled around, we boys were nicely buzzed from the beer, while Dot, Ellie and George discussed wedding breakfast menus over tea and cake.
We all stood around the television counting down, 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!! And there were more hugs and kisses before we drank and toast and Lachlan announced his lot's impending departure for home. It was closely followed by our departure for bed.
Ty was in a silly mood and made all the right moves and noises to instigate a hot and sweaty session of man love, but as I expected, the beer finally caught up with him and as soon as he was comfortable under the covers, he was asleep ...
On the rare occasion Ty wakes up after a night of one too many beers, I either wake to contrite Ty who wants tea and sympathy, or cranky Ty. Just my luck, I woke to cranky Ty. He started the day surly and thirsty; all he wanted to do was drink a bucket of water and get back into bed and sleep for another few hours. But Frank was having none of that.
"It's fucking New's Year's Day," he grizzled to me, as we climbed out of bed. "It's a fucking public holiday!"
I couldn't resist. I struck a guitar hero pose and sang "All is quiet on New Year's Day, a world in white gets underway, I want to be with you, be with you night and day ..."
"Fuckin' Jesus," he groaned, hand held dramatically against his forehead. "Can you please not sing? Ever? If you sing again I am going to kill you."
I feigned disappointment. "That's very hurtful," I said.
"We're all good at different things," Ty said. "You're a great lawyer, and you're great a great cook. You turn food into an art form. I know nothing about law, and I have issues boiling an egg. But I can sing. You ... well, you just can't sing. You are possibly the worst singer in the history of the world."
"That is an appalling thing to say! It's borderline slander, and I remind you, I'm a lawyer. I know this stuff."
"I had a lawyer once. He was an arse."
"No, I believe what you mean to say is, you have a lawyer, and you love his arse."
Ty was about to answer when the door opened for the third time, and Frank stuck his head in. "Showers! Now! Either that or I have glasses of water here with your names on them ..."
We moved quickly into the hallway and almost collided with poor George, who clearly needed to answer the call of nature. George and I exchanged good morning pleasantries, but Ty just stomped past us into the bathroom, cursing under his breath.
"Tyson! Did you just call me as asshole?" Frank suddenly thundered.
Ty turned and froze, not quite sure what to say. George jumped in and saved him. "He said `parasol', Frank," he said. "And no Mr. Hill, I don't think you'll need one today. The forecast is quite good. Sunny. Gentle breeze."
Frank chuckled. "You're full of shit George!"
"Actually Frank, I'm full of piss. And I need to get rid of it," George shot back as he slipped into the bathroom and closed the door.
Our last day on the farm was fun in its own way. Frank enlisted Ty, Scott and me to go through the entire daily farm routine ... feeding, washing, spraying, scrubbing, picking. Ty and Scott's uneasiness was put aside as they laughed at the way I picked apples. It just seemed easier to pick them without their stalks, but it was explained to me that commercially, the stalk was important to the aesthetic appeal of the apple. A bit like the cum shot in a porn movie according to Scott, who got a smack across the back of his head from his Dad.
Later in the afternoon, Scott disappeared to "go driving", and Ty and I went to Sugarloaf Road to talk with the tradesmen. Ty had taken a hands-on approach to the renovations, and he was always happy to discuss things with Steve, and then chat with the guys Steve had hired. I felt good when Ty mentioned, more than once, that he thought Steve was doing a fantastic job. I could only agree.
Much later that night, long after dinner, Scott returned home from his "drive" and the brief, snappy exchange he had with Ty dampened the end of a very enjoyable visit.
Things were strained but politely OK in the morning between them; everyone else filled in any awkward gaps. After all the hugs were exchanged Ty, George and I piled into Lachie's new Mazda. We'd tried to insist that we'd take the bus to the airport, but Lachlan was more insistent; code, we realised, for the fact he just wanted to take his new wheels for a long, long drive!
Along the way, Ty tried to talk about his concerns about Scott but Lachlan was mostly dismissive. "He's probably met someone mate, and good on him!" he said. And, "He's thinking about uni, mate. That's a good thing. And it's a bonus if he's getting his dick wet as well!"
Ty gave up and settled back into general conversation. After a heartfelt farewell to Lachlan at Brisbane airport, he settled himself into the Business Class lounge and tried to relax. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something wasn't quite right. Under the cheerful façade, there was a brood happening.
We quickly fell back into our regular routine over the next three weeks at Point Piper. I was at the office all week, while Ty worked on his songs either at home at the piano or in the studio where he recorded rough demos. We generally ended up home together in time for dinner with George and several nights, we went to bed early enough to take our time making love. I treasured those unrushed, intimate occasions when Ty and I really connected on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Drifting off to sleep with my satisfied guy resting his head on my chest was my peak of absolute happiness.
At weekends, we got back into the habit of running on the beach with Scruffy in the mornings, both determined to get rid of those Christmas kilos. If the weather was hot we sun bathed on the balcony, and if it was cold, we cuddled on the couch and watched movies. We both commented on different occasions that, because of our circumstances, we had no friends in common to catch up with, but neither of us was concerned, perfectly content in each other's company.
What was left unspoken was how nice it was – a change - to have our home to ourselves. Not that we didn't love having our family members around, but just that we were able to really focus on each other when there was nobody else wandering around! Even George seemed more relaxed, with far less cooking and cleaning to do. It freed up his time to spend with Henri and they went regularly to the movies.
On our first Friday night at home, we talked George into asking Henri to join us for dinner, and what an enjoyable night it was. Henri was a born storyteller; engaging, funny and so interesting. The years had taken him down many paths in life and he had us enthralled as he talked about the many adventures he'd had through the decades. It was difficult to tell whether George had found a soul mate, or whether he was just smitten. It had clearly been a long time since he'd had any sort of relationship, but he clearly was at ease around his new friend. For want of a better pigeon hole, Ty and I decided they were companions.
The following weekend we spent both our Saturday and Sunday with Daniel in their Woolloomooloo council flat. Mandy and I went for long walks and relaxing coffees as Ty sat diligently with Daniel and explained how the songwriting process worked. On the Sunday night, Daniel and his mother proudly surprised us with a meal they'd made, and we were both moved by the effort they made to serve us a dinner that would never be part of their regular regime. That night, Ty invited Daniel to stay with us at Point Piper the following weekend, just a few days before we returned to Stanthorpe for Lachlan and Ellie's special day. The picture on Daniel's face when it registered that he would be spending a weekend in his hero's home was worth bottling.
Through the following week, Ty argued endlessly on the phone with Vince, who was wanting him to commit to performing the national anthem at any of a number of Australia Day events on January 26, where organisers had sought a big name to sing our big song.
Vince started out - naturally enough - with all the offers that had some big fees attached ... and Ty shot them all down in flames. He even passed on the no-fee charity invitations. It turned out that he wasn't enamoured of singing the national anthem at all. I was surprised to learn that he baulked at the line "for we are young and free", which he believed was offensive to indigenous Australians, who had lived here for tens of thousands of years and still weren't truly free in their own land.
The last of their heated exchanges really riled Ty and suddenly, he was back to brooding. "The fat fucker just called me `high maintenance'," Ty steamed.
"Well, if you look at it from his perspective, you probably are," I sighed.
"Oh here we go!" Ty said angrily. "How come you always side with Vince?"
"I don't always side with Vince, Ty," I replied, "as you well know."
"You just agreed that I'm high maintenance."
"No Ty, I said `if you look at it from Vince's perspective, you probably are high maintenance'."
"Same thing!"
"No it's not," I sighed. "Ty, I'm a lawyer. Two parties to a disagreement come to me and it's my job to cut through the emotional stuff, pinpoint the problem, and then assist the parties to find a resolution."
"I get that bit," Ty replied. "But whenever there's a problem with me and Vince, you make me feel like my opinion doesn't matter."
I was momentarily shocked. "That is not fucking true!" I sighed. "I have always respected your right to make decisions regarding your own career and I have said that repeatedly to Vince. If you're going to react this way every time you talk to Vince, leave me out of it."
"Well if you're gonna get all narky, you can go fuck yourself!" he spat, as he stomped out of the lounge to the bedroom. I stayed on the couch, trying to figure out how Ty and I ended up warring over something so trivial. I stood on the balcony for a while watching the waves before pouring myself a glass of wine, grabbing my book and returning to the couch.
I'd been reading for about half an hour, when Ty stuck his head around the lounge room door and looked at me until I finally looked back at him.
"Sorry Batman!" he grinned.
Despite myself, I smirked, but I was annoyed at how easy Ty was to forgive. I returned to reading my book.
"Let bygones be bygones," Ty continued, in character. "I'd like to shake hands with you. Can't we be friends?"
"I'd rather shake hands with a spitting cobra!" I replied without looking up.
"You're being mean, Batman. To err is human, to forgive ... divine."
I looked up, and `Boy Wonder' was wearing his deliberately contrite face. "If you like, I can take care of your spitting cobra in the Batcave!" he smirked.
He made me laugh, as he always did. "We had better hurry, Boy Wonder, before the old man returns from the movie theatre."
"Not too fast, Batman. In good bat-fucking, as in good driving, one must never sacrifice safety for speed!"
A few minutes later, we were in the Batcave, and Batman's batpole was tearing up Robin's cute batass ...
We lay spooning in bed for more than an hour, me stroking Ty's hairy chest and kissing the back of his neck. We would probably have dozed off if not for the sound of a taxi out front and then George's key in the front door. We heard him walk in, and head for the kitchen.
"Better get up!" Ty sighed.
"Let's put the costumes on for George!"
We disentangled, visited the bathroom and then pulled on our Bat outfits before heading into the lounge room.
I called out, "George, could you please bring us in some wine?"
"Certainly sir," came the reply, and Ty and I were ready – legs apart and fists on hips – when George walked in with two full glasses.
George didn't `bat' an eyelid. He simply placed the glasses on the coffee table, saying "two glasses of batjuice, sir, as ordered" and then returned to the kitchen. Ty and I looked at one another and chuckled.
We had just sat down and started to drink the wine when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it, George," I called out, before turning to Ty. "You expecting anyone?"
"Nope!" he shrugged.
I opened the door to a very amused looking delivery man. "Holy costume party!" he chuckled. "Parcel for Mr. George Larson, needs a signature."
I took the pen and clipboard and signed it and the driver handed me the parcel. "Happy crime-fighting!" he smirked as he made his way back down the steps.
Ty and I eyed the box curiously. "What do you think it is?" Ty asked. I shook it and shrugged my shoulders. "No idea," I said, before calling to George.
"A parcel was delivered for you, George," I said as he walked into the room.
"Very good, sir," he replied, reaching the parcel.
I snatched it from his reach. "Not so fast, George," I grinned. "I'm a little concerned about this. It's not a Batman costume is it, because I need to warn you - there's only room for one Batman in this house!"
"No sir, it's not a Batman costume," George sighed.
"Then what is it?"
"Give it to me and I'll show you."
George opened the package and extracted a square box which, when opened, revealed a beautiful Irish linen table cloth.
"Remind me why we need a new tablecloth ...?" Ty asked.
"It's for Henri, sir," George replied. "It's to replace the one that was ruined when Scruffy decided to pull Henri's tablecloth off the table, along with the crockery and crystal."
"Oh, Christ!" Ty exclaimed. "How embarrassing! That's not like Scruffy!"
"I've already replaced the plates and glasses, sir," George told us. "The table cloth was harder to track down and I had to order it from Ireland."
Ty looked alarmed. "That's very good of you George, but you shouldn't have to pay to replace Henri's things. Scruffy's my dog!"
"It didn't cost me anything, sir," George smiled. "Everything's been charged to your credit card!"
"Excellent, George!" Ty exclaimed. "Batman and I thank you for your forward thinking!"
George rolled his eyes, before asking "Is it only Daniel joining us for dinner tonight, sir, or is his Mother staying too?"
"I spoke to Mandy earlier," Ty replied. "She'd really like the chance of a weekend to herself because looking after Dan fulltime is so tiring, so it's just him for the weekend."
"Very good, sir. I was thinking of making Bouillabaisse?"
"Might be a bit adventurous for Dan," Ty said thoughtfully. "Until we know what he likes, it might be best to stick with steak, potatoes and salad."
George nodded, declined my offer of help, and returned to the kitchen to prepare for dinner. "Mandy won't know herself, having two full days to relax!" I said.
"You better believe it, mate," Ty smiled. "I've booked her a room at the Intercontinental for tomorrow night, with a late check-out Sunday. Her meals and stuff are being charged to me, and I've booked her a two-hour pampering session at their Day Spa – massage, facial, hair, nails ... the works!"
"How come I didn't know that?"
"I did it while you were sulking!"
"I wasn't sulking!" I chuckled. "You had your little tantrum and stomped off to the bedroom!"
"Yes, the very same room where you forced yourself on me less than two hours ago!"
"Really?" I laughed. "What bit of `oh fuck me Batman!' implied I was using force?"
"Silence! Or I'll get my lawyer on to you. You won't wanna mess with him!"
"You mess with him!" I chuckled. "Does Mandy know about the hotel?"
"Nah, we'll tell her when she drops Dan off!"
"Where's Dan going to sleep?"
"I thought maybe he could have Lachlan and Ellie's old room."
"Wouldn't it be better if he had Scott's room?" I asked
Ty bristled slightly. "Why Scott's room?" he asked tersely.
"Well, just because it's got a TV, DVD and electronic games, which could be good if for any reason Daniel has to stay in bed?"
"Whatever!" said Ty, dismissively.
The last thing I wanted was to argue with Ty again, but I couldn't let it pass. "It might help if you tell me what your problem is with Scott?" I floated, as diplomatically as I could.
"I don't have a problem with Scott!" Ty snapped, before adding, "I'm going to the music room. I've got some stuff to do before Dan gets here."
I went to check that Scott's room was presentable, and of course George had it looking like it had never been slept in. I went to the kitchen to let him know where Daniel would be sleeping, poured a glass of wine and went to sit on the balcony. I gazed out to sea for a while, drumming my fingers on the table and mulling over Ty's testiness regarding Scott. I really wanted to understand it, but I knew that raising the topic again with Ty would result in confrontation. And I certainly didn't want to talk about it with Scott in case he sensed more interference.
I grabbed my mobile and quickly rang Lachlan before I changed my mind. We had an enjoyable chat about the plans for the wedding, how Ellie was coping in the heat, the house renovation and how well Steve was doing overseeing the tradesmen. There was a brief lull in the conversation before Lachlan said, "I've got a feeling you didn't just ring to shoot the shit?"
"Well, no," I agreed. "It's just ..."
"Let's have it," he coaxed. And so I did. I took a deep breath and unburdened, explaining that Ty's behaviour seemed out of character to me, and I was worried I was missing something.
"I don't know whether I can explain this properly," Lachlan replied. "See, I know you know how close Ty and I am to Scott, but I'm not sure you realise how ... well, protective Ty can be. Mum and Dad always talk about how Ty and I effectively brought Scott up, and that's true. We both loved looking after him and playing with him, but Ty took it so much more seriously. Like me and Scotty were his direct responsibility.
"You know he hated it if Scott ever cried as a kid, and he'd do anything to make him happy. He was the same with me before Scotty came along. He used to look out for me every minute of the day when I was with him. He'd even get up in the morning and make my lunch for kindergarten before he went to school. And then when I started going to school, Ty would spend morning recess and lunch with me. He was six years older than me, but he'd come and make sure I was OK. He'd walk me to and from school and if I got into any kind of scrap with another guy, Ty would be there busting the other kid's arse. And there were times when I fucked up and did something wrong, and Ty would take the blame and get his arse whopped by Dad. He'd do it to spare me the punishment.
"Even when we were older, he was always trying to make me happy, and he's the same now with Scotty. It's Ty's nature. If I was upset, he'd be upset. If Scotty ever cried, like when his little guinea pig died, Ty would cuddle him until he fell asleep.
"Now that's all great, of course, but it just kept going. What he's doing to Scotty now, he did with me at the same age. You'd never believe the blow-up we had when I was 18 and I first talked about joining the Army Reserve. Ty went fucking nuts. It freaked him out to think I might be a soldier and that my life would be at risk. He did everything he could think of to ensure it didn't happen, and the more he did it, the more determined I was to do what I wanted with my own life."
I was intrigued. "What ended up happening?" I asked.
Lachlan laughed. "We had a huge screaming match and I punched him in the mouth. Split his lip. I got a walloping from Dad, and Ty got a huge lecture. Six months later I enlisted. By then Ty was back to normal with me, but he started to concentrate more on Scotty."
I chuckled. "So are you saying this is gonna go on until Scott smacks Ty in the mouth?"
"Nah mate!" Lachlan replied. "That'd never happen. Scotty idolises Ty. But he's turned 18 now and he's starting to want to make his own decisions without having to talk things over with `big brother'."
"So why is Ty on his case so much at the moment?"
Lachlan sighed. "Ty's a very intuitive guy. Like, I'd never bother lying to him because he'd just know I wasn't telling the truth. He has a feeling that Scotty's met someone and he's just gone into protective mode. After what happened with Simon, Ty can't bear the thought of Scotty getting hurt again."
"Has he met someone?" I asked.
"Between you and me, yes he has," Lachlan said honestly.
"Do you know who?"
"No idea," Lachlan replied. "I'd love to know, but because I hated the inquisition from Ty, I'd never put Scotty through it. It's enough that Ty's doing it."
"So what's gonna happen?" I asked. "Is this just going to continue until there's some big explosion?"
"Dunno, mate," Lachlan seemed to shrug. "My hunch is, it'll all flare up again when you guys come home for the wedding. And if Ty's true to form, he'll corner me and want to talk about it. And I guess I'm gonna have to let him have it."
I fell quiet for a time and Lachlan asked, "You OK mate?"
"Yeah, Lachlan," I assured him. "I just didn't realise this was such an issue, and that Ty had such a protective streak."
"Don't get me wrong Mike," Lachlan quickly replied. "Scotty and I love Ty. He's the best brother any guy could ever have and there's nothing either of us wouldn't do for him. It's just that because he loves us the way he does, he can't see that he sometimes oversteps the line trying to protect us."
"Mate, I'm really glad we had this talk," I said. "I've got a handle on it now. If you think there's anything I can do to help, let me know. I just hope it doesn't put a spoiler on your big day."
"Nah, not possible!" Lachlan laughed. "In a few days' time I'm marrying the most beautiful girl in the world, and there ain't nothing gonna spoil that!"
When we'd finished our call, I joined George in the kitchen and helped him with the salad and setting the table for dinner. I didn't see Ty again until Mandy pulled up in the driveway at seven, to drop Daniel off for the weekend.
The two days that Daniel spent with us lulled me into a false sense of security that Ty was back to his usual happy, beautiful self. Hindsight revealed it was the lull before the storm.
Sure, Ty would be the perfect Best Man at Lachlan and Ellie's wedding, the photo shoot would go ahead, and Ty would ensure that his parents had the holiday of a lifetime on the Gold Coast.
What I couldn't foresee was that on our return to Stanthorpe to deliver Ty's parents safely home, the shit would well and truly hit the fan ...
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