Hi again. Well here it is finally. The next installment of the Mark and Rye series. The usual disclaimers apply here. I don't know Westlife or any other celebrity and certainly don't know the sexual orientation or their feelings regarding being gay. This is all made up in my wicked little mind. This continues where Mark and Rye left off and will be written in the same style, my style, which is lots of sappy and romantic fluff that hopefully will have you crying along with me.
The work is mine and unless you have my permission you can't post it anywhere else.
This is a story about gay relationships and if you shouldn't be here due to local laws or your age or whatever then leave now, otherwise continue on and enjoy.
This is the last chapter of Homecoming. Please read the Author's notes at the bottom of the page for more info.
Mark and Rye
Mark felt worse than he looked, which was saying he felt like shit. His left eye was open again but sort of squinty. His broken nose made both his eyes black and puffy. His constant crying had done nothing to make him look better.
He sighed and straightened his tie one more time as a knock sounded on his door.
"Hey guys," Mark said softly as his two brothers came in with Josephine right behind.
Both Colin and Barry went and held him tight and Mark fought to keep the tears back.
"I wish Rye was here," Colin said through his sobs.
"Me too. You guys like him huh? I'm glad," Mark said.
"We love him, Barry asked to be his boyfriend cuz you are such a dumb shit," Colin said and punched Mark's stomach.
Mark oofed then chuckled a bit. He had realized when Bry boy had punched him what a total asshole he was being, but he still had not gone to apologize to Rye yet. He just needed to get through this day first.
He had found out from Shane's family, not directly but by listening in to the conversations in the house, that Barry was gay and that Josephine and Jeremy were going to take custody of his brothers away from his father with the help of Rye. He was very pleased with this development.
"I have stopped being a dumb shit, but I embarrassed myself quite a bit. Once we have put mama to rest I will fix things," Mark said and squeezed his brothers close.
Mark leaned down and kissed both his brothers on the head then picked Colin up and carried him downstairs. Colin didn't complain like he usually did when people treated him as the baby. Barry held Mark's hand the whole time as well.
Mark was shocked to find Jill and the boys waiting for him downstairs.
"My boys," Mark choked out in shock.
Bry boy of course was the first to reach him and pulled him into a hug which by necessity included Colin who Mark had not yet released.
"Love you Mark," Bry boy said into Mark's neck.
"Love you too Bry boy," Mark said back as he held onto his friend.
"I'm not sorry I punched you cuz you deserved it, but I don't hate you," Bry boy said as he backed off and let others hug Mark. Jill had taken Colin into her arms almost immediately after Bry boy stepped back.
"I deserved it and a lot more. I'm glad you don't hate me, I don't know what I would do if you all hated me," Mark said as he looked around expectantly.
"He's not here. He will show up briefly at the funeral but he is still respecting your father's wishes that he not attend," Shane said knowing that Mark was looking for Rye.
Mark nodded sadly.
"It's time," Jeremy said from the door and everyone went quiet and nodded.
The group left the house and went to the black limousines that would carry them to the church for the service. This ride, as well as for the whole day, only Mark, Colin and Barry were supposed to ride in the first limousine, the others would follow in the remaining cars.
As the cars wound through the streets then into the countryside to the small church that had been chosen Mark's emotions slowly began to take their toll as tears escaped and rolled down his cheeks. Both of his hands held the hand of one of his brothers and so he did not wipe the tears away but just let them fall.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the car stopped in front of the church. Mark climbed out and was soon surrounded by the boys. Jill once again took Colin into her arms and Barry was pressed into Nicky.
"Boyo?" Mark asked softly and instantly Shane was there.
"Yeah fella?" Shane responded.
"If I, if I can't finish my speech, would you..." Mark choked up as he fingered the folded paper in his hands.
"I'll do it for you," Shane said and kissed Mark's cheek softly and helped move him forward to follow the others into the church.
There were a few flashes of camera's as they moved into the church. The press was here but for the most part were being respectful and after only 3 or 4 pictures the camera's had stopped. Nobody shouted out their names or begged for an interview.
Inside the church everyone was talking quietly. Mark and his brothers and friends were the last to arrive. After much discussion it had been decided that Josephine and Jeremy would greet those attending rather than Mark and his brothers. Mark had never been more grateful.
They entered the church and Mark's eyes immediately went to the flower covered casket. His knees felt suddenly week and Shane's arms tightened around him. He briefly heard Josephine telling them that his father would be in the front row and he and the boys were expected to sit with their father.
Mark shook his head, "No we will sit with the boys. You and Jeremy sit up front. I can't sit with him I need my boys,"
Josephine nodded and moved quickly down the aisle and cleared out the second pew. The group moved slowly forward and approached the casket where all bowed their heads briefly and touched the casket then moved to sit in the second pew. Mark briefly registered his father's sour look but ignored him.
Kian and Jill had moved to the one end and Jill still held Colin. Bry boy then Nicky were next with Barry next to Nicky. Shane slid in beside a barely in control Barry and then Mark on the aisle.
Mark barely registered what was going on or being said at the funeral. He remembered his father turning around to glare at Barry when Barry had started to cry. Mark had leaned forward and whispered, loud enough that the priest had paused in his reading, to his father, "Glare at my brother one more time you fucked up piece of shit and I will haul you out of here and beat you unconcious."
Oliver's eyes had opened wide and he turned toward the priest quickly. He was not used to being talked back to and he was very surprised by the venom in Mark's voice.
After a couple of readings of scriptures the priest said, "And now to speak for Marie's children we invite her son Mark to step forward."
Mark's heart was in his throat as he stood shakily. He smiled slightly as he noticed that Shane and Kian also stood and followed behind him to the dais. They stood respectfully behind him but he could feel their love and presence and he drew strength from them. He unfolded the paper in front of him and smoothed it out several times as he tried to control himself. But instead it just made it worse. His eyes clouded up as tears fell. He felt a pair of strong hands lead him away and he felt the comforting arms of Kian as Shane stepped to the dais.
Shane cleared his throat and began to read Mark's speech:
"Mama, I miss you and I love you. I think that one
of the boys is probably reading this because as I
write this I am crying almost uncontrollably so I
doubt I will be able to read this at your funeral.
I feel so lost and alone mama. I did something so
stupid and I don't know if I even have any friends
left. I let father's attitude affect me and I threw
away the best thing in my life and now even my friends
hate me. Bryan punched me. I hope you didn't see it
happen because I am so ashamed of those moments.
You see I had someone who loved me more than anything
else in the world and I let him believe I didn't love
him. You would have loved him mama, he is so kind and
gentle and he would give anything for me or the boys.
Bryan thinks he is an angel and so do I. We even call
him Angel. You would have loved him too mama.
I wanted him to be here today, to sing for you mama,
to sing you to heaven. But I sent him away. Now I
feel so lost and alone. I need him so much mama. He
saved me once you know. I was going to kill myself
when I thought the boys hated me because I am gay.
But he saved me. I need him to save me again mama,
can you ask God to send him to me again mama?"
Shane finally choked up enough that he could read no more and he wiped frantically at his tears so that he could just finish and sit back down.
Then the door to the church opened and Mark looked up and took in the sight of his Nngel come to save him. Rye strode down the aisle of the church to the casket.
As he stood in front of it he placed a beautiful white rose with all the other flowers and began to sing. His voice filled the church and everyone stared in awe. After the words spoken by Shane about the boys believing Rye to be an angel and then hearing him actually singing, many in the church sat in silent awe.
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
'tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, and all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And on my grave will warmer sweeter be
And ye shall bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
After the last clear notes finished reverberating in the church everyone watched as Rye leaned down and spoke softly to the casket. Nobody caught his words but finally he stood and turned and without looking at anybody left the church. Rye never revealed to anyone what he had said at that moment and when asked he would simply look away and say it was private between him and Mark's mom.
As the door to the church closed Mark jumped as if shocked and raced to the door, flinging it open and ran outside.
"Angel! Angel?" Mark cried out looking for Rye but he was nowhere to be seen. Mark broke down and fell to the ground sobbing.
"Shh fella. Just get through the day and it will be okay. Come on," Shane said as he lifted Mark up and dusted him off and led him back into the church.
The service lasted another 20 minutes or so before everyone followed the casket out. This time Mark insisted on the boys riding with him and his brothers and the slow procession made it's way to the graveyard. Nobody spoke in the car, they all just sat and comforted each other. Mark's mind was numb now. He wasn't sure if Angel had come back for him or just out of respect for his mother. He looked around and realized he was now seated at the gravesite. He didn't even know how he had got there. The priest was saying some final words.
Suddenly Mark's head shot up. He knew his Angel was here. He began to turn around, searching for Rye. Then he stopped and his eyes fixed on the man moving steadily towards them. His heart was beating fast in his chest. Rye stopped about 10 yards away and lifted his eyes to look directly at Mark. And at that moment Mark knew, he had his Angel back. He was forgiven and he was loved.
Rye waited for a moment until the priest had paused then he lifted his eyes and looked to the heavens and sang out clearly. He put into this song all his love and his hope and his faith. And those who sat and heard him sing knew in their hearts that this man sang with the voice of an Angel.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Swift to it's close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, it's glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see,
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need thy presence every passing hour,
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies,
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee,
In life, in death, oh Lord, abide with me.
Here Rye looked directly at Mark and held out his hand in invitation.
In life, in death, oh please, abide with me.
Mark stood as his heart accepted the invitation. He didn't even realize that Jill and the boys and his brothers followed behind him as he walked to Rye. He stood in front of the man he knew he loved and looked into his eyes.
"Forgive me?" he asked simply.
"Always. Ready to go home?" Rye asked.
Mark turned and looked at his friends and his brothers and then at the gravesite where his mother's casket was waiting to be lowered. He saw the angry glare of his father and the smiles of his aunt and uncle.
"Goodbye mama. I knew my Angel would come to sing you to heaven and come to save me again," Mark said and turned and took Rye's hand in his.
Together the group left the graveyard and travelled back to Bryan's house. They all trooped into the house and Rye and Mark fell onto the sofa where Mark broke down again but this time it was Rye's arms who comforted him. Colin and Barry both climbed into the laps of Rye and Mark and were held and comforted as well.
Finally, after Colin had cried himself to sleep and Barry was nodding off, Mark spoke.
"Angel I..." he began.
"It's done my love. We are both where we belong now, it doesn't matter the road behind us," Rye said.
Mark sighed. How could he have been so stupid...again.
The group stayed like this for about an hour til a shout startled them all.
"Get out of my way I have come to collect my sons," Oliver's voice shouted.
Soon a very irate Oliver stood at the door to the living room, looking past Nicky, Kian and Bryan who were blocking the entrance. When his eyes saw Mark and Rye holding Colin and Barry on their laps he blew up.
"You fucking get away from my sons you disgusting perverts," he shouted and lunged forward only to be pushed back by Bryan.
Colin and Barry cringed and looked scared. Rye flipped open a cell phone and began to talk.
"Oliver get the hell out, we have temporary custody of the boys now. Here is the paper work, we were just waiting until after the funeral to present it to you," Josephine said as she came in behind Oliver and handed over some papers.
Oliver's face went red then white with rage.
"You aren't taking my boys," Oliver shouted.
"We already have. Your violent nature and evidence of abuse provided by Marie was all it took. They are ours now. We are their guardians until they turn 18 and if they will have us we will adopt them legally," Jeremy said as he moved forward to stand directly in front of Oliver.
Colin and Barry brightened up and looked at Rye who was still talking on the phone but nodded at them.
"Thank God," Mark breathed out.
"You shut your faggot mouth. I will take my sons and I will make sure they don't turn out like you if I have to beat it out of them," Oliver screamed.
"That is a direct threat against the safety of the boys. Did anyone have a recorder going?" Rye asked as he stood.
"Yes, got it," Josephine said as she held up a small tape recorder.
Rye's lawyers had told them to start carrying around a tape recorder any time they were near Oliver in the hopes of catching him saying something like this. It would be just one more piece of evidence.
"Good. The police are on their way," Rye said then turned to Oliver, "Your homophobic and prejudiced attitude has taken the very last people that could have loved you away. You are alone now. The boys will be with your wife's family. Mark will be with me. I have the money and power to make sure you never see any of them again and I will use it. You can fight me, but you will lose."
Rye paused as he heard the car doors slamming outside.
"The police are here now with a restraining order. It's up to you now. You can sign over the guardianship of your children to Josephine and leave or you can fight it. If you fight it I will make sure you are left with nothing.... NOTHING. By the time I am through with you you will pray for death. The choice is yours," Rye said calmly.
The whole time Rye had been speaking Oliver had stared at him. He was frightened by what he had seen. This man, he had no fear and he wasn't lying. Deep down, like all who hate and abuse, Oliver was a coward. He turned to look at the police who had been let inside and then back at Rye.
"Fine," he spat.
Quickly Josephine took out the papers and handed them over to Oliver who signed them without even reading them.
"Sir, please come with us. A restraining order has been issued against you and you must leave," one officer said.
"Fine. I don't want to be around these faggots anymore anyway," Oliver spat and looked at Mark and his other children. "Why God ever cursed me with you three is beyond me. You are no longer my children."
With that Oliver left.
On the sofa Colin and Barry burst into tears. Everyone went to them and comforted them.
"Shhh, it's okay. He didn't deserve you three boys," Josephine said.
"N n no that's not it. We are just happy we don't have to go back," Colin sobbed.
"Are we living with you now?" Barry asked Mark.
"No. You will be living with your Aunt and Uncle," Rye said.
"Oh," Barry looked sad then went red and looked at Josephine, "Sorry, I am glad we are living with you, I just wanted..."
"It's okay honey, I know what you meant. But you will see Mark and Rye a lot. After we file the papers we will be going to America to stay with them for awhile. Then we will decide what we are going to do. Whether we will come back here or live in America," Josephine said.
"You would move to America?" Mark asked.
Josephine nodded, "Whatever is best for the family."
"I want to live in America," Barry said.
"I think that will probably be what will happen," Jeremy said from behind the sofa where his hand was gently rubbing Mark's shoulder.
"The paperwork should clear in about a week. I will have one of my jets waiting for you to bring you to us," Rye said.
"When are we leaving Angel?" Mark asked.
"We are leaving tomorrow," Rye answered and everyone nodded.
As nice as it had been visiting everyone, the whole trip had been a very sad and emotionally draining time. The boys all knew that over the next few months they would have family visit them in America. And Jill had started a plan to have a get together with all the family at Christmas. Yes, it was time to leave.
- Leaving -
Once again everyone had slept together on the cushions and mattresses in the basement. The goodbyes to Colin and Barry were emotional and long but made with many promises that soon they would be together again. Everyone's family had gathered to say goodbye and plans made for them all to spend a few weeks in the future visiting in America.
As they were about to finally leave Rye pulled Mark to him, with everyone standing around them in the yard.
Rye leaned his head against Mark's and placed his hand on Mark's chest.
"My true love, my fella," Rye whispered.
Mark swallowed hard, his emotions very clear for all to see.
"My life, my true Angel," Mark said as he placed his hand.
The families were finally able to feel and know what true abiding love felt like as the feelings swept over them. Many of them broke down into tears as they experienced the purity and wonder of this love. When it was over the seven friends waved and got in the car that would take them to the waiting plane.
"I'm glad that's over," Bry boy said as he lay his head on Shane's lap.
"Me too. But I can't wait for Colin and Barry to come stay with us," Nicky said.
"Thanks for all you did Angel," Mark said as he lay his head on Rye's shoulder.
"I couldn't leave my brothers there like that. I have a lovely house just 6 blocks from the loft. It's a 4 bedroom in a nice residential area. There are schools nearby. The boys will be happy there and they are close to us," Rye said.
Nobody was surprised that Rye already had the boys set up. It was just the way Rye worked. At first the boys with Josephine and Jeremy would stay at the loft, probably for a few weeks or a month or so, then they would move into the house Rye had for them and start to live a normal life. School, friends, playing, chores, normal stuff that they needed so desperately.
Things worked out well. Oliver had truly decided he no longer wanted anything to do with his family and never even showed up in court for the hearing. The guardianship papers were filed and then when the lawyers had presented the possibility that Josephine and Jeremy would eventually adopt the boys, the judge had decided to cut through the red tape and approved the adoption on the spot. The boys were now legally the sons of Josephine and Jeremy. That night the boys had called Rye and Mark and were almost hysterical they were so happy.
Just 4 days later they were happily exploring the loft with their new friend Spooky. Eric had moved most of his stuff to the loft and had, on Spooky's insistence, brought the little boy with him as he moved in.
"Unca Mawk's bwothews will get sad some time and I have to be thewe," Spooky had exclaimed to his parents and Eric who just shrugged and packed the little boy as well.
Spooky was instrumental in helping Colin and Barry heal and he was instantly adopted as number one little brother. At the end of about 6 weeks the boys were ready to move into their new home with their new mom and dad, they had actually started to call Josephine and Jeremy mom and dad. Spooky had been invited for a week and the group of five spent that week laughing and playing. The boys were tearful when Spooky was taken home but the promise that they could go and visit him in his home at the end of the month made the parting easier.
Kian and Eric's relationship grew quickly over the weeks and months. It would have been odd to anyone outside of the group but for those who shared the loft it was just another person to love. There was some teasing the morning after Kian and Eric had made love to each other. Eric was very loud and descriptive when he made love or was made love to. It was all done in fun though and after several months Eric was brought into the sharing with Mark and Rye but only with Kian. It was also only with Kian that Eric played the game with the boys.
Jill's relationship with everyone also grew very strong. Almost every night one of the boys or Rye could be found curled up in her lap or she in theirs. Although she never shared intimacy with any of them, the love between them all was very strong and she never felt separate or unloved.
One night while at the dinner table with all their friends Mark stood and got everyone's attention.
"I have an announcement to make. Next month, on the 17th, Rye and I will be getting married," Mark announced simply.
...the end of Homecoming but more to follow...
Author's Notes:
Well that's the end of Homecoming. Hope you liked it. It's not the end of the story of Mark and Rye, but it will be some time before I come back to this story.
I have other projects I want to work on and so will leave Mark and Rye for probably about 6 months. Never fear though. I will be back.
I have posted two of my short stories on Nifty. In the college section I have Art Imitates Life, and in the beginnings section I have Nice Tattoo.
I also have opened a Yahoo Group for my works, visit it at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rye_Encokes_Gay_Stories/
This will be the only way to be notified when new stories are posted. The Yahoo Group will also be the only way to see stories of mine that will not be published on Nifty, such as some Harry Potter stories I am working on.
So for now this is goodbye to Mark and Rye but you will see them again around Christmas I imagine. Hope you enjoy my other works, and thanks to all the loyal readers who kept me going and who hung in there.