North Meets South

Story: North Meets South: When World's Collide

Chapter: 15 Ios, Ted, Sasha Meets the McKenzies

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Mitch and Tony celebrate their birthdays on Ios. Once back home, Mitch's ex-partner resurfaces. David brings Sasha to meets his very large family. There is some blood. You'll be surprised who and why.

Ios, Ted, Sasha Meets the McKenzies

The pace was slow. Making love, when we wanted to, where we wanted to. There were the occasional sighting of people in the distance or on the horizon on boats, but we were pretty much alone. Tony was right, it was hard not to think that there was something we needed to do or somewhere to go. We were just used to....doing something!

"If you don't mind..." I began as we made lunch, "....we're celebrating our birthdays tomorrow. Would you mind just if we just spent the day here, alone? There's a lot we can do here."

Tony grinned coming up next to me as his arms came around me. "Like?" His kiss on my neck.

I grinned back. "We have some games and a TV that has access to thousands of movies thanks to the Internet and there's the beach..."

"And..." Tony smiled nuzzling me more on the neck.

I chuckled feeling his hands travel over me. "There is that." I turned to face him, arms going where they knew to go and pulled him closer. "We could spend the whole day in bed," I said kissing him tenderly.

Tony laughed lightly. "I like that idea the best." He hugged me and then looked around our villa. "This was a good idea, coming here. I feel the tension ebbing away."

"No regrets I didn't plan something...livelier?"

He chuckled. "This is as lively as I want right now." He kissed me. "If we want more, there's a town a few miles that way. It looked like it has some active places to go, but right now, you and I are the only people in the world."

It was nice not to run to do something. Of course, we did make love a couple of more times. We did go down to the beach and swam and lay in the sun. The only sign of humanity was the occasional boat we would see in the distance. Oh, and the airplane high above once. The world was still there, just not here. The weather was great. Not hot, but warm. Comfortable. The breeze was nonstop. This was the Mediterranean. I grinned as I felt Tony take my hand when we were lying out, bringing my hand to his lips and then back down. Not that he wanted or needed anything, just to make contact with me. That was love.

He and I both wore sunscreen. Being descended from Scottish ancestry did not protect my lily white ass from burning. Though Tony was naturally a little darker, he could burn too. In the evening we did turn on the TV to watch a movie and just lazed on the large sofa together, enjoying being together until it was time to end the day. His head resting on my chest as he sat between my legs and allowed me to play with his hair. We hadn't put a thing on in two days! It was very comfortable.

The next morning, I rolled over as I woke up, my arms around Tony again. Then I heard him. I rolled back over and there was Bucky. Looking in again, but this time his tail was already wagging. He knew what he'd find here. The little burro was back for more apples. I grinned as I got up and went to the kitchen getting not two, but three apples this time. Going out to the patio, I petted him and fed him the apples as I spoke with him softly. Then I washed up and crawled back beside Tony.

"I heard you washing, so I'm good." Tony chuckled, but he hadn't moved, his head still somewhat buried under covers. "I guess Bucky's fine."

"He was just making his morning visit."

Tony rolled pulling me to him. "Good morning." Tony grinned kissing me.

We did dress that day. I had to call someone, I'd made some plans with for Tony's and my birthday. It was all going according to plan.

Tony slipped his shoes on. No socks. It was casual. Both were dressed in slacks and a loose shirt, his, of course, was blue. Mine was red. What designer, I don't know and couldn't care less. He looked nice. "We've been naked so long; this feels odd now." He pulled on his shirt.

"Being naked natural, but frowned on by society as a whole." I chuckled and then I shrugged. "Of course, next time we can vacation at a place where naked is the dress code."

Tony shook his head. "Right. I'll believe it when I see it." He stood. "So, where are we going?"

Walking over to him, I kissed him taking the keys. "I'm driving."

Tony's eyes widened. "Okay."

It was not far and the restaurant, which was not crowded, but busy. I went to the hostess, gave our names and we were seated in minutes. Grandma's Restaurant Liostasi was the name and it was beautiful. Near the water where we could see the evening shine over the shimmering surface of deep navy colored water. The tables were under a covered terrace but open to the air. It was part of a hotel and it had people dining at various tables. What pleased me was Tony and I weren't the only male couple dining tonight. There were three others. Of course, there was the usual male and female couples, but no one even looked. I know I keep saying that, but it was odd for me, okay? Normally, Tony and I were looked at when we went out. Tony wasn't shy about showing his affection to me, so I was used to the occasional odd look. Here there were none! It's odd!!! No one cared!!

Again, no time limits, we dined just enjoying the peace, each other's company, and our meal. Then as the empty plates were taken away. The waiter smiled at me and nodded to someone who walked behind where the waiters came and went from. A girl brought out a cake with one candle lit. No one was going to sing or make noise, she just placed the cake down, left two plates, a knife, and forks.

Tony looked surprised. "What? No Happy Birthday song?"

I smiled taking his hand. "I'll gladly sing for you if you sing for me, but I don't know..." I shrugged, "...it seemed a quieter celebration was needed this year. I want you to know...I've never loved anyone as I do you. That you made another year, I am so happy you have. I look forward to forty more from you." I looked at him. "I know from what I've read and heard, turning forty is pretty....intimidating. You look back on your life and wonder if things could have been different, should you have done something differently? Are you where you're supposed to be?" I smiled. "I'm telling you; you have nothing to worry about. For what happened to bring you to Charleston, I'm sorry it happened for the attack on the World Trade Center, but I'm happy you came to Charleston. I have the most important human being in my life now. You love me." I chuckled thinking about it. "I have gotten a rose every week for nearly five years! Why? Because you love me! You're a success, Tony. There are people out there that would love to have a tenth of what you have." I saw his eyes begin to tear a little. "I love you, Tony. You've changed me. I love you. I love New York, I love Italy, I love Rome. All because of you. This is so close to perfection as I can imagine as you've said before, I can't imagine Heaven being any better. I'm happy, Tony. Because of you. I love you, Tony. Happy Birthday."

Now he was crying. So much he had to use his napkin to wipe his face. He chuckled. "I don't deserve you, Mitch." He sniffed, then shook his head as I was about to say otherwise. "No, I feel like I don't. You're an amazing man. You love so much and so powerfully. You love me!!" He shook his head again. "I tried, in the beginning, to prove I was worthy of that love. The money, the condo, trips...the cars. You weren't impressed by that." He chuckled and then he looked at me. "I did do things I regret doing. I was living a life where it was all about sex and what I felt. Until I met you." He took my hand and squeezed it. "You showed me what it is to love. Unconditionally and without looking back. I love you so much. We're never parting." That last was a statement. Not a confirmation, but just stated of fact. "We belong together. God had to be involved in our coming together. No one else, no dating service, no Internet matching...nothing could bring us into this but God Himself." He got up and pulled me to him hugging me tightly. "I love you, Mitch." He kissed me, it was passionate and loving. "Happy Birthday."

Now others were looking at us. Not repulsed, there were smiles on their faces. They could see love when it was there. Perfect strangers could see it.

Sitting again, Tony took the knife and cut. His eyes grew when he saw what it was. "Tiramisu cake!? They made us a Tiramisu cake?" He grinned putting a piece in a plate for me.

I grinned. "What? Italy's right over there." I pointed over my shoulder. "It wasn't difficult for them. Not much of a stretch."

"Yes, but a cake!" Tony marveled. "Not Tiramisu, but a Tiramisu cake!"

I shrugged. "The Internet works here as well. They might have looked it up, but it's online. Here it is."

The evening was wonderful. Then Tony grinned. "Now, I want to go dancing!" He stopped the waiter. "Can you recommend a place we can go dancing?" Then he pointed at the two of us. "Guys like us?"

The waiter, who was very Greek, truly was not getting the question at first. "Like you..." then he nodded. "Ah, you mean because you're a couple?" He said in accented English and waved to the whole island. "Anywhere. There's Disco 69, Baru Bar, Ios Blue...they won't even care. There are no set..." he had to think of the words. "...gay bars here? Clubs are everywhere here."

I grinned at Tony. "I think we may move here."

Tony smiled back. "We just might do that!"

I hugged the waiter, which he didn't back away from, but wasn't expecting. "This is a beautiful island, in a beautiful country with beautiful people. Thank you." I said kissing him on the cheek.

Tony grinned to the waiter. The waiter chuckled. "What he said," Tony said and kissed the waiter, too and then grabbed my hand and we headed out. The waiter got a very generous tip.

Finding a dance club or night club wasn't hard, as our waiter waved to the rest of the island, there were dozens it seemed. We gravitated to the music we liked. It was a resort island and there were hotels everywhere here, so it was a busy town. We ended at Disco 69. What? I love disco! Tony liked it. That's where we headed. The cover paid and we were in the middle of all these people dancing and I did see a few couples that were the same gender. When the song "I Love the Nightlife" began, Tony grabbed me around the waist and flung us both on the dance floor. Then ABBA sang "Dancing Queen." We danced and danced. Then they began a slow song. I don't know what song, all I know is when he brought me to him closer, his warmth and scent were intoxicating. Because we had both exerted ourselves the cologne I loved him to wear made his natural scent even stronger and his heat was making me dizzy.

"After all this time, you still take my breath away." I smiled at him.

"Like you do to me every day." Tony kissed me passionately.

"You always smell so good, and now..." I grinned.

Tony chuckled. "Why else do you think I'd wear it?" He thought a second. "It should be renamed. How about Mitchnip?"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know if there are enough Mitches in the world to merit that change, but it works for me." I pulled him into another, hungrier and longer kiss.

It was me that had to stop. Just for a minute, I said to Tony.

"You were worried about turning forty?" I said as we looked for a table. There was one occupied by a couple, but the table held six so we walked over. "Is anyone sitting here?"

The woman, about twenty-five smiled, petite with brown hair next to a man that was sandy blonde headed. "No, sit." She waved us down.

"I'll get us some drinks," Tony said as he started to walk off.

"Get me..." I began.

He turned back his eyebrows raised. "Something else? You think I don't know by now what you get?" He gave me a somewhat exasperated look. "White Russian."

"Sorry." I grinned to which he nodded, bent and kissed me.

"Forgiven," Tony said and walked off to get the drinks. He turned again as he walked but kept walking. "Don't do that again." He wagged his finger at me grinning.

"You two are so cute!" The woman at the table said to me. Clearly British. "I'd say you two have been together a while."

I nodded. "We've been together four years."

The woman shook her head. "You were confusing me there a while." She smiled. Her boyfriend or whatever was listening, he just smiled at me. "You were dancing so nicely together, those were some interesting variations on the old disco style, but it like you'd done it before a few times, but you have this..." she sought a word, "...newness about you like it was a new relationship."

I nodded. "It's still new for us."

"Four years is great!" She claimed touching the man with her. "Maybe Stuart should hear this."

The man, about thirty rolled his eyes. "Stuart won't listen." Then he smiled at me. "My brother thinks because he's gay he can't have anything permanent."

"Why not?" I asked not understanding. "We've been married for all but the first year."

"Married?" The girl asked, but interested.

"As married as we can be legally right now." I nodded as Tony came with my drink and sat. "This is my husband, Anthony Delveccio." Then I extended my hand. "I'm Mitchell McKenzie."

"That's Tony and Mitch to friends," Tony added shaking their hands.

"Amanda and Bret Michaels." The man greeted. "We're on our honeymoon."

"Congratulations!" I could see they were comfortable together. Now I knew why. "You picked a wonderful location. I love Ios."

"Thanks." Amanda smiled. "To both statements."

"Okay, I'm asking a stupid question." Bret began but was smiling. "Can either of you teach me some of those moves you did? Maybe so I don't step on her toes?" He looked at Tony with a grin and did the seventies move with his arm across his chest and up and then he asked. "You lead, right? Stuart tells me the guy that's taller usually leads."

Tony grinned at me. "We both have, but yes, I usually lead."

"Our dancing is a little different." I grinned. "There are times mid-dance we switch and the other leads."

"It sort of evolved." Tony nodded and shrugged. "Of course, in the religion he was raised in, they were not allowed to dance."

Amanda's eyes widened. "Really? Why not?"

I chuckled. "It can lead to fornication."

Bret rolled his eyes. "Well, sure, but that's natural."

I nodded. "It is."

"You've made up for lost time." Amanda laughed. "You two seem to be in sync." Then she smiled. "You sound different. You're both Americans clearly, but the accents are very different."

"I was raised on Long Island, New York," Tony replied. "He was raised on a farm in the mountains of the South."

"Really?" Bret marveled. "It works apparently."

I took Tony's hand. "It does."

A few more dances and then it was time to go back. Tony drove home.

"I had a good time tonight," Tony commented with a smile.

"As did I." I nodded. "This has been a good trip."

Once back at the villa, we had barely gotten in the door when I grabbed him, pushing him backward to the bed as I pulled his shirt open.

"Couldn't hold off any longer?" Tony chuckled as my fingers ran up his chest.

"You didn't want me to," I growled kissing him in our hungry, devouring way. "That's why you wore the cologne. The Mitchnip?"

"Yeah, I wanted you to." Tony nodded as I pushed him back on the bed. His fingers in my hair as I sniffed down his chest and unzipping his pants. "I love you, Mitch."

I grinned looking up at him. "I know."

Tonight, was not so slow or gentle but full of love.

Again, Bucky was there in the morning. Only this time, Tony was feeding him some apples. I grinned as I got up and went out the open door to the patio.

"I knew you couldn't hold out forever," I said leaning on the doorframe.

"He was knocking!" Tony explained. "This little ass was literally knocking on the glass." He waved to the glass covered door. He turned back to the burro. "You wanted your breakfast, didn't you? You just couldn't wait."

I chuckled. "We will have to buy more apples."

Tony laughed nodding. "These are the last ones." Then he frowned. "I didn't even get one!"

I rolled my eyes. "They were for me, Tony. I've never seen you eat an apple. Mountains? Apple trees there in the yard. It's part of my diet!"

Tony shrugged. "At least I would have had a choice."

"You did!" I waved toward the kitchen. "You could have taken one any time, but you didn't."

Tony stood up and was about to wipe his hands...then realized he was wearing nothing and didn't have a choice. "I've gotta wash. That ass is a messy eater."

"That's what happens when all you can eat with is your face."

Tony came back from washing his hands. "Are we doing anything today?"

I grinned as I stretched in bed. "We do have two more days here. We have some things to get for family as well as the apples. We can do it today or tomorrow. You decide."

Tony smiled as he slid in beside me. "I know what I want now, I'll decide later what to do." He chuckled kissing me. "Good morning, sexy."

My arms went to their places and pulled him tighter. "Good morning." I deepened the kiss.

We did dress and went into town. This time shopping without anything in mind but looking for things that would interest family members. Oh, I did buy more apples for Bucky. Tony should he decide to eat one. I love apples, but they weren't the Golden Delicious I preferred.

We ended up having lunch at a little restaurant named Elpis. No surprise it served Greek food dishes. Okay, I had their spaghetti. I wasn't corrected by Tony about how I ordered it either. It wasn't macaroni and gravy here. Even Tony had some. He frowned after a couple of bites.

"What's wrong?" I smiled, knowing what was going through his mind. I could read him after all this time. "Isn't it alright?"

"It's delicious," Tony muttered.

I laughed at what he was presenting and what he said. "If it's delicious, why are you not happy?"

"Because I'm not." Tony griped. "This is Greek Spaghetti, not Italian Macaroni and Gravy. It shouldn't be as good." He pointed out the obvious.

I grinned as I shook my head. "I am so sorry about that, Tony." Then I chuckled. "Italy is right over there!" I pointed across the water. "You guys are basically the same!"

Tony's eyes widened. "We are not! You take that back! There's the Ionian Sea and Adriatic Seas....not to mention a lot of the Mediterranean Sea between. We are not the same! We're closer to Turkey!" Then he narrowed his eyes. "What if I said Scottish, English, Irish and Welch are the same?"

"They are."

Tony growled. "You have a lot of Scottish ancestors rolling in their graves right now hearing you say that. Italians are not the same as the Greek!"

I held my hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay....you're not the same. Don't forget the Germans in my ancestry." I chuckled. "Then why did Italy steal the Greek gods?"

His fork hit his plate as he dropped it in shock. "What!? They are gods! We might have called them by other names, but we did not steal them! Gods can't be stolen! They're gods!"

I nodded. "So, Zeus and Jupiter...?"

"They're the same god!"

I nodded grinning. "Then this is macaroni and gravy." I lifted the plate. "It's the same dish."

Tony frowned. "That's it. I'm not talking to you for at least an hour."

I nodded grinning. "We'll see."

He almost made it, but soon enough he was talking to me again. When we got back he had barely gotten in the door as I watched his shirt come off and he was pulling his pants off as he kicked his shoes to the side.

I grinned. "Maybe I should book us in a naked resort next time."

Tony smiled back. "I said before. I'll believe it when I see it." He brought me into a kiss. "Let's swim!" He started for the door that let us out to the beach.

I smirked. "Don't worry," I said, but knew he didn't hear me. "I'll put these things away." I shook my head putting our packages down on the counter. Tony was truly relaxed now. It was great to see.

We did swim in the warm water for a while. It's difficult to make love in the water. Those lubrications you can get that are waterproof? Well, they aren't really waterproof, not really. We didn't bring any when we went in. Handjobs were the best we could do, but there were fish that probably wondered what the white stuff was that floated by.

We relaxed on the sofa again watching a movie. Tony drifted to sleep, his ear pressed to my chest to hear my heartbeat. I casually let my fetish have fun as I stroked his hair. It was a few minutes later I joined him in sleep, waking as he shifted his position.

"You've got a strong heart." Tony managed quietly.

"I hope so," I commented. "It's worked for three and a half decades; I'd like it to beat a few more decades."

Tony nodded. "It's comforting to me. I like to hear it."

I smiled kissing his head. "I know."

The next morning was the same. Bucky was there again and both Tony and I fed him this time.

"We created a problem for Bucky," Tony said sadly. "Two more mornings and we're gone."

I shrugged. "I think he knows that. Don't you, Bucky?" The little burro's tail was going again.

"He knows his name?" Tony marveled. "We just gave it to him."

I chuckled. "He knows kindness and of course he knows we're talking to him," I said petting the burro. "I'm sure there will be others and have been before, that's why he knew to come here that first day when he knew someone was here. If someone's here, they might be nice. Like us."

We didn't have to go anywhere and didn't. The next day we didn't during the daylight but went into town the last night we were there. Ate again at a good restaurant and then back to Disco 69. We danced again and then were delighted to see Bret and Amanda Michaels had returned.

"Hi, guys!!" Amanda greeted hugging me. Bret shook Tony's hand. Men. "We're here for one last dance night before heading back to London tomorrow."

Tony nodded. "We'll be heading back to Charleston Sunday, but we'll stop in Rome first in the morning."

Bret smiled. "I hate this has to end, but we have to work."

"The honeymoon doesn't have to end." I reminded. "We're still on ours," I said taking Tony's hand.

"You guys are given us hope that maybe we can convince Stuart to look for someone in his life," Bret said.

"He'll only find what he's looking for," I said. "If he looks and wants it."

We danced some more and then returned to the villa.

We fed Bucky one last time and then there was the trip back to Rome, which was sort of anticlimactic, but it was nice to be in familiar territory again. Then that ended and we headed back to the United States. We arrived just after noon the next day after an all-night flight.

Weary from all that travel we entered our condo where there was music playing a little loud for me. I'd never heard them before and then I realized they were singing in Russian! It was rock, but nothing I'd heard before. That's why no one heard us come in. Putting the suitcase I had down I walked into the living area where I saw Sasha reading with his feet up. David was making something in the kitchen as Alik was watching.

"Knock, knock!" Tony said smiling.

All eyes turned, Sasha held the remote and killed the music, David brightened and rushed to us with Alik right behind him. "You're back!!!"

I hugged David. "Yes, we live here."

"Hi, Uncle Mitch!" Alik hugged me around the middle as he greeted in English and then said, also in English. "How was your trip?"

I chuckled and said in Russian. "Yesli ya otvechu na angliyskom yazyke, vy znayete, o chem ya govoryn?" I asked if I answered in English would he know what I was saying?

Alik shook his head. "Yeshche net." Not yet.

I bent and kissed him on the head. "But you're using it. Good for you." I said in Russian. "And you're doing very well."

"Hi!" Sasha greeted with a hug and then he looked at me closer. "You are relaxed."

"That was the whole point of going." Tony greeted Sasha.

And of course. "Did you bring me something?" Alik asked.

Sasha frowned. "Alik."

I grinned at Sasha. "He's six, Sasha," I said in Russian.

"Six and a half!!" Alik corrected.

"Excuse me." I grinned. "Six and a half."

David nodded. "I was telling him, with the help of the translator, which Tony...I love...being six and a half, the best way to be a real American is to have peanut butter sandwiches once a day."

I chuckled nodding. "I grew up on peanut butter," I said in Russian. "Peter Pan Crunchy is my favorite," I told David what I'd said.

"That's what I'm making. Want one?" David motioned back to the counter.

I shrugged. "Why not? I need something before we turn in."

"Was it a late flight?" Sasha asked.

"Our original flight was canceled. We got another that flew later. It was a late flight." Tony answered. "I'll have one of those sandwiches, David."

"Grape jelly?" David asked.

"Apple!" I corrected, having always preferred it to grape. "You've known me how long?"

David shook his head. "I keep hoping you'll see the light. It's Welch's for pete's sake." Then he grinned. "And we're out of apple jelly."

"What!?" I asked.

"Yes, Alik likes a little toast with his apple jelly in the morning...lots of apple jelly," Sasha admitted.

I grinned at Alik. "I can't fault a man for good taste," I said in Russian. "Bama apple jelly is the best."

Alik nodded.

And then things were going to wind down and our vacation was over. It was time. Tony and I had a difficult time with the time adjustment. It was morning in Greece before we had a morning in Eastern Time Zone, so we were awake a few hours earlier than needed.

Walking into the hotel, and I'm sure you know by now, I'm a hugger and like to be hugged and give hugs, so when I was about to enter my office I was grabbed from behind and given a bear hug!

"Welcome back!!" Alan greeted me happily and then held me back to look at me. "You're tan!"

"They had of sun in Ios!" I stated back. "And this one isn't from a pump!"

Alan grinned reaching for my belt. "Any tan lines?" He smiled.

I swatted his hand away. "No." I chuckled. "I had to cover my ass in sunscreen...and Tony's, too."

Alan laughed at that. "But you look extremely relaxed."

"Because I am extremely relaxed." I waved toward my office. "Can we get to work?" Which of course he followed me. I grinned and handed him his package. "If you've never tried it, do. It's a sensation you'd never expect."

He was as bad as Alik opening the package. "Coffee and...." He held a bottle of liquor.

"It's coffee they served on Ios and Barbaresso Ouzo. It's a strong coffee." Then I grinned. "You and Kent can get a little tipsy and be wide awake!! It's a wild feeling."

Alan laughed. "You always give the best gifts! Guess we can't try it now."

I nodded. "Because I know you, Alan. I know what you like."

Alan nodded. "Yes, you do." Then he smiled a little slyly. "So, no tan lines?"

I chuckled. "We undressed when we got there and only dressed three times, twice to go to town and once to the ferry. The rest of the time, naked."

"You are turning into a wild man," Alan said as he headed back to his office. "See you later in the mines."

It was after the noon rush where everyone tried to check out at the last minute. That was a constant. I helped! We had the computer available and I was checking people out just as fast. As the morning wound down a man came in wearing a florist's uniform. I'd never seen him before and he was looking a little confused. I grinned when I saw the single rose and he was heading right to Michelle who didn't even question it now having been here almost two years.

"He gets it," She muttered she pointed to me. I took the rose thanking the man. Michelle frowned. "Sure, you get a rose every week, but do I?" She grumbled.

I grinned. "I can have Tony speak to..." I looked at her, "...who are you seeing now?"

She sighed. "Not Mister Wonderful like you have, obviously."

I sniffed the rose. "Yeah, he is Mister Wonderful." I grinned and turned to her. "What's even better, he thinks I'm Mister Wonderful!"

Michelle just sighed and walked away.

It was two days later when we all sat having dinner. I mean, Tony, me, David, Sasha, and Alik. Our house was filling up. It was great! Then...

"I've been thinking," Sasha said slowly in the middle of the meal. "I'm making good money now....maybe it's time for Alik and me to move to our own place."

Even Tony was not happy with that. "Why? Isn't your money being used to immigrate? Other expenses?"

Sasha nodded. "Yes, but I make enough now. Most of the expenses have been paid..."

I frowned. "We like having you here, Sasha. You, Alik, and David's family, too. We're family! If you want to...of course, but we don't want you to move out. We love you."

Sasha grinned nodding and lowered his head. "I know that. That's why I haven't brought it up before." Then he looked at me. "We won't move out..." then he looked at Tony and me directly, "...providing....I pay rent! You say I'm family. I feel like we are family, but as part of a family, I pay our part. It's only fair."

David shrugged. "Don't ask me." He grinned at me. "I love it here. Alik loves the indoor pool and the development center and he loves his room and toys...I know he doesn't want to leave if he says it in Russian or English." He smiled. "I can say Khorosho, Alik, vremya, chtoby vyyti iz basseyna. Instructions to Alik to get out of the pool. No translator needed!"

Alik grinned and asked in Russian. "Why is Uncle David telling me to get out of the pool?"

Sasha smiled and answered in Russian. "He's just telling Uncle Mitch that he can speak some Russian and we're okay. He's telling he doesn't want us to move."

"You don't want to move away, do you?" I asked Alik in Russian.

"No!" Alik said hurriedly.

"See?" I said to Sasha in English. Then I sighed. "There may come a time when you have to. You may have to move to another city or just because, but don't do it right now."

Sasha nodded. "Fine. If I pay!" He said firmly. "Do more than clean the house. I contribute."

Tony shook his head. "Okay, okay. Of course, you want to." Then he grinned. "Then again, there's the Thanksgiving celebration at the McKenzie's coming up. You may change your mind."

David nodded sadly. "You might change your mind about me. Our family; Mitch's, and mine, is pretty hard on outsiders. You are most definitely an outsider."

"And male. Don't forget that important part." I added. "Tony was nearly given the treatment because he was from New York. I can't imagine how they will react to someone from Russia."

"A former member of the military for the Soviet Union," Tony added.

"Which dissolved almost a year later!" Sasha said. "I needed a job!"

I nodded. "I know. I understand, but they will be tough to bring over to our side."

David took Sasha's hand. "I love you. I love Alik. I won't let anyone hurt either of you."

"Count me with David," I said. "We'll be with you the whole time."

Tony looked as everyone looked at him. "What? I'm still treated as an outsider by some, not all, but I'll be with you, Sasha." He assured.

The Thanksgiving Season was coming up fast, which, let's be honest. This day has been merged with Christmas. Hanukkah! Now it was the Holiday Season, just one big, long holiday! Charleston was decorating for these holidays. The city streets were laced with garland and lights, you know, those large bells and lights! Well, our hotel was also being decorated. It was being done slowly not all at once. Garland first and then the lights. After Thanksgiving, the ribbons and trees would go up.

It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when David came in Tony's and my room as I packed so Tony and I could leave after work on the next day. It was nice having David there most of the time now. He and Sasha seemed to be getting closer and closer. I felt like the two were truly family now. He knocked on our door looking...well, not so happy.

I looked at him. "Is there something wrong, David?"

My cousin came in the room and sat on my bed looking...well not at me. At his shoes, the wall... "I'm scared, Mitch."

I stopped my packing and sat by him. I knew what it was, but I wanted him to say it. "Scared? Of what exactly?"

David shook his head. "When you came with Tony those years ago, told everyone not only that you were gay, but were living with Tony, an Italian Yankee, Catholic from New York City...I thought, what's the big deal?" He shrugged. "But it is a big deal, isn't it?"

I nodded. "For the McKenzies? Yes, it is." I took David's hand. "Have you told anyone that you're gay or bisexual?"

David frowned. "No, not really." He got up and began pacing. "Michael knows, but not about anyone in particular in my life. He knows I'm here in Charleston and probably knows there's someone involved...but..."

I nodded. "You don't have to do this, David." I cautioned.

David frowned and waved toward the upstairs. "How is that fair to Sasha? How is it fair to Alik?" He shook his head. "Why is this so damned difficult?"

I shrugged. "We're not mainstream." I chuckled. "I heard you tell Sasha you love him. Do you love him?"

David grinned as he thought about Sasha. "Yeah, I do." He laughed. "That big Russian is really something special." He shook his head. "When he first told me he loved me...and it was him that said it first. We were making love, so I figured it was the heat of the moment." Then he shrugged. "He said it again afterward. I knew he meant it if he said it then and has said it again and again! I was not ready, I thought, but...now...I love him, unlike anyone I've ever loved." He chuckled again. "As a matter of fact, I'm sure that I didn't love anyone before I realized I loved Sasha. I can't imagine life without him."

I smiled at David. "That's what I hoped would happen. This won't be easy, but the person I worry about is Alik. Fortunately, he doesn't understand much English, but he'll understand the tone if it gets out of hand. It will get out of hand."

David sighed. "We don't do conflict well, do we?"

"I don't know." I grinned. "I think we do okay. The problem will be Uncles Earl, Calvin, Thomas, and even JC."

David nodded. "I know." He threw his hands out in frustration again. "Why does it have to be so hard? We love each other! What's wrong with that?"

"You're not supposed to love Sasha. He's a man!" I said smiling. "A Russian! He's the enemy to most of them."

"He's not the enemy!" David protested. "He was born in Russia! It wasn't a choice any more than any of us chose to be born in the United States! Really. Sasha told me he told me, he did it because once he joined he was military he was no longer a target for the Bratvda. They don't allow them."

"Then just tell them that." I bumped our foreheads together. "Remember, Tony and I are on your side. I think you can count on Chuck, Rhonda, Mary, and Sherry, too."

David nodded. "Sasha, Alik, and I will be arriving on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. You'll be there tomorrow night. Can you sort of prepare the cousins that you mentioned, for what's coming?"

I nodded. "Sure, I'll lay the groundwork, but you have tell them."

The Wednesday afternoon, after work, Tony arrived at my job and we left from there to head for Derby. Again, we stayed at the Ellerby Springs Bed and Breakfast and the same suite. I wondered how they made money. It seemed they always had vacancies. Then again, I always made reservations well in advance. I never traveled anywhere without reservations. I hated games of chance.

The next morning Tony and I drove to the McKenzie home place. As always the place was beginning to get a little crowded as the family arrived and chaos blossomed. The many women were busy assembling the food, which in our family was never lacking where food was concerned. The men, however, were gathered, talking, and just visiting. Lazy bums. Tony and I walked in greeted by my parents, David's and Michael's mother and father, my cousins and nodded to by those uncles that were still not really accepting that Tony and I were a couple. It was Michael that came to me. Where was his wife?

"Okay, what's going on?" He asked for he knew if anyone knew what was going on with his brother, it would be me. I never asked for that privilege!

I smiled. "He hasn't told you?" I knew what he was asking about, but was I the one to tell his twin? Not a chance!

Michael shook his head. "He's bringing someone, isn't he?"

"Michael." I sighed. "These things need to be discussed by you and David. Not told by me. You'll have to wait. He's going to be here in a few hours. Just support him, okay?"

That's when the cousins I mentioned that would support him came up.

"Guys." I began. "David is bringing someone. Just like I did." I said taking Tony's hand.

They all looked at Tony and then they all understood what I was saying.

Sherry was confused. "His twin brother's married! To a woman! How does that happen?"

Chuck frowned. "Really?" He asked annoyed. "They are separate individuals. Different fingerprints, same DNA, but different people. They love different people!"

"He's bringing a boyfriend?" Rhonda asked.

"Who speaks..." I began and then stopped. "...well, he's not American. There is a son that's not even seven yet and doesn't speak much English. We need to be on David's side. He was very worried about this." I waved toward our family. "With good reason."

Mary was still trying to understand. "Why won't you tell us? Is he another race?"

"They could be from another planet!" Tony groaned. "We know them both. We trust this person and made them legally a part of our family for Mitch and me. Does David have your support?"

Chuck nodded. "Of course."

I smiled. "Good. Get ready for the earthquake. This might be a disaster."

It was about an hour later in the living room where those cousins and I usually gathered that Tony nudged me and then jutted his head toward the window. I turned to see David's Mustang drive in.

I rose. "Okay, it's show time," I said to my cousins. Tony and I went to greet David, Sasha, and Alik. The other cousins waited on the front porch. David got out from the driver's seat. Sasha got out from the passenger side and looked at the house oddly. The tension was rising.

"This is...unique." Sasha grinned at me.

I looked back at the house and then back at Sasha. "I'd say it was a house that love built. Mostly because all that love made lots of children!" I chuckled. "Did David tell you what to expect?"

Sasha nodded. "He did." He looked at the many faces now looking at us. "All these people are family?"

I chuckled and nodded. "They are. David told you that Grandmother got married young and was still having children when her oldest children were having their children?"

David nodded. "Meaning there are aunts and uncles younger than their nieces and nephews. Some we call aunt and uncle are really cousins."

Alik jumped out of the back. "Where are we?" He asked in Russian.

I grinned. "This is where my father grew up. He had fifteen brothers and sisters." I told him in Russian.

Alik's eyes grew. "Fifteen!? I don't even have one!"

It was then the cousins had come up slowly.

"What language was that you were speaking?" Michael asked me.

"Michael." David smiled a little uncertainly to his twin. "Everyone....this is Sasha Lebedev." David began and held his hand for Alik. "And Sasha's son, Alik. Sasha and Alik are from Moscow, Russia." Then he smiled. "Sasha is my..." he looked at Sasha. "...I hate the term boyfriend, but lover is a little thick..."

I smiled. "Significant other?" I said suggesting.

My cousins might be open-minded, but none of them were prepared for this. Mouths dropped, eyes bugged and there was a lot of gaping!

Tony rolled his eyes. "You'll catch flies, guys," Tony grumbled. "Sasha's moving here and trying to become an American. He's a nice guy. So, he's from Russia. What's the big deal?"

"I told you, Alik doesn't speak English well." I reminded them. I turned to David. "Did you bring the translator?"

David nodded and held up the device. "I brought the charger, too."

I bent down to Alik. "Alik, my family doesn't speak Russian like your father and I do. Even like Tony does. They don't know any Russian." I said in Russian to the boy. "So, if you need to ask someone something, you'll need me, your Daddy, or David, okay?"

"Khorosho." Alik said nodding.

"Okay." I hugged him.

"You speak Russian now?" Chuck asked me.

I stood nodding. "I can. Not fluently yet, but I'm getting there." Then I looked at my cousins. "Are we going to have issues? Should we get back in our cars and leave?"

Sherry walked forward. "Of course not." She shook her head and walked up to Sasha. "Welcome, Sasha." Then she hugged Sasha and then knelt down to Alik. "How does this thing work?"

Alik pressed a button and she asked again. "Kak rabotayet eta veshch?"

Alik grinned and said something in Russian. "Kak eto." The device came back as... "Like this."

My cousins were now gathering around Sasha and Alik chatting as I stepped closer to Tony. "I think you should stay with Alik out here first."

Tony looked back at my many other family that was just staring at us knowing something was up, but not what. He nodded. "I think we better." He walked over to Alik and touched the boy's shoulder. Tony knew enough to instruct Alik to wait with him. Alik was looking and Michael and nodded taking Tony's hand.

Alik frowned and pointed to Michael. "He looks like Uncle David!"

The translator said it in English.

Tony chuckled. "That's Uncle David's identical twin brother. They look exactly alike!" Again, the translator did its trick.

This could have been amusing, but we all walked into the waiting faces of the other family.

Uncle Bernie came to his son David. "What's going on, son?" as he looked at Sasha suspiciously.

"You're all wondering about this." David began loud enough for everyone to hear. "Well, here it is. This is my significant other. He is a very important person in my life. This is Sasha Lebedev. He's from Moscow, Russia."

"Just rip the band-aid off," I muttered to David.

"Why not?" David grinned and took Sasha's hand.

Now my uncles were standing having let out gasps, my aunts were no longer gossiping and everyone was staring.

"What!?" "Impossible!" And there were murmurs from almost everyone and a lot of conversations we beginning its dull roar. Dad came over to me.

"You knew about this?" Dad asked me.

"Sure." I nodded. "I introduced them."

"This is all your fault!" Uncle Earl said coming toward me.

"David. A Russian!?" Uncle Thomas asked in disbelief.

I turned to Uncle Earl. "I hope it is my fault." I turned to Uncle Thomas. "So, what if he's a Russian? The Cold War is over. He's immigrating to the United States."

"He could be a Red!" Uncle JC said in a near panic.

"He's not!" David shook his head.

"How old are you, Comrade?" Uncle Earl asked snidely.

"Knock it off." David shot angrily. "None of you would know what to do if he was a Red."

"We'd throw him out!" Uncle Thomas said quickly. "Throw him out on his Communist Ass!!!"

There was a huge crash in the kitchen area where the women were working. Aunt Hilda stood over the shattered pieces of a serving platter and she said something... "Genug!" I've learned two other languages, but this was another language! Then she walked toward her husband and glared. "Tell them, Earl!!" She pointed to the rest of us. "You can't let this happen!"

Uncle Earl looked a little scared.

"Fine." Aunt Hilda said. "You all know me as a sister-in-law and the mother of some your nephews and nieces. What you don't know, is where I was born." She glared at all of them.

Uncle Earl put his hand on her arm. "Don't, Hilda."

"Not one of our children is simple and certainly aren't stupid," Hilda said angrily. "They wouldn't bring just anyone to this family gathering if they didn't feel this person was someone important! Worth knowing." She took a deep breath. "I was born in Germany!" She said there were again gasps from others. "That nice and some say soft-spoken father of mine was German. My mother is German." She dared anyone to comment. "The reason my father didn't talk much was because, when we first got here, he spoke almost no English! He learned, but he kept quiet mostly to protect his secret. He was a Nazi!"

There were murmurs of disbelief from almost everyone now.

Aunt Hilda nodded. "Yes! The Heil Hitler and all that bullshit! He was terrified you'd find out, but unlike many of his countrymen, he was a young man who needed a job! He didn't support Hitler or his cause, but needed to keep his family alive! He had a wife and children. It was a job! But you..." she pointed at her brothers-in-law, "....are judging this man because of where he was born!? Not giving him a chance to find out what sort of man he is." She raised her hands in exasperation. "So, he's Russian! You haven't even spoken with him yet! He could be a Red, as you say, or he could be a nice guy. You don't know. You're as bad as the Nazis were." She shook her head. "Grow up, people! I don't know this man, but I intend to find out! I'm going to talk to him, get to know him before I make judgments." She walked up to Sasha. "I'm Hilda McKenzie."

Sasha grinned at her shaking her hand. "Sasha Lebedev. It's nice to meet you."

She turned to the family. "See? He even speaks English!!"

Sasha nodded. "Yes, but my son doesn't."

Bernie's eyes grew. "Son!?"

Dad walked to his brother. "Hey, my new step-grandson is in his twenties now."

I chuckled. "Alik is only six."

Sasha grinned. "Six and a half."

I nodded. "Right. Six and a half." I smiled at Sasha. "Don't tell Alik I said he was six."

Uncle Thomas wasn't happy at all. "This is all your fault!" He accused me angrily. "We let one fag in and now..." He was charging me!

I never knew Dad had it in him. My father stepped up between his brother and me slugging his brother knocking the man down and then all his brothers and sisters were backing up in shock. I did, too! "Don't you ever...EVER...talk to my son like that again! Don't ever charge at him like that!"

I balked at seeing my uncle on the ground and rubbing his bleeding jaw. "Dad!!" I was grinning. I'd never seen him this mad before. Hell! I was proud of Dad!

Then Dad walked closer to his brother. "I was wrong about Mitch and Tony. I was wrong about Mitch! He's a good man. Tony is a good man. They love each other! Mitch loves Tony and Tony certainly loves Mitch. I see it. We love Tony too now. We don't know this man. As Hilda said, I'll get to know him."

"They're gay!" Thomas protested. "You always preached against them!"

"I know that!" Dad shouted. "Do you think they don't know they're gay?" Dad closed his eyes and then looked at everyone. "I was wrong. What they have is beautiful!"

His brothers and sisters were not believing what Dad was saying.

"I can't judge Mitch. I can't judge Tony. The only one to judge is God! As my son pointed out, He never said a word about a man loving a man. Humans did. Otherwise, it would be a commandment. Our nephew met someone and brought him here to his family. I'm giving the man a chance!!" He walked up to Sasha. "I'm Mitch's father, Richard."

Sasha was smiling as he shook my father's hand. "You have a wonderful son, Mr. McKenzie. He and Tony are the best friends I ever had."

Dad nodded. "My son is a good judge of character."

My mother came up to Sasha. "I'm Mitch's mother. Welcome to the McKenzies."

Uncle JC and Earl were helping Thomas up and now Earl was being questioned. Probably why he thought to hide he'd married a kraut.

I touched Sasha who was looking relieved now. "I'll get Alik."

Sasha nodded grinning at how well it was going. "Yes, great!"

I rushed out to where Tony was holding Alik and talking about the surrounding farm. Tony turned when he heard me coming. "We heard part of it, so we came over here."

I grinned, kissing Tony. "I wish you could have seen Dad lay his brother out!" I swung at the air.

Tony grinned. "Aw, I missed that!?" He gave a kneeling bow of frustration. "I can't believe he hit his brother! Which one?"

"Uncle Thomas!" I pulled Alik down. "Davayte videt' papu."

"Yippie!" Alik jumped. "Oni sdelali zlit'sya?"

Tony shook his head. "What are you two saying?"

"I told him let's go see dad. He asked if they're done being mad." I grinned.

Tony nodded. "I hope so."

I reached down to Alik. "You've got the translator?" I asked in Russian.

Alike held up the device.

"Don't lose it." I reminded.

Tony sighed. "I've got to study Russian more."

"Questo sarebbe per il meglio." I smiled saying that would be of the best in Italian.

"Esibire." Tony muttered calling me a show off.

"Sei solo geloso." I said he was just jealous.

Alik looked at the two of us. "That's not English!" He said in English.

I nodded. "But that was! Good boy!"

When we got back in the family, I was pleased to see Sasha surrounded by my family and not attacking him, but finding out about him.

"Everyone!" I said loudly. They all turned. "This is Sasha's son Alik." Tony and I held one of Alik's hands each. "Remember, he doesn't speak a lot of English yet. He uses a translator, so ask him a question one at a time, or ask me or Sasha."

Tony smiled. "Yes, Mitch speaks Russian now, too."

Then all my aunts just melted. "Aw" and "isn't he cute!?"

I looked down at Alik. "Oni dumayut, chto ty milo." I told Alik they thought he was cute.

Alik rolled his eyes.

"Sledite za vas shceki." I warned him to watch out for his cheeks.

Now Alik was a little wary.

"That went well." I grinned to David as the commotion started evening out. Uncle Thomas was nursing his wound as Uncles JC and Earl attended their brother.

David chuckled. "Only a little bloodshed." He grinned at Sasha and kissed him. "I was afraid it could be yours or mine. I'm glad it wasn't." Then he smiled at me. "And your Dad!! He was so...."

"Wasn't he?" I nodded laughing. "I couldn't believe it!"

Tony growled. "And I missed it." He complained.

I patted Tony's arm. "I'm so sorry about that. I'm sure there will be other events like this one."

"But not this one!" Tony groaned.

Michael came over. His face showed he was confused or just trying to figure things out. "So, you're gay?" He asked David.

David looked at Sasha and then to his brother. "Since I'm here with Sasha, I'd say yes." Then he cocked his head to Michael. "I love a person. He is a male. What's the big deal? I really don't call myself gay or straight, but now? Gay."

"I just can't believe you're serious about it." Michael shrugged and then looked at Sasha. "I guess if you're here, that will make us brothers."

David grinned. "Who knows what you look like naked!" His eyebrows bounced evilly and laughed.

Michael frowned and slugged his brother in the arm who laughed as Michael blushed. "You didn't have to say that!"

We were all laughing at that. Sasha put his hand on Michael's shoulder with a smile. "I'll try not to confuse you. I wouldn't want to kiss the wrong twin." One eyebrow rose as he looked at David and then Michael. "You two are almost exactly alike. Almost."

Uncle Bernie came over to us. Dad was with him.

"This is a surprise." Uncle Bernie admitted. "I guess it's serious since you brought him here."

David nodded taking Sasha's hand who also nodded. "It is, Dad."

Dad put his hand on his brother Bernie. "It takes little effort to see love when it's there. You raised a good family and good children. They are no different." He smiled at me and Tony. "I did."

Sasha put his hand out to Bernie. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Bernie shrugged as he shook Sasha's hand. "I guess we need to get acquainted, Sasha." Then he looked down as Alik was squeezing in to stand between David and Sasha. "And you." Uncle Bernie knelt down as Alik held the translator out. "I'm David's father." Which the translator said. YA otets Devida. Alik gave Uncle Bernie his hand as they shook hands.

It wasn't long before our generation was gathered in the living room as always. We had an unofficial claim here that was honored over the years.

Sasha grinned looking at everyone. "So, all these people are relatives?"

Chuck smiled. "All because of two people. Our grandmother and grandfather. These are their children," he pointed at Bernie, Dad and his mother. "Their spouses and their children and in some cases...like Sherry here, their children's children."

"She's a cousin," Sasha said trying to understand.

"She's the daughter of Clint who is my first cousin like David, Mike, and Chuck. She's Aunt Margorie's grandchild. She is the eldest daughter of our grandparents." I explained.

Tony put a hand on Sasha's arm. "Don't think about it too much, you'll get a headache. Trust me." He chuckled. "Let's just say, the McKenzies will never die out. I was surprised to find they weren't Catholic!"

"Bite your tongue!" David said in mock horror and then he grinned. "Sasha's Eastern Orthodox."

Rhonda burst out laughing. "Oh, my god! Let's lay that little gem on the others later. Too much too soon would be a disaster."

"But you're happy." Michael wanted confirmation.

David nodded. "Like I've never been before. He's the one."

The part I liked was that Alik, despite the language problem, was just a kid. He played with the other younger cousins. David and Sasha watched Alik carefully. Tony worried about the future of the translator if played with too rough.

"We'll tell them to make a sturdier one," I said simply.

Tony nodded. "What do I do if this one gets broken?"

I shrugged. "Learn more Russian? So you don't need one."

Later I walked up to David. "If it's not my business..."

David grinned. "In this family? It's everyone's business."

"Okay, where's Michael's wife?" I asked.

That's when David frowned. "He didn't say so, but I sensed there have been problems."

That surprised me. "Problems? Is there someone else?" My mind was going places without a map, so I waited.

"Not with Michael, but with her!" David claimed. "I don't believe she's being faithful." He shrugged. "Michael wouldn't cheat, it's not in his nature. She's with her parents this Thanksgiving."

I nodded. "I see."

David shook his head. "Yeah, what are you going to do? They can't help it, they're straight." Then he chuckled as I hit him in the shoulder.

"He loved her," I stressed him to remember.

David shrugged. "And?" He shook his head. "So, what if he did? To be honest, I tried to like her, but I got the feeling she thought she was better than us." Then he looked at some of our relatives. "She might be right, but our mothers dealt with it. Why can't she?"

Then I saw Alik coming in tears and holding his bleeding arm. It wasn't bad, but it needed tending. I patted David. "Okay, here's your next problem...Dad." I grinned as David's eyes widened when I said that.

Dad, Mom, and grandma came over as we were starting to eat. That was always a challenge. Not that there was a lack of food. In fact, there was always so much we feared no table would support it all. We ended setting them on folding tables outside to hold it all if the weather was nice. Finding a place to sit was the issue. I've had many dinners standing up here.

Dad smiled as he sat near us with Mom. "Any more languages you plan to learn, son?"

"And when do you find the time?" Mom asked.

Tony just bowed to me to answer that. "I'd like to know that myself."

I just didn't understand the fascination. "It wasn't difficult. There are programs now that make it easy. I learn when it's necessary and it was." I said simply. "And use it!"

"But Russian!" Grandma said marveling. "From what little I've seen it doesn't look easy at all."

I shrugged. "They're just sounds we agree to mean something. Putting them together so they're understood isn't that hard. Now, their alphabet..."

Tony chuckled. "Here we go again..." He shook his head.

I looked mockingly annoyed. "It is just...bizarre! I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with the written form of Russian. Speaking isn't that hard."

Dad nodded. "If you say so." He chuckled and then looked over at Bernie, Aunt Judy with David, Michael, Sasha, and Alik. "Things look pretty calm over there."

I looked at Sasha was helping Alik with the translator and saying something back to Aunt Judy. Alik had cut his arm and was wearing his bandage with pride. "I think they'll be just fine."

Dad shook his head. "Now if we can get Thomas to acknowledge his grandchildren." He chuckled.

Tony looked surprised. "He has grandchildren?"

I nodded. "He doesn't think so, but...his daughter has two children in her house."

"What's the problem?" Tony asked.

I shrugged. "Nothing. It's just Uncle Thomas can't accept them. They're biracial."

It only took a second before Tony nodded. "Oh, I see." Then he brightened. "So, I'm not the most surprising other!"

I grinned. "Oh, you were for a while. Heather, Thomas' daughter never brought her husband here and I know she married him. Until Sasha came, you were the most surprising other!"

Tony grinned. "I certainly surprised my family when I brought you home."

"Oh?" Mother asked.

I chuckled. "They all expected me to be a redneck."

Tony grinned. "I almost thought you were! The only thing missing was the faded ring on the back pocket of your jeans from your Skoal chewing tobacco! You drove a truck and wore the t-shirts...."

"Which I still do! I've never chewed tobacco. Never." I swore to Mom and then looked back at Tony. "And what's wrong with Bubba?"

Tony chuckled. "Nothing...now."

"It's a classic! It's from 1963!" I pointed out. "They can't make a truck like that anymore."

My grandmother and parents were laughing at us, but Tony just smiled and kissed me.

"I love Bubba," Tony said. "You made an impression with Papa!"

I nodded laughing. "I wasn't wearing shitkickers." Then I looked at grandmother. "Sorry, Grandma, but that's what he called them. He thought we all wore them."

Grandmother was laughing as she shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with being raised in the country...and in the mountains!"

Tony nodded. "And you're absolutely right." Then he grinned. "It's not wrong to be raised in the city. Even if it is New York City."

"It's just that most people don't see what brought us together," I added.

"God?" Grandmother suggested but looked at my father.

Dad merely shrugged. "Could be."

Dad had really come a long way.

David was thrilled when we offered to take Alik home so they could take the rest of the weekend to do....whatever.

Tony drove as I dealt with Alik. I grinned at the boy. "Other than the cut on your arm, did you feel okay today?" I asked in Russian.

Alik nodded showing me his bandage. "Yep! It was fun! There were a lot of people there."

I chuckled telling Tony what Alik said.

"I know." Tony groaned in Russian. "A lot of people."

"Where's Dad and Uncle David going?" Alik asked. "They are going somewhere else?"

I pondered what to tell him. "They went off to do spend some time together. Alone."

"Why?" Alik's brow said he was confused.

"They need to be together," I explained. "They can do..." I grinned at Tony who was understanding some of what I said in Russian, "....adult things."

"Like what?" Alik asked.

I chuckled. "I'll tell you." Then grinned. "When you're a teenager."

"Why won't you tell me?" Alik didn't like the answer.

I smiled. "Because the answer is something your father should tell you or even David. The answer I give will only lead to more questions. You should be near being an adult to understand."

"Okay," Alik slumped back in the seat, unhappy, but he seemed resolved to the situation.

Tony stretched out beside me that evening. He knew what he was doing as he lay close to me. I grinned as he made a point of having to get something from my side of the bed and therefore had to reach over me and I get his scent.

I pulled him down on me grinning. "You don't have to be that coy. You try to make it seem like you're testing me. You know you don't have to. Just tell me you want to have sex. I'm here and willing. We do almost every night."

Tony chuckled. "Yeah, but it's kind of fun this way. Temptation and all."

"You always tempt me." I grinned as I rolled us over. "There are just some places we can't on the temptations."

Tony shrugged. "I'd be willing to risk it if we did." He grinned.

My hands went over his chest, the hairs again working their magic causing me to become more aroused as they tickled my fingers. "Oh really? I might take that action." I kissed him deeply. "Now, for the best part." I grinned and flipped us over. Making love now was a way of connecting. Sex? Sure, but we were joining on a very basic level. He knew me and I knew him.

The next few days were busy. Sasha and David returned and we went back to our jobs. Special events were always planned for this time of year. Company and personal holiday parties and the occasional wedding. I should have known what would happen. It was that Friday night. I was winding up my shift for the day, but there were things that needed doing before I counted it a day.

That was when I was doing a final check before leaving as the front desk was still checking guests in. I heard it.

"Mitch!" It was a voice I knew and turned to the man checking in. Ted. Since he and I broke up, I really had not thought much about the man. He was still handsome. His coloring was that of caramel and his head right now was shaved. "You work here?" His mother was African American so he had a lot of features from both ethnic groups. His hair annoyed him so he always shaved his head.

"Ted." I greeted less than enthusiastically. "Yes, I work here. You're here for a job?" I noted his equipment bag with his luggage.

"Yes, a wedding, naturally." Ted grinned. "I knew you worked in hotels, but I didn't know which one...still, it's good to see you."

I smiled. The memory of how we broke up suddenly came back. He'd been in a particularly bad way the last time. As I said, he was what I called manic aggressive. he was bordering heavily on the aggressive side that day. He'd never hit me, but there were times I thought he might. I knew how to protect myself and he wouldn't be standing if he ever tried to hit me. What to say? So, I was honest. "I'd like to say it's nice to see you, too, but I really don't know what to say. I just remember the last conversation we had...loud. I remember walking out of our home and lives that day. You still look good." I could say that. "It's been a few years."

Ted bowed his head a little sheepishly. "Yes, that was a pretty bad time for me..."

"Yes, it was." I agreed with a little laugh, but I had no humor in it. "That's fine. I wish you well." I said and was about to leave when he reached out and stopped me.

"Come on, Mitch," Ted said in a droll tone. "It wasn't all bad."

I looked down at his hand on my arm. "It wasn't all good, either. Really, I don't care. I'm fine now. In fact, I'm more than fine. What happened was the past and I want to keep it that way." I said a little coldly.

Ted raised his hands in surrender. "I was going to suggest a drink to catch up."

"Catch up?" I asked. "Why?" Then I sighed. "Okay, since we broke up, I've met someone and married them. I don't just work here. I am one of the managers."

Ted looked shocked. "Married!?"

"To a great guy."

Then Ted nodded. "Oh, you mean a gay marriage. Which is what....nothing?" He grinned with a light chuckle. "You're not married then."

My eyebrow rose as I nodded once. "You can say what you like. I need to go home, so please excuse me." I turned to walk away when he put another hand on my arm holding me still.

"I'm sorry about what happened between us, but we can still be friendly?" Ted asked hopefully. "I'd love to meet this guy."

I looked at Tony came in and stood at the entrance of the lobby waiting for our night to begin. We had made plans. I pulled Ted's hand from my arm. "You want to meet him; he just came in." I waved toward Tony, who right now had seen a little something that made him frown. I motioned for him to come over. Tony walked over. I was always proud of Tony, but now he was fabulous. That spectacular suit and his well-groomed looks and this time, I was glad he took pains to look like he did. Hands out of his pockets as he came over ready to face this challenge he didn't know.

"Tony Delveccio." I waved at Ted. "Meet Ted Scott."

Tony's eyes grew when he heard the name. "Ted? You're former Ted?" He frowned as his eyebrows came together. Don't mess with an Italian. Mob or not!

Ted looked unprepared. He dropped contact with me.

"Ted Scott, meet my husband, Tony Delveccio."

Tony growled...and I mean he actually growled! He leaned in closer to Ted. "Please don't touch my husband. You had your chance and blew it, so keep your hands to yourself."

"You're husband!?" Ted snickered. "You two aren't married. It's illegal!"

"We are married!" Tony said leaning closer threateningly to Ted. "I don't care what you say. We had a ceremony, with two ministers, given to each other by our parents and exchanged vows in front of our family, friends and God Himself! There were hundreds of witnesses." He pointed to the wall behind the front desk. "One of those witnesses is Mitch's boss! He can vouch the Commitment Ceremony happened."

I watched Ted's eyes grow as he backed away a little.

"You are a bully!" Tony growled. "I don't like bullies."

Ted became angry, "I never touched him like that. I never hit him...if he told you..."

"If you ever hit him," Tony ground out. "You'd have been seriously injured. I've seen Mitch physically take down a man bigger than you! You are an emotional and psychological bully. You drove him away! I'm glad you did, because he is MINE!!" His angry face was just inches from Ted's.

I took Tony's hand. "That's alright, Tony. He's not gay. At least not out loud." It was interesting that Tony put his arm around me, not in love...I mean he did love me, of course, but now he was staking a claim. "It was the main problem with Ted and me. He just couldn't tell anyone. Even those that knew we were a couple, like his brother, sister and even his mother! They all knew."

Tony nodded. "So, you told me." His eyes never left Ted's eyes except to look at what Ted had brought. He also looked at Ted's luggage. "You're here for a job. Have a good time." Then Tony kissed me. We'd kissed in front of people before and certainly in the hotel in front of the employees, but again, it was love, but it was also a stake. "If you're ready to go. We have reservations in forty-five minutes."

I grinned. "I'll get my coat," I said walked back to my office and got my coat and things. "Let's go."

Ted just stared as we walked out of the hotel.

Tony wasn't jealous...not exactly. He wasn't happy about Ted being there. He said very little on the way to the restaurant, which never happened.

"Say it." I said quietly.

Tony suddenly looked over as if I'd caught him in a thought and now was aware his mind had wandered off. "Say what?"

I chuckled as I shook my head. "Your mind has been elsewhere since you saw Ted."

Tony bowed a nod. "Sorry."

"Tony." I said as he kept his eyes on the road. "Tell me what you're feeling."

Tony shook his head. "It's stupid."

"No, it's not." I said touching his hand. "You're feeling something. What is it? I'll tell you what I felt. We have always told each other what we think and feel."

Tony nodded knowing he couldn't just stew, I wouldn't let him. "Okay." Then he looked at me and then he got angry. "How dare Ted try to come back into your life like that!? After all these years? He waltzes in a hotel, sees you and touches you!? Who the hell does he think he is? Does he think you've been pining away for him? Did it not occur to him that you would have moved on?"

I smiled nodding. "That's Ted." I said simply. "BI was so proud of you."

Tony looked surprised. "Of me? Why?"

I grinned. "You were so...primal. Possessive! I loved it!"

Tony grinned. "You liked that, did you?" He chuckled. "No one's going to even think of taking you away from me!" He gave a primitive thump on his chest. "Mine." Then he took my hand and kissed it. "You're mine."

We'd stopped for a red light, so I brought him close and kissed him. "Yeah, I'm yours. Just as you are mine."

"I love you, baby." Tony said kissing me again.

"I know." Then I saw out of the corner of my eye the light had changed. "The light's green."

Tony looked back at the road. "Oh." We headed on the restaurant.

After a good evening, Tony and I returned to the condo where we heard someone shouting inside. The condo was pretty well sound proof so it was loud. I stopped just before opening the door and listened, it was a voice I thought I knew, but I knew it wasn't David or Sasha. Tony opened the door quickly.

"Just calm down, Gary!" David said pushing Alik farther behind him as he backed up further. Gary, David's older brother was enraged as he was shouting at David.

"Did he touch you?" Gary shouted. "Someone turned you into a fag! It was Mitch, wasn't it? That's why you're so close!"

"He didn't make me a fag!" David shouted back. "I should never have let you up here. I knew I shouldn't."

"Gary!" I shouted in shock, fear that it would escalate to blows if no one stopped them.

"Stop this at once!" Tony growled beginning to approach David and Gary.

Gary turned seeing me and then he got even angrier. "Did you touch my brother?" He yelled at me. "Did you make him gay?"

I held my hand up to stop Tony who was ready to fight. "I've touched all my cousins, but if you're asking did I ever touch his dick or do anything else, I didn't."

"How dare you accuse my husband of doing what you did to him!?" Tony shouted to which Gary's face showed guilt hearing the truth. "Did you make Mitch gay?"

Then I saw Gary's face change to one of immense anguish. "Didn't I?" Gary was thinking he did make me gay.

Walking over, I pointed to Alik. "Can we talk about this without shouting? Or do you want to scare a six-year-old?"

Gary looked confused a second, looked at Alik and saw the boy's face. Alik looked very upset. "I'm sorry," Gary said almost reaching out to touch Alik who backed even farther behind David. "I'm so sorry."

I walked over and took Alik's shoulder pulling him to me rubbing his head as he clung to me and I hugged him and then in Russian, I told Alik. "It's okay. This is my cousin Gary, David's older brother and he's just mad and upset. It'll be fine. He says he's sorry."

Alik looked up at me and then at Gary. "Why's he mad at Uncle David?"

I smiled. "He's not really mad at David. He's just mad. Don't worry about it." I pushed Alik gently toward Tony. "Tony, can you take Alik and make him a peanut butter sandwich or give him cookies or something," I asked calmly.

Tony was still glaring at Gary but took Alik's hand. "By what right do you have to barge in our home and attack someone verbally?" He walked with Alik.

Gary turned and couldn't look at Tony and wasn't answering.

"We'll talk about it," I said simply to Tony and Gary. "For now, look after Alik, please. Give him apple jelly with his sandwich."

Tony led Alik into the kitchen and dining area and still glared at Gary all the way.

I sighed and looked at my cousins. Again, the McKenzies shared a lot physically. Gary was a couple of years older than me, but he had the black hair and features passed on by our fathers who also looked a lot alike. I looked at Gary. "Is that what you think? You think you made me gay?"

Gary looked at me as I saw him nod and then shake his head. "I don't know. Maybe."

I motioned toward the sofa. "Can we sit, please? Talk about this like adults?"

David and Gary sat as I did where we could talk.

"No one made me gay." I began. "I just am." Then I frowned. "I'm sure you've heard many things about those of us who are gay, and they all pretty much agree, no one can be recruited or changed to be gay. Straight men can perform gay acts, but claim not to be gay."

Now Gary leaned forward as tears came to his eyes. "How does anyone know that?"

I smiled. "They don't. Not really. I just know no one can make me straight as much as they tried to." I laughed. "It never occurred to me to touch David, Michael, or Chuck, or Carl..."

David nodded. "I don't consider myself gay exactly. I'm open to...being with someone that wants to be with me and I want to be with. That's Sasha."

I shrugged. "The truth is...I don't really see homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual...I just see sex. And love." I smiled again. "I don't think anyone is just straight or gay. Not really. I've read many stories about men...in prisons and other organizations, clubs where they engage in sexual activity with other men, but don't identify themselves as gay. They learn to like it, even desire another man. Be it for protection in prison or even just as a fraternity of brotherhood or just love. Sex has an element that binds us as humans. It helps us become closer and unites us. It's what we as humans do. Our whole society is based on love and sex. Now, you were good at ten, eleven and twelve, but not so good you could change what I am." I chuckled. "We were just kids."

Gary shook his head. "I just don't understand...Michael is married to a woman." He looked at David. "He and you are made of the same things. How can he be straight and you gay?"

David smiled. "Are you sure about Michael being so straight?" He shrugged. "It may be because of what Mitch just said. It's just sex. It is fun! I saw someone that I liked. I got to know him and found I loved him. Not because of what he is, but who he is. I love Sasha."

I cocked my head at Gary. "Is that what you've been worried about all the years? That you made me gay?"

Gary frowned. "I don't know. Maybe." He sat back sighing. "I remember hearing what happened to you when you were sixteen." His eyebrows coming together. "Those treatments...to make you not gay. I thought maybe I caused that."

"They were very unpleasant, but they didn't work." I nodded. "Is that's why you treated me like shit after that one time when you ejaculated?"

David's eyes widened. "He what?" He said softly but looked at his brother. "You two had sex?"

Now Gary was looking very guilty.

I shook my head at David. "I was ten, he was twelve. It was more of a hand job."

David smiled. "At twelve, that's pretty early." He said it almost impressed.

"It scared Gary." I proposed to Gary. "There are many schools of thought about what makes a man gay. Some are looking for the gay gene, others think it's a choice, but I don't think there is a gay gene. It's just human. I did research and I believe its chemical."

"Chemical?" Gary asked. "A chemical made you gay?" He asked wanting to understand.

"When a baby forms in the womb, it's given chemicals, enzymes, and hormones that make the baby form and the brain. Some are born without some parts developing quite....right. Not that I believe it's wrong for a man to love a man, or woman to love a woman, but I've read where even in the animal kingdom where they researched and found rams that go after rams instead of ewes. So, they did autopsies. Found that the part of their brains that masculinize or feminize didn't get what they needed to make them go after ewes. There's part of the brain that doesn't grow like they're supposed to." I shrugged. "I can show you where to look. However, that's too simple. Human sexuality is more complex, but I believe there is more to that theory than a gay gene."

Gary wiped his face to rid the tears that had spilled. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Mitch."

I smiled at my cousin. "Gary. You didn't hurt me." I said getting up and going to sit beside him. "Well...you did when you started treating me like I was plagued, but not because we went to the barn and did...what we did."

Gary chuckled. "I thought I was the plague. I didn't want to make it worse, so I kept you away." He shook his head. "I was scared to think I might be gay and would make you gay." He shook his head. "Our family didn't really talk about sex, love or anything like that."

I nodded. "I know. That's why when I brought Tony there that first time, it was so intense. I knew how they'd react." I smiled at Gary. "The thing was....and this was why it hurt me. I really liked you, Gary. I liked that you and I were getting along so well, unlike the other cousins. David, Michael, and you were more like brothers than cousins. That includes Chuck, Carl, Sueann, Mary, and Rhonda, we are like siblings, but when we went to the barn and played..." I grinned. "You allowed me to...play with that part of you." I grinned. "You know what I mean. That was exciting! We were letting each other touch parts we knew was forbidden. That was exciting!" I watched as Gary blushed. "You liked it, too, because I saw it and felt it. It felt good!"

Gary smiled, but he was blushing even more. "We shouldn't have."

"Why not?" I asked smiling. "You let me touch that private part of you...and I hope there weren't many more...that you didn't let others touch. Did you?"

Gary shook his head. "No, you were it." Then he chuckled. "Well, Chuck and I jerked off together once, but no....you were it."

"How old were you with Chuck?" I asked.

"Sixteen or fifteen," Gary said. "Just once. We were again sleeping in the same bed and well as usual....Chuck had an erection and was...doing it to himself and I offered to help him, then he helped me." He shrugged. "He's not gay."

I nodded. "Who cares?" I smiled. "We were kids...teenagers in your case. Our bodies were developing and we tried to understand these sensations and feelings. Who better than a friend...or cousin who is a friend?"

That's when the door opened again and Sasha came in with a sigh. "What a night!" Sasha said then froze seeing us on the sofa. "We have a guest?"

I rose. "Sasha." I smiled. "This is David's older brother, Gary," I said as Gary and David stood.

David chuckled as he elbow jabbed his brother who grinned back. "Gary was just being a protective big brother. Just making sure I wasn't being...used."

Gary jabbed David back but walked over to Sasha. "I was angry. I sort of yelled at David. I might have scared Alik....that's your son's name?"

Sasha nodded, but he didn't get upset. "Yes. Alik. Is Alik okay?"

I put a hand on Sasha's arm. "He's fine. Tony and he are having something in the kitchen. Gary will be staying the night." I grinned at Gary. "Right? I mean, you live a good ways away. You drove all the way down here and we have room."

Gary smiled. "I did. I can be a little hot-headed. I didn't really plan a lot." Then he looked again at Sasha. "I didn't mean to frighten Alik, believe me. I was just mad."

Sasha again nodded. "Okay." Then Sasha smiled. "It's good that you care about David enough to want to protect him. I care about him, too. I love him." He held his hand out to Gary. "Is it resolved now?"

Gary looked at me and David. "Is it?"

"I think so." I nodded and then went to Gary. "So, are we friends again?"

Gary chuckled bringing me into a hug. Remember? I like hugs. "Yeah, it's resolved. We're friends again. We are always family." He brought David into the hug. "I better apologize to Tony and Alik again. I am so sorry." He said to Sasha. "I'd never hurt David or Alik."

"You're a McKenzie. Sometimes you can't help yourself." David chuckled.

This went well. I looked as Gary spoke to Tony explaining what happened and how he was sorry. This was a male household! Three male McKenzies, two male Lebedevs, and one male Delveccio. To me, that was perfect. Would the world survive? Probably.