North Meets South

Story: North Meets South: When World's Collide

Chapter: 2 Getting To Know You

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

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Tony and Mitch have very quick relationship thrust in their laps which Mitch has a little trouble accepting. Tony's post-9/11 attack problems surface again, but are dealt with. They meet Tony's son and find a potential home.

Getting To Know You

I don't know how long it took, and I didn't really care. Tony had shared this horrible event in his life and time sort of stopped. At last, he sniffed, sitting up.

"Now you know." He said sadly.

"I do," I nodded. Then the old me kicked in. "I guess my getting shot wasn't that big a deal."

Tony laughed as he wiped his face. "Believe me, I don't want to one-up you with this."

I pulled his face toward mine. "Tony." He looked at me. "I won't thank you for telling me, but I will thank you for letting me be the one you told."

Tony nodded. "I wish I didn't have it to tell anyone." He smiled, "But you're the first one that didn't experience it with me I felt I should or even could."

"You're alive," I said. "I'm glad you are. I want to make you happy you are." This time I kissed him hard, pushing him back on the sofa. It was a hungry kiss, our mouths pressed together as we seemed to feed off each other.

He pushed me back. "But wait!" Panting. "We haven't been tested yet!"

"You're not, I'm not, we're good. I trust you. Do you trust me?"

"Of course," He nodded. "Are you a top or a bottom?"

I smiled. "Yes."

He grinned. "Good, so am I." Then he pulled me back, kissing me again, pulling on my shirt which was quickly tossed aside as I pulled on his, lifting it up and seeing the hair over his well-formed chest muscles. It was nice. He wore two necklaces, a Saint Christopher's medal, and a tiny crucifix. His chest hair was not thick as in so thick it made his chest black, but it covered his entire chest and down a bit toward his stomach to trail down from his chest, cross over his navel and then down into his pants. I saw the line scar below his left arm. It was about three inches long from back to front. I stood up and held my hand to him.

"We might be more comfortable in there," I thumbed toward the bedroom. "I have lube. Do we need anything else?"

Tony rose kissed me. "I think you're carrying what we need." His hands went over my chest, which was more lightly covered with hair than his. A hand went down the front of me, the over the crotch of my pants. He felt the bulge there. "Now, I know you are."

I chuckled, feeling his bulge. "So are you."

He softened his look. "Is it okay for me to say...I love you?"

I swallowed. "It's only okay if you mean it."

He nodded. "I do...I love you."

"Where have you been? Couldn't you have come down sooner?" I grinned as we kissed again. "I love you, too." Taking his hand I led him to my room, and I left the lights on!! I wanted to see this Italian god. He was beautiful! His hair at his crotch was just as black as the rest of his hair and thick! I glad his back was hair free. His cock was nicely shaped and thick. We did everything. Starting with me giving him a blow job he seemed to like a lot. Then he gave me one that nearly sent me into orbit. Then he topped me, facing me. It was good to start with oral sex because then we could prolong our lovemaking. It was lovemaking, not just sex. He even said it as he was nearing climax.

With a thrust, I felt him cum in me in three good shots. "I love you!!" He was again panting, but he rolled us over, bringing his legs up for me. "Make love to me, now."

There are some men that are just made for gay sex. Tony was one of those men. I said he had a nice butt, and he did. It was the third or fourth thrust when he let out a little cry as I hit his prostate. Which spurred me on. I began thrusting more.

"Harder and faster," Tony begged.

Who was I to argue? I did it harder and faster. Because I'd just come minutes before, I was able to hold back as I worked. Now his little cry was a long, guttural groan as I hit his golden spot again and again until he was letting out one loud near shout as I finally couldn't help it, but came again. To my delight, so did he. Again!

Neither of us wanted to let the other go. Arms around each other as we tried to catch our breaths, but we rolled on our sides. As my erection fell out, he let a sound of near sorrow when it happened.

"I meant it when I said it," Tony said softly. "I do love you."

I smiled. I can't explain it except to say, this was just what I dreamed of. To have someone with me, that loved me, said he did that I wanted in my life. "I love you."

Tony smiled, "Can I stay tonight?"

"I'm never letting you leave again."

He smiled at that, "We're going to make this work. I know we've known each other not even..."

I stopped him by kissing him deeply. "We will. I don't give my heart to just anybody."

He chuckled, "And you're giving me yours?"

"I already have."

He nodded. "And you have mine, but we still need to get to know each other." He grinned. "Do you snore?"

I laughed at his smile. "You can let me know in the morning. Do you?"

"I can."

I sat up. "Well, then the deals off!"

Tony frowned. "Off!? After we...."

I kissed him again. "Okay, here's something else you need to know. I will never give a logical answer if I don't have to. I can be obnoxious." I smiled at him.

He smiled hearing that. "Understood." He grinned. "I can be pigheaded."

"Good to know."

"If you don't like any place, even if I do. Say so." Tony said firmly.

"Tony," I said, then motioned to my house. "Need I say more?"

He laughed. "Well, yeah, there is this."

"Now I do have a fetish."

His eyebrows rose. "Oh? What's that?"

I rolled him on his back. Raised his hands over his head, lowered my nose in his armpit. He had nice arms, but he had thick hairs in his armpits. I inhaled deeply as I stuck my tongue to his sensitive skin making him yelp, then chuckle. "I'm so glad you haven't shaved anything."

Tony was now laughing. "Anything to oblige. Help yourself."

I grinned. "I am, but the best scent..." I moved down putting my nose in his pubes, "...is here."

"Really?" Tony asked almost in disbelief.

I nodded. "It's your natural musk."

"Musk? Not sweat."

"Not sweat. Pheromones as I hear." I explained. "God's aphrodisiac," Then I shrugged. "For me anyway."

"You can smell that?" He marveled.

I grinned. "I've got to be compensated somehow. You have an orgasm when I brush your prostate. I'm aroused by your scent. It's only fair." I reasoned. "That one cologne you wear, only makes it worse! I nearly tore your clothes off in church!"

He was laughing. "I'll wear it from now on! I'll make sure to have some on hand." He watched as I indulged. "I'm glad I can be of service. Feel free to enjoy it any time, but try not to do it during church. Though most there would be some interested as there are gay men there, just be discrete in public. The straights will get upset."

I waved that off. "Straights are always upset with us. I'll try to keep some self-control." The scent was sending signals to my brain and I had another erection. It could all have been in my head, but it was working! "Legs up!"

"You're ready to go again!?" His eyes widened as he reached down and felt my cock. "You are!! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!!" He crossed himself. "You're gonna kill me!" He was smiling.

I grinned. "No way I would ever hurt you, much less kill you. You're gonna live! It's your fault!"

He chuckled. "Only because I love you." He grinned and I made love to him again. Well, he came one more time than I did, so it was fair. He did have an orgasm again, but this time very little came out. He didn't have anything left.

He did snore. It wasn't bad, in fact, I sort of liked it. It was a reminder to me that there was someone next to me. The only thing I didn't like was he liked to spoon. I'm all for contact. I love touching and being touched, but when I'm asleep, I didn't like it that much. Even as a child I didn't want so much as a teddy bear in bed with me. Tony let off a lot of body heat. I resolved myself to get used to it. I did love Tony; I was confident that would make a difference.

I groaned as my alarm clock went off. I reached over and turned it off. My mind was instantly reminded that I was not alone. Behind me, in sleep, Tony had his arm draped across me. He made a sound as I had. A kind of groan. Grinning, I turned over facing him, kissing him gently.

"Good morning, my Italian Stallion," I smiled as his brown eyes opened, focused and smiled back.

"Good morning," He rolled away and stretched. He blew into his hand and grimaced. "To show I didn't plan this...I didn't even bring my toothbrush."

I chuckled, "What's a little morning halitosis among lovers?" Then I shrugged. "Considering what we did last night, are you one of those germaphobes? No one else can use my comb or toothbrush. I sucked your dick. Are you worried about being that clean?"

He rolled his eyes, "Not really."

"I have one, use it."

Pulling me close he smiled warmly. "We are lovers, aren't we?"

I nodded. "Do we need to repeat what we did for you to remember?"

Tony chuckled. "I wouldn't mind a repeat, but I don't need reminding." His finger reached in my hair. "I love you, Mitch." Then his brow wrinkled. "I know you're out in this neighborhood, or just don't care. I don't want to embarrass you."

"I could never be embarrassed by being seen with you. I love you." I said seriously. "In fact, I'd be proud to be seen as lovers. We're not just lovers, we're friends and I don't care who sees that." I shrugged. "It might even help to be seen with you. You're a great man. Kind, polite and damned sexy. You'll be a boost to my reputation."

He grinned. "So are you. I just know that there are some...who don't exactly like us."

I nodded. "I'm well aware of that fact." My hand slid down his naked body, and I was quickly feeling his morning erection. "I see that you are indeed up."

He chuckled and did the same to me. "As are you."

"Let's not waste it," It was a good thing we both rested. This time was just as intense as the night before.

Tony looked as he was brushing his teeth and I was in the shower. "How do you feel about taking the next step?"

I paused as the water still poured. "Next step? What step is that?"

"Meeting family," Tony said cautiously. "Meeting my son."

I pulled the shower curtain back to see he was serious. "He knows you're gay, right?"

Tony smiled, "Of course."

"Does he know about me?"

Tony shrugged. "Not yet." Then he continued to brush his teeth, spit and wiped his mouth on a towel. "He knows something's up, and since I didn't come back to the apartment last night, I'm sure he knows something's going on. Just not what or with who."

I nodded. "He's okay with the idea, you think?"

"As we move our lives together more, he will see you a lot. I'd like to let him know why." Tony said solemnly. "You're now a very important part of my life."

I nodded. "To rip the band-aide off quickly." I shrugged. "I have to work this weekend. I do that every other weekend; I have Friday and Monday off."

Tony smiled. "How about tonight then? He works at Pearlz. Downtown. We can go there tonight."

"What the hell?" I shrugged. "Okay."

Tony stiffened, but he seemed to want to defend his son. From what? Me? "He's a good kid."

I frowned. "I never said he wasn't. He came from you. How could help but not be?"

Tony smiled. "Well, he blamed me, rightly so, for the break up with his Mom for cheating on her. It wasn't because he was a man that I was with, but the fact I cheated." He looked at me. "Which I will never do to you."

I nodded and turned the water off, I got the towel and dried off in the tub, then came out standing in front of him. "I promise, I will never cheat on you." Kissing him. "It was how long ago?"

"About nine years," Tony said. "He was about ten. As amicable as the divorce was, that's where half of my money went."

I frowned. "Is there such a thing as an amicable divorce? I didn't contest anything with Susan. Except for the alimony, she made more than I did. She got the house."

Tony smiled putting his arms around me. "I didn't really contest anything either. Plus, I've been out of work for over a year, but keeping my apartment in Manhattan and Nick's tuition...living expenses. It's pretty well tapped. That's why I need to find a job." He kissed me, "And move us out of here."

I smiled and shoved him back a little. "What's wrong with here? Granted, it's not a mansion..."

He laughed and kissed me, stopping my rant. "Nothing...but I would prefer a more secure place, somewhere with less...criminal overtones."

"Uh, huh," I nodded. "I figured you weren't connected to the mob or Mafia."

"Same thing," Tony said. "Why did you figure that?"

"I've seen the shows, movies about them. Other than last Sunday when you wouldn't give up your seat. You had a clear shot to leave if you wanted to, being on the end. Then, in the restaurant, you sat with your back to the door. Again later. A true mobster would never do that."

Tony laughed at that. "I can tell you; I've never been involved with the mob or mafia. I was sort of married to it, though."

My eyes widened, "Your wife was a mobster's daughter?"

He smiled. "Well, kinda. Her father convinced many manufacturers that his little store was part of a grocery food chain and got those refunds. He wasn't."

"Oh, he wanted to be Piggly Wiggly of the North?"

"We don't have those," Tony shook his head.

I nodded. "Your loss." I grinned. "Now, I have to go to work!"

I was whistling again at work. I was almost never unhappy, but never just happy. That got me a few stares and curious looks as I went through my day. As I walked past the General Manager's office toward my own I get...

"McKenzie!" He barked.

I backpedaled and peered in his office. "Belosik!" Using the same tone he had, only mine was with a smile, not the fake gruffness his had used.

He motioned me in, which of course I did. "Out with it." He ordered. "You've been very happy this week. Care to share?" He grinned.

Alan liked to be seen as tough as nails, but I knew it was all for show. "Is there something wrong with being very happy?"

He was in his early forties and not an ugly man, dark hair that he struggled to keep on his head and blue eyes, but never once did it cross my mind to have anything other than a friendly work relationship.

He chuckled and leaned back. "Not really, but I'm suspicious of happy workers." He grinned, then leaned forward. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love."

My mouth dropped open and acted like I was surprised. "How could you even think...I would never..."

"Oh, cut the crap," Alan growled. "You've met someone. I can tell." Then he grinned bigger. "Is she pretty?"

The thing was, I never said anything about myself too personal. No one knew who I dated, or even if I did date. They knew I was divorced, but that was a matter of public record. I smiled back. "You'll find out eventually, but yes, but you'll have to wait for details." I grinned and walked out of his office.

"That's not fair!"

I grinned as I went to my office. Alan never scared me. I liked him.

It was about 2:30 pm, and I should have known it would happen. I was going through the upcoming reservations for the day and the next day because of my day off. Shelley was working on another computer at the front desk beside me. That's when Tony walked in. My smile was on my face immediately. Dressed like he always did, designer clothes, nice slacks, and a nice shirt, his favorite color was light blue. I figured that out since that was the color choice he almost inevitably picked. Shelley looked up and I saw her turn the charm on with her smile. She was blonde, petite, and single in her early thirties. Pretty, if you're into women. Which obviously, I wasn't.

"Welcome to Historic Charleston's Towne Center," She said sweetly, but her face told me she was interested. Who wouldn't be, he was gorgeous! You know my interest there.

Tony nodded to her but looked at me with a smile. "I'm sorry to come to your place of employment, Mitch, but I didn't get the code for the alarm system."

I nodded at him. "Sure." I got a piece of paper and wrote it quickly. "You'll need the key." I motioned for him to come back to where my office was. I opened the door that was there to normally keep guests and others out of the back corridor and offices. Damn! He was wearing that cologne again. He'd gone back to his son's apartment and changed. "It's not nice to tease me."

Tony grinned. "How am I doing that?" He chuckled as he followed me, but he knew what he had done in spite of his innocent act.

I let him in my office, then pulled him behind the door where I kissed him passionately, my arms bringing him even closer. "You know what you did," I growled, "And how crazy it can make me," I said as I inhaled his wonderful scent.

He smiled pushing me back to my desk where I had to stop as he kissed me equally with passion. "I wanted to see if it was true, or was it all in your head."

I pushed him back. "Does that matter? It obviously works!"

Some psychologists would say I did it on purpose on some level. Maybe I did. I didn't close the door. Tony was continuing to kiss me, pulling me closer as I heard someone come in.

"Mitch, about these..." I heard Shelley's voice say, then her eyes widened as she gasped. "I'm sorry! So sorry." She almost walked out. Then stopped, turning angrily. "It figures! All the great looking guys are either married or gay!" She walked out, not quite slamming the door.

Tony frowned. "We should have closed the door."

I grinned. "Are you kidding?" I went back to the door and locked it. "This is great! My boss was asking why I was so happy this week and knew there was someone in my life now and wanted details." I waved at the door and the departed Shelley. "This is better than a hotel memo or even email! It'll be all over this hotel in minutes!!"

Tony chuckled. "And you don't mind?"

"Mind!?" I asked. "I love it!" Then I walked toward him. "Do you need to be anywhere in the next few minutes?" I asked undoing his belt.

He shook his head. "No," He was smiling.

"Well, I'm due a break. I'll take it with you!" I said pulling his zipper down. "If you have the time."

He chuckled. "I'll make the time." He kissed me hard as I pushed his pants and underwear down. I knelt down, inhaling his musk. Which made my already hard cock even harder.

"I don't know what it is, but you crank me up more than anyone ever has," I confessed. "Since you're the only Italian in my life ever, and the fact I love you, I can attribute that to both. That black hair, the scent is so strong."

He was groaning as I worked, his hands pulling to take more of him. I was already deep throating him. "So glad I can broaden your horizons." He managed hoarsely, then he couldn't talk, the moaned louder and came. He brought me up. Kissing me again. "Now, I need to pay you back for making you crazy." He grinned, and he knelt down and did the same for me. My fingers ran through his soft hair until I came. Then Tony rose with a grin. "Is that better?"

I chuckled, hugging him tightly. "Much better." Then let him go a little. "We don't have time for more."

Tony shrugged. "We have the rest of our lives." He chuckled. "I just hope the groceries I got are okay being in the car."

"Groceries!?"

He shrugged. "You need more than frozen pizza! I got groceries. Now, I'll be back before you get off to give you the key."

I shook my head, pulling my keys out of my pants pocket. "Just be there to let me in." I pulled my house key off. Then I pulled my pants up and hooked them back, tucking my shirttail in.

"You had these in your pockets the whole time. The reason I was brought in here was to do...what we just did." He grinned as he tucked his own shirttail in. "I always will be there." He kissed me as he took the key. Then he brightened. "I think I may have found our new home!"

I grinned. "That's great!" I looked at the clock. "You'll have to tell me later and show me tomorrow. I need to go back to work." I brushed at his hair to get it back in place.

Tony nodded. "Of course." He unlocked my door and we went into the hall and of course, Alan was walking past.

"Oh, Alan," I stopped my boss. "This is Tony Delveccio." I motioned toward Tony. Then I smiled at Tony. "My life partner." I watched as Alan began my introduction with a polite smile like he was a potential client. Then when I said "life partner" his face went from surprise and shock to a nodding understanding. "Tony, my boss, Alan Belosik. General Manager."

"It's nice to meet you." Alan greeted with a smile shaking Tony's hand. "Now I understand why you didn't tell me details." Alan smiled at me. "Forgive me, but you're not a local."

Tony shook his head. "I'm from New York City. I will be a local from now on."

Alan nodded, his smile broadening. "New York City. I'd love to live there."

"It helps to be rich to live there." Tony chuckled. "I miss some things. There is something to do any time of day or night and some excellent restaurants, but I'm giving Charleston a chance."

Alan nodded. "Well, welcome to Charleston." He headed to his office.

Tony smiled at me. "He seemed okay with it."

I shrugged. "Of course, he is. He's gay."

"A gay man in the hotel business?" Tony shook his head. "Imagine that."

"I'm surprised when they aren't!"

Yes, I did it on purpose, I walked him into the lobby and kissed him good-bye, loving that it was aggravating Shelley. I turned to her. "Sorry." I shrugged. I wasn't really sorry.

Tony got more than groceries. I come home to find a couple of suitcases and a hanging garment bag in the living room. They were empty now.

"Wow," I looked at the two suitcases. They weren't Samsonite! Black with maroon edges that just looked expensive. I saw the name on cringed a bit inwardly. Louis Vuitton.

Tony came in the living room smiling. "Where should I put them? Is there a closet or attic I should put these in?"

I shrugged. "It's a two-bedroom house, use the other bedroom." I grinned at him. "I love you moving in."

He kissed me. "I love we're moving out." He thumbed away.

I chuckled. "Wait until we tell Terry." I shook my head.

"Terry? You mean the pastor? Why?"

"The joke is that the lesbians here are more dramatic than we, the gay men are," I explained. "The joke is, they meet on Monday, they move in together on Tuesday, they adopt a pet on Wednesday, they argue on Thursday and breakup on Friday." I watched his eyes widen.

"I have to admit, the lesbians here are a bit different." Then he looked angry almost, "And who told anyone here about fashion? In New York, all the men look like they've come off runways. The women there are classy and well dressed. Here they look like they fell off the turnip truck!" He grimaced. "Where are those stupid rule makers about that? Are there no Fashion Police?"

I shook my head. "Now I see it," I grinned. "You are gay!"

His eyebrows rose. "Why? Because I like to look nice!?" He shook his head. "Compared what I've seen, you dress up!!"

I chuckled. "I wear jeans and t-shirts when not at work."

"Not on Sunday, and never to church! They wear sandals and shorts!!"

I chuckled. "Well then, you take the job as Fashion Patrol."

Tony nodded. "I should!"

"So, you don't mind me wearing my Wranglers or Levi's?" I asked.

His face softened. "That's who you are." He shrugged. "And wouldn't change you, nor will I try." He hugged me. "I like who you are, and I love you, just as you are."

I smiled enjoying the contact, loving how he felt next to me. "I'm glad." Then grinned. "Many have tried to change me. None have succeeded." Then I kissed him. He was still wearing his cologne. I took his hand. "What time are we meeting Nick?"

"We have a few hours," Tony said. "He gets off at ten."

I smiled. "Good. We can do more in these few hours." I grinned pulling him toward the bedroom. "What we didn't have time for earlier today."

Tony came with me willingly. He came a few more times in the bedroom! I did, too.

We left earlier than when to go meet Nick to get something for us to eat.

"What do you feel like?" Tony asked as he drove.

I thought a minute, "I have a hankerin'...."

Tony's eyes widened, "A hankerin'?" He added in an alarmed panic, "That sounds serious. Now you tell me? You're sick. I hope it's not too serious. With modern medicine, I'm sure they have a pill for that." His face said he was joking.

I rolled my eyes, "I have a craving." I corrected.

He grinned. "Uh, huh. A little Southernism?"

I shrugged. "Get used to it. I am Southern." Then I grinned. "Do you like barbeque?"

He looked at me. "I love to barbeque, but you mean that as a noun, not a verb."

I nodded. "It is a noun."

He shrugged. "Why not? Where to?"

I gave him directions and we drove in. "You'll notice, this place is better than where I took you for seafood."

He grinned, "They have plates? As in made of china? Not paper."

"Carboard containers and matching tables!" I grinned at him. "No chairs though."

"No chairs!?"

"They have booths that have benches." I grinned as his eyes widened again.

"Benches," He nodded, again he had the tone of resolve.

I leaned over and kissed him still not sure face. "Relax, I'll make a Southerner out of you yet."

He gave a grudging nod. "I'm not so sure that's even possible." Then he turned. "Can I change you into a Yankee?"

I grinned. "I don't think so."

He waved at me as he presented the example. "See? There you go."

I brought his forehead to mine. "Trust me?"

He sighed, "I love you. I guess I'll have to."

I laughed at him. "I've not steered you wrong. I promise." I pointed to the restaurant. "They have these huge onion rings." I held up my hands where my fingers didn't come close to touching but made a big O.

He grinned. "Looks about the size of a New York Bagel." He opened his door and we got out.

"Bagels," I said doubtfully. "I've had bagels, what's the big deal?"

He threw his arm around my shoulder. "If you ask that question, you don't know." He claimed. "We have them in Manhattan...H&H Bagels, in my opinion, are the best...they're huge! I tell you...you'd give away state secrets to get another after you had just one!" He did what I'd seen only on TV where he kissed the tips of fingers on his hand in a gesture I'd seen Italians do. "Il meglio! They're so good." When he spoke of New York his accent became more pronounced.

"Nothing like they have here, then?"

He waved that notion away. "What do the people here know of bagels?" Then he grinned. "Now, when we go to New York...I still have family there, you know? We sort of have to." Then he was back to what he was going to say. "I promise, when we're there, I'll make sure you have an authentic New York bagel. Then you tell me. None of this blueberry or flavored crap they have, but an authentic New York bagel." He leaned in kissing me on the temple just as we reached the door and a man and his wife were coming out. She gasped and he just looked disgusted.

"Faggots," The man said in clear distaste.

Tony looked at the man, irritated. "Oh, is that what we're called!? Thank you for pointing that out. We never heard that before." He said loaded with sarcasm, but he wasn't finished. "Was I kissing you?" Tony demanded. "Did it look like I would even think about kissing you?"

The man shook his head and took his wife's hand and walked off.

"What I am and who I am is none of your business!" Tony all but shouted. "Allocco!" And gestured what I assumed was the Italian or New York Italian version of flipping him the bird.

I took Tony's hand and pulled him into the restaurant. I didn't care about the man making Tony upset. The gay and lesbian community has done a lot of crazy things to get people to see us as just people. There were some that just weren't going to see it and never would. I cared that the man thought it was okay what he'd said to us without thought.

I pulled Tony to the area where we placed our orders. Then we sat and waited in a booth for our orders to be made.

Tony grimaced. "I'm sorry about that. He just...sort of got to me."

Taking his hand, I nodded. "I wish it didn't happen, but it will happen again." I laughed. "This is the Bible Belt. It will happen. What did you call him?"

Tony grinned. "It could have been worse. I just called him a jerk." Then Tony said something I knew wasn't Italian, but Yiddish. "It's so much fercockt."

"See? That I know," I grinned. "I know that's not Italian, but Yiddish."

Tony laughed with me. "In my neighborhood, you just sort of pick it up. Where I grew up, we were half Italian and half Jewish. In fact, when there was ever a Jewish Holiday, we didn't have to go to school either, half the students would be gone." Then he chuckled. "How do you know? I assumed you Southerners assimilated them, too."

I shook my head. "Oh, no. Now that's the one thing I'm proud of, the Jewish Community is alive and well here. I had a few friends that were Jewish growing up. We have them in the mountains."

I heard our order called and went to get our food. Tony looked in disbelief as I put in front of him. He picked up an onion ring.

"You're right." He nodded. "It's huge."

"I promise to try a New York bagel. You have to try one of these." I said reaching for a bottle of barbeque sauce. "For me it's best if you dip them in one of these. My favorite is the Sweet Southern Mustard Sauce. That's what's in the barbeque you're going to eat." I took a little cup and poured some for him. "So, either break the ring, which I can never do as the onion is kind of stringy, then dip an end in and eat it."

You'd have thought I'd asked him to eat a bug! He did it, then bit tentatively. Then I watched his eyebrows rise in surprise. Then he munched more willingly. "Not bad." He nodded. "It's pretty good, in fact." Then he looked at the sandwich that dripped shredded pork and stained yellow from the sauce. "This is huge, too."

I nodded eagerly biting into mine. "But absolutely delicious!"

He shrugged. "Okay." He picked it up and ate again, then nodded. "Okay, it's good. Messy, but good." He chuckled, then pointed to me, his face serious, "But I'm never going to a buffet. You Southerners are big into those."

This really surprised me. "Why not?"

"Two words," Tony said. "Sneeze, guard." Then he nodded. "I'm not eating where they have to protect you from sneezes. Or any other hands in....well...everything."

I chuckled, but he was serious. "Okay. I'll remember that." Then as we continued our meal. "I know we don't really know each other yet." I hurried on. "I know you have an ex-wife; you know I do have one, too. I know you have a son. I don't know about you're other family. Mother, father, brothers, sisters..."

Tony nodded. "I have all those, except the brother part. I don't have one of them." He said calmly. "My mother and father still live on Long Island. I have two older sisters." Then he grinned as barbeque sauce threatened to drip from his mouth. He wiped his face quickly. "I'm the baby." He grinned.

I chuckled from the way he said that. "I see."

"There's Louise and Kathy," He continued. "Kathy's married and lives near Babylon, that's on Long Island. Her husband's a doctor. She's a nurse in charge of patients at a retirement village. He's a general practitioner. Now, Louise married a Canadian and lives in Montreal. They both have two children, boys, and girls, one of each for either. Papa's retired from the docks. Mama is a nurse, too. She's still working. She said she was retiring next year, but I don't think so. She has too much energy."

I grinned at Tony, "I think I've seen this show before."

Tony smiled. "As in TV show?"

I nodded. "A father working on the docks and a family. They all know you're gay?"

He nodded, "Oh, yeah." He waved concern about that away. "When Mama heard, she cried for a week. Papa was angry for a while, but they're fine with it now. So are my sisters and brothers-in-law." Then his eyes glistened. "They might have a problem with you."

"Why with me?" I knew he was mostly kidding.

"You don't speak Italian! You'll have to learn some before we go there," he chuckled. "There are some things you need to know, too."

"As in?" I asked smiling.

"It's okay to interrupt, if you don't no one's going to give you a chance or wait for you to speak," Tony smiled. "Sunday meals last pretty much all day!"

"All day!?"

"The afternoon, yes. You go to Mass, come home, the meal's cooked and we start eating about three pm. And finish, if we're lucky by nine pm and in that time, you have to listen to all the conversations, and there will be many all at the same time. The girls will be having one, then one with Mama, the men will be having one, then Mama and Papa would have one." He grinned and his eyes glistened again. "You're expected to keep up with all of them!" Then he laughed. "Now Al, that's Kathy's husband doesn't speak Italian and neither does Mike, that's Louise's husband, in fact, he speaks English and French, there is some consideration for those two. Having married into the family, there will be some explanations because Mama and Papa will often use phrases in Italian, which of course, Kathy, Louise and I understand it." He chuckled. "You'll just be a son-in-law."

All during his conversation about his family, I saw warmth and got a sense of closeness. They loved each other. "They would be okay with you bringing home a boyfriend?"

Tony bowed his head a little but smiled. "Papa will be sort of stand-offish at first. He will warm up soon enough. Mama will feed you to death. It's her way of showing love." He chuckled. "Kathy and Louise will love you. Mike and Al will, too."

I smiled at that. "They love you."

Tony nodded. "Of course."

I felt a pang of sadness. "I envy that for you."

He frowned. "You don't think your parents love you?"

"That's what's hard to understand," I said. "I think they do."

"You think they love you!?" Tony asked confused, but he couldn't understand it.

I shrugged. "It's taken me a while, but I have to say they do," I said helplessly.

Tony shook his head, "But you don't know."

I sighed. "Look, I told you before, when I told them I was gay at sixteen, I was rushed to this quack to cure me." I shook my head. "They believe what they believe so much, they must have been scared not only for my immortal soul but for my life. It was called Aversion Therapy."

Tony was having a hard time with this. "To stick electrodes on you and if you become aroused you get shocked?"

I nodded. "Yes. It worked...for a while. Then the headaches and problems....either I accepted I was gay or if not I'd die. They even convinced me, if I was gay, I would die of AIDS or something like that. As the years went on, I knew I would die if I didn't come out."

Tony looked at me sadly. "Is that why you left the mountains?"

I shrugged. "I had to," I sat forward. "My parents don't think I'm gay, but possessed."

"Possessed!?" Tony said loud enough to attract some looks from other customers.

I chuckled at the lady that was looking concerned. "We're fine, thanks." I waved, then looked back. "Yes," I whispered. "Possessed. They believe it's a demon making me do these things." I took a deep breath. "First is the McKenzies. My late grandfather, my father's father was a preacher. He was one of those....Bible-carrying, pulpit-pounding, Hell Fire and Brimstone preachers who knew the Good Book from cover to cover." I laughed. "Other than preaching, he was good at one other thing. Fucking."

Tony sat back suddenly when I said that. "I don't remember you saying anything like that before. The occasional damn, sure. I've even heard a shit before. Why this now?"

I nodded. "Dad is one of sixteen children."

Tony's eyes widened. "Sixteen!? You're not even Catholic!!"

I chuckled. "What else was there to do at night out in the boonies!? Dad is number eleven. There is JC, Thomas, Robert, Calvin, Bernie, Earl, Marjorie, Virginia, June, Judy, Faye, Evelyn..."

Tony held his hands up. "Whoa, whoa...I get it. Lots of brothers and sisters for your Dad."

"And that wasn't exactly in order," I smiled. "Their spouses and children." Then I shrugged. "By the time Grandma's eldest were old enough to marry, Grandma still had children for a few years. Meaning I had cousins as old as Dad. I was so confused when I learn that Uncle Clint was not an uncle at all, but a cousin. There were others also. Family reunions are a little crowded."

"No doubt," Tony marveled.

"They grew up in a very isolated part of North Carolina, near Ellerbe. A little patch known as Derby." I glanced up and saw Tony shake his head. "Don't be worried, few people know where it is. Think of it as a suburb of Ellerbe, which is a suburb of Rockingham, which is a suburb of Darlington or Fayetteville. For a long time, no one lived within miles of them. It was a farm. They grew everything from cotton to tobacco. They are sad people. Very clannish." I chuckled. "Well, they are Scottish. I found that out for myself. No one told me. They were only good at eating, cooking and fucking. Conversations were mostly about who was sick or dying. The type of family you described as your family sounds happy. The McKenzie's are not." Then I smiled. "Now Mom's family are better. She has a sister, Mary, also married a few times. Two brothers, Robert who's married and Earl who is the youngest, with two children and married. Dad and Mom settled in the mountains. Mom and Dad met, fell in like and Dad moved there."

"Fell in like?"

I shrugged. "To say they were in love is a stretch. They got along okay, but I never saw much passion. My grandparents on her side are both alive and still live in Morgan's Branch. Dad and Mom raised me and my sister on a piece of Grandpa's land. We have a farm there, only twenty-six acres!"

"You were raised on a farm...and only twenty-six acres!?"

I chuckled. "That's small compared to some but because we were attached to grandma and granddad's farm, it seems bigger. I was raised there feeding chickens, tending the garden, rode horses, dealt with cows and goats." Then I grinned. "It wasn't bad. I know where milk comes from." I grinned.

Tony frowned. "Sure, the grocer on the corner of my block and they deliver."

"I mean, I've milked the cows. I know where milk comes from," I said. "I'm a real live country boy."

Tony shook his head. "Your father is a preacher, too?"

I nodded. "He sure is. Only unlike Granddad, he went to school for it. Even got his Master of Theology. Mom said he wouldn't have made it if she hadn't typed his papers and helped him out. She is smart. She could have been so much more, but let Dad be the breadwinner and professional. A lot of Granddad's Fire and Brimstone is still in Dad. All that knowledge just didn't help...and there's Lynn." I sighed. "She left home years ago. She is three years older than me. I don't know where she is now."

"Is she married?"

I had to chuckle, but there was no humor. "Several times. The first was when she was seventeen. Dad and Mom had that one annulled. She married again, not the same guy, when she was eighteen. Again, when she was twenty-three, again when she was thirty..." I shrugged. "It's hard to keep up with the last names. She's been a Miller, Yeager, Garner and the last one I knew of, was Green. I don't know if she's still married to him, or even what he looks like. A psychologist would love to do a study on us. Both the McKenzie children are into men and both were eager to get away."

This time, Tony looked at me with sadness, but also compassion. He reached across the table and took my hand. "Well, you've got a new family now. I want us to be a family."

I smiled at him. "We are."

Tony looked at his watch. "We'd better head to Pearlz. He'll get off soon. Prepare to meet another member of the family."

We drove into downtown. If you've ever been to Charleston, you'll soon realize why I hate driving there. Charleston is an old city, over three hundred years, having celebrated the three hundred years in 1970. Lots of one-way streets and if you miss a turn, you have to drive several blocks, find a one-way street back and circle around and try again. After two attempts, I directed Tony to a street a block over and told him to park there.

"But Pearlz is over there!" Tony pointed the two blocks away. "I gotta walk!?"

I chuckled. "They walk in a lot New York. I've seen it on TV."

Tony looked at where we were, it was a mix of businesses and houses. The businesses were closed now. "We should park in a garage."

I nodded. "You can, there's one two blocks that way." I pointed even farther away from where we were going.

Tony huffed and rolled his eyes. "Has no one around here heard of valets?" He hit the alarm for the car which chirped.

I rolled my eyes. "You'd let some stranger drive this? I wouldn't give my keys for Bubba."

"That's what valets do!" Tony said coming toward me as we began our walk to Pearlz. As it was now a habit, his arm came around my shoulder and mine went around his waist. He was taller. "What's the appeal of Bubba?"

I smiled remembering. "It's Granddad's truck. I was twelve when he let me drive it."

"Don't they have laws for that?"

"On the farm," I clarified. "I'd haul hay bales to the fields in cold weather for the cows. My feet could only just reach the pedals." I grinned. "Then when I was fourteen, Granddad said if I kept it running, I could have it when I got my license."

Tony looked a little impressed, he looked at me appreciatively. "You're a mechanic, too?"

I waved that off. "Don't get excited. I can fix an old Ford, not these computerized things on the road now. Bubba's basically nuts and bolts. I can change the oil, a tire and I've fixed almost everything in him. The odometer has rotated a few times, but it's mine."

As we got close to Pearlz, it was a raw bar serving drinks and specialize in oysters. People mingled and ate happily talking, laughing and had an atmosphere of wellbeing. I spotted who I knew had to be Nick. He was the only guy there with the olive complexion and had his father's black hair. He had Tony's size, too! Looking again, he might have been taller, but he loved to eat. Not that he was fat, but he carried a few more pounds than he might have or wanted to. He was young. He had a face that looked a little like Tony, I could only guess the rest was from his mother. It could be more of Tony's family I hadn't seen yet. We walked in and approached the bar. Tony smiled as Nick looked up and smiled at his father as he was shucking an oyster, but his eyes traveled to me. Tony still had his arm over my shoulder. Nick held up his finger, looked at the clock and held up five fingers. Tony nodded and sat, letting me go as I sat next to him. I was nervous. None of my previous....boyfriends or whatever had kids. Now I was meeting, what I considered a life partner's son. That son was practically an adult.

"He's working here because...." I asked.

Tony smiled. "I pay his tuition and rent. If he wants a car or even just beer money or something like that, he needs a job." Tony said logically. "Besides, work gives a man character." He smiled at the bartender. "I'll have whatever's on tap." He smiled at me. "What do you want?"

"Just a sweet, iced tea," I told the man who nodded.

"Okay, what's so different about sweet tea in the South?" Tony asked. "We have tea in New York, if you want it sweeter, you add sugar."

The bartender came with our drinks.

"You're from the South, right?" I asked the bartender.

"Born and raised," the bartender smiled.

"Have you traveled out of the South?" I asked.

"A few times."

"Have you ever had iced tea you have to add sugar to when traveling?" I asked.

"Yep," the bartender nodded but frowned. "It's not the same."

I looked at Tony. "See? Every Southerner knows just adding sugar to iced tea isn't enough. It's got to be brewed in it."

"Damn straight!" The bartender nodded. He shrugged. "Even adding simple sugar doesn't help. It's got to be brewed with the tea."

I waved at the bartender. "There you go."

Tony chuckled and took my glass of tea. He sipped it carefully and licked his lips tasting it. "It tastes..." he thought, "kind of like Kool-aide."

"And there lies the mystery," I chuckled. "Everyone makes it differently. Some are very sweet, others, not so much. Some add lemon, my family doesn't. It's a unique flavor everywhere you go."

The bartender was nodded in agreement, then looked at Tony, then back at Nick. "You're Nick's Dad."

Tony smiled, but he looked cautious. "If I say yes, do I need to pay someone or something?"

The man shook his head laughing, "no, no...well, he's kinda unusual here. We have Italian's here, but you two look similar and I was just curious." He thumbed toward Nick. "He's a good guy. I used to be a student at the College of Charleston also. Going to graduate school in the upcoming Fall." He stuck his hand to Tony. "I'm Kyle Jenkins."

"Anthony Delveccio," Tony said shaking the bartender's hand. "This is Mitch McKenzie."

I shook Kyle's hand. "I'm guiding this Yankee through the Southern Experience."

Kyle nodded with a smile. "They need all our help." He grinned and bowed off to tend to another customer.

Tony put his hand on mine. "Understand," he began. "I'll never be ashamed of us. I wasn't going to introduce you as more to him when I haven't even told my son."

It hadn't even occurred to me. "I'm fine." Then the old me came in. "So, I haven't been rejected?"

Tony shook his head but smiled at me. "Not a chance." He did lean forward and bumped his forehead against mine gently. Then Tony looked up as Nick threw a towel over his shoulder. He put a tray of oysters he's shucked up and walked around the bar. His grin was just like his father's.

"Dad," Nick greeted as Tony rose and they hugged briefly. "I was wondering if you went back to New York."

Tony laughed at that idea. "No chance of that." Then he looked at me. "Things have sort of changed in a way I hadn't planned on."

Nick looked at me, but I could see that he suspected and was just waiting for confirmation. "I see."

"It just happened," Tony said but there was a pleading tone in his voice. "I didn't plan on it; I wasn't looking for it." Then Tony put his hand out to me. "This man has come to mean a lot to me. Nick Delveccio this is Mitch McKenzie." Then he looked at his son. "My life partner."

Nick was not ready to hear that. "What!?" He looked at his father. "You've only been here less than two weeks! Sei fuori di testa?"

Tony nodded and held his hand up. "English, Nick. Speak English."

Nick waved his hand at me. "Do you know him!?"

Tony again nodded but patted his son's chest. "We're getting to know each other. As I said, I hadn't planned on it, it just happened."

"Does he know you?" Nick challenged. "Your past?"

"I know some of it," I said softly. "I know about the others and your mother. I know about Luke and the towers and the horrible thing your father went through there. I even know about you Aunts Louise, Kathy and their husbands Mike and Al. I know about your grandparents and the long Sunday dinners. I know how he feels about you."

Nick just stared. I saw Nick was considering this news slowly.

"Now, are you upset because you think he doesn't know me, or that you don't?" I asked.

"Well, yes." Nick nodded. "He just got here. Where'd you two meet?"

"In church," Tony said with a laugh. "I always told you, the best place to look is in church."

Nick nodded. "At that gay church?"

"At the only church that will let us in," Tony said. "The church started because we weren't welcome anywhere else."

"Does it bother you that your father's gay?" I asked.

Nick shook his head. "I don't care about that." He said instantly. "I care about him."

Tony nodded. "Well, this is why I wanted you two to meet." He looked around. "Can we sit and maybe talk?"

Nick nodded and waved to a table. "We'll be closing soon, the raw bar part, the drinks will go on another couple of hours so over there should be fine."

Once seated, Nick looked at his father. "So, you've been with him the past few days? Is that why you haven't been around."

"I was there at first," Tony nodded. "Then I began looking for a place to live and a job, but yes."

"Your father's right," I said. "It just happened."

Nick waved helplessly. "How does it just happen?"

Tony smiled at me. "I saw something in him, I've rarely seen in anyone else. He's smart, kind and...he loves me." Then he looked at his son. "He makes me laugh. I love him. Talk to him, he's not going away. You'll get to know more about him as the years pass." He took his son's arm. "I know it's right."

"All because he wouldn't give up his place at the end of the pew," I chuckled.

Nick bowed his head laughing. "Yep, that sounds like Dad." He looked up at me, then his father. "He always sat on the end at church. To get away when it was over."

Tony smiled. "They were always asking for handouts and stuff like that. I often had to get out to save my wallet!"

"I know why that was," Nick asked his father. "Remember the time when Father Thomas said the heat needed fixing. He locked the doors and sent the offering plates around, even after the general offering was taken."

Tony laughed. "We waited as they counted it."

"He said it wasn't enough! So, he sent them again!" Nick smiled. "Mom tells him to put a fifty in the plate or we'd never get out of there!" Then he smiled looking at me. "So, what do you do?"

I smiled. "I manage a hotel downtown. The Historic Charleston Town Center."

Nick let out a whistle. "That's pretty ritzy."

I shrugged. "It's a façade. I was a police officer before that."

Nick's eyes widened. "A cop!?"

"I was shot while dealing with two guys arguing over a girl and had to give that up."

"Damn," Nick marveled. "And you agreed to fuck with Dad!?" He pointed at his father.

"Nick!" Tony said shocked.

Nick rammed his shoulder in his father's shoulder. "I'm kidding, but I am surprised. Everyone first thinks we're in the mob or shit like that."

Tony chuckled. "Mitch first asked me if he had to worry about a mob hit when with me."

"I was joking!" I said in defense.

Nick was laughing with his father but looked at his father seriously. "Are you happy? I've not seen this side of you before. Not in a while anyway."

Tony nodded. "Like I haven't been happy in years."

Then Nick looked at me as he pointed at his father. "He was so serious. Don't let him back the other way."

I smiled. "He's with me now. He won't be able to be serious much."

"Although I should grill you as you did with me and Dreeta." Nick said to his father.

"Dreeta's mother was a Don's daughter, Nick!" Tony said as if he'd said it many times before. Then Tony looked at me. "That's the head of a crime family."

"Godfather?" I reminded Tony. "Goodfellas? Seen it and understand that."

Tony nodded. "I mean she was the granddaughter of a real mobster! I wasn't having a grandchild born into that family even by accident!"

"We were sixteen!?" Nick said as if that would help.

"All the more reason," Tony said.

"I can see it's good for you. I hope it will be." Then Nick turned to me. I wasn't sure yet, so I offered a hand to him. Nick shook his head. "You're going to be family I hear. So..." then he grabbed me in a tight hug. "Be good to him." He said quietly so even Tony couldn't hear. "He's been through a lot lately."

Parting, I nodded. "I know."

Nick turned to his father. "And you be good to him! I'm going to get used to him, so don't blow it!" He pointed at his father's midsection. "Okay?"

Tony was so pleased it went well. He hugged his son again.

Then he tried to suppress it, but Nick yawned. "I'm beat. I have an early class tomorrow." He rose and hugged his father. Tony sighed relief and Nick left for his apartment. "That's one down." He grinned at me.

"It went well." I nodded.

Tony shrugged. "I told you, he was a good man."

I grinned with a shrug. "And I told you, he came from you. How could he not be?"

That night I saw another part of Tony. We had gotten home and did make love, then fell asleep together. I was getting used to Tony's spooning me from behind. It was later when he began making these sounds. A soft moan, then he rolled away as he twitched. I sensed he was dreaming, but what he was dreaming wasn't pleasant at all. I rolled over, not sure if I should wake him. He wasn't sleepwalking, but I wasn't sure about nightmares. Then his thrashing became more pronounced and his moans were accompanied by little cries that told me he didn't want to see what he was seeing.

"Tony," I said softly deciding to risk it.

Then with a sharp cry, he sat up quickly. "No!!"

I put my hand on his face, bringing it to look at me. "It was a nightmare," I told him as his eyes focused more on where he was and me.

Tony sighed, seeing it was over, but threw his legs over the side as he shook. He let out a sad breath that was more of a moan. "Sorry." He got up and went naked to the bathroom.

I gave him a few minutes, watching the light switch on and hearing him rummage through something. Then I got up, walked to the door. Knocking gently. "Let me in, Tony."

"It's not locked."

Walking in, I saw him sitting on the closed toilet holding a couple of pill bottles in his hands looking at them. "Are you alright?"

He shook his head. "It was bad." He sniffed, wiping his face where he'd been crying.

I nodded. "I gathered that." I knelt in front of him. "These are for?" I touched a pill bottle.

He held one up. "Anxiety." He held the other up. "Depression." He pointed to one on the counter. "Sleep." He shook his head. "All prescribed after the attack."

"Do they help?"

Tony shrugged. "They can, but they make me feel...hollow."

This was touchy. I needed to tread carefully. "Why are we together, Tony?" I asked him.

He looked at me strangely, "We fell in love."

I nodded. "We did and are, but is that all?"

He frowned. "I don't understand."

"What was it about me that you saw that made you fall in love with me?" I asked. "I know what I saw. I walk into the church and there you were. This gorgeous man. You are, but my mind was going through all the reasons it would never work with us."

"Because I'm a New Yorker?" Tony asked.

I shook my head. "That was just the frosting on the cake. I love that you are. In fact, that's probably why I was attracted more. You are exotic." He grinned at that and was about to shake his head. "I saw a man I always dreamed of being with. You have this air of confidence and assuredness. You had pride in yourself. Then I spoke to you and you proved to be funny and smart. Qualities I really like."

Tony smiled when he heard that. "I'm not exotic."

"Yes, you are," I said putting my arms around him. "My brain was saying it was too good to be true, but then you were smiling at me and seemed to respond favorably to me...and you smelled so damned good!" I grinned.

Tony chuckled. "You fell in love with how I smell?"

I nodded. "Partly." I kissed him gently. "You are so handsome." Then I got serious. "Then I discover a sensitive, loving man, who loves his family. That loves his family not because he has to, but he truly likes them. You're a good man, Tony."

Tony smiled wiping his face again. "I fell for you, especially when you stood telling everyone there that you lost the war and to get over it." He chuckled at that. "Which..." he held a finger up. "...had nothing to do with any of us. We came through Ellis Island decades after the Civil War was won and lost." He stated to clarify.

"War of Northern Aggression," I corrected with a smile knowing it was ridiculous.

He rolled his eyes. "I see this man, who didn't put on a show. You are as you are. Genuine, compassionate, and smart. You made me laugh." He shook his head. "I hadn't laughed so much in months. Maybe longer. Then you were beautiful. You were never anything fake. Honest."

I nodded. "Thank you. My point is...I saw something in you that I wanted to be included in my life. You. I assume you want me in yours."

Tony smiled. "I do."

"I can't make you tell me what you feel and what you dreamt about, but I'll always be there for you. Part of being in each other's lives means we tell each other things...not necessarily all good. Some are very bad, but I promise, I'll always listen."

Tony nodded as he sighed. "I see these faces." Again, the tears formed. "Random ones and I know they were there in the tower. Like...the man on the stairway, the one in the wheelchair that told me friends were coming to take him down." He took in a breath. "The problem is I left him. I have no idea if he's alive or dead. I could have helped him down. There's a girl I often saw on the elevator. She worked at the restaurant on the top floor. I saw her often and I know she's dead now because no one above the area hit lived. The helicopters couldn't get them off the roof." Then he gripped the pill bottle. "So many others...I see them, remember them and I don't know if they're even alive." He pulled me, holding me tightly. "I just keep seeing their faces!" He began crying again, but not as hard as he had the first time he'd told me.

"I am so sorry you went through this," I continued to hold him.

Then he sat up a little. "I know you love me, so I'm asking you..." he smiled at me. "Make feel better now. Make love to me, please? Slowly this time. I need that connection. I love you."

I smiled at him as I rose up, taking his hand, "Gladly."

He smiled. "Feel free to sniff wherever."

Tony was very receptive and I did make love to him slowly. His groans of pleasure were softer, but he had a sound in his moans that told me I was reaching a part of him that he needed, what he wanted and he was loved.

The next morning, I woke as I sniffed, but it wasn't Tony I smelled, but bacon! Then I smelled the coffee. I didn't need to roll over to know Tony was up, I could hear him in the kitchen as he hummed and cooked. I did roll over and buried my face in his pillow, inhaling his wonderful scent. Then I rolled out of bed and walked into the kitchen where I saw a very naked Tony in just an apron as he worked.

"That's dangerous, you know," I said softly making Tony spin around. "Frying bacon naked...one grease splatter and ouch!"

Tony grinned. "You have to be careful." Then he walked over and kissed me. "Good morning."

I hugged him. "Good morning."

He grinned wider. "Just something to carry us as I show you where we may be living."

"And where is that?" I asked as he returned to the pan.

"Essex," Tony said.

I knew the name. Charleston was big on their military. There was the Air Force Base and there were two Naval Facilities at one time. The Navy Shipyard where they had the ships and also trained for specialties and the Navy Base, where until the ships became so large we couldn't keep them here. The Navy Base had closed. Where I had rented the house wasn't too far from where the Navy Base had been and had been housing for a lot of Navy families during World War II. It used to be the Red-Light District. There was always crime there. Drugs, prostitutes and other various crimes made it the Red-Light District. Now, the City of North Charleston, different from Charleston in that it was newer and more industrial and progressive. North Charleston was working hard to revitalize what was left of the base. What had been a not so nice part of downtown North Charleston had new restaurants, trendy shops and had been redecorated to make it more attractive and bring people to North Charleston. To keep that, they were building these new condominiums where the docks had been. Looking right on the water of Cooper River.

"Okay," I nodded. "I don't really care that much, but aren't those a little pricey?"

Tony shrugged. "The starting price is $300,000 dollars to start."

"To start," I repeated. "Don't tell me if you don't want to, but...you said you weren't rich."

Tony nodded. "I also said I wasn't poor either." He pointed out. Then he spooned the bacon on some plates. "In New York, I wouldn't be rich. Here is another story. I sold my house a few years ago after the divorce. It was a nice house. It sold for three million." He said simply. "I had an apartment there which was downtown Manhattan. Rent and utilities have taken a bite out of what I had saved."

For the first time, I was feeling uncomfortable. I never dreamed of being rich. Just happy. "Three million dollars."

He nodded. "Of course, I gave half of that to Jean. And there were my investments, stocks...which I also gave half to Jean."

"You lived apart the last few years," I wanted to understand.

"Almost ten years." He nodded.

"Just help me understand, please," I said. "The attack was seven, eight months ago."

He nodded.

"You said you've been out of work for over a year."

He sighed. "I was doing some private work. I did work with Morgan and Stanley for a few years, but I was a private consultant to some investors I continued to work with." He took the plates to the table. He turned sadly. "Before the attack, I was still a little man crazy, but not as much. Luke was the last man I'd been with before you. I was in love with him." He looked at me. "I'm not now." He stated firmly to make that point. "He'd cheated on me, which I deserved since I cheated on Jean. I slipped into this depression when we broke up. I only worked as a consultant after that. I wasn't getting a bi-weekly paycheck. I earned a commission, but no real paycheck."

I nodded and looked at him, "And you're in love with me?"

Tony chuckled as he nodded. "I am."

I shrugged. "I think I'm getting a pretty good dessert and I get Crème Brule? What a surprise!" He held my hand on his bare chest. "Forgive me, my mind is doing a bit of arguing with itself."

Tony frowned. "About what part?"

I scratched my head. "I've never felt this before," I said honestly. "You can say you're not, but you are rich by all I know. I never thought I'd fall in love with a rich man, much less have him fall in love with me."

Tony looked more confused. "Why do you say that?"

I shrugged. "Not that many rich men came my way."

Tony nodded and smiled. "I'm glad they haven't. I might have lost you."

I shrugged again. "You have a master's degree; I have an associate's degree. I'm feeling like you're slumming."

"Slumming!?" Tony balked. "Slumming." Then his face softened. "Aw, Cuore Mio." He hugged me. "I'm not slumming at all."

I pushed him back with a grin. "What did you call me?"

If you ever get the chance, you need to see an Italian blush, don't miss it. "Sorry, it just came out."

I nodded. "Yeah?" Then my eye narrowed, "and that was what that just came out?"

"It literally means...my heart." Tony looked away getting his napkin and sitting down.

I pulled him back up. "No, you don't," I smiled at him larger. "Like Sweetheart of something? I've heard it said on TV, but tell me, does it mean something like that?"

Tony finally looked back at me. "Yes."

I kissed him quickly. "That's how you see me?"

He shrugged, blushing more. "Yes."

"Stop that!" I grinned making him face me. "Don't be embarrassed by that. I think it's nice. I've never been anyone's sweetheart. I've never been....cuoremio."

Tony grinned at me. "Now, I know I'm in trouble."

"Why's that?"

He was blushing again. "Papa said when he met Mama he blushed when he first said it to Mama. When Noono met Nonna he said he did the same thing." Then he kissed me. "That's my grandpa and grandma, in case you're wondering." He pulled me back to my seat. "Italian men are very romantic. They will use words and say things to win someone over, but they say when they met the right one; when their heart is involved, they blush." He went and got the coffee. "You can ask them when you see them." He challenged me. "That means I did, too." Then he motioned to my plate. "You're eggs are going to be cold. Eat."

I shook my head. "Where have you been!?" I asked in disbelief. "I've waited a long time for you."

Tony grinned back. "Why didn't you come up North?"

I smiled. "From what you said, I couldn't afford to." I took a bite of his eggs. "Delizioso." Making his eyebrows rise. "I know some Italian words. Like ti amo."

Tony grinned. "Here's another phrase. Ti vogliobeneanch'io." He pulled me into a kiss. "That's, I love you, too."

I shook my head. "I got to learn Italian."

Tony gave a shrugging nod. "That's not a bad idea."

We rode to Essex. I had seen the commercials and knew it was expensive, but Tony wanted to look. What the hell? He gave me veto rights. It had a gate with a guard and a wall around the complex. Tony didn't care if the woman looked up in surprise when he and I walked up holding hands. It was a habit now. She quickly recovered and turned on her charm as she stood from behind her desk. She was a middle age woman with blonde frosted hair done around her neck, but held her age well.

"Mr. Delveccio?" She didn't even bother to ask me. Italian name, Italian man she put two and two together and got the right answer.

Tony didn't miss anything either. "Is the fact that we're a gay couple going to be a problem?"

She shook her head. "Of course not." She smiled, but I could tell it bothered her on a personal level. Gaydar doesn't exist, but I could read faces. It helped when I was a cop. "I was just surprised is all." She explained. "On the phone, you didn't mention...I mean, you didn't sound..."

"Gay?" I asked.

She looked at me but nodded. "That's sort of stupid, isn't it?" She smiled. "I apologize. No, there will be no problem." Things were progressing socially, but the pace was slower in the South. Business-wise, Southerners learned to be more tolerant. It was taking time.

Tony nodded. "It's all good." He put his arm around me. "This is my life partner, Mitch McKenzie. You'll be selling to him. He knows the area and can better understand the things like traffic and other things."

"You're from here," She said to me.

"I've been here a few years, yes," I said.

"What sort of unit were you interested in?" She asked both of us.

Tony smiled. "Well, I've got a big family. I'll need room for when they visit and I have a son going to college here. I saw the unit with three or four bedrooms, can we see one of those?"

Three or four bedrooms? He was the one with the money, so I kept my mouth shut.

At the end of the day, lunch was delivered from a local restaurant to the office as she and Tony worked on the financial parts. He had the master's degree, not me. No, we didn't get the three-bedroom one. I didn't really like it.

"Is Louise, Mike, Kathy, and Al coming at the same time? And you're parents?" I asked.

Tony nodded. "You're right. We may need the four bedrooms. They could bring their kids."

Those started at $450.000 dollars, so the lady, Ms. Cunningham's cash register rang. I practically heard it. "We have one that the financing fell through on a unit that has never been moved in. I'll show you."

I pulled Tony back, "Are you crazy!?"

"About the unit?" He smiled. "Are you kidding!?" He waved at the complex. "It's great! This same thing in New York would start about two million! I'm investing in a home for us. For us!" He stressed, then sighed. "Is the problem about the money?"

I had to think about it. "I guess I am having issues with that. You claimed that you weren't rich, but clearly, you are...at least to me."

Tony looked a little upset by this. "Will this end us?"

I looked at him surprised. "No!! Not at all, it just...so much!" I took his hand. "I believe it when you said you loved me. Do you believe I love you?"

"Yes."

"We've known each other not even a week!" I said in a hissing whisper so only he could hear.

"Is our being together right or wrong?" Tony asked.

I shook my head. "It's right and you know it." I took a deep breath. "I'm just having relationship whiplash."

Tony's eyebrows rose. "Relationship whiplash?"

"This time last week....last week!! I was working in a hotel, living alone and I was fine." I shrugged. "I meet you on Sunday and have an unofficial date. Then Monday, we fall in deep like, lust really...then on Tuesday you move in." Then I threw my hands out in exasperation. "Now this! It's just Friday!? What more can happen next week?" I smiled. "It's just a sudden change. Give me a few moments to let it soak in."

Tony smiled. "As long as it does." Then he looked at me seriously. "I've never been so sure about anything recently, but I'm sure about us."

I grinned as he kissed me. "Just allow for adjustment time."

Tony nodded. "Will do."

The unit was great! It had the four bedrooms, the biggest was the master bedroom on the first level. A spacious room to use as an office or something. There was a fireplace between the bedroom and the great room. Hardwood floors everywhere. Granite countertops...all those things a woman or gay queen would insist on. The unit was on the top floor of a five-story portion overlooking the river and the marina where a few boats waited for...whoever. There was a spacious balcony to set things on and just look at the water. There was a little partition between rooms as it was mostly open giving it a loft-like feeling. Stairs led up to the upper bedrooms. Three and a half bathrooms! The bathroom in the master bedroom was huge with sliding doors that opened to the balcony. A lot of light. There was another smaller bedroom with its own bathroom. A bathroom that was for the other two and a half bathroom off the great room.

All this was not my thing. I didn't care about how fancy or whether or not it had the granite or hardwood. The truth was, Tony needed a place. That would have happened even if we hadn't gotten together. He had invited me to share it. Then he and Ms. Cunningham went to the office while I looked around. There were two pools and a tennis court. The pool was fine, the tennis court not so much. They did have a fully equipped gym. That I would need. It was a couple of hours when Tony came out with a smile.

"You got it." I smiled.

He shrugged. "I am. She's submitting the paperwork. My bank will okay it and there are some things that are going to be done. Like fresh paint. As soon as that's done, I can call and get my furniture down from New York."

I nodded. "The stuff you have in storage."

Tony grinned tossing me the keys to his car. "Let's have dinner. You drive."

My eyes widened. "You're letting me drive your car?"

He nodded. "Well, you are part of my life. We are intimate, so driving the car I bought is no big deal."

"You can drive Bubba, too."

Tony frowned. "Is it automatic?"

"Transmission? No, it has a clutch." I grinned. "You don't drive a clutch?"

He shrugged. "I have, but it's been a while."

I looked at his car. "Do I need to know more than the pedal for gas and for the brakes with this?"

Tony grinned. "A bit."