North Meets South

Story: North Meets South: When Worlds Collide

Chapter: 21 Married!! Again

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 return from their trip below the equator. They attend the McKenzie Thanksgiving and tell the family they are now legally married. A step farther at being a married couple.

Married!! Again

We arrived at our next stop. I woke with small, wet, and gentle kisses to my neck from behind. Realizing how much I liked it...my first thought was about his not being there one day. I sighed trying to push that thought back in my own mind. I should have known that after all this time, I couldn't hide my feelings from Tony.

"What are you thinking?" Tony asked quietly.

I rolled over to face him and kissed him gently. "We said to tell each other the truth and what we are thinking." I nodded and smiled at him. "I was thinking how much I love it when you wake me up this way."

Tony's eyes widened as he grinned moving his face so I could see his eyes better. "Really?" Then those eyes narrowed. "But that is not what I saw."

I nodded. "Yes, really I did." And then I frowned because I insisted we be honest. "That's when I thought about you not doing it later," I admitted softly.

"Oh," Tony said equally quiet. He thought a moment but looked in my eyes. "Don't stop telling me the truth, Mitch."

"I don't lie well, Tony. You know that." I grumbled and sighed again. "The idea of pushing that thought away was next. Neither of us knows what this is." I touched his bare chest. "I'm sorry it keeps coming up."

"It will come up." Tony gave a grudging nod. "We know it's in the family and probably is what we fear."

"It might be."

He nodded and smirked. "I saw this show once." He began with a smile. "Two people were falling down this dark hole...they knew they were going to die."

My eyes widened. "How horrible! How is that factoring into this? You don't..."

"Wait." Tony put a finger to my lips and then raised that same finger. "It should have been." He nodded. "The unseen ground was coming faster and faster, but it didn't happen."

My eyes widened. "What?" Now I was even more confused.

Tony shrugged. "Perspective. After a while, their heart rates returned to normal as they got tired of screaming...they knew there would be an end and got bored with nothing to do after hours of falling and nothing happened. They even said they wished it would happen already."

"We don't know there is a bottom," I argued.

"Right. My point is..." He leaned in kissing me gently. "You and I are going to go back and forth with this unknown I've got." He smiled at me. "Right now, I'm seeing this with the right perspective." He grinned. "Not that what you thought is wrong, it will happen to me or you, but..."

I nodded. "I got it." I wrapped my arms around him. "I've been worrying about the ride without having the horse or saddle," I admitted.

"Yes, you were." Tony chuckled and shrugged. "You appreciate me." His lips traveled from my lips down my jaw to my neck. "I appreciate you." He said logically. "That's a good thing." He grinned. "Appreciate me now and I'll appreciate you!"

We "appreciated" each other twice before we got up. Tony was right, but my perspective would take time to change and then again, we didn't have all the time I thought we might. I kept reminding myself, I had nearly been killed. He or I could die in something totally unrelated. Hell, we could go down in the plane on the way home...no one knew! I just needed to be reminded and appreciate what we had right now.

We met Ivan and Katya in The Queen's Grill. They had arrived before us; Ivan rose as we came toward them.

"Ah," Ivan began much softer, and his smile was softer. "My two dearest and good, best friends." He said hugging Tony as Katya rose and hugged me. He looked at Katya. "Was that better?"

Katya chuckled, kissing him quickly on the cheek and then hugged Tony. "Much."

Ivan chuckled as he hugged me. "She told me I was often too loud."

I grinned as his arms swallowed me as I patted his back to comfort him. "Weeell," I drawled out and chuckled, "that's just you, Ivan. Tony and I love you."

"And you, Katya!" Tony assured.

"That is not true what Ivan said," Katya said smiling. "I said he wasn't the Russian Raging Bull here and he doesn't have to perform...so tone it down."

"It's the same thing," Ivan growled.

What we found out once we got off in Adelaide was that...well...Katya and Tony got along great! Don't misunderstand, Ivan and I got along great with both of them, too, but...well...Tony liked to shop! So, did Katya! Adelaide was a sizable city with about a million or more people that called it home. There were a number of stores that had the usual tourist wear...claiming to be one of a kind and Tony's and Katya's love of clothing just took control a while. Poor Ivan and I were often just...standing there as they were enjoying themselves.

I looked at Ivan as Katya handed him her few bags and went to try something else on. I laughed at what I saw.

"I don't see what's funny." Ivan groused as he came to stand beside me more directly. "We come on the Queen Mary, and she can shop at home!" He stated crossing his arms over his large chest.

"Because, Ivan..." I patted him on the arm, "you've proven that some things are just universal." I pointed to what Katya had given him to hold as she tried on the clothes. "Husbands are always left holding the purse."

Ivan brought his wife's purse up and chuckled. "Yes, I guess I should be grateful." He chuckled. "I almost never get to do this with Katya."

I frowned. "Katya and you don't shop in Russia?"

Ivan shook his head. "Not without planning ahead." He looked at his casual outfit consisting of a nice t-shirt and shorts. "I can't disguise this back home in Russia. Here, I don't have to!"

I hadn't thought of that. "I guess not. You are more famous there."

Ivan gave a slight nod. "Yes, and there are...other dangers like kidnapping." He said unhappily.

"Kidnapping!?" I blurted surprised. "You are loved in not only Russia but most Eastern European countries."

Ivan shook his head. "Not me..." he waved in the direction of Katya. "Her!"

"Her!?" I thought quickly. He was famous and had money. "For any ransom."

"Yes...Sasha told you about Bratva?" Ivan asked.

I nodded. "He said he wanted Alik away from them...he feared they would try to use Alik there for a number of reasons."

"Yes," Ivan said as we tried not to look like we were just standing there waiting and looked at somethings near us. "Not just for sex and drugs, but to use in the Brotherhood itself."

"Brotherhood? You make it sound like a fraternity."

"Sure." Ivan nodded. "They even predate the Soviet Union. They've been around for hundreds of years...Hell, even before the United States became a nation! The Brotherhood is very dangerous. It is beautiful in Russia, but Bratva is pretty big. There are other groups...gangs...but they are the most dangerous for the very poor and very desperate. They have just gotten bigger since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cells are in every city. There are..." he used a word I knew, but... "йОсс," he said and it sounded pakhan. I knew the word but used like this...Ivan saw my confusion and he chuckled. "One that is in charge?"

"Boss?" I offered. "Do you mean кримебосс?" I used a word I had heard on Let Them Speak for crime boss. I didn't know every word and how they were used sometimes in the English language either.

"There is boss in crime." Ivan nodded with a smile. "And they have..." He said a word I did know. "Đ`ригадир?"

"Brigadier," I repeated nodding.

Ivan nodded, grinning more. "I saw them in the Godfather, too. Different names for what they are different...you know this, yes...the Brotherhood does follow a Code of Conduct. The Vorovskoy Zakon."

I moved away slightly because he knew this not doubting what he was talking about, it was personal. "How do you know this?"

Ivan looked a little guilty. "I was...approached by the Bratva...to join them. I was seventeen or eighteen."

"To know these things, you worked for..." I ventured.

"For a year," Ivan admitted. "It was good money!" He defended shrugging. "That was their bait. My father warned me about them." He waved at Katya. "This was before I met her. I'm glad I didn't join them." He chuckled. "The Brotherhood doesn't have family."

"What?" I shook my head.

"They can have lovers, but...you must forsake your mother, father, brothers, sisters. Take no wives and absolutely no children...whatever the boss says...you do...Sasha was wise to join the military. No one in the Brotherhood can serve in the military."

"They recruited you?"

"They sent Boyevik...a man whose job is to find young men to potentially serve. They wanted me to become Shestyorka." Ivan said sadly. "You enter as the lowest member of the brotherhood."

"Shestyorka? Aren't they the low cards in a deck of playing cards?" I asked.

Ivan nodded smiling again. "That's right." He waved again at his own body. "I am a big man and they wanted to use that." He shrugged. "They sent me on little assignments, and they paid well." He grinned shaking his head in Katya's direction. "Then I bumped into her." He got a silly grin on his face. "I knew I was going to marry her." He shrugged. "I couldn't do that working with the Bratva."

I shook my head at what he told me. "Sasha never mentioned that." I wondered if he really knew. "I've seen you in the ring, but you are not a violent man." I threw my hand out. "Neither is Sasha."

"Most of what I did was transport things."

"Drugs?"

Ivan shrugged. "I never knew what it was. It could have been." He waved at Katya as she came toward us. "I could be violent if she's threatened."

I chuckled. "I saw that. Mr. Grison? The Lottery guy?"

"And I was holding back!"

Katya came back carrying a piece of cloth smiling as she placed it in Ivan's hand and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "We should get this." She put a little...it was one of those garments you put an infant in. It was both pink and blue. No specific gender color for a baby. The left side was pink becoming blue on the sleeve and the right side was blue becoming pink on the sleeve on the right side. The almost cartoon image of a baby kangaroo in the pouch with a happy smile on the joey. Kangaroo Island was written across the chest. It had the flap in the back to get a baby in and out of the outfit. "If for no other reason to give us a visual goal." She patted him on the arm and walked back to get something else.

As Ivan held the onesie out to see it better, smiling.

"You may need one that's bigger." I touched the soft fabric.

Ivan looked alarmed. "I hope not. Poor Katya!" He grinned. "I was just over two and a half kilograms when I was born."

My mind was getting used to calculating. "Six pounds." I shook my head. "That's hard for me to imagine."

"Are you sure Australia is mostly British?" Tony surfed the Internet on his phone as we walked. Not that we were that much before, but now we no longer even considered if anyone was bothered about our being together as his arm was over my shoulders as we strolled.

"Botany Bay?" I asked. "The penal colony, the lepers...Australia was settled by the British. You know that with all the names of all those kings and queens..."

"I know that..." Tony's head wavered a little. "I said that because there are a bunch of Italian Restaurants here."

"Sure," I said. "We let one in and they just...keep coming."

Tony's eyes widened as he tightened his grasp around my shoulder. "What? Are you comparing us to rats or roaches...or something like that?"

I squeezed him back. "Of course not." I poked him gently chuckling. "Interesting that you thought of infestation from what I said."

We ended up at a place called Chanti. It was Italian. I even met the owner, an Aussie-Italian! He even recommended something I had never had before. I had barbequed octopus!! It was good.

We had a great time. Ivan and Katya were good company and they enjoyed ours and I felt we were really becoming friends.

That evening we again went to the table we shared with the others we were assigned to dine with. The next day was at sea again.

We were again by the pool, even if my tan was applied, the sun was warm. I never thought I would be where I found myself. I sighed as I sipped on my frozen fruit-flavored drink. Tony's eyebrows rose without opening his eyes, he smiled with a light chuckle.

"Feeling it are we?" Tony asked me.

"Feeling what?"

"The boredom." Tony grinned knowingly. His eyes opened as he looked at me as he took my hand from the other lounge beside me. "Cruises more than two weeks can get a little...tedious."

I looked over at him. "That should be impossible," I said simply. "This is the Queen Mary!"

Tony chuckled. "We're bored with falling down that hole, too." He shrugged. "Only seven more days left."

I took another sip. "Yes, it is agony," I grumbled.

Our next stop was Melbourne. This time it was worse for Ivan and me! Katya and Tony realized where we were! They found the Queen Victoria Market! It was all about shopping there! Really, it was like this...a shopping Mecca! We were fair though. There were many, many bars and restaurants. I'd need to go on a diet when we got back. There were coffee bars...this was a delicious city! This particular voyage we would be in Melbourne twice. We would travel the following day to Kangaroo Island which was almost all about nature and then travel back a day and see Melbourne again. Australia had a lot of vineyards. There were all kinds of wines. They were in Melbourne, too.

The days had become a sort of routine. Get up, have coffee, tour around where had arrived or the ship. Sir Samuel's in the afternoon for coffees. Dinner with our friends to catch up with what we'd done. As impossible as it seemed, I was ready to go home. Forgetting there was a bottom for this hole toward an unknown we were falling down just happened. Tony was right. He was here. We were together and it was fine.

I contacted David back at home...taking in account of the time difference calling with my phone from our breakfast at nine in the morning was seven in the evening in Charleston.

"Well, hello, Mitch!" David answered happily. "Are you ready to come home yet?" Video calling was great. I saw him as Sasha asked him something in the background. "Yes! Mitch is calling from..." he turned back to the screen. "Where are you now?"

"We're on our way to back to Sydney now," I said. "There's been a little change of plans for Tony and me."

"Oh?" David asked puzzled.

"We're stopping off in Boston and then New York before we come back," I informed. David's eyes narrowed. "Okay, New York I get, but Boston? Why Boston?"

Tony leaned toward the phone. "Mitch and I are getting married."

David looked even more confused. "You're already married! I was there!"

"We're getting legally married." I clarified.

"Which is limited to that state...though the others are catching up, but..." David shook his head. "Why not wait until it does and do it here? It may take a while, but it will happen."

I gave a slight nod. "We have a reason." I smiled at my cousin. "Which I will tell you about when we get there," I said in a way that asked him not to ask now. "You and Sasha will know. We'll see you before heading to the McKenzie Homeplace."

David looked suspicious but nodded. "Okay."

I heard Alik's voice, heard a stomp as he must have jumped the last steps to the floor and rapid steps as he came toward David. "Is that Uncle Mitch?" He asked excitedly in accented English. "Is he and Uncle Tony coming home now?" I watched as the phone's screen moved to show Alik's happy smile. "Привет, дядя Митч! Đ'ы вернетесь дОПОК?" English was harder when he was excited apparently.

"English, Alik." I heard Sasha's voice say tolerantly as he must do often.

"Are you coming home?" Alik asked accented English again and with a roll of his eyes.

"You need to use English, but... Сначала у нас две остановки, но мы увидимся на день благодарения." I laughed saying we had two stops and would see them at Thanksgiving. "Actually, I've been speaking almost all Russian recently."

Alik bounced. "With the Raging Bull?" He asked even more excited.

"Yes, with Ivan, yes." I grinned at Tony. "In fact, he gave me something to give you."

"No...WAY!!" Alik declared in English with no accent at all.

"Yes, way!" Tony said back laughing.

"What is it?"

"That you'll find out when we get there," I said knowing it would drive him crazy. As a result, Alik would drive David and Sasha crazy. It was a win, win for me.

"Aw, Uncle Mitch!" Alik whined stretching out the single syllable of my name.

"Come on, Alik." David took the phone back. "You know he always comes through." His face came back. He looked at me and the smile was still there, but he asked seriously. "We've known each other all our lives, Mitch. I can see there's something. Is it serious?"

"I'll tell you when I see you," I said. "It might be nothing..." then I gave a shrugging nod. "You're doing it again. I'll tell you when I see you. Tony and I will see you on that Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Okay?"

"Okay," David replied knowing to let it go.

"See you soon," I said to my cousin and ended the call.

No matter what ship it was, departure sucked. We were all packed the night before and said our good-byes to those we'd dined with exchanging emails and phone numbers. We woke up docked in Sydney. One thing to remember about the Queen Mary was it wasn't a cruise ship. Understand, it was a ship we cruised on, but the hurry up and "get off" feeling was not quite as frantic. They did have to clean our stateroom and get it ready for new passengers to occupy the stateroom this afternoon. It was as quickly done as possible, but they had people to take our luggage for us. We gathered in a lounge as our things were being gathered and taken off the ship. I was looking for Ivan and Katya. We'd seen them the day before, but...they were going home and so were we. Thousands of miles apart. I was hoping to see them one last time before we left. We sat enjoying the delicious coffees they had onboard.

"Oh, there you are." We heard Ivan's voice behind us sounding relieved.

We rose as Ivan and Katya walked toward us.

"It was announced where we were to be," I said simply.

Ivan nodded waving at the ceiling. "Yes. In English! Even French and German, but no Russian." He waved the translator. "I could not get this to translate the announcements."

Tony chuckled. "There are some things to work out with the translator. When we have the connection with this, announcements can go through there when there is one."

Ivan nodded. "Yes, but I wanted to give you this." He handed us a package he had. "For Alik."

Opening the box, I grinned as I pulled out...a mask? It was a deep brown-reddish leather that fits over most of Ivan's upper face and head. The small horns would have been on his forehead but covered most of his face down below his nose, the eye holes clear, holes where he would breathe through, but it had the look of an angry bull and included a ring that was attached at the nose. I held it up for Tony to see.

"Ivan!" Tony marveled taking the mask. "You don't need this?"

Katya took her husband's arm. "He has others, but this was one he had when he first started as the Raging Bull."

I grinned putting the mask back in the box. "Alik will love this. Thank you."

"He'll be even happier when you show up at our door in a few months." Tony chuckled.

Katya nodded and hugged me. "I am so glad Ivan went out in the corridor to get help with the extra starch." She went to Tony. "We were fortunate to meet you and blessed to become such dear friends."

"We are that, Katya," Tony assured.

"We will stay in touch," Ivan promised me. "You have my number and email address. If anything changes or we have to change this..." he said taking his phone out. "I have yours, I'll let you know." He hugged me. "You are our dear and good friends."

With anything, good or bad, they come to a conclusion. Our almost fairy tale like cruise ended. We checked into a hotel near the airport to take a flight the next day. We flew to Los Angeles and then on to Boston. It would take us about twenty some odd hours to get there. We were traveling just over ten thousand miles. An entire day just traveling. The flight time over the Pacific was about thirteen to fourteen hours. The flight from Los Angeles to Boston was about six, plus the several hours in LA for the layover! Tony and I were exhausted when we got to Boston!! The Omni Parker House was a grand hotel, but I was too tired to be too impressed. I gave a slight glance at the elegance. My only thought was about a comfortable bed. The theme for this hotel was...stuffy? Browns. A lot of polished wood. There was a huge lobby with the round table in the middle the brown stone mosaic on which it sat. At the desk, the young woman looked at us sympathetically.

"You two look very tired." She smiled as she began typing on her computer.

"Boy, there's an understatement." Tony all but growled. "Tony Delveccio and Mitch McKenzie. We have a suite reserved for today."

I leaned on Tony. "I don't even know what day it is."

"You just arrived from Australia from what it says here. You would be tired." The woman chuckled and looked at me. "It's Monday evening."

My eyes widened. "Whatever...we were in the air a whole day!"

Tony chuckled. "Right now, our only concern is getting some rest."

I wavered. "I'm too tired to figure this out."

The woman smiled. "Well, you've booked a nice suite to get that rest." She motioned to the man that appeared behind us. "Nick will show you to that suite."

I grinned at the rolling cart that would be used to take our luggage to the suite. "I'm tempted to get on that and ride to the suite." I didn't, of course, but I was tempted.

The suite was very nice. What little we saw of it. What I did see and zeroed in on, was the bed! We didn't even really undress. We just collapsed on it and were gone in mere minutes! Sleep like this wasn't that restful. I remember gaining consciousness as I felt that one other person with me stir. Then heard a moan.

"I feel terrible," Tony informed me, his voice muffled through the pillow. "How do you wake up tired?"

I rolled over slipping my arm around him. "This is jet lag, lag."

"Um hum." Tony rolled to slip his arms around me as well and sighed. "What time is it?"

I looked at the bedside clock. "Morning. About nine in the morning."

"We need to get that license, or we wait another day," Tony said pulled me close. "Which means we need to get up." He smiled bringing me in for a kiss. "We're getting married."

"Again." I chuckled. "We are married now, Tony."

"Yes, but it's more real." He grinned and quickly defended. "Not that what we had isn't real, but..."

I chuckled again. "I got it, Tony," I said sitting up a little.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Tony grabbed me. "Where are you going?"

"You said we needed to get up," I said.

"In a minute." Tony pulled me back down and rolled on top of me. "Or two...half an hour...something." Saying it as he unbuttoned my shirt. He shrugged. "It's been...days!"

Kissing him deeply, softly and growing in passion. "It has." My arms going to familiar places around him.

A couple of hours reconnecting with Tony and we did get up as Tony got on the phone and called room service. I heard that one important word. "Coffee!"

I chuckled hearing that. Somethings were consistent. I at least waited until the coffee got there to even start the shower. Tony was doing his usual thing by inhaling of the aroma. "Well?" I asked.

Tony sighed. "It's good, but I was spoiled with Sir Samuels."

"We'll just have to go back." I cocked my head at him. "Do you need some more time with it? Or can we hit the shower?"

Tony grinned. "A minute more."

We did make our way to City Hall Square to get the license.

The clerk smiled as he started the process, which would take three days. He looked at us. "Are you having a service?"

"I don't think we planned for anything..." I began but should have known better.

"I contacted a couple of friends of mine. Both ministers with the MCC. Both Pastor Terry and Rev. Pat recommended Dr. Janet Kenmore. She's the pastor of the MCC here in Boston, I was told."

The man nodded chuckling. "Yes, she is. I see her every Sunday!"

"Do you think she'd do it?" I asked.

"It's Tuesday. Are you doing it on Friday?" He asked.

"Sure. That would be fine." Tony nodded.

The clerk shrugged. "Of course, I don't know her schedule, but sure, she will, if she's available. She married me and my husband."

I nodded, no wonder he smiled at us when we applied. "Damn, we are everywhere!" I said smiling at him.

The clerk nodded with a chuckle. "We are indeed."

In the meantime..." Tony grinned looking at the clerk. "Any suggestions for lunch, or dinner?"

"There are many. What would you like?"

We ended up going to Neptune Oyster. It was very good.

"So, what will we do while in Boston?" I asked and I saw his eyes almost glisten. "No. No more shopping! I'm shopped out, Tony!"

"They have some good stores in Boston," Tony said not seeing how I missed the logic.

"What could we possibly need to get?"

"I won't know until I see it!" Tony stated practically.

"Fine. We'll shop." I grinned over my Neptune Burger as he nodded knowing he had victory. The burger which had no burger in it as in beef. It had oysters!! I frowned as I looked outside. "We flew ten thousand miles. We left Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be Winter soon."

"Yep." Tony chuckled munching on his lobster roll. "We can shop for that!"

"You know, there's history here, too," I said smiling.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

We did still have to adjust our biological clocks, but we weren't pressured to do anything. Tony did call the MCC Church in Boston. We spoke to Dr. Janet Kenmore. A nice woman in her late forties or early fifties...long hair, but very cordial. She was thrilled to be asked to perform the wedding. It wasn't going to be a big thing, just her and a witness or two. We were just making what we had more legal.

"We didn't tell anyone," Tony stated suddenly.

"Why?" I asked. "Everyone was there when we took our vows."

"Yes, but..." he looked at me. "That's not strange?"

"We'll tell Kathy when we go to New York. We'll tell the others during Thanksgiving." I shrugged simply and chuckled at a thought. "Rub it in Uncle Thomas' face."

"And Uncle Earl's and Uncle Buddy..." Tony saying knowingly.

"Sure." I waggled my eyebrows at Tony. "That's just an added bonus."

We did have a little vacation from our vacation. And yes, Tony was happy going to some shops and looking, but we really didn't buy much. Our new aspect since of resolve about being in a relationship...we didn't bother to hide it from anyone. Hey, this is Boston! Massachusetts allowed gay marriage first. No one here cared, for the most part. The threat of this unknown potential illness with Tony had made us see what was important. Tony was that for me.

The wedding itself was done in our hotel suite that Friday evening. We even had the same clerk from City Hall and his husband as witnesses! The next day was Saturday, so we flew to New York.

We arrived at the home where Tony and his sisters were raised. Nick and our nephew David were still living there. We hadn't really told anyone we were coming. When we walked in...even I reacted to what we saw. This was sort of shocking. Clutter? Pizza boxes with one or two pieces left in them, empty beer cans, clothes were strewn about.

"My..." Tony began as he gaped, "God!!" Tony gasped dropping his suitcase on the floor.

I couldn't defend Nick or David, but I grabbed Tony's hand. "Now, Tony," I began slowly, urging him to be calm.

He spun to me. "What now Tony?" He waved at the mess. "It's Saturday. How could..."

"Remember...they are young." I looked at the few pieces of pizza left. "It looks fairly freshly left...last night would be my guess."

"Which will attract every ant and roach on Long Island!" Tony walked slowly in waving at various...piles of trash. "Wha...how...I mean..."

I pulled Tony back to face me. "Tony," I repeated calmly. "We have enough to worry about. Don't have a stroke on me now." I pulled his face back again. "Tony. Look at me." I said making his eyes come to me. "Deep breaths." I looked at the clock on the wall. "It's three o'clock now," I said. "We can get this cleaned up."

Tony's eyes got angry. "I'm going to kill them."

I chuckled and said slowly. "No, you won't." I bent down and got a suitcase. "We'll go up, put these away, change and then clean this place up." I raised my finger. "When Nick and or David get back...just remind them."

It took a few hours, but we got the place nearly the way it was when Kathleen was here. Except for the part of doing the kitchen floor on our knees. The Swiffer Wetjet worked just fine. I was putting the vacuum away went I heard someone put a key in the lock. When Nick opened the door, it was his turn to gasp.

"What the..." Nick asked looking at the room he entered.

Coming into the room having finished my part. "Hi, Nick!"

He smiled but was surprised. "Pop!" He sniffed the air.

"Yes, your Dad's cooking again." I thumbed back toward the kitchen. "Doing his special Italian thing."

Nick grinned and walked over hugging me. "I didn't know you were coming!" He waved at the house. "I would have cleaned up if I did."

Tony walked in, wearing a sink towel as an apron, holding a large spoon and frowned. "Has all the years you lived with me meant nothing to you?"

"I didn't know you were coming!" Nick said again in protest but smiled. "We had a few friends over last night and things got a little crazy and..."

Tony pointed with the spoon. "The house is one thing, your grandmother is rolling in her grave right now, but...those pizza boxes!? Really, son? I don't even think they were Italian!" He pointed where we had thrown the boxes away outside in the garbage can. "Those boxes were pink! Stephanie's!? Who the hell is Stephanie?"

Nick chuckled as he walked over hugging his father. "Stephanie is Italian, she broke off with her father's business and started her own. Stephanie Lorenzo."

Tony shook his head at me muttered. "Aiutalo, Madre Benedetta." He crossed himself and looked toward Heaven asking for the Blessed Mother to help Nick. "And if your grandmother saw this place..."

Nick held his hands up. "I know, I know." He grinned hugging Tony again. "I didn't know you were coming!"

"Is it okay that we came here?" I asked Nick.

"Of course," Nick answered readily. "It is the Delveccio home. Our home." He looked at Tony. "You know, Dad, pizza now is more of a format. It doesn't have to be the same thing all the time."

I put a hand on Nick's shoulder and looked at Tony. "See? I said that!"

Tony's mouth dropped open in shock. "Morditi la lingua!" Tony said for us to bite our tongues seemingly appalled. "You can't turn you back on over a thousand of years of traditions, Nick."

"Who's turning their back!?" Nick said just as loud. It was great being back in a true Italian home! Remember, yelling meant love? "I'm just saying..."

The door opened again, and David walked in. "Uncle Tony, Uncle Mitch!" He looked around the room. "Damn!"

"And here we go again." I grinned as David came over and hugged me.

Tony called his sister Kathy and said that Sunday lunch would again be at the Delveccio home. We were in town, but he'd made enough for everyone to have dinner. Kathy and Al came right over that night. It was Saturday evening. We didn't know if they had plans. If there were, they canceled them.

When Kathy got to the house, she came in hugging Tony tightly. "Tony!" She looked over at me and rushed to me. "Mitch! Melissa comes on Wednesday. It's good to see you, but..."

"The last I heard, you guys were in Australia or somewhere like that." Al greeted as we did the hug thing with him.

"We were, but we're back!" Tony said simply. "It really wasn't planned too far in advance to be here."

Kathy nodded. "I got all those wonderful photos, Mitch! They were just beautiful!" She looked at her brother. "Are you staying through Thanksgiving?"

"No, we have an annual command appearance at the McKenzie's." Tony grinned and pulled up a slip of paper. "Mitch and I got married."

David looked confused. "Okay, we were all there, Uncle Tony. We saw you and Uncle Mitch get married. You are married."

Tony nodded. "True. That's why we weren't making a big deal about it. This is just legal now."

Al shook his head. "In Massachusetts. Perhaps in New York, but they aren't calling them marriages."

"Civil Unions," Kathy grunted irritated. "That ridiculous. Why argue over just a word?"

"Well, when the rest of the United States catches up and lets us do it, we already will be." I shrugged.

"Do you think they will, Pop?" Nick asked.

"Eventually." Tony gave a grudging nod. "As Mitch said, when they do, we'll already be married." He shrugged. "It's more of a formality."

It didn't take long before the usual chaotic noise, and conversations went into their usual fervor. We were blending English and Italian with ease, giving little thought as we did it. We were all...in one form or other...Delveccios.

The family dinner, with a short break to go home, sleep, get up, go to Mass or our services in Manhattan and back again for lunch made it one long day! The Delveccios were good cooks, but also good eaters. It was a wonder no one was fat! We had a great time. Kathy insisted we were taken to the airport by her that Monday morning. Compared to what distance we traveled, the few hours to Charleston was just short.

We walked into our home in Charleston after a month away. It was the middle of the afternoon, so we weren't surprised to find it empty. My cousin David was probably at school, as was Alik. Sasha was somewhere...he was out. I sighed looking around the condo with a renewed appreciation of the place.

"I had a good time, Tony," I pulled him into a kiss, "but I'm glad we're home."

Tony hugged me. "I know the feeling." He looked around the condo. "It's in better shape that Mama's and Papa's when we found it."

I smiled with a shrug. "Sure. Sasha lives here." I said as that explained it all.

Going to our room we saw it was neat and had been left alone. It didn't take long for us to unpack the bags we brought with us. The things we bought at various places in and around Australia hadn't arrived yet.

The first back was Sasha. He opened the door and looked at us in delighted surprise. "We were expecting you until tomorrow!" He said almost rushing toward us and we did the hug and greet. "Welcome back!"

We sat with him catching up on things a bit then Alik came home and again eyes widened and he smiled. "Đ"ядя Митч, дядя ТОни!" He said saying our names loud rushing to us. "Ты дОПа!!"

I chuckled hugging him. "I'm sorry, who are you? You must be a neighbor's boy. You can't be Alik. You grew!"

Sasha laughed. "English, Alik?" He reminded.

Tony nodded. "Yes, we're home."

I looked at Sasha. "Don't let him forget who he is, Sasha. He is Russian." I took Tony's hand. "We were going from English to Italian in New York." I shrugged. "We can do that here in Russian and English. It will be natural."

Sasha nodded. "Sure, but he needs to use English as much as possible to learn it."

Tony grinned at Alik. "We were asked to give you this." He went to the counter and handed Alik the large brown envelope.

Alik took it opening it and smiled at the various photos of Ivan, Ivan, and Katya, Ivan, Katya with Tony and me and the large, folded poster of Ivan as the Raging Bull sighed by Ivan. There was even a handwritten letter addressed to Alik by Ivan. "Wow," Alik said ogling the pictures.

"And this was given to us to give you." I produced the box Ivan gave us.

Alik opened to box and inhaled slowly. "Ой! Đ'ау, вау!!" He said with reverence in Russian, touching almost reverently as he held the mask.

"Yes. Wow." I chuckled. "He is wow." I agreed.

It was nearly dinner time when David finally showed up. Again... "Mitch! Tony! You were to be here tomorrow!" David said happily and we did the hug and greet. We were creatures of habit. Sasha was, as you know, an excellent cook. He made something unexpected. Hamburgers! Complete with French Fries! Maybe not very Russian...I think, but they had McDonald's in Russia and other places now. It was good! Very juicy.

"So, now you two are even more married than before." David chuckled.

I frowned, but my eyes held humor. "How can someone be too married?"

"By having to divorce if you split up." David pointed out and hurried on. "Not that you two would! I was there. Vows, until the end of time. You would never do that."

"It's just...easier." Tony shrugged. "You know they would tax the hell out of Mitch or me if we weren't."

David nodded quietly asked the question. "Do I ask yet?"

I glanced at Alik who was marveling over what he got from the Raging Bull...the mask right there. I didn't want to alarm or worry him. "There isn't much to tell yet." I sighed.

"We'll know more after Thanksgiving," Tony said calmly. "I see the doctor after that."

Sasha scowled and David sat back a little but hearing the word doctor that really answered the question.

"It is possibly serious?" David asked.

"We don't know." I shrugged and said calmly. "If was too serious, we wouldn't have been able to go." I didn't want to say what we feared it was.

Tony nodded and tapped his upper chest. "I have something here. We don't know what exactly, but...we sort of do," he smiled at them. "Mitch and I mulled this over the past month. If it is...what it might be...you two are the closest family and friends we have. We'll keep you informed."

I was relieved that Alik was still mesmerized by what he got from Ivan to really pay attention to what we had said.

"We are family," David said nodding. "Of course, we'll be here."

It did sort of put a dampener on the evening, but not enough to spoil it.

By Wednesday, we got ready to go to the McKenzie's Homeplace. I even booked another couple of rooms and the Ellerbe Springs Bed and Breakfast for Sasha, David and Alik. Booking wasn't too difficult there. Since all five of us were going to the same place, we all rode in Tony's bigger Mercedes. Since Tony and Sasha were the bigger of the four adults, they sat up front. Alik between me and David in the backseat. Of course, Tony thought we should take both vehicles for the luggage, but I told him he could only bring one, there would be room. Naturally, he chose the largest suitcase to be his one.

The woman at the Ellerbe Springs Bed and Breakfast, actually looked happy when we all checked in when Tony and I entered holding hands. She was an older lady in her mid-forties. It was obvious. Tony and I had a history here now. David and Sasha checked in to the same room that had a king-sized bed and Alik was thrilled he got one for himself but next to his father's and David's room. David and I looked like brothers and we were all family. The McKenzies were known here. I don't know if she was pleased because she accepted that we were in relationships and didn't care and was happy anyway, or...and let's face it. Gay men do set trends sometimes. The idea that the Ellerbe Springs Bed and Breakfast was going to be a gay-friendly Bed and Breakfast may have gotten her excited at potential rewards financially. Now, there were two gay couples!!

This was a rural area and there were many things on display, artfully arranged to add a certain charm. Alik was curious and asked about some of those things to Sasha, "Что это?" what is that in Russian, but Sasha didn't know some of the names.

I looked and laughed. "ĐŻ довольно свОйОднО владею русским языком, нО я но знаю всоŃ... наСваниК сельскоŃ...озяйственного оборудования." I said saying I knew Russian, but not all names of farm equipment.

Sasha chuckled. "Я тоже нет. Я городской мальчик." He said he was a city boy. He wouldn't know either.

I pointed to one that looked like what we envisioned the grim reaper carried with the long blade. "Это, я знаю, называется...a sythe." And explained what they did. I glanced over as the woman's eyes grew. Not only were they becoming a gay-friendly Bed and Breakfast, but an international Bed and Breakfast? I grinned at her.

"Do you remember the movie in the '60s with Carl Reiner, The Russians are Coming?" I chuckled at her as she nodded. I pointed at Sasha and Alik. "Here we are."

"But you're not Russian, you're a McKenzie!" She said and pointed at David. "So is he! You speak Russian?"

"I'm not Italian either." I shrugged. "But I can speak Italian."

"SĂŹ, lo sei!" Tony said instantly with a smile saying I was. "You're a Delveccio."

I grinned at Tony as he walked to me after signing the registration and took my hand. "Grazie, cuore mio." We watched her eyes widened more. "It's a beautiful world out there."

We checked in our rooms and then drove over to the McKenzie Homeplace which hadn't changed much in almost a hundred years. You don't realize it...until it's gone, but here you didn't hear that drone of constant noise in the background like the sound of cars, planes and other things in urban areas was not here. The only sound now was the sound of wind moving through those tall pine trees...so quiet you could hear the voices from inside as the few here were to preparing for tomorrow, going about various tasks with the sound of crockery and pots being moved... they were just visiting as they worked. It was cool out, but not cold and it just felt reassuringly familiar to me. We pull up to park in the large area under the pine trees as Chuck had arrived only minutes before. He and his wife Pam was getting out of the car. Nathaniel, their son...no longer a baby at all, was unfastened himself from his car seat. They were staying at the McKenzie homeplace. Chuck grinned at me waving as he walked over.

"Hi, Cousins!" He said happily and again with the hug and greet thing.

I looked over at his son and...I hated when they said it to me, but... "My god, he's gotten so big!" I never understood why people said that, but now I did.

Chuck smiled as Nathaniel raced over next to his father. "Yes, if you keep feeding them, they do that."

Sasha and David walked over toward us, Alik coming quickly to join us.

"I know," Sasha said looking at Alik. "They do."

"How old is he now?" I asked.

"He'll be seven in a few months. Second grade next year! Can you believe it?" Chuck said smiling as he ran his hand through his son's blonde hair. I noticed Pam was wearing a loose top to cover another pregnancy.

"And you're having another one!" I grinned as Pam walked over. I greeted my other cousin. "You didn't tell me in a message or anything!"

"You were off spanning the globe!" Chuck shot back as he rolled his eyes. "You're out gallivanting all around the world..."

"I said we'd have another after Nate started school," Pam said happily as she rubbed her slight swelling stomach. "And this time, it's a girl!"

"Oh, break out the shotgun." David laughed as Sasha' arm naturally went around him.

"You know it." Chuck nodded and looked at us. "You're still not going to stay here? There are bedrooms." He waved at the...I'll say again...odd, shaped home built by necessity.

Tony shook his head. "I don't think they could handle it if we stayed. There would be gay overload."

"When we started speaking Russian in front of the lady at Ellerbe Springs Bed and Breakfast, we almost blew her mind," David said.

"Almost?" Sasha laughed. "I'd say it was blown."

Entering the house, we were greeted and hugged by those there who didn't see what we were as odd. There were always the very few that didn't greet us with more than a nod or air-kiss. These were the McKenzies that lived in the area and were helping to get things started. Others were coming the next day. Uncle Bernie and Aunt Judy, David's mother and father, were coming the next day. Nathaniel and Alik now were playing together. There was just too many to tell about as they arrived. They came.

Rhonda, Mary, and Sherry were there, and we visited in that converted living room we took over years ago. Sasha and David were again just...absorbed as a couple and the good natures and conversations just went on as if they never stopped. Years had passed, we had moved on and gotten older, but we were family.

The evening came and it got late, so Sasha, David, Alik, Tony, and I went back to the B&B. I had warned Sasha about the breakfast bell that would ring in the morning. No one could really prepare for that.

The next day we went back to the McKenzie Homeplace as...it was harder to find a place now under the pine trees to park. The noise was now much greater as all the voices were heard, children laughed and squealed as they played and many having to speak louder to be heard at all! It was warm enough to set the tables outside as there was no way we could set up inside! Now, most of the aunts and uncles were here, with their children and their spouses and their children.

Alik frowned as he saw everyone. "And they are all related to you?" He asked David.

David nodded. "All because of Mitch's and my grandparents...they are."

Tony chuckled touching Alik on the shoulder. "Just accept it, Alik. Trying to remember who is related and how they are related will give you a headache."

Michael, David's twin, was there again without a wife. We would find out later there was a divorce that had begun. I hated that for him. I don't care if he was gay or straight or if he, like David, didn't want a label, but no one should lose someone they loved. I believe he did, but having never met her, I couldn't say she did. Again, the bonds of twins were strong, and David and Michael were together again, but not really. Sasha was part of David now. Sasha understood the bond and let the brothers talk together in private.

What we, the McKenzies were, were people. I saw a similarity now I hadn't noticed before between the McKenzies and the Delveccios. Meals pretty lasted for hours!! Conversations merged and got noisy and there was the familiar chaos. No Italian, but it felt the same to me. Mom, Dad, and Grandma showed up. I was not alarmed, but aware of time that was passing. Grandma used a cane now, but Tony and I were greeted warmly with the hugs and questions about our trip. Then Gary, David's, and Michael's older brother...the one from the barn with me when kids...arrived and...he was not a new man, but back to the guy before he had the bad reaction to what had happened and hugged David, Michael, Sasha, Tony, and me! Wounds were healing. And, once again the uncles were divided. Uncle Bernie, Uncle Charles, my father, and their wives were on one side. Uncle Earl, Uncle Tom, and Uncle Buddy were on the other. Why? Because of me, Tony, David, and Sasha? Yes. We were the problem as far as they were concerned. Uncle JC and a few others were on the fence about it. Remember? Uncle JC was the one that said Tony should stay that first time. He didn't understand how we were but accepted what he saw. The three uncles that just didn't approve at all about us and wanted us gone for corrupting the family were standing, conspiring on what needed to be done quietly, the looks of distain clear. Most others just didn't care anymore. Tony and I were. Sasha and David were. There was little to say about it. Who were they to judge? The fact that Gary was now friendly with us, was a little upsetting to them. Another family member converted to our side? We were laughing and talking with lunch/dinner was set out.

Gary looked over as the three uncles that didn't approve were almost whispering again together. He smiled, sighed sadly, and turning and said loudly. "Oh, give it up! This is stupid!" He threw his hands out to make them see the futility of what they were doing. "What do you think will happen?" He waved toward Tony and me. "You aren't going to change anything. Tony and Mitch are together!" He waved at David and Sasha. "So is my brother and Sasha! Your continued talk and disapproval aren't going to break them up. Keeping this up is exhausting!! These two got married." He said pointing again to me and Tony. "I missed their wedding! I won't miss David's and Sasha's!"

"And now Tony and I are legally married," I added causing my mother and father to smile at us.

Tony put his arms around me from behind. "We stopped off in Boston before we came here," Tony said to them. "We were married there."

Gary nodded. "Good!!" He said to us and looked at Uncles Tom, Buddy, and Earl. "See? They are married!" He looked at David. "I hope you and Sasha do the same."

David grinned taking Sasha's hand. "We plan to."

Gary nodded. "Wonderful!" He looked at the three. "You can't stop them. Why would you? Mitch and Tony didn't give a shit if you approved or not! Give it up!"

My father walked up next to Gary. "If you find what they do odd, that's fine. Accept that it is and move on." He looked at Tony. "My son married a wonderful person and good soul, and I am proud he became a part of this family." He looked at his brothers. "And Tony is a part of this family." He looked at David and Sasha. "As will Sasha be and really, already is." He looked again at his brothers. "Whether it's right or wrong, it is! You need to stop this. Now."

I walked up to my father. "Thanks, Dad," I said hugging him.

Tony walked up and did the same with Dad. "Thanks, Dad!"

Uncle JC nodded and clasped his brother, my father's, shoulder. "Richard's right." He looked at the three. "If it makes you uncomfortable for you, there's only one thing to do. Don't come. They will. Otherwise, this stops." He was the eldest brother and the patriarch. It would be obeyed.

I took Tony's hand. "You said I was Italian. I am a Delveccio." He leaned in kissing me, no longer embarrassed or hesitant to do so in front of everyone. "Now, you're a McKenzie!"

Tony nodded smiling. "I am! And a Southerner! Who knew?" He raised a finger. "But I won't say ya'll." He said firmly.

"Not one of us..." I objected shaking my head. "Have you heard one of my family say ya'll!?"

Tony did a shrug and in an exaggerated New York Italian accent said. "I'm just sayin'!"