Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 12:00:40 +0000
From: Music Fan <musicfan@burntmail.com>
Subject: Where Do We Go 67

Disclaimer:

   Here is chapter 67, the next chapter in an ongoing story about
Stephen Gately from Boyzone and Eloy de Jong, formerly of Caught in the
Act.  I do hope you like this one, and please write and tell
me what you think.

    I have no contact with either of the gentlemen in question and such
literature is the product of the author's imagination.

   Cheers,

   Musicfan


###


     Stephen was relieved when they were finally interrupted by a knock on
the door.  He got up to let the bellhop in with the room service cart.
Michelle and Eloy moved to the table again as Stephen followed the man out
the door, giving him a tip for his trouble before closing the door again.
When he turned around, they were already seated, waiting for him to join
them at the table.

     "Now this is just what I was hoping for," Michelle declared. "A nice
intimate little dinner with my two favorite men!"

     "Happy to oblige, considering we're the only people in the room,"
Stephen said dryly as he sat down.  "Had you wanted someone else, I think
you would have been out of luck."  Eloy grinned at his quip as he poured
Stephen a glass of wine.

     "I suppose I'm lucky that I don't want anyone else then, am I?"
Michelle said tartly as picked up her knife and fork. "Really, Stephen!"

      Stephen rolled his eyes at Eloy and they both barely withheld
chuckles at her pretended exasperation.  While they ate, talk turned to
events at home, with Michelle bringing Stephen up to date on what was going
on with the family.  Stephen explained to Eloy who she was talking about,
not wanting him to feel left out of the conversation. The talk carried
through their dinner until they were left sitting over empty plates a while
later.  Stephen was spinning the wine around in his glass, thinking about
how to approach a new topic with Michelle when she put a hand on his glass
to get his attention.

      "You're not paying attention anymore," she noticed shrewdly.  He
ducked his head down and smiled, knowing he had been caught.

     "Sorry, Shel" Stephen said contritely. "Just got lost in thought."

     Michelle peered at him intently a moment before nodding and sitting
back against her chair.  She let the silence play out, watching him
steadily.  She knew Stephen well enough to wait for him to say what he was
thinking.  Eloy glanced from one sibling to the other, watching them
together.  He had known that the two were devoted to one another, and
everything he had seen that day had illustrated his thoughts.  Knowing
Stephen as he did, though he knew Stephen was stalling as he gathered his
thoughts, the determined line he made with his mouth as he framed what he
wanted to say to his sister showed that even if she didn't like the idea
that he was going to share with her, he wouldn't change his mind about it.

    "Shel, just before I came here this weekend to meet up with Eloy, I had
a little conversation with Mark Plunkett," he started, glancing up to see
that she knew whom he was talking about.  "Mark suggested that if I wanted,
we could add Eloy to the staff for the next tour, so that we could be
together more."  He heard her soft gasp at the suggestion and looked up
from where he had been picking at a hangnail.  "This came out of the blue,
Shel.  I had no idea he was going to suggest it.  I know he feels bad about
what Louis did to me... Well, us," he said, indicating Eloy who sat across
the table from him.  Eloy gave him a smile of encouragement to continue and
he couldn't help but smile back at his lover. "He said it wasn't the first
time he had done something like this, and it probably wouldn't be the last.
But he did say that was something we should think about before we did it,
as it is possible that something could go pear-shaped, and we would have to
face that possibility."  He stopped abruptly, at a loss of words for a
moment.

     Eloy glanced towards Stephen's sister to see if he could gauge her
reaction. Other than the gasp she made, she stayed quiet, waiting for
Stephen to continue talking. "It wouldn't be easy," he said, reaching
across the table to touch Stephen's hand.  "We'd have to be extremely
careful not to let anyone know that we were more than just friends.  But we
talked about this over the last several days and we both want to do it."
Stephen nodded, clasping his fingers around Eloy's larger hand.

     "I know it's risky.  Any number of things could go wrong," Stephen
said softly, making Michelle turn her attention back to him again.  "But I
think we can pull this off and it will work out all right."

     "And what if it doesn't," she asked quietly, making no comment other
than ask them to look at the consequences of their proposal. She could see
that they had already committed themselves to the idea, so that it wouldn't
be of any use to be negative about what they were suggesting.  But she did
want them to be aware of what could go wrong.

     "If it doesn't?" Stephen echoed, looking at Eloy before turning his
attention back to his sister.  "Then we deal with it."

     "Do you think you're ready to do that, Stephen?" She asked, watching
him intently.  "What if the press gets a hold of this? Or someone takes a
picture? Will you be ready to face that?"

     Stephen stared at her for a long moment. She could see the frustration
in his expression as she forced him to look at what might happen.  He
lowered his glance and rested his gaze on his hand holding Eloy's on the
table.  He looked at the other man for a long moment, neither saying a word
as they faced the possibility that Michelle suggested.  Eloy gave him an
encouraging squeeze, nodding slightly to show his support.

     "To be honest, Shel, I don't know," he said, finally responding to her
question.  "I can't say that the idea doesn't scare the shite out of me.
But I'm tired.  Tired of holing myself in a hotel room like this.  Tired of
looking over my shoulder, wondering if someone is following me when I go to
meet up with Eloy.  Tired of the fact that we're sitting here when we could
be out at a restaurant somewhere, not worrying about what people will say.

     "I hope to God that we can work it out and everything goes well. I
don't want this to hit the press anymore than you would.  But if it comes
to making a choice as to whether I will be able to see Eloy on a regular
basis for the next three months, or waiting until the tour is over so one
of us can sneak around to see the other, I think I would like to take my
chances and have him on tour than not seeing him for so long."  He paused,
swallowing past a large lump that had formed in his throat at the thought
of being separated from his lover for months at a time again.  He let out a
ragged breath before continuing.  "I love him, Michelle.  With all my
heart.  I can't bear to walk away from him after this weekend with the
promise we might get together in a few months.  I can't live that way
anymore."  He stopped when his voice gave out under the force of his
emotions, the lump now firmly lodged so that he couldn't speak around it.

     Eloy got up and walked around the table until he stood behind Stephen.
He bent down and wrapped his arms around the younger man, moved by what he
had just heard.  Stephen rested his cheek against Eloy's, eyes closed as he
reached up to hold Eloy's arms around him.  Eloy held the hug for a long
moment before looking at Stephen's sister.

     "Stephen said it better than I could, but I feel the same way.  I
can't take being separated from him again, not knowing when the next time
we'll be together again.  We both have a lot to lose if this news comes
out.  All we can do is hope and pray that it won't, and that things will
work out," Eloy said.

     "And if," Michelle said, looking at them both steadily. "God forbid it
does hit the press, how do you think you will handle it?"

     The both looked at her soberly, each facing the possibility in their
minds.  She knew it probably wasn't the first time either had considered
what might happen, but she wanted them to be sure of what would happen if
they were found out.

     "Any way we have to handle it," Stephen said softly. "If it hits the
press, we deal with it."

     "And what of the others?" Michelle wanted to know.  "This affects them
as well," she said, referring to Stephen's bandmates.

     "The others have wanted me to come out long before this, Michelle,"
Stephen said. "You know that.  They think that it won't matter, because
things are going so well.  I think that they're being a bit naive about
that, but of course I'll talk it over with them as well before we make a
final decision."  He waited for her to say something else.  When she
didn't, he shifted nervously.

     She knew her brother well enough to know that he wanted her support.
It touched her deeply that her approval meant so much to him.  She sighed
and reached across the table to touch Stephen's hand.  "Honey, you know
I'll support you in anything you want.  I just want to make sure that you
know what kettle of fish you're getting yourself into with this."

    "I know, Shel.  I've been thinking of nothing else since Mark first
suggested the idea," Stephen said, his voice shaking slightly.  Eloy kept
his arms around the smaller man, a rock of support behind him.  "But
neither of us can go on the way we have.  We've both gone too far for that.
And, if it all comes out in the end, then we'll both deal with it.  We'd
have to, wouldn't we?" He gave his sister a smile that trembled slightly.
"And if it became a choice between being in the group or having Eloy, I
don't think there would be any contest as to which one would win."

    Eloy rested his cheek against the top of Stephen's head, moved by his
words.  The thought that his lover was willing to give up a thriving career
for him sent a wave of emotion so powerful through him that he couldn't
speak.  He resorted to showing his reaction through his hug around Stephen,
holding him tightly in response.

    "Well then, I don't think there's anything to discuss about it, do
you?" Michelle said with a smile.  She knew how important being in Boyzone
was to Stephen, and how much he loved performing on stage.  If he was ready
to give it all up to be with Eloy, then he was ready for whatever came down
the road.  "You don't need my blessing for this Stephen.  You're both grown
men and know what you want.  I'll support you in any decision you make.
You know that already.  I just want to make sure that you know what might
happen and are prepared to deal with it."

     "Thank you," Stephen said, relief rushing through him.  He had been so
afraid that she would try to talk them out of the idea.  He looked up at
Eloy and saw the same relief mirrored on his lover's face.  They smiled at
one another before Eloy gave him one last squeeze and returned to his seat.

    "Now that's been decided, shall we clean up here and get all this out
of the way?" Michelle asked, indicating the empty plates in front of them.
Both men welcomed the change of topic and between the three of them made
quick work out of stacking the dishes and moving their meal to the tray
outside the door.  When they were done, they moved back to the sofa to sit
down with the last of the wine.

     Eloy draped his arm around Stephen's shoulders as they reclined on the
sofa, not wanting to lose physical contact with this lover.  He enjoyed
touching Stephen, and relished being able to do so in front of someone
else.  Michelle smiled at the image they presented as she sat back down on
the sofa.  It made her happy to know that Stephen was finally with someone
who cared for him.  For so long she knew he had been alone and lonely,
watching all of his friends pair up.  She knew that come what may, he was
determined to see it through, and she wished with all her heart that
everything went well for the two of them.

     Stephen leaned back against Eloy's shoulder, tucked under his arm.
His sister had been quiet since they moved over from the table and he
watched her a moment before making a comment.  "What, don't tell me you're
all talked out?"

     Michelle wrinkled her nose at him. "Contrary to whatever you believe,
I don't feel the need to chat all the time."

     "Oh really?  I hadn't noticed," Stephen replied with a smile.  She
tried to swat him, but he moved his leg out of the way before she could do
so.

     "Now, now, children, do I have to break this up?" Eloy said, deepening
his voice to give it the sound of authority.  The siblings laughed at him,
Stephen turning to look up at him, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

      "No, daddy," he said with a grin, smiling up at Eloy.  Eloy didn't
even think about his next action, which was to lean down and give Stephen a
kiss.  Stephen's arms crept up around his neck in an automatic response as
he forgot about his sister.  Like their other kisses, once they started,
they forgot about everything else in the room.

      Michelle watched with a bemused expression on her face.  She hadn't
really thought that Stephen would be so open in front of her, even though
they had shared so much over the years together.  He tended to play any
relationships he had close to the vest, keeping them separate from his
family and public life.  The fact that he was so open with Eloy in front of
her told her that he was indeed committed enough and ready for whatever the
future might bring.

      Eloy was the first to come back to reality, feeling Michelle's gaze.
He pulled away from Stephen's lips reluctantly, not wanting to break their
moment together.  Stephen leaned against his shoulder, eyes closed and lips
parted, waiting for Eloy to continue.  When Eloy looked up at Stephen's
sister, he saw a smile on her face as she watched her brother.  Eyes
meeting, her smile widened and she made a walking motion with her fingers,
asking if she should go back to her room.  Eyes crinkling with amusement he
shook his head.  He leaned down to brush his lips against Stephen's, not
being able to resist them.  When they parted after another long kiss, he
sighed with regret.

       Stephen opened his eyes, giving Eloy a look of enquiry. When Eloy
looked up, Stephen followed the direction of his gaze and remembered that
his sister was sharing the sofa with them.  She had an odd expression on
her face and it took him a moment to place why she was there with them. As
recollection returned he started laughing as he thought on how she looked
like the cat that had swallowed the canary.

       "Oh please, don't let me sitting here stop you," she said, still
smiling at her brother and his lover.  "Just pretend I'm not here and do
whatever you normally do when you're by yourselves."

       Stephen gave her a look of amazement at this comment before sharing
a glance with Eloy.  They burst out laughing at the idea of continuing on
in her presence.

       "Don't even think about that, Shel!" Stephen said, still laughing at
the thought.  "You're not going to get that much information!"

       "I figure I'm almost there as it is, so why stop now?" She teased
her brother.

       "Because it's more fun to make you wonder about it," Stephen
retorted with a laugh.  He extricated himself from Eloy's embrace and stood
up.  "Now stop thinking what you're thinking, because I'm absolutely
shocked that you would think such a thing!"

        "Oh, hardly, honey!" She laughed as he stood in front of her with
his hands on his hips.  "I know what goes on, or at least I have a good
idea what boys can do together.  And if you're easily shocked by me after
all these years, you have another thing coming, Stephen!"

       Eloy couldn't control his mirth anymore and nearly fell off the
sofa, he was laughing so hard.  Stephen turned and looked at him, a smile
tugging at his lips.  "You know, you're just encouraging her," he told
Eloy, who nodded as he tried to control his laughter.  It was a losing
proposition, and he succumbed to a fit of giggles.  Stephen stared at him
for a moment before giving up and turning back to his sister.  "Did you see
what you did to him?  The poor man is probably going to hyperventilate
because of your shenanigans!"

       "Ah, you're just hoping that happens so you can resuscitate him,
Stephen," she accused him.  That got him laughing again and he shook his
head ruefully at her brashness.

       "You are incorrigible," he declared. "Shame on you, Michelle!"

      "Shame on me?  I wasn't the one with my tongue down someone's throat
a moment ago, Stephen Gately!" She said with pretended outrage. She watched
him splutter for a response; satisfied she had him stumped for once.

      "Actually, it was my tongue doing all the work," Eloy replied, having
recovered from his laughter long enough to comment.  Stephen gave him an
exasperated look before throwing his hands up in the air and stalking to
the bathroom.  He closed the door behind him, leaving his lover and sister
to collapse back into gales of laughter again. Stephen leaned against the
closed door, allowing himself to laugh as well.  He gave them enough time
to recover and listened at the door until it seemed like everything had
quieted down.

      When he opened the door again after splashing some water on his face,
he looked out into an empty room.  Glancing around in puzzlement, he saw
that the door to that adjoining room was ajar and he went over to the door
and peeked around the jam.  Eloy had helped Michelle move her bags into the
room and she was now standing with her arms around him.  As Stephen watched
them unnoticed, Michelle smiled up at Eloy.

      "I think I'm going to enjoy having you for a brother in law," she
said.  "I haven't had this much fun in ages!"

      "Neither have I," Eloy replied, looking down at the woman in his
arms.  He could see the strong resemblance between the siblings, and
Michelle was even smaller than Stephen.  Her mass of curls gave her some
additional height, but the eyes and smile were the same.  He felt drawn to
her and instantly comfortable in her presence.  "I'm so glad you came here
so we could meet. It means a lot to me to be able to meet at least one of
Stephen's family, and I'm sure the best one by far."

      She laughed at his comment. "Ah, you're such a flatterer.  I know
what my brother sees in you.  Keep on using that silver tongue of yours,
and you'll have both of us feeding out of your hand!"

     Eloy grinned down at her. "If that's the case, I don't think I want to
stop!"  A snort from behind him made him glance around to see that Stephen
was standing in the doorway.  "What?"

     "No, I don't do threesomes, thank you very much!" Stephen retorted
with a grin, still leaning against the doorframe.  "So flattering her won't
get you anywhere."

    "Hmmm, now there's something I haven't tried," Eloy said teasingly,
glancing speculatively from one sibling to another.  Michelle was
speechless for a moment as she registered what they were referring to.
Once she did, her face flushed a bright red.

    "Stephen Patrick David, you have a filthy mind!" She said hotly,
pulling out of Eloy's embrace and stalking over to her brother.  He was
still nonchalantly leaning against the doorframe, amused by her outburst.

     "Yeah, what else is new," he replied.  "Though Eloy's the one you
should watch out for, not me.  He's tried girls before."  He watched in
amusement as she spluttered for a retort, momentarily at a loss for words.
He was enjoying the moment immensely, because it was seldom that he ever
got the chance to see his sister speechless.  He glanced over to Eloy who
was trying to contain his laughter.

     Eloy shook his head.  Stephen was in rare form this evening, and
showing a wicked side of himself that he didn't get to see that often.  He
could see how much they loved one another, but that didn't stop Stephen
from making his naughty comments, all with the intention of shocking his
sister.  They shared a look of amusement before Stephen rolled his eyes at
his sister's inarticulate protestations.  Deciding to take the teasing a
little further, Eloy walked behind Michelle and put his arms around her
waist.

     "MMmmm, and what a lovely one she is," he said, leaning down to nuzzle
a kiss against her neck.  Stephen had a hard time trying not to smile as he
watched her go still in shock as Eloy's lips moved from her neck to her ear
in a trail of kisses.  He noted that his lover was very careful not to do
more than put his arms around her waist and pull her against him.  He had
to put a hand up to his mouth to hide the grin at the picture they
represented, Eloy acting the ardent lover and his sister with her mouth
making an O in surprise.  He wished he had a camera with him, because he
would have loved to get that captured on film.  He had to content himself
with the mental image and the ammunition for further teasing at some point.

     "You know Eloy, you are registered in this room as husband and wife,"
Stephen added helpfully.  "It would be remiss of you if you didn't exercise
you're right to a conjugal visit."

      Eloy looked up at Stephen with a smile. "You know, you're
right. Let's see what we can do about that."  With one motion he moved his
hands so he could pick Michelle up in his arms. Ignoring her shocked
protest, he carried her to the bed and put her down gently, kneeling down
on the bed so he hovered over her.  She looked shell shocked, unable to
speak as he gently stroked the hair off her face.

      "Eloy!" She finally cried, pushing at his shoulders.

      "Oh look, she's crying out for you already," Stephen noticed from the
doorway.  "Can I watch?"

      Eloy grinned at his lover.  "Oh, by all means.  Though if you're not
going to participate, it won't be as much fun."  His grin changed to a look
of surprised as Michelle pushed him hard enough to slide him off the bed.
He fell with a thump and looked up at her sitting in the middle of the bed.
"Ah, you want to be feisty tonight?  All the better!"

      "You!" She declared, pointing at him before turning to glare at her
brother. "Are as bad as he is!  No wonder you two are meant for you each
other.  You're both wicked, wicked men!"

      Stephen laughed as he finally moved away from the door and into the
room, leaning down to kiss Eloy on the top of his head where he still sat
on the floor.  "Absolutely, honey.  Why do you think I love him so much?
When he's being wicked, he's at his best."

      "If that's his best, I'd hate to see his worst," she said, scrambling
off the bed on the opposite side, keeping it between them. "And you,
Stephen, are wicked for encouraging him!"

      Stephen gave Eloy a hand to help him stand and he smiled at his
sister.  "You have to admit it was funny.  If you could have seen the look
on your face!  Lord, I'll remember that forever!"

      "You'll have to remember it forever, because this might be the last
time I ever speak to you!" She said in a huff, turning away from them both
in pretended anger.  "I've half a mind to just walk out right now, you're
both so mean."

      Eloy shared a grin with Stephen before moving around the bed towards
Michelle.  He plucked a rose from the vase at the table and reached around
her to present her with it.  "I'm sorry, Michelle," he said contritely,
working hard to erase the smile from his face.  "I didn't mean to make you
upset.  We were only joking, after all, and I would never do anything to
upset you."

      As she looked at the flower in front of her, she had to admire his
acting abilities.  "You're a smooth one, alright," she said, accepting the
rose and turning around to look at him.  "I'm going to have to keep my eye
on you to make sure you don't act up again.  Are you both going to behave
now?"

      Eloy did his best to look angelic as he promised to be on his best
behavior while Stephen snickered behind him.  She glared at her brother
until he made an attempt to apologise as well.  He wasn't as good as hiding
his amusement as Eloy was, however.

      "I just don't know what I'm going to do with you two," she said as
she placed the rose back in the vase. She turned around to see that Eloy
had his arm wrapped around Stephen's shoulders and that the two of them
looked quite pleased with themselves.  "I really don't."

      Stephen grinned at her mischievously.  "I'll admit we're probably
hopeless.  But that's where the fun is."  He looked up at Eloy who smiled
down companionably at him.

     "Ja, true enough," Eloy agreed. "Now, is there anything we can do to
help out?  Unpack your bags, for you? Help pick the right nighty? Or
perhaps...."

     "No," she replied firmly.  The last thing she wanted was for either of
them to go through her clothes!  Lord knew what they'd get themselves into
if they did that.  "I can manage quite well on my own, thank you. In fact,
it's late enough that I should just send you both to bed."

     She immediately regretted her choice of words as both of the men lit
up at her suggestion.  She was quick to add, "by yourselves!" Before they
got other ideas from her comment.  She had to laugh when Eloy's face fell
comically and he sobbed onto Stephen's shoulder, acting inconsolable.

     "Awww, look what you did to him, Shel.  The poor man is devastated!"
Stephen said, wrapping his arms around Eloy and patting him on the back.
"After leading him on the way you did..."

     "Me!" She squeaked in outrage. "Lead him on?"

     "Absolutely," Stephen said solemnly, trying to hide the shaking of
Eloy's shoulders as tears rather than laughter.  "The poor man's a wreck."

     "Then go console him in the other room!" She demanded. "I need to
change and I can't very well do that with you two in here acting silly."

     "C'mon darling," Stephen said, leading Eloy into the other room. "Let
me see if I can do anything about those tears of yours.  I know how
heartbroken you are over being spurned like this."  Eloy nodded, hair in
his face as he followed Stephen out of the room.  Michelle stalked after
them in mock anger and closed the door behind them.  She tried valiantly to
ignore their peals of laughter as she changed into a nightgown and robe.
She didn't know what had possessed them to act like that, she really
didn't.

      By the time she finished her unpacking of her overnight bag into the
wardrobe, she noticed it had gotten suspiciously quiet on the other side of
the door.  A glance at the clock next to the bed surprised her with how
late the time was.  But she knew better than to think that they had meekly
gone to bed after the trouble they had caused.  Putting her ear against the
door, she didn't hear anything and hesitated before opening the door again.
What if they had gotten distracted by one another and had forgotten she was
there?  She wasn't sure if she really wanted to walk in on them making love
or something, though she did have to admit to a certain amount of
curiousity about it all.  She shook her head.  No, they couldn't have
started off this fast, and she knew that they probably had another joke
planned for her.

      Squaring her shoulders for a confrontation, she knocked on the door
before opening it.  She didn't get a response and hesitantly opened the
door into the next room.  Poking her head through the frame, she saw that
they had tucked themselves under the duvet and were looking expectantly at
her.

     "I told you she'd come back to tell us a bedtime story," Stephen
murmured to Eloy before giving his sister a smile.  "She always has the
best stories."

     "So I've heard," Eloy said gravely to him before turning to look at
Michelle.  "We're all ready to be tucked in!"

     She had to stifle a giggle at the image the two presented.  Trust them
to do the opposite of what she was imagining!  Both had that fresh faced
angelic look of a child expecting a bedtime tale.  Stephen's hair was still
wet from his bedtime washing, and it reminded her of the times when they
were children when he used to beg for a story from her, reluctant to go to
bed when he was supposed to.  It was so reminiscent of her own son that she
had to laugh as she walked into the room and stood over the bed.

     "I don't know.  Neither of you has been good enough for a story
tonight, I think!" She mockingly shook her finger at them and she laughed
as they both pouted at her words.  "Awwww, no pouting now.  I don't think I
want to be around boys who act like that.  You have to apologise first for
teasing me the way you did."

     Eloy turned his head and looked at Stephen, both considering her
threat.  "I guess we have to if we want a story," Eloy said reluctantly.

     "Yeah, she really means it this time," Stephen agreed.  He turned back
to his sister and smiled at her. "We're really, really sorry for teasing
you, Michelle.  We promise never to do it again.  Really."

      "And what about you?" She asked Eloy, who nodded solemnly.  He did a
good job of covering his smile with the edge of the duvet as well.  "Just
remember this promise tomorrow morning then!"  She sat down on the edge of
the bed, tucking the cover down around Eloy as she did.  "Or else this
might be the last time either of you see me again!"

      Eloy pouted.  "Please don't say that.  I promise to behave, even if
Stephen tells me not to."  She caught the slight snort from Stephen in
response to his comment and it made her smile.  She had a feeling that
these two on a roll would be worse than what she had experienced already.

      "I think it's a little too late for a story tonight," she told them
both, not wanting to give in so easily.  "So I think just making sure you
go to sleep and behave will be enough for me."

      "Please?" Stephen begged.  He tried to make his eyes wide, giving her
the same pathetic look that used to work on her when he was a child.  She
had to admit he was very good at it, because it had worked every time in
the past and she found she wasn't immune to it still.

      "Ah, go on you," she said softly with a laugh.  "Stephen, the last
thing you want is me in this room any longer than you have to, with Eloy
there besides you.  You can't fool me and say otherwise!"

      He closed his eyes, his long lashes dark against his pale cheeks. She
saw the beginnings of a saucy smile on his face and knew she was right.
"Now don't say another word because anything you do would be a lie.  I'm
going to give you both a kiss good night and head off to bed myself." She
leaned down to give Eloy a kiss on the forehead before moving around the
bed and giving Stephen the same.  "And no, before you even think it, I'm
going to my own bed in the next room, and I'll have the tv on so I won't
hear a thing.  You two are on your own for the evening!"  She turned off
the lamp next to the bed, leaving the room in darkness other than the light
coming from her room on the other side of the door.

     "Goodnight, boys." She said as she made her way back to her room.
They both murmured their own goodnights before she blew them one last kiss
and closed the door behind her.  She thought she heard muffled giggles as
she did so, and she ruefully shook her head at the two of them.  Boys!
They were awful!

      As she promised, she turned on the television and got into the bed,
pulling the covers up around her.  She did her best to concentrate on what
was showing on the screen, and not let her imagination go on about what her
brother was up to next door.  She did allow herself a giggle over Eloy's
antics.  For a moment, she had thought he was really serious about having a
threesome and she had been surprised by her own reaction.  She wished she
had been faster on the uptake and had said yes to his proposal, just to see
what he or Stephen would have done.  She had a feeling that it would have
been fun to see them backtrack when their fun had backfired on them.

      With a sigh of regret, she let go of the idea as a missed
opportunity.  She did find it hard to get to sleep and she went over the
events of the day so that she would remember it later.  Her thoughts went
back to dinner when Stephen had made his declaration of love for Eloy, and
she smiled to herself in satisfaction.  That was what she had come to see.
Even with the surprise of Stephen wanting Eloy on tour with him, and his
attitude about whether anyone found out paled in comparison to the other
things she had witnessed that day.  The best part was seeing her brother so
happy.  That they were besotted with one another was obvious, and she had a
feeling that once they were on tour together, it would be obvious to
everyone else as well.  She wondered if she should try and point that out
to her brother, but figured she'd wait a while to do so.  He wasn't in any
frame of mind to listen to her this weekend, when he was so full of
determination that he wasn't willing to brook any sort of argument.