Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:07:54 -0600
From: Vince <menonly@houston.rr.com>
Subject: ALMOST BROTHERS CHAPTER 7

This is a fictional story of male to male adult experiences.
If you are under the age of 18 or do not like male/male stories
of explicit sex, then do not read this.

As this is fiction, STD's do not exist so there is
no need for the characters to practice safe sex.  However, in the
real world, there are diseases which can kill you so PLAY SAFE!

If you like this story, send an email and let me know!

menonly@houston.rr.com

Be sure to include the story title.  Thanks and enjoy.


Author's notes:

Picture Rusty: Gay. 5' 11", medium build, toned, slightly hairy. Dark hair,
handsome.  roughly 33 years old.

Picture Scott: Straight. 6' 2", husky build, toned. slighty more hairy than
Rusty.  Brown hair, handsome.  A few months older than Rusty.

Picture Cooper: Gay. 5' 8", stocky build, well muscled, well toned. some
hair on chest, dark treasure trail.  More handsome than Rusty and Scott,
but not a "pretty boy".  roughly 31 years old.



			ALMOST BROTHERS


CHAPTER SEVEN


"How was your date with Mary?" Rusty asked sitting up next to Scott who had
just come in the door and sat on the sofa.

Scott looked at Rusty.  "It was good.  We went to some friends of hers.
Nice people.  A couple of the guys there were into cars so I had something
in common with them, which surprised me, I'm glad to say.  I think I picked
up a couple of jobs on the side from them, you know, extra cash fixing
their cars."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"How is it going with Mary and yourself?"

"Good.  We're good.  I really like her.  And I think she likes me."

Rusty smiled at Scott.  "I'm happy to hear that."

"Rusty, you know what's kind of strange about this thing with Mary?"

"What's that?"

"She and I have been out three times now, right?"  Rusty nodded.  "And I
still haven't gotten any nookie, yet."  Rusty looked at Scott and started
to say something but Scott continued, "And what's strange about that is, I
don't care.  I mean I care but I don't care.  Know what I mean?  Its like
just BEING with her... I'm okay with just being around her, being with her,
having her look at me while I'm looking at her.  Just getting a kiss from
her, ah man, she makes me feel sooo good."

"You know what, Scott?  That's wonderful, it really is."

"It is?  I mean yeah...." Scott's voice trailed off; he seemed to be
thinking about something.

"What is it?" Rusty asked.

"Nothing."

"Come on, you can tell me."

"Naw man, I'm sorry, Bro but I gotta think about this a little more."

Rusty reached over and put his arm around Scott.  Scott relaxed against
Rusty and sighed.  "Its ok, Scott, I'm here when you're ready to talk."

"I know, man. I know," Scott said.  Then, "Mary and I are supposed to go
out tomorrow night.  What are you and Coop doing?"

"Coop has a game.  I'll probably go watch and after...," Rusty shrugged his
shoulders.  "I don't know."

"Cool."

Rusty sighed.  "I guess I should hit the hay.  I'm bushed."

"Me, too," Scott said, "but I'm going to watch some TV and relax."

"K." Rusty said and got up to leave.  "Good night, my Brother."

"Night, Bro."

The next evening, Rusty arrived at Cooper's baseball game which was already
in progress.  He watched from the home plate fence as Cooper caught a pitch
and retired the side.  Returning to the dugout, Cooper saw Rusty and walked
to him.

"Hey, Rusty."

"Hey," Rusty replied. He had his fingers entwined the fence and Cooper's
fingers met his.  "I just got here; I had to work late."

"No problem.  We're almost finished, its last inning.  Are you gonna hang
around?"

"Actually, I'm kind of tired. I'm gonna go home and relax but I wanted to
stop by and say hello."

"Cool.  Like I said, we're almost done.  I could meet you at your place."

"Sounds good," Rusty said. "Scott's out with Mary. We'll have the house to
ourselves for a change."

Someone called to Cooper, "Hey, Coop? You gonna play or talk to your
boyfriend all night?"

"I gotta go."

"No prob.  See you soon."

"Count on it."

     *****

Rusty was lying on his bed, shirtless, while watching TV.  He heard the
front door of the house open and Cooper called to him.  "Rusty?"

"I'm in the bedroom," he yelled back.  He heard the door close and then
Cooper's footsteps as he approached the bedroom.  Cooper paused in the
doorway to Rusty's bedroom; he raised his right arm up and leaned against
the door jam.

Rusty looked at Cooper who was standing at the door in his tight, striped,
baseball pants, dirty with sand and a tight t-shirt which hugged his chest,
shoulders and upper arms nicely.  He had his catcher's mask on and his
baseball cap faced backwards. A large padded catcher's glove was on his
left hand. His crotch bulged.  Cooper had his baseball stockings and cleats
on to fill the image.  "Wanna play ball?" Cooper asked in a seductive
tone. "I brought my own bat."  Cooper reached down and grasped his crotch,
hefting it for Rusty's benefit.

Rusty grinned at him.  "Fuck, you look sooooo sexy, Coop!" Rusty grabbed
the remote control and turned off the TV.  Cooper walked in the room and
stood next to the bed where Rusty sat up to greet him.  Cooper leaned down
and Rusty kissed him, running his hands up Cooper's thighs to his crotch,
feeling the protective cup in Cooper's pants.  Rusty smiled.  He balled his
hand into a light fist and knocked on the cup. "Hey, can I come in?"
Cooper chuckled. Rusty knocked again and said up to Cooper, "Maybe Willie
wants to come OUT to play?"  Then Rusty unzipped Cooper's pants and slid
his hand into the hot, sweaty jockstrap.  He cautiously pulled the cup out
of one side of the jock pouch and dropped it to the floor.  Cooper's meaty,
uncut dick hung in his face.  Rusty scooped it into his mouth and began to
suck, tasting the acrid flavor of Cooper's sweat.

Cooper moaned and let the catcher's glove fall from his hand.  He pulled
the mask off but left his baseball cap on, still turned backwards. He
pushed the cleats from his feet and then placed his hands on the back of
Rusty's head.  "Mmmmm, yeah, Rusty.  That feels good, man.  Fuck, I'm so
horny."  He was hard already and watched as Rusty peeled the foreskin down
to reveal the large, plum shaped head.  Rusty licked around the glans,
staring up at Cooper for several seconds before taking half of the shaft
into his mouth.  He bobbed his head up and down on Cooper's cock while
coaxing his balls free from the jock.  He massaged Cooper's hairy nuts
while licking up and down the thick shaft, tracing the blue blood veins
which encircled Cooper's cock with his tongue.  Holding the hard cock
against his face, Rusty licked Cooper's nuts, cleaning the sweat from them.

Again, Rusty started sucking Cooper's thick, six inch cock.  He ran his
arms around Cooper and grabbed his hard, muscled ass with his hands.  Rusty
slowly pulled Cooper to him as he moved back on the bed.  Keeping his cock
in Rusty's mouth, Cooper climbed onto the bed.  With his legs on either
side of Rusty, he hitched himself up to Rusty's chest.  Rusty let Cooper's
cock slide out of his mouth and laid down completely under the man.  He
then reached up and guided Cooper's raging erection to his lips.  Cooper
unfastened his pants and pulled them apart before stretching his legs to
either side of Rusty.  With a loud sucking sound, Rusty let Cooper's cock
spring out of his mouth then pulled Cooper's jockstrap down and hitched the
wide waist-band under his nuts.  With his equipment bunched above his jock,
Cooper shoved his entire crotch into Rusty' face.  He grunted as Rusty took
his cock deep into his mouth until Cooper's hairy nuts rested on his chin
and his thick, dark black, bush was crammed on his nose.  He felt the head
of his cock enter Rusty's throat and felt Rusty's tongue wrapping around
his shaft.  Practice has paid off, Cooper thought, noting Rusty was now
able to deep throat him.

Cooper held himself suspended over Rusty's head. With his hands planted
firmly on the bed, he began slow strokes in and out of Rusty's upturned
face.  Cooper looked down and watched his cock going in and out of Rusty's
willing mouth.  He watched the head pop out and Rusty licking it before he
pushed the entire length in again.  Rusty put his hands on Cooper's torso,
shoving them up, into his shirt, and held onto Cooper's muscled body.  In
this way, Cooper fucked Rusty's mouth for several minutes.  Hardly a word
was spoken for quite some time.  The only sounds where Cooper's moans of
pleasure and the soft, sucking sounds Rusty's mouth made around his cock.

Tired now, Cooper eased himself off of Rusty.  He rolled to one side and
Rusty rolled with him.  Cooper took the time to pull his shirt up and over
his head.  He retrieved the baseball cap from the shirt and put it back on
his head, facing forward, this time.  He let the shirt fall from his hand
and onto the floor as Rusty's hungry mouth found his cock, again.  Cooper
made a loud grunt as Rusty sucked his entire cock into his mouth and his
tongue grazed across Cooper's hairy scrotum.  He began to breathe faster
and faster.  His chest heaved up and down, glistening with sweat.

Sucking Cooper's cock, Rusty pushed Cooper's pants down to his knees.
Cooper finished the job, pushing them off his legs with his feet.  They
fell to the floor.  Next came the sweaty jockstrap.  It was discarded next
to Cooper's pants.  Cooper ran one hairy leg up Rusty's body until it was
next to Rusty's head.  Rusty pushed the sock and stocking off Cooper's foot
and then repeated the movement with the other foot.  Cooper, completely
naked now save for the baseball cap, laid prone under Rusty.

Rusty sucked Cooper's cock for thirty minutes.

Finally, Cooper grabbed the bed with his hands.  He tossed his head back,
his eyes where squeezed shut, tightly.  Still only shirtless, Rusty kneeled
between Cooper's massive, thighs, sucking relentlessly on his cock.  Cooper
raised his hips and with one mighty groan, released a torrent of cum from
both balls.  "OhhhhhhhhhhhhhAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!  FUUUUCK!" Rusty heard as
his mouth was filled instantly to capacity with Cooper's sweet cum.  Over
and over, Rusty swallowed and over and over his mouth filled up again.
Cooper's orgasm racked his body, he threw his head from side to side, his
chest drew in a great gasp of air and Cooper held it.  He felt as if every
cell in his body exploded.  It seemed to last forever. Colors of imaginable
variety danced in his closed eyes.  And then....he relaxed.  His chest
exhaled and then quickly inhaled over and over again.  His body slowly
recovered from the bliss and Cooper began to breathe more normally.

Between Cooper's legs, Rusty continued to suck Cooper's cock.  He sucked
and swallowed, sucked and swallowed until there was nothing left.  Rusty
laid his head on Cooper's lower belly, keeping his cock in his mouth,
nursing the softening, yet still hard organ.  Ten more minutes ticked by
and still Rusty was sucking.  Finally, Rusty let Cooper's flaccid dick from
his mouth.  He climbed up Cooper's body, to his broad shoulders.  Rusty lay
on Cooper's sweaty torso and nuzzled his face into Cooper's neck.  After
just a few more minutes, Cooper was asleep.

Rusty rolled over and lay silently for several minutes, just listening the
Coop's steady breathing.  Then he too, fell asleep.  But he didn't sleep
long.

Rusty felt Cooper's lips on his neck, kissing him lightly.  Rusty pushed
his body against Cooper and felt Cooper's erection against his butt.
Cooper kissed Rusty's neck and he licked his earlobe.  Then Cooper
whispered into Rusty's ear.  "I want to be inside, you."

"Yes, babe. I want you inside me." Rusty whispered back.

"Fuck you, good?" Cooper whispered back and pressed his cock into Rusty's
ass crack.

"Hard and fast," Rusty said, "Deep inside me, my lover."  Rusty intertwined
his ankles around Cooper's and groaned.  He rolled onto his stomach.
"Inside me, Coop.  Now."

Cooper reached for the vial of lubrication. He peeled the foreskin from his
huge cock head and lubricated it.  With slow, methodical thrusts, Cooper
entered Rusty who groaned under him.  Cooper kissed the back of Rusty's
neck.  He rubbed his chin down Rusty's spine, grazing him there with his
beard stubble.  Rusty spread his legs and Cooper worked his body between
them as he fully entered his lover.  Rusty looked over his shoulder and
they kissed.  Cooper grunted softly in Rusty's ear as his thick cock
stretched Rusty's hole.  A long slow fucking ensued as Cooper bit and
kissed Rusty's muscled back.  Cooper ran his hands over Rusty's arms and
then grasped his hard biceps as he continued to make love to Rusty.

"Fuck me." Rusty whispered, "Fuck me.  Harder, man...ahhhhh that's it.
Fuck me, my man, my hard, muscled Jock!  Fuck me!  Fuck, your lover.  Give
me your man juice, Coop."

Cooper whimpered. "I'm going to come, Rusty."

"Come in me, my lover." Rusty whispered back. Their lips met.  They kissed
deeply.

"Oh Rusty!  Oh Rusty!  Oh man!  Oh man!  I.....LOVE.....YOU!  I LOVE YOU,
RUSTY!"

"Harder, Coop!"

Cooper began to buck his hips, harder, faster.  "Oh RUSTY!"

"Yes, Coop! Come in me!"

"Rusty!  Oh, Rusty!  RUSTY!  RUS.........TY!" Cooper came then.  He bit
into Rusty's back, hard, but not hard enough to draw blood.  In Rusty,
Cooper's cock erupted, blasting a huge load in his lover's butt.  "OH
RUSTY!  RUSTY! RUSTY!  Rus....ty!  Rusty! Rus......ty!  I love you!
I....." Cooper thrusted one last time, driving the last of his semen into
the man.  "love you!  Love You!  Love.......YOU! Oh, Rusty!" Cooper dove
his face into Rusty's neck.  He grunted again, and continued to buck his
hips.  Rusty could feel Cooper's cock relaxing inside him.  "Love you!
Love you!"  Cooper gasped one last time then his body went completely limp.
He kissed Rusty's neck.  His cock was spent.  All of a sudden, Rusty
expelled Cooper from himself and pushed him over onto the bed. He retrieved
the lube and dosed his hard dick with a copious amount.

Rusty climbed onto Cooper who lifted his ankles and placed them on Rusty's
shoulders.  Staring into Coop's eyes, Rusty slowly entered him, watching
his expressions.  Next, Rusty slid his shoulders under Cooper's knees so he
could be closer to him. He held his cock inside Coop, not moving.  "I want
to feel you like this, Coop." Rusty whispered to him.  "I just want to feel
myself inside you."

Cooper reached up to Rusty's neck and wrapped his arms around him.  "You
feel so good inside me, Rusty."  Rusty moved his hips from side to side.
Cooper groaned.  Then he put his hands around Rusty's face.  Rusty kissed
and licked Cooper's fingers.  Cooper grasped Rusty's head and pulled the
man to him while stretching his legs around Rusty's body.  He crossed his
ankles behind Rusty's butt and pushed Rusty deeper into him.  Rusty tensed
his cock inside Cooper.  "Ahh Rusty! Fuck me with your big dick!  I can
feel you, man!  Your so hard!  I love it."  Rusty relaxed his face an inch
from Cooper's right nipple.  He kissed him, licked him and then finally,
sucked him there, leaving a mark that would take a week to heal.  The whole
time he kept his hard cock stationary inside Cooper.

Then Rusty pulled out an inch or so and then jammed back in, making Cooper
whimper.  He held his cock perfectly still.  Then, he pulled out two
inches, and shoved.  Cooper groaned out loud.  Three inches now.  Cooper
arched his back to meet Rusty's in-thrust.  One more time, four
inches. Cooper, with his ankles still locked behind Rusty, pushed again.

"Wait!" Rusty went rigid over Cooper, holding his breath.  His eyes were
clinched shut as he held back his orgasm.  Then, he opened them.  Cooper
looked into Rusty's eyes as Rusty began to breathe normally, again, however
his cock felt like granite.  Their faces were an inch apart.

"Ready?"

"Yeah.  That was close."  Rusty kissed Cooper tenderly on his lips.  His
tongue explored Cooper's.

"Rusty, when you come, keep your eyes open.  I want to look into your
soul."

"Ok, I will," Rusty whispered. "Fuck, Coop, I'm so hard.  I could lay with
you like this, inside you, forever."

"Me too, Rusty." Cooper kissed him.  Rusty pulled out and shoved.
"Mmmmmmmmmm, Rusty."  Cooper ran his hands over Rusty's muscled, taught
back.  Then Rusty grew brave.  He began to jack-hammer his dick in and out
of Cooper. Coop tossed his head from side to side.  All of a sudden, Rusty
stopped.  Again, his body went rigid as he staved off the impending orgasm.
He stared into Cooper's eyes as the need diminished, slightly.  He was
breathing hard and hot into Coop's mouth.  Their foreheads met as they
kissed.

"Coop?" Rusty asked.  He lifted his face a few inches.

"What, my love?"

"Be with me, forever.  Ok?  Let's be together, forever.  Just you and
I. Together. Please, Coop?" Rusty asked

Tears formed in Cooper's eyes.  Rusty kissed them away.  "Yes, Rusty.  You
and I. Together. Forever."

Rusty's heart filled with happiness he had never known.  He began to ease
himself in and out of Cooper.  This time, there was no way he was going to
be able to stop it.  Within seconds, his orgasm slammed into him.

It did not begin in his crotch.  It began in his brain and engulfed his
body.  It felt like every nerve-ending was exploding as his cock, lodged
deep in Cooper, swelled almost to bursting. Cooper grabbed Rusty's face and
held it a half-inch from his own.  Just like he promised, Rusty kept his
eyes open and Cooper stared into them.  Rusty was barely aware of the
strong hold Cooper had on him.  He wanted to cry out but could not speak.
His body was being taken over by a force beyond his control.  Not that he
tried to fight it.  Instead, he allowed himself to fall into the chasm.  As
he fell, only one thought was processed in his mind: I love you, Coop.

As Rusty grew taught over him, Cooper held onto his face and stared into
his eyes.  He saw into Rusty's soul and saw the love there, for him.
Cooper knew, right then, he knew he saw complete and total love Rusty had
for him.  He felt his eyes glistening over with tears.

"UUUHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!" Rusty groaned as his orgasm finally released his
body.  Sensory input returned to him and he continued to stare into
Cooper's eyes for a few seconds before he went limp.  Cooper pulled Rusty's
face into his neck.  Rusty gulped gallons of air into his now functioning
lungs and the tingling sensation eased from this nerve endings.  Save for
his heart thumping against Cooper's chest, his deep breathing and his cock
slowly throbbing in Cooper, Rusty was still.

Cooper ran his hands slowly over Rusty's back which was covered with a fine
coat of sweat. He caressed his lover and stroked the back of his head and
neck.  Finally, Rusty lifted his head and kissed Cooper.

"Did you see into my soul?" Rusty asked.  He kissed Cooper's lips
tenderly. Also, he thrusted his hips and his cock throbbed again, pulsing
the last of his cum into Cooper.

"Yes." Cooper said, between kisses.

"What did you see?" Rusty asked.  He rested his forehead on Coop's.

"I saw your love for me."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then you did see into my soul.  That's what fills it up, my love for you."

"My soul is filled with you love, as is my body.  Damn, it felt like you
came forever."

"I think I did."  Rusty said.  Then, reluctantly, Rusty extracted himself
from Cooper and rolled onto his side.  Cooper lay next to Rusty.

They talked softly, as lovers do, for several minutes.

"Damn, I bet the neighbors heard you tonight," Coop began.  "Was I that
good?"

"You're always that good," He said and then kissed Coop on the lips. "But
usually Scott is in the next room so I have to tone it down a bit. He's out
with Mary again."

"What is this, their third date?"

"Fourth," Rusty replied.  His hand found Coop's dick and he held it softly,
absently.

"I forgot to tell you," Cooper began, "I ran into Mary yesterday at work.
She told me she really likes Scott.  I could see it in her eyes."

"She said that?"

"Uh huh." Cooper played with the hair on Rusty's chest.

"I know he's head over heels about her.  Its good to see him so happy."

"What about you?  Are you happy?"

"You mean with you?  Fuck yeah!  I love you, Coop."

"I love you, too, Rusty."

"Let me up, Babe, I need to get a drink.  I'm thirsty.  Can I get you
anything?" Rusty asked.

"All I need is you, Rusty."

"You are so sweet."  They kissed.  "I'll be right back."  Rusty got out of
bed and walked to the kitchen.  He got a tall drink of water, drank it and
then was refilling the glass when he heard the front door opening.  He
turned to see Scott walking in the house.  Scott came in the kitchen and
spanked Rusty once on his naked butt.  "What's up, dude?"

"Nothing, just thirsty."

Scott opened the refrigerator and looked inside, "Damn, I'm as hungry as a
fucking horse!"  He grabbed a container filled with left over pork chops.
"Ahhhh yeah!  Come to Papa!" Scott opened the plastic bowl and grabbed four
chops. He threw them onto a plate and shoved them in the microwave.  He
turned the knob and grinned at Rusty.

"Well you sure are in a good mood." Rusty said and then realization lit up
his eyes.  "You got laid!"

Scott shook his head.  "No, My Good Brother, I did not get laid. Instead,
I, Scott James Barber, made love..." He emphasized each word with twists of
his opened hands next to each other, "....to a beautiful woman."

"Wow."

"Ahh Rusty!  It was great....*I* was great.  You should've been there!"

"That would have been awkward."

"Mary looks great in everything she wears, but when she's wearing
nothing...."

"I don't care to hear this," Rusty said, grinning at Scott.

"....she's a goddess."  Scott sighed patted his hand over his heart.

Rusty was smiling at Scott.  "Sounds like you had a great time, but did
Mary?"

Scott had moved next to Rusty. He whispered in his ear. "She came three
times.  Yeah, I think she enjoyed it."

"You stud!"

"Rusty, last night, I started to tell you something, remember?"

"I remember.  What?"

"I'm in love.  Before, I wasn't sure.  However tonight, I know it," He
looked at Rusty square in the eye.  "I love her."  Rusty went to Scott and
hugged him.

"Bro," Rusty began.  "that's wonderful."  He clapped Scott on his back a
few times and Scott returned the gesture.

It was then the microwave dinged.  Scott pulled from Rusty and said, "Time
to refuel the...." Scott flexed his huge biceps, "....LOVE MACHINE!"

"Well, speaking of love machines, I should get back to mine."  Rusty patted
Scott on his stomach.  "Good night, stud."

Scott bit into a pork chop.  With his mouth full of food, he said, "Tell
Coop I said hello."

Rusty went back to his bedroom and closed the door.  He slid into the bed
with Coop and spooned with him.  "Scott's home.  He and Mary, they
consummated their relationship."

"Really?" Cooper asked.

"Yeah, he's refueling the 'love machine' he says."  Cooper chuckled.  "He
said she came three times," Rusty told him.

"With that big dick of his, I'm not surprised."

"I only came once tonight," Rusty said.

"I came twice. Should we even the score?" Cooper asked grabbing Rusty's
dick.

"Yeah, sure, my love machine," Rusty said, grinning.

Cooper turned over, facing Rusty.  He kissed Rusty tenderly and then
continued to kiss him as he moved his face to Rusty's crotch.  "Batter up!"

Rusty snickered and then, as Cooper took his cock into his mouth, he
groaned with pleasure.

     *****

A few days later, Rusty climbed out of bed to get ready for work.  And just
like on every morning, he was naked as he went to the kitchen to prepare
coffee.  After getting the coffee machine running, he walked to the front
door and, even though he was naked, he took the few steps to retrieve the
newspaper.  He came back into the kitchen and scratched his nuts before
sitting down at the table.  Soon, the coffee was ready and he got up to
pour a cup.

Sleepily, he added a teaspoon of sugar and then noticed the creamer was
empty.  He pulled a new carton of creamer out of the cupboard and opened
it. It was then he heard a voice from behind him.

"Ummm....good morning."

He turned around and Mary was standing at the entrance to the kitchen.
Rusty quickly covered his crotch.  "Oh fuck...uhhhhhh...I
mean....uhhhh....Mary!  I didn't know...that is...uhhhhh..I didn't know you
where...uhhhh...here."  He felt his face getting hot.  "I'm sorry or I
would have...ummmm..you know."  Quickly, Rusty left the kitchen and headed
for his room.

He returned a few minutes later, this time he had on pants and a shirt.
Scott was sitting at the table pretending to be reading the newspaper with
Mary beside him.  "Good morning," Rusty said to them.

"Good morning," Mary said.

"Good morning, Mr. Nude America," Scott said. Then he started to laugh.

"Oh, God!  I'm so embarrassed!  Mary, please forgive me.  If had known..."

Scott laughed harder.

"Ok, fine!  Go ahead and laugh!" He said to Scott.  "Its not like I don't
have tales to tell Mary of your indiscretions!"  Rusty poured himself a cup
of coffee as Scott continued to laugh.  "Mary, I apologize for what I am
about to say.  Scott...Fuck You!"

Scott doubled over with laughter and Mary, herself, laughed, too.  "I can't
friggin' wait to tell Coop!" Scott said while he laughed.  "This is great!"

"You should have seen the look on your face," Mary said.  Scott laughed
harder.  Then she continued, "I have to say this, if I didn't know better,
you guys really ARE brothers.  Woof!"  Scott fell out of his chair laughing
so hard, his side began to hurt.

     *****

That evening, Rusty came home from work.  He walked into the house and Mary
was in the kitchen, cooking.  He dropped his work bag on the sofa and
joined her in the kitchen.  "Hi, Mary.  Something smells wonderful."

"Hi Rusty.  Its Scott's favorite, beef stew.  Are you staying for supper or
going out with Coop?"

"With a home cooked meal that I didn't have to cook, fuck...er..I mean,
sure I'm staying!"

"Is ok, Rusty. I say fuck sometimes, also," Mary said grinning.  She
scooped up some of the stew on a spoon and offered it to Rusty.  He tasted
her cooking.

"That's fucking delicious," he said, using the word intentionally.

"Thanks."

"Where is Scott?"

Mary replied, "He'll be here soon.  He said something about visiting his
mom.  I'm not sure what he meant by that."

"That means he's going to visit her grave.  He must have something to tell
her.  He does that when he has something on his mind. Its.....therapeutic
for him," Rusty added.

"Oh," Mary replied, then, "Rusty, can I ask you something?"

Rusty looked in the refrigerator and brought out a beer.  He opened it.
"Certainly," he said, sipping the beer while sitting down at the table.

Mary sat down opposite him.  She began, "Scott has told me about his dad."
Rusty nodded. "He told me his dad killed his mother."

"Yes, that's true."

"He told me he came to live with you and your parents after that."

"Yes," Rusty said while nodding.

"I want to ask you.  I'm just going to ask you this. I don`t really know
how to ask so I'm just going to say it."  Rusty nodded again.  "I've never
seen anything to suspect this..."

"What is it, Mary?" Rusty asked with concern.

"Ok." She sighed.  "I really like Scott.  He's a great guy."

"But?"

"But, I have reservations, if that's the right word."

"Reservations about what?"

Mary sighed.  "About violence."

"What do you mean?" Rusty asked.

"Well, I mean, look how his dad is and....."

"Do you think Scott is violent?" Rusty asked her. "Has he been violent with
you?"

"Oh nooo, he hasn't, but, then again, I've never seen him drunk although I
know he drinks and...."  She grasped Rusty's hand.  "Well, you've known him
a long time and I just wanted to ask.  I hope you understand."

Rusty leaned forward and cupped Mary's hand with his own.  "Mary, I think I
know what you are trying to ask. Its a fair question.  I understand your
concerns. Truly, I do.  When Scott came to live with me, back then, I had
the same concerns and so did my folks."  He looked at her and she looked at
him with her big, brown eyes.  At that moment, Rusty understood how Scott
could fall in love with her.  "Scott is not a violent person.  However, I
have seen Scott get violent but ONLY as self defense.  He'll use violence
to protect himself or to protect others.  But to get violent just because
he's angry or drunk, no way, never.  I've never seen him like that. Ever.
Like you said, I've know him a long time.  Trust me.  Scott is not a
violent person."  Mary nodded, understanding.

Rusty continued, "When Scott came to live with me, there where nights when
he'd wake up from a bad dream.  He'd have dreams about his dad beating him
or his mother.  It was a rough time for him. And...well...maybe I shouldn't
say this, but, those nights, when he'd have those dreams, he'd wake up and
usually I would be awake from hearing him and he'd come to me and have me
hold him.  I'd tell him the things you tell a person when they've had a bad
dream, you know, its just a dream, its all over...shit like that.  He'd let
me hold him and after a while, he'd calm down.  Then he'd say, 'I'm not
going to be like that. I'm not going to be like him.'  And I can tell you,
Mary.  I can look you right in the eye and say, no way, he's never been
like his dad.  Scott's a big ole teddy bear with a heart twice the size he
is.  He's just a big ole teddy bear."

Mary had tears in her eyes.  "You love him," she said.  "I can see it in
your eyes."  She grasped Rusty's hand tighter.

"Yes, I love him as if he were my own flesh and blood brother," Rusty
replied.  "And you love him, too.  I can see it in YOUR eyes."

"Yes, I love him.  I haven't told him." Mary said.

"Tell him, Mary.  Tell him you love him.  He loves you, too."

"Does he love me?  I mean, has he told you that?" she asked.

"He doesn't have to tell me.  I know it.  He's never talked about a woman
the way he talks about you."

"How does he talk about me?"

"Ask him.  Just ask him."

Mary thought for a moment and then giggled through her tears.  "Maybe I
shouldn't say this, but, when we were....together.....for the first time, I
called him my teddy bear."

"That's so sweet." Then, Rusty laughed.  "I can't wait to call him that!"

"No, you can't!  You'll embarrass him!"

"And you're point is?" Rusty asked sarcastically.  Mary laughed at this.
Rusty realized he liked her laugh.

Mary continued laughing for a moment and then she became serious again.
"Thank you, Rusty.  I think I love you, too."  She got up and leaned over
Rusty and kissed him on the cheek making Rusty blush.

Then they heard the front door open.  Scott walked toward the kitchen.
"Hey, babe!" he said.

Mary stopped him.  "Stop right there, Mister!  Take off those greasy
clothes.  Ack! You smell like the underside of a car!"

Rusty grinned and drank from his beer.

Scott rolled his eyes and sighed.  He then unzipped his coveralls and
shucked them off, tossing them aside with his foot.  He stood there wearing
only a white t-shirt, white crew socks and boxer shorts. "Better?" he asked
her.

"UH huh!" Mary said with open arms. Scott went to Mary and wrapped his arms
around her and kissed her on the lips.  Mary smiled.  She put her arms
around his neck and kissed him back.

"Hey, Rusty," Scott said to him after the kiss.

"Hey Teddy Beeeearrrrr!" Rusty replied.

"Mary you weren't supposed to tell him that," Scott said to her.  He
tickled her about the waist making Mary scream with delight.  Then they
kissed again.


Copyright 2004

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One more chapter to go.  Vince