Date: Fri, 04 May 2007 18:50:55 -0400
From: William McBride <williamtylerking@hotmail.com>
Subject: ReClaiming Austin 27

Hey all, Ok, So I'm adding the forward again... Only two chapters left!  TWO
CHAPTERS LEFT!!!!!! And then I start trying to publish!  Something I
mentioned in the last few notices I send out to my fans and those who send
me email, is the importance of Music both in the story, and in getting the
right atmosphere.  I have tried to stay accurate to the dates this story
takes place in, so none of my songs are from the past 9 years.  And as
anyone who knows music will attest, MOST of the music is from the 60s and
70s.  My point is, that you should read the story and listen to sound tracts
that put you in the right mood, You can either use my songs which I try and
tell you where and who the songs are from, or you can just take some of the
artists like Seal, Buffy Springfield, Etta James, almost any Motown hit,
Tori Amos... etc.  You might also find some songs done as great covers, Many
Burt Bacharach songs have been covered by artist through out the 60s through
today.  Richard Ashcroft has done a great version of the Verve's song,
"Bittersweet Symphony" and Tracy Chapman did an excellent version of the
Boyzone song, "Baby can I hold you tonight".  Think of this as an
endorsement.

************************************************************************

The doorbell rang and I answered the door. I looked up into the smiling face
of a, light brown haired, uber-hunk. Slowly his eyes reflected recognition
and told me who it was and realization just overwhelmed me. I leaped out the
door and jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist and hugged him,
screaming, "COLLIN!" before kissing him passionately.

Collin came in when I finally stopped hugging him and kissing his face, It
wasn't until I heard a cough behind me that I remembered Austin.  As I
slipped down to the floor I stammered, "Uhhh, Collin, this is my boyfriend
Austin." I said backing up a moment and opening my arms to indicate Austin.
Collin stepped forward with an outstretched hand,

"Nice to meet you Mate." Collin said in his well-mannered Australian accent.
Austin was mad; it was all over his face. He stepped forward and said,
"Actually, I'm Alex's Fiance." while looking at me. Then he stuck his hand
out while maintaining eye contact with Collin, he took his hand, and shook
it. Collin, in his sexy Aussie accent said, "No worries mate." The tension
was insanely high in the room just then. I knew immediately that I had to
calm things down; I couldn't have Austin and Collin fighting. I didn't want
to see Austin hurt.

"Baby!" I said meaning Austin, but both men looked over at me. "Collin is my
Ex from College, the "black belt" I used to work out with." I said by way of
an explanation hoping Austin would understand my warning. Austin was still
stewing so I walked up and slid an arm around him. "Baby, relax," I said
soothingly. I turned to Collin who was still in our door way, "Well you're a
long, long way from home, something tells me you didn't just drive over to
say hello."

"Naaaa, I'm here on business mate..." He said in his Aussie accent. "I had a
hell of a time tracking you down, luckily your old neighbor; this delightful
black woman with a  roit(right) perfect French accent knew who I was from
your stories so she gave me directions on how to get here."

Austin looked down at me then back at Collin, "So how far did you fucking
travel?" Austin asked. "From north west of Sydney, the hilly wine area of
Australia." His accent was soft, almost British in nature.

"Ok, now that I'm not worried about you jumping on him or anything," I said
and turned to Colin. "Why don't you come all the way in." I indicated the
living room. "Would you like some coffee...?" I started, then corrected myself
"I-I uh mean tea?"

"Ahhh That would be wonderful, thank you." Collin said with his impeccable
manners.

"Sorry..." Austin said as he walked over behind Collin to close the door, "I
just never saw Alex leap on anyone like that before..." He stopped what he was
saying and added, "but me, I mean."

I walked over and put a hand on Austin's shoulder, "Sorry about that Baby,
It's just... it's been so long since I've seen him... we were always tight." I
said. "The last ex you saw me with-well, it ended badly..." I said referring
to Jake.

"I warned you he was a mother fucking wanker!" Collin said stoically,
knowing immediately whom I was talking about. And he had, in fact, warned
me, though he didn't know, he'd actually been the reason Jake and I first
met.

"Things with Collin were always good, we only stopped dating because Collin
moved back to Australia." I said.

"AND because I was getting married to Grace." Collin added with a shrug to
Austin.

"And how is she?" I asked since last time we'd talked on the phone, they
were living in separate locations.

Collin lost his smile and looked down, "We were divorced in October." He
said with little emotion.

"Sorry dude..." Austin said putting a hand on Collin's shoulder.

"She couldn't deal with the fact that I preferred boys to her..." Collin said
as way of an explanation.

Austin looked puzzled. "It's ok baby, you weren't the first bisexual I've
dated," I said, walking to the kitchen to get the tea and coffee made.

"So what happened to your face? Did Alex get too rough on you or something?"
Collin asked Austin about the band-aids on his cheek. I couldn't hear things
clearly as I had water running and pots clanging and coffee hissing as the
steam brewed up through the grounds. All of a sudden, I heard Collin
Exclaim, "No fucking way! That was you two?" I knew what part of the story
Austin was telling Collin; then as I fixed the tray with extra milk for
Collin. I walked in and found Austin telling Collin about our little fray.

Collin looked up at me, "I always said you were a little Pisser!"

Austin walked over and bent over to nuzzle my neck as Collin poured himself
a cup of tea. "He's my mini Rotweiler." Austin said as he licked the part of
my neck that always made me moan.

"I'm guessing you know all his fun spots by now hey?" Collin asked with a
knowing smirk.

Austin wrapped an arm around me from behind and said, "Probably not yet, but
it's a hell of lot of fun discovering them." And he ran the tip of his
tongue across the lobe of my ear..." I arched my back and closed my eyes for a
moment.

Collin just smiled at me and said, "Like a small violin..." as Austin stopped
and hugged me.

"Yeah, hard to believe I've never played a violin before isn't it?" Austin
said, to a clearly shocked Collin,

"Never?"

Austin shook his head, "Nope, Alex corrupted me." I was going to bring up
Joe, but then thought better of it. "He's a fast learner." I said blushing.

Austin released me and said, "Don't mean to be rude, but if I don't leave
now, I'll be late to work."

Collin gave him a funny look and then glanced at his watch, "Mate, you go to
work at Seven O-clock at night?" he asked with an almost comically British
sounding inflection.

Austin smiled and said, "Every weekend and on other nights as needed."
Before Collin asked Austin said simply, "I strip for old men at the
Parliament House."

Collin nodded in understanding as I corrected him, "Hey, who you calling
old? I perve out watching you all the time!" Austin grinned as he was
leaving, "That's cause you know the show's just for you."

He headed for his red truck and I said, "Bye Hon..." Turning back to Colin, I
asked, "I was just getting ready for diner. Would you care to join me?"

Collin smiled and looked at the tuna salad, "Hey, let me take you out to
dinner ok?" I told him the salad was good as Austin only made it from fresh
Tuna steaks we'd had the night before. But Collin just smiled and said, "I
want to take you to dinner, I haven't seen you in forever and I have a
business proposition for you..." His eyes glinted when he said that and my
Antenna twitched. "Ummm, ok, I-I guess I can have this for lunch tomorrow..."
I said wrapping it in plastic and sticking it in the fridge. "I have to tell
you though, a lot's changed since we last talked,"

"For instance?" he asked holding the door for me as I put on my jacket and
grabbed my testing kit, which held my insulin and started towards his car.

"Well, for one, I have diabetes," I said lifting up the kit and wiggling it
to show him.

"Bloody hell! When did that happen?" I opened the car door and slid in, "Not
that long ago... I was in a coma for a week I'm told."

Collin put his keys in the ignition and then looked over at me. "Bloody
fucking hell Alex! I had no idea...I'm sorry..." I felt guilty suddenly and
began to apologize when he shook his head side to side, "No baby, I was out
of sight (It sounded like `out of soit' when he said it), and I'm the one
who walked out on you... I'm just glad we . . . that we stayed friends." He
reached down and started the car.

We hadn't discussed where to eat yet, so I gave directions to Little Saigon.
We walked in and Julie came over with her singsong voice and smile, "How are
you?" She looked up at Collin and her smile faded. "Who are you?" With a
worried frown, she turned back to me and asked, "How is Austin? Is he ok?"

I smiled and stood aside to introduce them, "Austin's at work Julie, he just
left us, don't worry, he's fine." I said remembering how Austin had been
scared she'd get mad at him and send the Vietnamese ninja to punish him.
"And this is my Ex, Collin Stellington." They shook hands as Julie welcomed
him and said, "I sorry for being rude, just worried about Austin."

Collin smiled and said "Enchante, ma cherie," In fluid French. I'd forgotten
how good an education Collin had had. I also recalled he'd done a lot of
traveling to Europe on wine related business.

Julie was taken back a moment then replied with, "Enchantee, au plaisir de
rencontrer un ami d'Alex. Il y entretient dans les affaires." Collin smiled
and Julie motioned us over to my regular table,  "Your usual?" she asked me
and I nodded. Then she looked at Collin and in perfect French asked,
"Qu'est-ce que vous voudriez? Une entree ou les boissons quand vous lisez le
menu?"

Collin smiled. "Une tasse de the chaud serait parfait pour commencer. Merci"

Julie finished with the order and left. Colin looked at me with a funny
grin, "She could straighten out my bisexual knot if you know what I mean."

I gave him a hard look. "NO!" I admonished. "You behave with that appetite
of yours!"

Collin got an evil smirk and his eyes gleamed as he said, "I haven't, "had
anything to eat," he said using hand quotes, "since October, and then I find
out you're engaged... Come on..." He pleaded.

I shook my head then looked at him, "And I haven't had sex since New Years
Eve and we won't until we get fucking married-his idea-not mine!" I glared
defiantly at the much, much, larger man.

Finally, he looked away, "Cheeky bastard!"

When Julie came back with the drinks, I ordered Collin the summer rolls *in
English* and suggested the shrimp stir-fry. When Julie was done, she floated
off and Collin moaned, "Alex..."

Turning to him, I interrupted, with a warning tone. "Collin, I love you to
death, but if you try anything with Julie, I'll hurt you to death - even if
you do still outrank me." I glared at him a minute to make my point and then
said, "So what was this business thing you wanted to ask me about anyways?"

Collin leaned back and smiled as he lifted his glass to drink. When he was
done, he sat his glass down and looked me right in the eyes. "You've learned
much from Dr. Yoshita, but simply redirecting my attention won't work that
easy." Collin said referring to our former sensei, we had learned after a
certain belt, that judo could be used intellectually as well as on the mats.

After I smiled and acknowledged Collin's point, he continued. "We're
expanding our market, I already set up a few accounts in this area, but I
need to hire someone to handle our business interests and hopefully, expand
our market."

I was stunned, he hadn't actually offered it to me yet, but I could see what
he was thinking. "That's great Collin, but I don't get it, if you're
offering it to me, I mean, I don't know a damned thing about wine except it
comes in red and white varieties and the good stuff doesn't come in a
cardboard cube."

Collin laughed and then met my eyes again, "I need someone who has a good
head on his shoulders and that I can trust from the other side of the world.
We'll teach you the rest of it." I was stunned; it would mean I could quit
that lousy bank job... "And we'll teach you all about the subtleties and
nuances of our various vintages." I suddenly had a bad thought, Collin saw
my face fall and asked, "What is it Alex?"

I closed my eyes and said "Baby, I'm diabetic; I can't drink any more..."

Collin's smile faded and after several long moments he asked, "Well, you
have anyone in mind that could do this?" He was asking as my friend, a
compatriot whose loyalty in me was mirrored

I got a sly smile and said, "Well, I'll have to talk to him about it, but
yeah, I think I know the perfect guy..."

Before I could finish, Collin laughed and said, "Ok, sell me on why Austin
would make a good rep."

I laughed, as always, Collin had seen right through me. "

"Ok, first, he's marrying me and you know that I'll make him behave even if
he wouldn't otherwise, and he's a top notch southern boy." I said as our
dinner arrived. "

You mean he's a top" Julie said then blushed as she smiled at Collin. Collin
began laughing which made Julie start too... In the end I landed up laughing
too

When we had assured Julie we were fine with what she'd brought, she smiled
and said to call her if we needed anything. "You know, if I don't hire
Austin, I could make a fortune if she worked for me."

I shot him a sour look and said, "Don't you go taking Julie away from me!"
Then I said, "And Austin is much better looking than me, and he's got this
insanely hot smile, and it works on straight guys and women too, not just us
gay boys."

Collin roared, "Alex, I haven't seriously thought of you as a little boy
since we met-and Christ, you're what, 30 now?" he asked.

"27 thank you!" I replied tersely.  "And Austin can drink, and he looks
awesome in a suit..." I said trying to think of other reasons.

"Ok, Ok, let's talk to him tonight and see what he says?" Collin offered
before we began gossiping about the people he had known when we were in
school together.

Eventually, as dinner was ending, he began telling me about his ex wife
Grace. Grace had been his Fiance' since we'd met, I knew from the first few
times that we'd spent the night together that he'd be leaving Florida alone
to get married shortly after he graduated. Although we both lived in free
progressive countries, he had been in, what could best be described as an
arranged marriage. Gracie's family had a vast amount of untilled land, and
the neighboring Stellington family wanted that land to expand its grape
vineyards. "Now that we're divorced, we're essentially leasing the land from
them as they have no use for the extra land and we're expanding operations."
Collin explained. "We broke up amicably, there wasn't a lot of drama, but
she knew I was bisexual, and well... she didn't trust me." He said.

I gave him a hard look and asked, "Did she have a reason not to trust you?"

Collin sighed, "No, not really, but it was probably only a matter of time.
She was getting more and more suspicious and that drove me further and
further away. As we talked, Collin raised his hand and when Julie looked
over, he mimed writing, which she understood as him saying he wanted the
check. A minute later Julie came over and asked Collin if he wanted any
desert, She gave me a smile and said, "You Diabetic boy; don't even ask.
Austin already warned me. You can have regular coffee if you want." She her
ineffable smile as she laid the small black envelope holding the bill on the
table, Collin and I both said we were fine and he dropped his credit card on
the top. She took it and left with a warm smile.

"So what were you expecting when you came back here?" I asked when Julie
brought back the credit card slip for Collin to sign. "I asked you out to
dinner!" he said rather than answer my question, I nodded and looked up
expectantly waiting for his answer, he took a deep breath and blew it out
slowly before speaking, "Expecting? I don't know really, we hadn't talked in
almost two years, I HOPED you were still single and I'd ride in and give you
this great job and work my way back into your heart." He stood up to go and
didn't look down at me.

"Collin, you've never left my heart." He turned back and as I stood up, I
could see the hope flash in his eyes. "BUT!" I added, "I love Austin with
all my heart, I will love you forever, but He's the man that I'm in love
with."

Collin nodded, "I know, I already saw that." He opened the door and held it
for me, hiding the resignation and emotions I knew he was feeling. We
discussed going to the Parliament House but decided just to go back to my
place and wait for Austin. We talked about all kinds of things and drank
several cups of coffee or tea as we waited. We talked about the wedding
Austin and I were planning, we talked about my awful job, and then I told
Collin that he HAD to come see me that weekend since he wasn't leaving for
several weeks.

"So where were you staying?" I asked Collin. "I'm at the Airport Marriot."
He said.

"Well, why don't you get your stuff and stay here?"

Collin smiled and said, "Cause the temptation would be too hard on me, and I
value our friendship. Besides, you don't even have a spare bed, and I'm a
little too big to be on the couch." I was about to point out that he'd save
a load of money staying with us, but I remembered that he didn't have any
concept of what money was. He was the oldest son of the Stellington's, and
as such, had vast vineyards and treasure troves of money at his command.
"Now if you were single..." He said with a leer.

"If I were single," I said smiling. "I'd glue myself to you and tell your
fucking father to go suck a French whore cause I wasn't leaving you."

"Alex, such language!" Collin said with a laugh. "Besides, who said YOU,
were the one tempting me?" He teased.

"Don't molest my fiance!" I threatened.

He smiled and arched his eye brow, "Or  . . . what?"

I smiled, and said, "I already beat an entire bar, don't make me show what
else I've learned."

It was after 12 when Austin rolled in, "Hi Baby," he said kissing me and
pulling me against him. He asked, "You guys have a good talk?" I handed him
a cup of coffee. We gabbed a bit and did a quick recount of all the
evening's topics, only then did Collin ask Austin what he knew about wine.

Austin gave a funny look then said, "Dunno. It comes in red, white, and
pink, and you shouldn't buy it from a place that sells Slurpees. Why?"

Collin sipped his tea and said, "My family are the second largest producers
of wine in Australia, We've cracked the European market, except Belgium and
France, and the North Eastern American markets, but we're expanding into the
South East and the South Western states. Alex here seems to think you'd be a
good asset to out company. Think you might be interested?" Collin said,
shifting seamlessly from fiend and playful devil to Stoic Aussie
businessman.

Austin sat down with his coffee and looked at Collin, "I'm assuming this
wouldn't entail dancing or stripping?"

He replied, "No, what I need is a sales man to expand our market, represent
us when we can't be there to over see distribution and to identify new
markets."

Austin was stunned, I could see it on his face, so I said, "Honey, with your
good old boy nature, and that killer smile and quick wit... You'll have every
place you go eating out of your hands, signing up for anything you want to
sell them."

Speechless, Austin sat back and looked at us. After a moment he said, "It
sounds great, but I don't have any experience in Business, marketing,
finance, advertising, anything!" Collin listened and sat back, "Well, what
degree do you have?"

I swallowed, realizing Austin hadn't graduated. "Well none at the moment, I
was going for my BA in Sports medicine when I had to... uh... drop out." Austin
said looking down into his coffee.

Before Collin asked, I said, "Austin was in his senior year when.he . . .
uhhh was forced to drop out. He came down and stayed with me." I could see
the gratitude in Austin's smile as he looked back up.

"Well, that doesn't make you any less of a salesman, That takes natural
talent, you can't learn to work people, you either have it or you don't."
Collin said and then added, "Roit, tell you what, you come with me this
weekend and..."

Austin cut him off hesitantly, "I uhh. Sorry, but I work this weekend, I
can't just quit with no warning, they've been really good to me."

Collin sat back with a large grin, "Well... loyalty... Ok, I'm impressed! Alex
said you were a good character." Austin looked at me surprised as Collin
continued, "Ok, you work the evenings roit?"

Austin nodded, "Yeah, 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 7pm during the week."

Collin took out a small book and looked in it. "Ok, well, I have an 11am
meeting Saturday in Winter Park, and a 2pm on Sunday in Longwood." He looked
up. "So how-a-bout you come with me this weekend and maybe during the week
and we'll see how you do?" He added, "Your decision to be loyal to your
current job really impressed me by the way. I - We really value loyalty."
After taking a sip of tea Collin said, "And the schedule is highly flexible,
you'll be able to go back to college and hopefully get some kind of business
degree... marketing would be super." He said saying schedule like he was
British "sheduale"

"Duuude! I-I-I I don't know what to say." Austin was grinning as he looked
back and forth between Collin and me.

"In `Yank,' is that a yes?" Collin asked with a grin.

Austin's grin exploded as I answered. "Ohhh yeah." Looking at Austin's
dimples I continued. "Did I tell you my guy had the hottest smile in the
United States?".

"I'd say this country and mine." Collin said and smirked as we watched
Austin blush. We made plans for the next day to meet for lunch in Winter
park and then come back here before I needed to get ready to go on at the
Seattle Scene.

"Sooo, uhhh, I don't know how to ask this politely..." Austin began, hemming
and hawing on the way out to Collin's car.

Collin got a big smile and said, "Well, the base pay is 45 in US currency.
I'll push it up to 46 since you have to put up this one." Collin mussed my
hair jovially. If it had been anyone else, chances are they wouldn't have
gotten the arm back.

"You know what this means?" Austin grinned at me.

I smiled back, "Yeah!"

Collin look at me confused, "What's it mean? Aside from the obvious."

"That Austin can grow his chest hair back before the wedding!" I said
excitedly.

"YOU! You really only have one thing on your mind EVER." Austin laughed.

"I could have told you that Mate." Collin chimed in and then asked, "Well,
what were you thinking than?"

Puzzled, I looked at Austin and he said, "That you could tell that flaming
bitch boss of yours to stick her job in her twat and ride it till dawn."

My eyes suddenly got huge with the grin exploding on my face. "Holy shit! Oh
my god!"

"Well, can you afford to do that?" Collin asked. It wasn't like him to
wonder about such things, this only proved how much he had been thinking
about me since the poor guy had no concept of money.

"Well I was pulling in 39 from my bank job, so we'll do great with the extra
he'll be pulling in," I said.

"I hadn't finished," Collin said. "The salary is a basic 45K to start but
you also get paid a dividend for the sales you make. It's something like a
commission. Franco, our guy in New York, makes twice his base pay in
dividends every year and he's only been with us for five years.

"Franco?" Austin asked with a funny smirk, "Is he a good fella or some kind
of Mob Boss?"

Collin laughed, "Not sure, you yanks all seem like gangsters and gang
bangers to me."

"Ohh ohh ohhh!" I said sarcastically, "First we're a bunch of effeminate
pansies, NOW we're all gangsters. OK Mr. Stellington, which is it?"

Collin broke out laughing and said, "Cheeky shit."

Austin looked from Collin to me and asked, "Do I want to know?"

"Go on, you tell him." Collin volunteered.

I composed myself before answering. "When we first started going out, we had
a few confusing episodes with words each of our cultures use a little
differently." I said as Collin nodded. "One day I was describing Michael and
called him a big over sized `Nelly' hand puppet. And Collin asked me what
Nelly meant." I said to a riveted Austin. "I told him it was an effeminate
guy, a poofster, a twinkely fairy. Then I asked him what they called Nelly
guys in Australia."

Collin jumped in with, "Easy mate, back home we call them Americans"
Although it had cracked Collin and I up back in college, it only made Austin
smile a moment before he decided to get upset by it.

"Heeeyyyy!" Austin complained.

Collin got a big grin and said, "Roit Mate, I'll prove it." And he turned
around and stood in our doorway. "Come here!" He ordered Austin. I thought I
what he was doing, and was amused when Austin just obeyed. "Now turn around
and face Alex!" Collin ordered, Austin obeyed again and you could see his
gears burning as he was trying to figure out what Collin had planned. Then
Collin got an evil smile and looked me right in the eyes before saying, "Now
take off that shirt!" Austin looked puzzled but slowly complied. Collin got
a smirk as he gently ran a hand from Austin's belly up his chest and began
playfully pinching Austin's nipples; he leaned forward as he was several
inches taller than Austin, and began kissing Austin's neck. Austin was rock
hard in a few seconds and a low moan escaped his lips. Then Collin ran his
right hand down Austin's jeans and cupped his hard on. I was too mesmerized
to object although I knew what Collin was doing. Collin slid his left hand
up to Austin's face and slowly brought it around so that by turning his head
slightly, he and Collin could kiss. Collin groped his cock and pinched his
nipple he began to kiss Austin passionately. I was about to object when
Collin ended it and said, "Roit, I rest my case!" He released Austin.

Austin looked surprised and a little angry, "What? What case? What the
fuck?" As he grabbed his shirt back off the small table by the door.

"Please Mate, you were totally moi bitch just then!" Collin laughed.

"Like hell I was." Austin protested. "

Austin, Oi was going to bend you over and fuck you till you screamed. But Oi
thought Alex moit object." Collin said merrily which annoyed Austin more.

"I DON"T get fucked!" Austin maintained. I was staying out of this little
battle of machismo. "Maybe not with Alex, but Oi'd fuck you. Oi'm not,
because I care too much for Alex, but if he weren't here, Oi'd fuck you till
you sang my name in French." Austin was still hard and that comment only
made his cock throb more.

Finally I decided to step in. "Collin, you will NOT turn my husband to be
into a bottom, if you do, trust me, Australia won't be far enough for you to
hide from me."

Collin smiled and lost his macho demeanor. "Why is it you are the only guy
Oi know who can threaten me like that and get away with it? Jesus, Oi
outrank you!"

"Cause you know the twisted creativity I use for sexual pleasure can be
turned to evil and sadistic revenge." I answered, smiling. "Now you go and
have a good night, Austin will be all ready tomorrow morning for your little
outing." I said leading Collin out by his shoulder and hugging him tightly,
"It is so fucking great to see you again and have you back for a while." I
said as I buried me face in his chest.

"Oi'm glad we're still friends Mon Puce."

He'd given me that nickname in the second week of our Judo class and
everyone started using it. Apparently, everyone else knew what it meant but
no one would tell me. The more frustrated I got, the more fun they had. I
had to hunt down a French teacher to find out Mon Puce meant "Little flea."
It made me crazy back then, but now I just smiled and let it fall back into
the fog of memory.

"Bonne nuit, mon amour, a toi et ton fiance." Collin said in French, I only
got the gist of it, but smiled and hugged him again.

"Tomorrow night, you have to come see my show!" I ordered then kissed him on
the chest and pushed him towards his car.

Inside, Austin was still a little wigged out by Collin's demonstration.
"He's a great guy Alex, but I can't believe he thought he could fuck me!"
Austin protested, perhaps a little too strongly. I didn't want to break his
ego so I let it drop. Austin however, wouldn't let it go. "You don't think
I'd let him fuck me do you?"

I wished he hadn't asked that. I walked past him to our bedroom to begin
getting ready for bed. "Baby, he's been raised in a different world than us,
he learned to read and manipulate people when he was very young." I said as
a way to side step his question.

"Well yeah, he kinda got me to do what he said, but only for basic stuff.
Doesn't mean I was gunna do `that'!" he maintained.

I stopped at our bed and turned to face my Angel, "Baby, he's a very
attractive guy, he's got total self confidence, he's studied a variety of
martial arts, and he's fierce in business matters. What he might or might
not be able to do with you is irrelevant. It doesn't change one thing about
how I feel or think about either of you." I added, "And he won't fuck you
cause I'll kill him if he does." I added placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Ok?" I asked. Austin mumbled then went and brushed his teeth. "Now why
don't you forget about him fucking you and try to get some sleep, you have a
BIG day tomorrow." I said excitedly as I went to the bathroom.

When I was done, I slipped into bed and took my place nuzzled against a
restless Austin. I just smiled. His fidgeting was so puppy like I was just
glad to have him curled against me. I went to sleep and wondered off to lala
land.

At three forty five AM, I woke up to hear Austin moaning and talking
incoherently in his sleep, I rolled back to spoon against him and suddenly
felt hot liquid spray all over my ass and lower back. Just as I realized
what had just happened, Austin woke up, startled.

"Huh? Ohhhh." He said to himself as what had happened dawned on him too.

"I KNEW all this time without sex was gunna be a problem!" I said getting
out of bed to get a towel.

"Ohhh god, I haven't had a wet dream since I was 18." Austin said, rolling
out of bed.

I walked back in with a towel to toss at him. "Still thinking about Collin
huh?" I asked with a smirk.

Austin just kept his face down, "I don't get it!" He said pouting. "I've
never thought about that before, I never even day dreamed about it. I just
don't get it." He said standing up and coming over to wipe off my back.

"Baby, Collin has made a career out of `fucking' with people's heads. He did
it in Judo matches and he's always done it in business. Trust me, you don't
want to get on his bad side. But baby, he was just fucking with you. Let it
go."

Austin binned the towel when he was done and was about to climb back in bed
when I said, "Go put your boxers on, I need to sleep and with you squirting
off like you just did..." the words trailed off and I gave him a sour look.
Austin put on his light blue boxers and looked so sexy in them. "Come here
stud boy!" I said to my confused hero. Austin got a sheepish smile and
climbed into bed. "Next time put a condom on and fuck me a few times first."
Austin pulled me against him. "Are you going to be ok Baby?" I asked as I
pulled his arms around me and scooted against him.

"Yeah, I guess so... Thanks for not freaking out about all this." Austin said
kissing the back of my neck.

"I'll warn Collin again to leave you alone." I said simply and Austin
nuzzled the back of my neck

I actually woke up before Austin the next morning and decided to surprise
him by making him breakfast in bed. I was lucky that not only did I know
where all the correct pans were, but I also knew what he liked and how he
liked it cooked. Not that I'd done much cooking since he began hanging out
with Mrs. Tremere. I made him that runny sunny side up eggs he loved so much
with wheat toast and bacon and was getting the coffee ready when I heard him
start to stir.

"What are you doing up?" He called out from bed

"Just lay there and I'll show you." I replied,

"I'll get back in bed when I'm through." I heard him say as I heard his pee
hit the bowl. I smirked as I put all the dishes and coffee cups on the tray
and brought it to bed. I was setting up the trey when he walked back in. "Oh
my god!" He said with a tone that couldn't decide if it was going for awed
or surprised. "Alex, wha?" He asked so surprised he didn't finish his
thought.

"Well, I'd love to tell you it was all planned for your first big day with
Collin, but..." I said rolling my eyes at him humorously. "But you know me
well enough to know I rarely get up early without a loud cavalcade of alarms
or shaking." I said, rubbing his shoulder as he slid back into bed.
"Anyways, I woke up early so I decided to fix you breakfast for a change."

"Baby..." Austin gushed as he lifted his coffee cup. "Intentional or not, this
rocks honey-thank you."

I leaned over and kissed his forehead, "I love you Austin." I said then
righted myself and said, "I have to go test my blood sugar and get my less
runny eggs." I said hopping out of bed and running to the kitchen. I grabbed
my breakfast and coffee after testing my Blood sugar and grabbing the
insulin for Austin to give me the shot with. When I got to the room, I
handed Austin the syringe and insulin, told him my reading, and then lay
across the blanket over his legs with my bare ass up in the air for him to
shoot.

"Mmmmmm, Soon won't get here fast enough little boy," Austin said as he
rubbed my ass, pinched a cheek, and gave me the shot. I just stayed there as
he patted my ass. "If you don't move that pretty ass soon, I'm not gunna be
responsible for what happens." Austin said rubbing his hands over my ass.

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" I said wiggling my ass for him, loving
the attention I'd been denied for weeks now. "You'll have think of something
slightly more threatening I guess."

Austin slapped my ass sharply. "Eat your breakfast, horney toad!" Laughing,
he shoved me over.

Breakfast went quite quickly after that, when we'd finished, I picked out a
sharp teal shirt with Charcoal dress slacks and a navy sport jacket with a
patterned maroon silk tie with blue hatches that made his eyes just stand
out out. After showering and dressing, Austin modeled for me to appraise.

I sat and smiled at my elegant boyfriend. "If you don't knock them dead,
then they were dead a long time ago," I said just as the sun caught in his
eyes.

Austin reached over to pet Tempest, who was lying on top of our TV set. "You
have any knowledge about what I should anticipate today. Do you?"

"Ummm..." I thought about it and said, "Yeah. Don't admit to him you had a wet
dream about him last night." I said wisely. When he asked why, I smiled and
said, "I love Collin to death, you know that, but if he finds out he's
gotten to you, there won't be enough steel plating in the whole Pacific Rim
to keep him outta your pants."

Austin nodded then asked, "So I'll meet you at Dexters for dinner?" He asked
me.

"You bet stud, now go make me proud." I said at our front door.

Austin looked extremely nervous. "Why is it I'm more nervous now then I was
stripping the first time?" Austin asked me. "Cause for one thing, you have
an amazing body, and you love showing it off. And this job is a total
unknown to you, but I have every faith. I know you'll do fine." I ran my
hand down his toned muscular back.

I had a lunch date with Dawn, knowing she was leaving on Wednesday. We were
meeting at a coffee shop in DeLand that made good lunches, called Boston
Bean. I was a huge fan of their iced Latte's. When I got there, I found her
sitting with Tiago.

"Well hello there stranger." Tiago said standing up to greet me. Dawn turned
around and when she saw me, she stood up too.

The waiter I had known a while, a cute blond guy named Mac, came over and
squatted, putting his head on his hands on the table, "Howdy folks, coffee,
tea, or me?" Before I could reply with a smart assed response, Dawn kicked
me under the table and gave me a stern look as a warning.

Tiago however had no such restriction so he smiled up at Mac, "Oh really
sunshine? In that case I'll take you."

Mac got a big grin and patted Tiago on the back, "Sorry bud-I likes da
ladies!" He pulled out his order pad and took our drink orders. We had
pleasant conversation and Dawn told me how she had run into Tiago and
invited him to Lunch with us. Tiago meanwhile was telling us what he wanted
to do with the very cute and highly personable Mac. Somehow we got into
dating scenarios at which point Dawn started laughing,

"Know what Alex and lesbians bring on a second date?" She asked Tiago. I
knew the answer, as it was an old Lesbian joke. "A U-HAL and everything they
own," she finished, laughing. Tiago had a good laugh at it too, and said I
would make a horrible Lesbian. Dawn gave me a sour look and said, "Yeah,
being afraid of breasts makes for a bad start."

"So how's the crazy woman?" I asked Dawn trying to change the subject. Dawn
rolled her eyes and sighed, "She's trying to talk me into moving back and
living with her at her house."

I laughed a moment before saying, "I see, so when are you and Elle moving
back to the ranch house? It's big enough, what is it, 6 bedrooms?" Dawn
scowled at my obvious jest. "Oh, Elle wasn't invited. A child shouldn't grow
up with two mothers," Dawn said rolling her eyes.

"Did it occur to her that Samual would be growing up in a house with two
women either way."

"Please, this has very little to do with Samual, this is about her needing a
maid down here and not wanting me to have a life away from her. Plus she
blames Elle for my being a lesbian."

"That's crazy" Tiago interjected. "She can't really believe that. Can she?
he asked.

"It isn't about logic Tiago, it's pure emotions, and hers are very jealous,
manipulative, and greedy." I said.

"Hey, She IS my Mother you know?" Dawn responded.

I looked at her. "Do you think I'm wrong?"

"No." She said and signed.

"So, what did you tell her?" I asked.

"I told her I'd think about it." She said.

"And will you?" Tiago asked.

"Of course not. I'm not leaving Elle." Dawn said.

"Scardy-cat!" I said to her.

"OHHH Don't you start!" Dawn said sarcastically.

"Ohh, and what am I afraid of?" I said arrogantly, perhaps too arrogantly.

"Hmmm, do we start with Vaginas, or getting older?" She said

"He's scared of Vaginas?" Tiago asked.

"Well, I assume so since he sure has thing against boobs." She said giving
me a smart assed smirk.

"Ok, tell me!" Tiago asked conspiratorially.

She gave me an evil look. I knew what story was coming so I sat back and
crossed my arms. "Alex the brave here was at my house one day before I got
home, Elle had let him in. I went to my room to change and ass hole follows
me quietly, wanting to jump out and scare me." Dawn said, staring me down.
"So I started to change my shirt and just as I have my shirt pulled up over
my head, this asshole jumps out and yells "Booo!" He sees my bare breasts
and yells, `AHHHHH!'" Then he leaped back and ran out of the room. I
finished pulling my shirt off and chased him down. Chicken shit."

"She chased me all over her apartment trying to hit me with her boobs!" I
said contemptuously, talking directly to Tiago as if I thought I could
elicit sympathy from him.

"Awwww, you poor guy!" Tiago said. "Most guys would love to have a woman's'
large breasts pushed up on them."

"Yeah? Not the Queen of the Fairies." Dawn said using one of her nicknames
for me.

"I" I said with emphasis, "am NOT most guys. I'm neither Bi or straight!" I
said as Mac was walking by,

"Oh, you can say that again." He said, sarcastically, as he passed, on his
way to another table.

"It was a horrible experience and I was traumatized!" I added, adamantly.

"Which time?" Dawn asked with a smirk.

"BOTH TIMES!" I replied. "Both times?" Tiago looked confused and I
explained. "Yeah, Dawn went around telling everyone, so her girlfriend Elle
did it too."

Dawn said, laughing, "Elle did it a house party a few years later and chased
him into a spare room we had, and when he jumped on the bed to get away from
her, she leaped on top of him but they were satin sheets so the two of them
shot off the other side with Elle on top of him. It was hilarious!" Dawn
said laughing.

"Yeah, total fucking hilarious!" I said dryly.

As lunch was ending, Mac dropped off our bill. Tiago and I hugged and
arranged to see each other at the Seattle Scene. He gave Dawn a kiss and
thanked her for her stories and said he'd see her the next time she came
back. She kissed him and wished him luck dealing with me then she gave me a
huge hug and told me to take care. I said I would and told her not to let
her Mom boss her around too much.

I got to Dexter's a little earlier than Austin and Collin and told our
waiter Richard to just bring me an iced tea while I waited. I was dying of
boredom when the boys showed up laughing and falling on each other. I was
secretly glad to see Austin having fun as he'd been pretty broken up since
the funeral. Collin apologized for being late but said, "Alex, you were
right on about this guy, he's amazing, that old man was eating out of
Austin's hand, they talked about this young blond girl the man had as a
secretary and BAM, I think that sealed the deal!" Collin said clapping me on
the back.

When the waiter came back over, he asked if he could get the boys something
to drink. Collin asked for a dry martini. Michael Waters would have
approved. Austin asked if they carried Blue Kookaburra, Pino Grigio, One of
the premier Stelington brands of wine. The guy apologized and said they
didn't. So Austin asked for a Jack and Coke and asked for the name of the
Bar manager. "That's my Boy!" Collin said with his sexy accent. He was
already grooming Austin for the job.

While the boys ate T-bones, I had a lighter Tuna steak with steamed
asparagus and a Caesar salad. "Well Alex, I'll have to see how Austin does
tomorrow and I'll need him to come over for some training back home, but I
think he's a shoe in."

I was so proud and despite the black mood that had engulfed Austin lately,
he was glowing. "My baby, the wine mogul!" I teased smiling at him. I then
looked over at Collin, "So when is Austin going over?" I asked before
adding, "and are you paying his way?"

"No, Dad or the company will do that to be honest. We'll need him to come
over for training and tasting the various vintages before he can really
start. Soon," he said. "Don't worry, we'll treat him right." Collin smiled
warmly at me.

"Wow, you get to go to Australia!" I said, "Colin never took me there and we
were dating." I said, pouting at Collin.

"That was me protecting you from my father." Collin said seriously.

"So isn't he going to have trouble with Austin when he tells your dad he
lives with the guy you used to date? Or is Austin going to have to lie?"
Collin took a drink then said, "Dad and I have come to an `understanding' of
sorts." Collin said looking me in the eyes. "I've told him everything and we
had a long LONG argument about it, he still wants me to marry and give him
heirs, but he's a lot better now. I think Mom gave him ultimatum to be
honest." Collin said with a sigh, "And he'll love Austin if for no other
reason than Austin will make him lots of money - I'll sell him on the idea
that as a bisexual, Austin can flirt with any of the buyers." I looked at
the grinning Austin and said, "I don't know that I want him to make a career
out of flirting."

Austin looked me in the eyes, "I was a stripper, and you had no problems
with me dancing naked in front of scores of strangers."

Collin nodded to that as I replied. "IF you recall," I said, "I DID have
problems with that and worried about you the whole time, I could just see
some creep getting obsessed with you and stalking you." I took a drink. "But
I knew Natasha and all her friends were watching out for you." I added,
smirking, "And if Julie found out you'd cheated I knew she's send a hundred
Vietnamese ninja after you."

Austin laughed and nodded, "Yeah she would!"

Collin looked at us and asked, "Vietnamese ninja?"

Austin laughed saying, "When I went to meet the Julie the first time, I was
sure that if I hurt Alex, she would send Vietnamese ninja after me." We all
had a good laugh and I told Collin I did, in fact, know that Ninja were
Japanese

As Dinner was ending, I brought up the fact that Austin, and I had a wedding
Sunday afternoon, "Well we'll be done by noon." Collin offered,

"That's good." I said, "But I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come with
us?" I said.

"I don't want to crash a wedding where I don't know the people." Collin said
as the steaks arrived.

"You'll meet the groom tonight, he plays guitar for the group" I said,
adding, "And Korma will likely be there too"

"Well, if he invites me, I'll think about it." Collin said.

I smirked and said, "I don't want you to think about it, that always means
`NO'... I would like you to be there, Give them some money, instead of a
gift." I offered knowing the gift was one of the reasons he wouldn't go.
"I'll drive so you can drink..." I offered as a tease.

"You don't plan to let this go do you?" Collin asked knowingly.

"No way!" Austin added, "You agree or we'll be on it all night."

So Collin agreed right as my fish arrived, "Speaking of weddings, when are
you to doing the big `W'?" Collin asked.

I looked at Austin and asked petulantly, "Yes, when is the Big `W'?"

Austin blushed and looked up at the ceiling, "No self control at all." At
which point Collin laughed, I assumed they'd discussed it earlier.

"I am full of self control!" I said haughtily, "I just want to know when I
should writing my vows." I said.

"WHAT?" Austin asked surprised, "You don't have them ready yet?" Collin then
looked back and forth between us,

"So WHOSE wedding is this going to be?" Collin asked.

"Phil and Korma. I've been friends with them since after college." I said.

"I think he was insinuating that it was going to be our wedding..." Austin
mused.

"Yeah," I said with a huff, "Like you're ever going to have sex with me
again..." Collin landed up spitting martini all over the table and Austin was
coughing on his steak. "What?" I demanded petulantly.

"Apparently I have to marry him JUST so he can have sex again." Austin said
rolling his eyes.

I gave him an evil glance and said, "Oh, you don't need to be there, I just
want sex." He gave me a hurt look, so I said, "We `Could' have been having
sex all along but YOU wanted to wait!" I said perhaps a little too loudly as
several people turned to look at us; this made both Collin and Austin
uncomfortable.

"Tramp!" Austin said and took another bite of his steak,

"ONLY with my hand baby!" I replied before shoving a fork of Asparagus in my
mouth. "And YOU are a prude." I added with a smirk.

"I find that hard to believe." Collin said.

"You only say that cause you wanna fuck him." I said with a defiant smile.
Both of them were coughing and gasping. "Like I can't read you Collin..." I
said shaking my head. He got a little smirk though he was blushing,

"You know I'd never do that to you."

I looked up, "Which is why I suggested him for the job, besides, he plays
for the same team you do." I said smiling at Austin.

"Yeah, no catching for this Pitcher." Austin declared in not so subtle
euphemisms.

"That's what they all say..." Collin countered.

"Collin, love, if you try to turn my husband into your newest boy toy," I
said with utmost politeness." I promise, you'll learn some killer new
moves."

Austin, who was trying to stay out of that discussion asked me, "So what are
you doing tonight? I mean, what will you be singing?"

Collin laughed and I joined him since Austin's discomfort was so obvious. "I
have a few surprises baby." I answered before adding, "I have to head over,
why don't you two behave yourselves and come over about eight?"

"You got it babe." Austin said as he stood up and kissed my lips, while
Collin got his wallet out.

I left them talking and laughing and went to the Seattle Scene, it was a
little early, But I wanted to get there early to set up. A lot of people I
knew would be there that night, including Nate's sister Megan, and his
Cousin Benji. I worked with Robert, who was already there helping at fixing
up lights and setting the sound equipment up. I'd gotten a friend of Phil's
that I knew named Darren who was an excellent at electric guitar player and
liked his music a little harder rock than what we usually did. When people
started showing up, I greeted Jason and Michael with a hug and a quip about
how bad Michael smelled. Ryan and Michael Waters showed up next and sat with
Jason and my Michael, since Jason and Ryan had buried their hostile
feelings, they had gotten to be decent friends and spent a lot of time doing
stuff. A whole pack of Deland and Deltona compatriots were mingling at a
large table in the back, I knew a few of them like Dan and Cynthia and
Korma, but a few faces I didn't recognize at all.

Mrs. Tremere also showed up with Ivan, I told him how awful Mrs. Cleavlan
was and he shook his head and said how sorry he was and that he wished I
wasn't so far away or he'd transfer me back.

A little later Korma came up with Phil and Glen. When I asked where Jennifer
was, I got a serious look from Korma and Phil. "We broke up."

"When? Why?" I asked as Korma pulled out two chairs for her and Glen.

"Last weekend, with everything that happened . . ." He didn't need to
elaborate; most of central Florida had read the details of that night.

"Ok, well that night would certainly take the wind out of your sails, but
WHY did she leave you?"

Glen shifted in his seat and hung his head, "We had differences of
opinions." I saw Korma nodding her head to affirm this.

"About Austin and I getting married?" I asked.

He closed his eyes and nodded, "She's not homophobic, she loves each of you,
she's just freaked out cause you're..." He was searching for a word

"Cause I'm gay?" I asked simply.

"Yeah. And she forbade me to do the ceremony cause it was against God's
laws." Glen said with visible discomfort. It was obvious he didn't like
saying these things to me. "I told her it wasn't, but she believes the Bible
is infallible and every word is from God's lips . . . I think it's mostly
true, but the spirit of Gods will is love, and gays and lesbians are as
deserving of love as anyone else. She said if I believed that, I didn't love
her . . ."

Phil had walked to the stage by this point and was talking with Darren. "I
am truly sorry Glen, I'm even sorrier that this all because of Austin and me
and that . . ." I said rolling my eyes as I tried to find a way phrase it.

"It wasn't about you and Austin. We'd been arguing more and more." Glen
said, shaking his head. I looked up just in time to see Austin trying to
slip behind me for a surprise attack.

"Hey you!" I said, reaching over to pull his face to mine for a kiss. "You
and Collin sit here near the front." I ordered as I got my drink from Henna
and walked up on stage. We were all dressed in dark jackets with red ties.
Marika wore a black Chiffon Dress with a maroon silk Shawl.

"Good evening ladies and Gentlemen," I said in the microphone as the lights
went down. "Tonight an old friend of mine and Phil's, named Mr. Darren
Myrcos, is with us." Darren played a quick ascending scale. "The first
number I'm doing tonight is one I've never done before, but I promised a
friend I would play it tonight. Nate. This one's for you Bud." As I ended
that statement, the first guitar chords were already being played to Sweet
Home Alabama. I sang lead, Phil and Darren both sang back up, and Marika
sang the gospel background vocals.

	Big wheels keep on turning,
	carry me home to see my kin
	singing songs about the southland.
	I miss ole bamy once again and I think it's a sin.

	Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her.
	Well, I heard ole Neil put her down.
	Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
	a southern man don't need him around anyhow.

	Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
	Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.

	In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor.
	Now we all did what we could do.
	Now Watergate does not bother me.
	Does your conscience bother you, tell the truth.

	Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
	Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.

	Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
	and they've been known to pick a song or two.
	Lord, they get me off so much,
	they pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how about you.

	Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
	Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.

	Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
	Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
By the time we'd finished, Every person I had invited, the entire coterie of
DeLand and Deltona patrons, and a few of those who knew the story, were
crying, Even Jorge and Henna were teared up. Both Benji and Megan were
balling their eyes out. Austin had tears in his eyes. Collin was hugging
him, telling him it would be all right.

I took the microphone and said, "Nate, that was for you man. This next song,
while I'm on the subject, is one I wish I had preformed for Nate and
Austin's best friend, Joe, who tragically took his own life not long ago. We
loose too many gay and Lesbian youth to this national tragedy, who knows
what kind of numbers we'd have today if all the victims of suicide, gay
bashings and Aids were still alive. I'd like everyone here to embrace any
young people you know and tell them to hold on, that things WILL get
better." I sat down and Robert played his keyboard so it sounded like a
piano as I began strumming before singing an REM song while Marika and Phil
did back up vocals.
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on.
Everybody hurts. You are not alone.
						Hold on
						Hold on
						Hold on
						Hold on

By the middle of the song, I had tears running down my own face and Marika
had come over and put her arms around me. I looked up and several people in
the audience were singing `Hold on' with me, even as I faded out. One girl
was holding a small guy about 19 and comforting him.

Marika took the microphone next and said, "Folks, thanks to Mr. Happy here,
everyone is very emotional right now and, even though we have a longer set
planned, we'll take a short break to regroup and let people get back on
their feet. Thank you, we'll be back in 10 minutes." At that, Austin, who
was still crying came up and sobbed as he tried to thank me.

There were visible tears in Collin's eyes when he put his hand on Austin's
shoulder, "Fucking wanker!" he said. I held Austin and told him everything
would be better soon.

Henna came up to me and said, "You did a marvelous job Alex, but you've got
most of the audience crying, not good for business baby. I hope your next
set is more upbeat." Then she handed me both a box of Kleenex and an iced
Latte'.

Megan and Benji came up and Megan gave me a big hug while Benji took a
kleenex and wiped his eyes. "Thank you Alex, Nate would a loved that." Megan
nodded and cried on my shoulder a few minutes before Benji lead her back to
their seats. Marika came over and said, "Ok party boy, we need to bring the
mood up. Got any ideas?"

I thought a moment and said, "How bout we try Dancing in the Streets, that's
pretty upbeat and I can do my acoustic version of I W ill Survive."

"That acoustic version isn't very upbeat."

I smiled and said, "You can tell me I did it wrong and move the song into
the upbeat disco version. That would change the mood."

She thought a second. "We should do that first and THEN Dancing in the
Streets, and then our normal set." When we started, Jorge, who was doing
lights for us, shined a bright white spot on me as I went into an acoustic
version of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive"

I Will Survive Lyrics

At first I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me.

Go on now go, walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore.
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive (hey-hey)

It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
and now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
Oh as long as i know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
When I was done I got some applause, but it was clear, there were a lot of
maudlin people out there.

"WAIT. WAIT a blessed minute!" Marika began, loudly, "You're depressing
these people, making them cry. YOU are doing it all wrong! Tiago, give me a
disco beat." She began snapping her fingers. "Robert, play along!" She
pushed me onto the stool. "ALEX, you sit back and listen." She began the
modern version and I could see the change washing over the audience. When
she was done, I did a hammed-up bow to her and tipped my imaginary hat. She
put her hands on her hips and said, "It's an empowering song-not a
depressing guitar lament."

In our regular set, we covered Martha Washington, Martha Reeves and Marvin
Gay and in the second set we covered Dusty Springfield and Diana Ross. By
the end of the show, when people were over the crying and gloom, a young guy
and his female friend walked up to the stage. He stepped back into the crowd
without making eye contact and she said, "Mr. Johnson, your second song was
a downer, but you really... I don't know, `you made a very good point' I guess
I'm trying to say." She stuck her hand to shake mine.

I walked past it and gave her a big hug. "Not enough hugs go around hon." I
said and then asked her, "So what's your friend's story?" I nodded toward
the guy drifting further and further away.

"That's my best friend Justin." She said opening her arms towards him as an
attempt to get him closer. "He's a little shy and he's been..." She drifted of
and tried to think of the right word to describe him.

"He's been depressed and you're worried about him trying suicide." I said to
help her out. "She looked up at me and had an odd look on her face, "He-he
tried last year." She said.

I looked at him for a moment before I said, "Justin, please come and sit
with me and your friend..." I trailed off waiting for her to tell me her name.

"Susan." She volunteered. Justin and a short guy with light brown hair and
brown eyes came over and sat with us. Aside from a brief glance up at my
eyes, he'd looked towards the floor the whole time.

"Justin?"

He looked up and slowly said, "Y-Y-Yeah?"

I took his hand, "Justin, I hope you got something from my song... And from
Susan..." I said softly. "It's hard when you're depressed, when darkness
swallows you, and joy and happiness only happen to other people. Depression
is a living thing, out to get you, and all you want to do, is escape."
Justin looked up at me and I saw tears in his eyes, so I moved over to hug
him. As I was hugging him, Austin and Collin came over, trailed by Ryan and
Michael. "Justin, Justin, It's Ok" I said softly,

"So who's this?" Austin asked, a little wierded out to see me hugging some
stranger,

"Austin, baby, this is Justin. I need to have a talk with him."

Austin looked me with understanding in the eyes. "You have a good talk. I'll
go sit with Mrs. Tremere and Ivan." Austin talked quietly to Ryan and
Michael before going to sit with Mrs. Tremere and Ivan. Collin followed them
and Ryan and Michael returned to their seats. Michael gave me a smile and
the thumbs up signal. I sat and talked with Justin and Susan until I had to
go again,

"Justin, I'd like to have dinner with you this week, and talk some more if I
could... and I'd like to introduce you to friends of mine, great guys who know
how hard it is being gay and all alone." Justin began to cry and thanked me
as I stood up to get on the small stage.

"Why are you making that young man cry?" Marika asked under her breath.

"He's gay and really depressed; I don't think anyone else knows but his
friend." I said back.

Marika decided to liven up the crowd so she did her cover of Oh Happy day.
She used her best gospel vocals to get the crowd singing along with her,
"That's right people, if you feel the spirit, you just raise your voice and
sing along." She said in the middle of the song. As if she the crown wasn't,
up already, dancing and singing. She walked over to Justin and after singing
for a minute; she put the microphone in front of him. After a minute, she
had him singing too. When Justin was taking part, she moved to Susan and
after she was singing, Marika continued around the room.  Justin actually
seemed to be getting into it and continued singing even as she returned to
the stage.

Since Darren was there we did Magic Man. I walked over to Austin and sat on
his lap, then moved over to Collin, and finally went over and gave Justin a
kiss on the cheek.
I gave Justin one of my cards when our show was over and he wrote his number
on the back of a bank receipt. He thanked me before he left, smiling. Susan
mouthed "Thank you" to Marika and I.

"Marika, that was amazing!" I said to her.

"Honey, when the spirit moves you, you just follow his instructions. I knew
that boy needed some spirit, so I went over and shared it with him."

I kissed her face and thanked her again. "Honey," I said, "It's called soul
music for a damned good reason." I smiled then gave her another kiss.

I went over next and after a short explanation about Justin; I sat on
Austin's lap and kissed him deeply. "We'd better get married soon!" I said
in his ear as I snuggled down on his hard on.

"Are you two carrying on again?" Collin asked with a loud sigh.

"YES Mr. Sexy voice. Now you be nice and MAYBE I'll show you a picture or
two of his bare ass."

Collin got a big grin and Austin squeezed me tight and said, "Love you babe,
but my ass is for your eyes only"

Then Collin cleared his throat and said, "We could call them photos of you
for your job if that would make you feel better."

As we were leaving, Henna came over and said she'd like to talk to me later
in the week and we made plans to meet for dinner on Wednesday and left.

At home, Austin discovered a way to relieve his sexual repression. He teased
me mercilessly! I'd be watching television and he'd walk across the living
room `bare ass naked' while scratching his balls. Then plop down with his
legs spread on the couch.

"If my cat swipes your play-toy I don't wanna hear word one Mister." That
gave Austin something to think about and during the next commercial he got
up and slipped into a very sexy pair of black silk Boxer briefs.

His next assault was in bed where he'd press his hard-on against me and
pretend to be sleeping while dry humping my leg. After 30 minutes of this
and pretending I was asleep and not aware of it, I grabbed a box of condoms
from my night stand, opened it and poured the contents down on top of
Austin's chest and said, "Suit up, or shut up!" Then I lay back down while
muttering, "Sadistic asshole!"

Austin snickered as he cleaned up the condoms, "You woulda felt awful if I
actually had been asleep you know."

I rolled over to face him. "No, even asleep it woulda been an asshole thing
to do." Austin smirked and his mischievous smile infected me and despite my
desire to be stern and show him I was serious, I broke out laughing, "God
you are such and incredible asswipe!" I giggled as he got in bed and pulled
me up against him.

"God I love you Alex!" Austin said looking down at me with dazzling eyes
visible in the ambient light of the electric clock. He tolled on top of me
and kissed me passionately. After he finished proving how much he loved me
and how sorry he was that he'd been teasing me, he fell asleep spooning me
in our traditional position.

I said, "I love you too baby," even thought I knew he was already asleep.


TWO More chapter!!!!!! Ok, This isn't technically a cliff hanger, though I
feel I did leave many of you hanging...  Let me know what you think at
williamtylerking@hotmail.com