Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 18:04:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Wedding Ring/Wedding Ring 15

    After all thathas happened over the recent chps it is time for a slow
one but i still hope you enjoy it.

      Again, this is a story about gay relationships so 1. if you are
breaking the law, underage, or just hate gay stuff don't read any further.
The World Wide Web is a big place so you can find something else. 2. The
story is not based on any real person place thing, or another person's
idea.  So any similarities are pure chance.  3.  Since this story is of my
own creation, I have the copyright to it.  No other postings, except at
nifty, are allowed. Nor is the selling of the story to others permitted.
Any questions about the above, please write.

				   Enjoy

				    JMH

			   trandar2002@yahoo.com

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

It took a lot of cajoling, but in the end Darren agreed to stay with Chris
and Jacob for the long term.  He also finally agreed to let Philip live
with him.  On the first night Jacob gave them lessons on how to shave each
other using his husband Chris as a model.  He then had Darren practice on
Philip who got cut once when he panicked during Darren's first swipe of the
razor. During dinner, Tara came over bringing John with her.

"Daddy!" the nearly three year old shouted when he saw his father.

"John... how are you doing kiddo?"  Darren grinned as he scooped his son
up.

"We went to the zoo today," John smiled as he squeezed his father's cheeks.

"Really... was it fun?"

"Not as fun as when you come... Thomas would not make the animal sounds.

"John... how many times do I have to tell you not to call your father
that.'  Tara said a little exhausted.

"Ok mom," John said a little put out.

"Be good John," Darren half scolded.

"But I am good," John said with an innocent smile

"Good at fooling people with that smile.  I guess I'll have to tickle you
as punishment."

"No dad!"  John squirmed as his father put him on the couch and gave him a
good tickling.

"John... stop shouting," Tara sighed, not really having the energy for it.

"Shhhh... we need to be quiet... mom is about to fall asleep," Darren tried
to joke, but the deadly look Tara gave told him it fell flat.  "Where is
Thomas?"

"Thomas is at home looking after OUR baby."

"Is anything wrong with Lisa?"

"No,' Tara said in a tone that indicated she wanted the conversation to
end.

"Ok"

During dinner everyone seemed to have a good time but Tara, who looked
stressed and answered questions with as short answers.  When dinner was
done and John was asleep in the living room in his father's lap, Chris
began to explain why all of them were here.

"As you all know Jacob and I just celebrated our first anniversary."

"Cheers!"  All the others shouted.

"Thanks." My gift to Jacob on that day was the land where his childhood
home was.  We have decided to build a new home there and we would like all
of you to join us."

"Join you how?" Tara asked.

"We would like all of us to live together again... just like we used to
do."

"That would be really great," Philip said enthusiastically.  "Let's do it
Darren."

"Yeah... I come over here at least three times a week, would make things a
lot easier."

"No!"  Tara said flatly.

"What?"  Darren said in surprise.

"It's ok Darren... she does not have to agree, but as her brother I would
like to know the reason why," Jacob said to calm him.

"I can't... Thomas already thinks I spend too much time with ya'll.  He
would go nuts if we all lived together again."

"Why?"

"I don't want to get into it but right now. Thomas wants me to work on our
marriage and family.  You and John don't make it easy for us," she said
with the last part directed to Darren.

"What has this to do with John?"  Darren hissed in a low voice as if he
were afraid that his son would hear his parents argue.



"It's not John's fault.  It's no one's fault really.  It's just that as
John has gotten older he has come to see Thomas as not his real dad."

"Tom is not his real dad," Darren replied.

"Yes I know but it's becoming discipline problem.  John won't listen to him
anymore.  Thomas is afraid that our daughter will see John's behavior and
copy it."

"I see," Darren replied.  It was a legitimate reason, but it still lowered
Darren's opinion of Thomas.  "What can I do... tell John to show more
respect to him?"

"No... Thomas wants you to have full custody," Tara said as if those words
were the hardest she has ever had to say.

"And you agree with him?"

"No... well not completely.  Things are just real stressful right now.  I'm
sure John will grow out of it and Thomas will change his mind but..."

"Tara... why are you doing this?"  Jacob asked as he wrapped an arm around
his sister's waist.

"I'm pregnant again," she cried.

"And I guess you are not happy about it?"

"I'm happy about it, but I feel overwhelmed.  Because John will not let
Thomas help him, I have to be the one to take care of him.  But with Lisa
and A new one on the way, I just don't have the time to be a good mother to
them all."

"That's why moving in with us would be a good idea. You would have all of
us to help raise them," Chris said hoping Tara would see that as a
solution.

"That might be good for ya'll and me, but Thomas would not be happy.  He's
trying to do too many things as it is.  He works long hours on cases that
earn him little money because he likes fighting for the underdog, but he
also wants to be a good father.  Him trying to keep a smile on his face all
the time around ya'll would be too much for him.  He needs to be able to
let off steam.

"So what do you suggest?"  Darren asked.

"I want you to become John's primary care giver.  You have always said that
you wanted more time with him.  I'm offering him to you."

"More like dumping him," Darren grumbled.

"Darren... this is not easy for me.  Will you do it?"  She pleaded.

"Yes... I'm more then happy to.  I just wished that this was something we
had all decided instead of you being forced to."

`Thank you Darren...  I know you will be a good parent.  I'll go home now,"
Tara said as she picked up her sleeping son into her arms.  "I will bring
him back tomorrow."

"I have always been a good parent. I'll come to your place instead.  My car
is larger then yours so I will be able to carry more of his stuff."

"Ok... I'll see you after work."

"Ok..." Darren replied.  He would have to see if he could go on extended
leave if he was going to become a full time parent.

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

As Will wandered the grounds of his recent acquisition, he was amazed by
it's good condition.  The hotel had been damaged during last year's
storm... that was how he had been able to buy it for a song.  The previous
owners had been forced to close the hotel as they tried to make repairs,
but during the process had run out of money.  His financial advisor had
been the one to suggest the purchase to him, as it would also act as a tax
haven.  It would take half of the remaining money to repair the place but
when it was done Will would have his own private resort ... "gay resort" to
be precise.  He had already made arrangements with several cruise companies
that offered gay vacations to add him to their stops.  The passengers would
spend three days at sea, three to six days on hi private beach before going
back on the boat to finish their trip.  Will had also found a charter plane
company, which could fly more people in from their larger islands and
Miami.  The only danger Will faced was not
 getting the hotel open in time for if he were late in opening he could
lose all the contracts he had signed.

 By the second week he saw that he was going to be in trouble.  The repair
crew seemed to take a relaxed view to work.  At the rate they were going it
would take months to get things fixed.  Knowing he needed to do something
but not knowing what, Will called his financial adviser.  He recommended
that he fire to local crew and hire a U.S. one, as he would have more legal
rights to sue if the job did not get done.  The advisor told him he would
send over a contractor as soon as possible.

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

John looked over from the end of the bed at the two men sleeping.  One of
them was his father, the other was a man that john recognized as always
hugging his father but this was the first time he had seen the two in bed
together.  This presented a problem for him as he was used to being able to
jump in his father's bed and sleep next to him wherever he came over to
visit.  But now his father's arms were wrapped around Philip, leaving no
room for him.

John, not seeing any other way to get his spot back, went over to the side
of the bed and grabbed Philip's leg, trying to pull him off his spot.

"Hey little fellow... what are you doing?"

"You're in my spot," John said as if that fact was plainly obvious.

"I am... well I better move then," Philip grinned as he lifted John up and
put him next to his dad."

"I'm a big boy," John said after he got comfortable.

"What?"  Philip said confused.

"I'm a big boy... dad told me so.  I'm almost three.

"Then I guess you are," Philip said as he gave John a kiss on his forehead.

"Is my dad your dad also?"

"No... why do you ask that?"

"Well you are in bed with him," John said as if Philip's question was the
silliest thing he had heard.

"Then are you a husband?

"Not yet but I would like to be one."

"Why... husbands are no fun."

"Why do you say that?"

"Mom has a husband and he is no fun."

"Well I like to think I'm a fun guy."

"Ok... then can I call you mom then."

"How about dad?"

"No... dad is dad."

"Ok... but I'm a guy so you can't call me mom."

"Why not?"

`Hehehe... you just can't."

"But I just did mom."

`Don't call me that or I will have to tickle you."

"No!"  John squirmed.

"How about you call him daddy?"  Darren asked as he turned to face the two.

"Morning dad!"  John said as he gave his father a big kiss on his cheek.

"How ya doing kiddo?"

"My room is too big."

"It is?"  Darren said in mock surprise and concern.

"Yeah... I get scared."

"Ok... we'll see if we can get you a smaller room."

"Thanks dad, but can I sleep in here?"

"Well if we did that we would not get any sleep and you know what I told
you about that."

"Yep... I grow when I sleep."

"Yep... so if you want to grow tall ..."

"I have a bedtime."

"Well Darren, it's not like we don't get much sleep as it is," Philip said
just to cause trouble.

Darren took one of his pillows and hit Philip with it.  "You're not
helping," Darren laughed.

"Hey... I know whose good side I need to be on," Philip grinned as he
lifted John up to block another blow.

"Here John... knock Philip out of the room," Darren said as he handed the
pillow to his son.  He then left for the bathroom.

"Ok!"  John grinned mischievously as he tried to weld the oversize pillow
in his arms.  He was able to make two swings before giving up, leaving the
pillow on top of Philip as he rested his head on it.

When Darren came out of the shower he saw his son smiling while Philip
played with his hair.

"Wish I could have another one..." Darren smiled sadly.

"We could you know.  My uncle has a lot of influence on the other judges so
adoption is not out of the question."

"Yeah but having a biological one would ensure I could keep him."

"Then why not.  John you would like a little brother... no?"

"Yep!"  John smiled as he looked up at Philip.  "Sisters are no fun."

"You should not have told him that!" Darren said surprised.

"Why... cause now you have to do it?"

"Yes!"

"Gotcha!"

Why you!"  Darren said as he tackled Philip getting both him and his son
wet.

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

When Chris read the name on the contract it almost caused his heart to
stop.  "Are you sure that Mr. Fist does not know you are offering me this
deal?"

"Yes sir... he left the decision completely to me and I chose you."

"Do you know that we have a past?"

"No... I was unaware of that.  Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not at all.  I will just use one of my subsidiaries... I'm sure that
Mr. Fist will not recognize the name."

"Are you sure?"  The investor asked suspiciously.

"Yes.  I will even give him a discount"

"Good... I get a bonus if we are under budget."

After the meeting Chris called one of his aides asking him to go down to
the Caribbean.  He instructed him to do his best, but under no
circumstances was he to reveal Chris's association with the project.  He
had no idea what was going on, but Chris knew that this was not the time to
let everyone's secrets leak out.

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

Three months later...

The hotel opened on time and was a big success.  Will was going to be
completely booked until February.  His dancing card had also become quite
full as not a few guests found it enticing to think they were able to
seduce their host.

Will had just finished "checking out" a hunky blond scuba diver when one of
the staff members came up to him with a worried expression on his face.

"What's wrong Paul?"  Will asked concerned.

"It's room number 23.  Mr. Goodson was suppose to check out three days ago
but each time we come over he just tells us to send him a bill."

"Does he pay it?"

"Yes but..."

"But what?"

"The Wilson-Fisher couple was supposed to have the room.  We were lucky
that one of them got sick and took a flight home as soon as the boat
docked, but now Mr. Bernstein is expected tomorrow.  What if Mr. Goodson
still refuses to leave?"

"Goodson... the name does not ring a bell.  What does he look like?"

"I don't know sir... from what I've been told he went right to his room the
day he arrived... has not come out since.  Not even the cleaning crew has
been in there."

"Well he has to come out to eat."

"Room service."  Paul explained.

"Ok... let see if I can have a talk with him," Will said as his assistant
manager led him down the hall... outside to the veranda ... and up some
stairs to one of the hillside bungalows that faced the sea.

As Will made his way to the door, he watched as the sun sank into the aqua
blue waters.  The view from up here was breathtaking and it was only when
the door opened by a crack and a soft voice spoke that Will's concentration
broke.

"If you are room service... just leave the food by the door."

"No sir... this is the assistant manager.  We need to speak to you."

"I already told you I'd pay whatever you charge."

"Sir... another guest is coming.  If you would like to remain on the island
we can arrange for you to go to another hotel, but we really need this room
back."

"I'll pay you double the rate," the voice behind the door said in a more
panicked voice.

"Sir, I can't do that."

"Triple the rate... and I'll pay you a hundred for each day you let me
stay."

Paul looked at Will as if he had actually been caught taking a bribe.  Will
gave him a humorous looked and dismissed him with a wave before entering
the conversation.

"Mr. Goodson... this is the owner... Mr. Fist.  Can I come inside and have
a word with you?"

"Good... just the man I wanted to talk with.  I'll pay you whatever you
want, just let me stay here."

"Sir... this is not an issue of money, its about our reputation.  If we
can't deliver a room on time to our guests, then we have a problem.  The
cruise lines will get mad and in return they might stop coming here."

"What if I offer to buy your hotel?"

"Do you really think you can afford it, not to mention that this place is
now my hobby.  I'm not just going to give it away."

 "But I don't want to leave..." The man pleaded from behind the door.

"If you let me in we can talk about it."

"Ok..." The voice replied as Will heard the chain being removed from the
door.

Will had half expected to see the room wreaked but when he stepped inside
he found the room well lit, neat, and even with the bed made.  He followed
the man to the balcony still having not seen his face.

It was not until Will took a seat that he saw the man's face.  It was
gaunt, the skin hanging loose on the face.  The eyes were deep set but
bespoke of a younger age then his baldhead made him appear to be.

"Are you alright Mr. Goodson?"

"Hehehe... do I look alright to you?  I'm dying, so why don't you give me a
last wish and let me die in peace."

As this was a gay resort the first thing that came to Will's mind was the
man had to be positive.  "You have AIDS."

"AIDS... no... cancer... met static cancer."

"Oh..." Will said, as he now knew why the man's head was bald.  He had to
of undergone chemotherapy recently.

   "I wished it were AIDS... then I would not have to come here to die."

"I don't understand."

"I'm sick and tired of being taken cared of by straight people.  All the
hospice care facilities are filled with straight people.  I I'm going to
die I want to do it away from them."

"But sure there has to be gay run programs?"

"Yes... for AIDS but the beds are limited... there is no space for a gay
man dying of something other then AIDS."

"So that's why you came here.  You wanted to spend your last days at my gay
resort but why... you don't ever leave the room from what I hear."

"Because... because it took this death sentence for me to finally leave the
closet.  Why stay in the closet if you know you will die anyway."

"So you wanted to be with gay people."

"Yes.  You see I never intended to stay here as long as I have.  I was to
spend six days and then board a plane for Europe.  See the world you see.
But from this balcony I saw things... things I had never scene."

"What things?"

"Well look over to your left... on the beach.  See those two men holding
hands and the other pair kissing... and before you came I had been watching
another couple making love behind one of the dunes.  I had never let myself
see those things a year ago.  I would avert my eyes when I saw it on the
street as if the just looking would turn me gay."

"I'm sorry..." Will said sadly.

"Not as much as I am... so much time has been lost and now I don't have
much left so please let me stay here and observe the happiness of
others... it is all I have left."

"Before leaving Will got the whole story of Lane Goodson's treatment.  At
the age of 37 he had come down with throat cancer from all the years
smoking cigars.  The doctor's treated it, but 18 months later it had come
back, but this time it had spread to one of his kidneys.  They treated him
a second time... more aggressively.  That time Lane had to watch as the
radiation and chemo took their toll on his body.  He had hoped that it
would be the last time but two years later a sore throat that would not go
away developed.  He had guessed on what it had to be but not wanting to go
through chemo again Lane had avoided his doctors.  It was not until he had
woken up choking that he went back to the hospital.  This time Lane
insisted that the doctors not be so aggressive.  He had surgery to remove
the tumor from his throat and one round of radiation therapy, but he did
not want to continue treatment.  He signed himself up for hospice in the
hope that his last days would be comfortable.  That
 was when he ran into problems... if he wanted to die, he wanted to die
being true to himself, which meant coming out of the closet.  That was when
he found out who his true friends were.

In his attempt to run away from his sexuality Lane had gone to the most
conservative church he could find where their hatred of gays ran nearly as
strong as Lane's hatred of himself.  When he came out to his church friends
he had half known it would end their friendship.  He had just not expected
the angry looks of betrayal they gave him.  After the first three, word got
out and none of the others would return his calls.

Lane was left feeling bitter.  He wanted nothing to do with those who he
viewed as straight, but having never been part of the gay world he did not
know how to fit in.  He could not hide his instinctive cringing when he saw
men hug and kiss and he did not find another person willing to help guide
him past his hang-ups.

So instead of staying at home, Lane packed up his bags to travel the world.
His first was to San Francisco, the gay capital of the world, but while
there he felt too exposed and uncomfortable.  The gay cruise was not much
better.  It was during that part of his trip that he came to depend on room
service.  The only time he would leave his cabin would be late at night
when he would go out on the upper decks and watch the people from the
shadows.

That was why when Lane had arrived at the hotel and found his balcony
giving him view of the beach he had not wanted to leave.  From his vantage
point he was able watch the other guests as they went about their
vacations.  He saw men happy... sad... jolly... and angry... the wide
spectrum of human emotions.  By watching the lives of other gay men... Lane
felt he was a part of their lives.

Will thought deeply about what Lane had told him.  When it came to living
in the closet the two of them had a lot in common.  The only difference was
that Will had Darren... a friend who not only stuck with him but became his
lover, but Will had thrown it away due to feeling inadequate.  That was why
he had accepted Jacob and Tara.  It was the reason he had talked Darren
into sleeping with Philip.  He had believed that if he let Darren sleep
with all those people Darren would have no reason to leave him.  In the end
though it had been Will who had left.

Will knew it had all been a mistake.  A day did not go by without the
thought of running back to Darren did not cross his mind.  Right now...
after his talk with Lane... there was nothing more he wanted then to fall
into his lover's arms... but how to explain that he had made a mistake?
How was he to go back to Darren after the hurt he had caused them both by
running?  He knew deep down that Darren would forgive him... he just could
not live with needing to be forgiven.