Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 02:45:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: ED <Tigerman4@webtv.net>
Subject: "Redemption Of A Vampire" chapter 3

Well as all the first timers say, this is my first attempt at this sort
of thing so bear that in mind when and if you read this. If you like it
please let me know. If you hate it be SURE to let me know because if it
sucks I won't bother to keep going. I can be reached at
Tigerman4@webtv.net I will try to respond to any and all e-mails I get.
THANX.

Legal stuff: This is fiction which means it ain't real. It is not meant
to imply that Brian Littrell of BSB or anyone else mentioned in this
story is gay, straight or that they have any sex life at all for that
matter. If you are under age then go the Disney page then come back when
you can vote. If you don't approve of homosexuality and all that it
implies why don't you visit the Fred Phelps website that would be more
your speed, besides what the hell are you doing here anyways. If it's
illegal where you are at to read this sort of thing then don't call me
for your bail money if you get caught(he he).

Well here we are at part three.  Thanks goes to Dave, yuli, and Sam for
your notes of encouragement. I'll try and make the chapters longer. It
is so cool to see something I have written put up for all the world to
see. Thanks goes to the nifty archive for giving people a place to
showcase their work. Enough babble on with the story.

Redemption Of A Vampire
Chapter 3

     John was so tired but he could not seem to fall asleep.  His mind
kept going over and over the events of earlier in the evening.  Had he
done the right thing.  His heart said yes but his brain was constantly
screaming 'what the fuck were you thinking'.  Lying in bed was useless,
so he decided to get a glass of hot cocao and go into the library to
find a very boring book,  to help put him to sleep.  He got up put on
his robe and slippers and slipped out of his room.  He walked down the
hall to the stairs and made his way down.  He was about midway and
decided that yes he owed it to Ed to help him in any way necessary.  If
not for him he would not have half of what he had, and probably not even
be alive.

     He went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of milk with a
hint of cocao and put it in the microwave to warm.  When it was done he
took it to the library and sunk into one of the comfy leather chairs.
As he surveyd the room he spied the picture of himself, Ed and Eds
parents on the wall.  He took a sip of his milk sat back and let his
mind slip into the past.

     John had been fourteen and a freshman in highschool and Ed had been
twentyfour and in graduate shcool when they first met.  It was late
afternoon and Ed had noticed a kid out of the corner of his eye as him
and his freinds were heading to the library to study.  At first he
thought nothing of a kid sitting on one of the benches along the river.
A few hours later the gang decided to call it a night.  They all said
their goodnights and went their seperate ways. As Ed walked across the
foot bridge, to get to the parking lot across the river, he could see
who he thought was the same kid he had seen earlier.  He was still
sitting on the same bench.  In the light of one of the nearby lamposts
it appeared the kid was hugging his knees and crying.  Ed decided he
couldn't just leave without finding out if there was something he could
do.  He took the stairs from the bridge down to the sidewalk that ran
along the river.  As he approached the kid in the dim light his head
shot up.  "Matt is that you?"  He warily asked.

    "Uh... no.  Are you ok?  I was coming from the library and saw you
down here and thought I better see if you were all right,"  Ed said.

    "No I'm not all right.  I have been sitting here for what seems like
forever waiting for my jerk of a step brother to come back and pick me
up.  I have a feeling he conveniently forgot me."  the kid said
dejectedly.

    "Uhm.. listen my car is just across the the river.  Would you like
me to take you home.  I mean you can't stay out here all night."

    "No thats all right he may show up and no offence but I don't know
you, and you might be some pervert."

     "Well ok then have a nice night."   Ed said as he turned to leave.
The kid thought about it a minute and decided to take a chance like the
guy said he couldn't stay here all night and the odds of Matt showing up
were getting slimmer by the minute.  Ed only got a few feet when John
ran up to him.

    "I'm sorry, that was rude.  You're just trying to help and I throw
it in your face.  Is the offer still open?'

    "Hey no problem.  You're upset I undestand, and yes the offer still
stands grab your stuff and lets go.  By the way the names Ed Bryer whats
yours."  Ed asked.

   "Thanks Mr. Bryer my names John Smith."  He said as ran back and
grabbed his jacket and books.

     "Hey none of that Mr. Bryer crap call me Ed all my friends do."
John brightened as he caught onto what Ed meant.  They made small talk
as they walked to the car. As Ed put the keys in the door Johns eyes
nearly popped out his head.  It was brand new dark green Mustang
convertible.  Ed noticed the look on his face.  "Like it, it was a
birthday slash graduation present from my folks."

     "It's beautiful, is it fast?"  John asked in awe.

     "Fairly fast, get in."  He started it up and it purred like a
kitten.  As they pulled out of the lot.  "You hungry I'm sure you
haven't eaten I know I haven't so how bout we grab a bite?"  Ed asked

     "It's late and I better just get home besides I'm sure mom has
dinner for me but thanks for the offer."

    "Come on we can get a burger at McDonalds it won't take a minute
what do ya say?"

    "Oh all right I guess whats a few more minutes."  The two sat in
silence the rest of the way.  They got to the restaurant and got their
food and sat down to talk some more.  "So how is it you ended up where
you were when I found you?"  Ed asked.

    "Well my step-brother Matt was to pick me up after school.   As we
were heading home he saw some buddies walking down the street.  He
stopped to talk a minute and they ended up convincing him to go cruising
college girls.  Needless to say they didn't want me along so he left me
where you found me and said he would be back later.  Any excuse to dump
me cause he was none too thrilled to have to pick me up in the first
place."  John said with tears in his eyes.

   "I take it he's alot older than you?  And you don't get along too
well?"  Ed asked trying to get John to open up about his troubles.

   "Yeah hes 19 and I'm 14.  Matt and I don't get along at all.  His dad
and my mom have been married a couple years now.  He's like ten years
older than her.  He got her pregnant so they had to get married but she
lost the baby.  He drinks alot and gets kinda mean when he's drunk.  I
try to stay away from him then.  I never knew my own dad he was killed
in Korea when I was a baby,"  he paused a moment,  "I'm sorry I
shouldn't bother you with my troubles."

   "Hey no problem what are friends for if you can't tell them your
problems right?"  Ed said.  They talked some more when Ed glanced at his
watch.  "Whoa! It's getting late I better get you home."   They hopped
in the car and sped off.  John  gave him the directions.  As they pulled
up to the house Ed asked "Do you want me to come in with you?"

   "No thats all right but thanks anyway and thanks for dinner and the
lift home."

    "No problem like I said what are friends for,"  he took out a pen
and piece of paper and jotted something down.  "Here's my number if you
ever need to talk just give me a call I mean it allright."

   "Thanks for everything man."  John said and got out of the car and
grabbed his stuff and ran up to his house.  As Ed drove off he was so
thankful that his family was so loving and caring even though he was
gay.  He felt so sorry for John.  He hoped he would be ok.  He knew if
the kid needed him he would have to help he just hoped that John would
come to him if he needed it.

   As John went into the house he could see his step father passed out
in the living room with a beer in his hand and several on the coffee
table.  His mother was in the kitchen doing dishes.  He went in to let
her know he was home.  When she looked at him he could see she had a
black eye.  She was so glad to see him.  She demanded to know what
happened and he explained everything.  At first she was going to let
Matt have it but John begged her off the last thing he wanted was for
Matt to go after him because he got him in trouble.  She thought about
it a moment and decided to let it drop he was home safe and that was all
that mattered.  He asked about her black eye, she told him she had run
into a door but John knew better but kept quiet.  She kissed him and
sent him up to bed.  As he got ready for bed he looked at the number
that Ed gave him and hoped he meant what he said about talking to him
whenever he needed a friend.  Seeing as he didn't have many he'd take
what he could get.

   The two started talking a couple times a week and became close even
though they were ten years apart in age.  A month and a half went by and
John quit calling.  Ed got worried.  Then one night Ed got a call late
in the evening.   "She's dead, now I'm all alone."  John sobbed.   "What
am I going to do?"

    "Who's dead John..... Oh my GOD its your mother OH man I'm so sorry.
What happened?'

   "She was going up stairs with a load of clean laundry and somehow
tripped up and fell back down and broke her neck. My step father found
her I was at school.  Oh god what am I going to do." he was sobbing
hysterically.

    "Just calm down everythings going to be fine you know I'm here for
ya.  Hey how bout you come stay with me and my parents for a while?"

    "I don't know I mean I don't want to impose and.." John was saying
but Ed cut him off.

    "Nonsense its no imposition and you need a change of scenery.  Get
packed I'm coming right over."  Ed said

   "All right thanks I guess I do need to get out of here.  All my step
father has done since the accident is drink himself senseless.  And Matt
is being an even bigger jerk.  Ok see you in a few."  John said and hung
up.  He snuck up stairs so as not disturb the old man who was passed out
as usual in the livingroom.  He got to his room and threw a few things
together in a suitcase and headed back down.  As he reached the last
step Matt stumbled in the door drunk.  He saw my bag and asked me where
I was going.  Jonh told him he was going to stay at a friends.

   "Hey dad squirt says he's going to stay at a friends didn't know he
had any."  Matt sneered.  As his dad came too he wondered what was going
on.  He came out to the hall and saw my bag.  "Your not going anywhere
get back up to your room."  He said.

   "I'm going and there is nothing you can do about it.  You aren't my
father so fuck off you old drunk."  As soon as he said it he regretted
it because seconds later he found himself on the floor with a very big
hand print on his face where his step father had hit him.  At first he
was stunned but soon turned to anger.  John scrambbled to his feet and
kicked him in the crotch.   He grabbed his case and headed out the door.
Suddenly Matt was on him.  They tumbbled to the the porch.  Matt had
John pinned down and started to pummell him.  John stuggled but Matt was
so much bigger.  The pain in his face was intense.  His nose was broken
and bleeding heavily.  Matts weight was making it difficult to breath.
Soon black spots were floating in front of his eyes.   As he lay there
semi-conscious Matt got up but then proceeded to start kickking him.

     "How do like getting your nuts kicked you little shit."   Matt
screamed. He stomped on his chest,  John felt something snap inside and
knew he had broken ribs.  The pain was so much he blacked out.   When he
came to three days later he was in a bed and though he could barely open
his eyes he could make out what he thought was an older lady sitting
next to the bed reading a book.  He tried to move but the pain was
almost unbearable.  The lady looked up from her book at my stirring

     "Well we're awake finally, I'll get the doctor."  she said and got
up and left the room.  He then realized he was in a hospital and the
memory of what happened came flooding back.  Moments later the lady
returned with a doctor and someone else.  As they came closer he could
tell that the other man was Ed.

     "Well my boy its good to see you're awake.   We thought we were
going to lose you."  The doctor said.

     "Hey bud how you feelin,"  Ed asked.  John just groaned.  "Yeah
dumb question obviously you feel like shit, you look it too."

    "Thanks alot,  what happened the last thing I remember is my step
brother beating the crap out of me."  Jonh said in a hoarse whisper.

    "Well son you have three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken
nose,  mutiple face lacerations, a concusion, and a dislocated shoulder.
It's a good thing Mr. Bryer showed up when he did he may have saved your
life."  the doctor said.

    "How long have I been out?"

    "Three days, I'm going to check you over and then you better get
some more rest."   Ed and the lady left the room and the doctor did his
exam.  When he was done a nurse came in to give him something for the
pain.  John was in and out for the next few days while his body slowly
healed.  The lady he found out was Eds mother and he also met his
father.  Three weeks passed and John was doing much better.  The
swelling in his face had gone down and the pain was at a bearable level.
Late one afternoon Ed and his parents came in the room with the doctor.
      "Well son your recovery is coming along quite well and I think we
can release you.  Now we can't send you home under the circumstances so
the Bryers have agreed to look after you.  You don't seem to have any
other relatives so how does that sound?  I'll let you all discuss it."
The doctor said.

      "What do you think want to come live with us?  We have plenty of
room and after what happened you can't possibly go back to that."  Eds
parents said.

    "I couldn't I mean thanks but you hardly know me,  I can..."  he was
cut off by Ed's mother.

    "Nonsense if you are a friend of my son then thats all that matters,
hes a good judge of character.  You are coming to live with us you just
lost your mother and now this, you need to be somewhere that cares about
you, obviously those two don't and going into some home wouldn't be much
better.  So no arguments."

   "Yeah what she said and I've always wanted a little brother."  Ed
said with a big stupid grin on his face.  Well John decided it was
useless to argue.  His mother was gone and he had nobody else to turn
to.  He was going to miss her but deep down he felt that at least she
was at peace and he would see her again some day.  And these were good
people.

    The next day he was released and sent home with the Bryers.  Because
of their wealth and stature in the community they easily got
guardianship of John pushed through the court.  Over the next several
months they all got to know each other better.  John began to open up
and feel like he belonged.  Him and Ed became even closer to the point
he finally told John he was gay.  John was all right with it to Eds
releif.  He grew to love the Bryers and vice versa.  Fran and Will
decided to adopt him outright.  Since there was no other family it went
through quickly.  They wanted it to be a suprise though so they didn't
tell him.  By coincidence the final paperwork came through on Johns
birthday.  They went to Bill Knapps for dinner that night after he blew
out the candles of his cake they gave him a manilla envelope.

    "Whats this you guys?"  he asked as he looked at them quizzicly.

    "Well open it and find out."  Fran said.  As he took the documents
out and read them a smile broke out on his face at the same time as
tears dotted the corners of his eyes.  He then started to giggle.

   "I guess what they say is true."  John said

   "Whats that?"  Ed asked

    "Be careful what you wish for." he said as he grabbed Ed and his
parents in a big hug.  They all started laughing.

    "Looks like time for a new family portrait."  Fran said.  Will just
so happemed to bring his camera so they had a waiter take the picture.
It was the happiest day of Johns life.  But he still couldn't help
thinking of his mother, and a pang of guilt, but then maybe she had a
hand in this.  The next day he visited his parents grave and  and
thanked her and told her he was going to be all right.  As he turned to
leave he thought he heard a wisper on the breeze that almost sounded
like it ws saying your welcome.  He kinda shook his head and smiled and
felt that everything would turn out fine.   Little did he know that more
tragedy awaited him and those he loved in the near future.

     Suddenly John was brought out of his trip to the past as he heard
the soud of footsteps in the bedroom above him.  It was nearly morning
and Ed had come home to rest for the day.  A hint of a smile crossed his
lips knowing his best friend was back even if he was a vampire.

     John decide he better hit the sack as well and try and get some
rest.  There was a lot to do if Ed was to rejoin the world, and he would
need Johns help to do so.   His cocoa had grown cold so he went the
kitchen and dumped it in the sink, then made his way to his bed and
hopefully some sleep.
...............................................................
   At nine o'clock that morning as the boys bus was just pulling in
Philidelphia Brian stummbled into the back lounge.  Nick and AJ were
playing N64.  As Brian plopped down in one of the chairs they both
looked at him and frowned.

   "Damn Brian you look like shit."  AJ said.

   "Thanks alot you look lovely yourself.  I didn't sleep well.  Wierd
dreams."

   "Want to talk about them?"  Nick asked.  "It might help to talk them
out."

    "Its nothing,  probably shouldn't have had so much pizza before bed
thats all."  Brian said trying to brush it off.  But they did disturb
him.  Who was the guy he was having sex with.  And why did the thought
of it turn him on so.  He wasn't gay was he.  He became lost in his own
thoughts and dozed off.  Nick and AJ went back to their game.  Soon
Briam found himself in a green Mustang convertible at a drive in.  Next
to him was the same guy and they were holding hands.  He turned his head
to ask the couple in the backseat if they could see the film allright.
It was a guy and girl much younger than himself.  The two were kissing
and ignored him.  He nudged Ed, yes thats what his name was,  and he
turned to look.  A grin spread across each of their faces.

     "Hey why let them have all the fun," as he leaned in and pressed
his lips to Brians.  As they touched Brian let out a moan in the waking
world.  Nick and AJ looked over at their sleeping friend and saw Brian
smiling as he snoozed.  That did it as soon as he woke they were going
to find out what was going on.
...........to be continued......

  Well there you have it part three.  Sorry it took so long hope it was
worth it.  I'll get part four done as soon as I can.  If only real life
would quit getting in the way.  {;-)