Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 22:41:17 -0500
From: David J <boricuaholandes@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Prince - Chapter 5

Hello all!!!  So here is the latest installment of "The Prince." I hope
that you guys continue to enjoy it.  As always, please let me know if you
have any questions or comments.  The email is boricuaholandes@hotmail.com
and my yahoo group is at ca.groups.yahoo.com/groups/futurecanadiansgroup.

Happy reading!
David :)

Chapter 5
"We are family..."

	"When is Gavin gonna be here?" Conner asked as he sat at the Butler
family kitchen table, coloring.

	"He should be here around six," Paula answered as she worked on
dinner.

	"What time is it now?" he asked.

	"It's only three, baby."

	"So I still have to wait for three hours," Gavin said.

	"Yes, baby.  You're getting good with telling time."

	"Thanks, Mom.  I can't wait."

	"Me neither, baby."

	The phone rang.  "I want to answer it!" Conner yelled, starting to
get up from the table.  Paula rushed past him, though.

	"You sit right there, babe.  I'll get the phone."

	Conner whined for a second, but remained in the chair.

	"Hello?" Paula said as she picked up the cordless phone and pressed
the talk button.

	"Hey Mom!" Gavin said.

	"Gavin!" Paula yelled.

	"GAVIN!  I WANT TO TALK TO HIM!" Conner said, running to his mom's
side.

	"Hold on, Conner.  Just a second, and you can talk to him," Paula
said to Conner.  Returning to Gavin, she continued, "Are you on your way,
yet?"

	"No ma'am.  Not yet.  I'm actually sitting here with my friend
Alex."

	"Oh!  A friend or a friend?" she asked, smiling.

	"A friend, Mom."

	"OK."

	"Well, he was planning on sitting in his room all weekend with his
annoying roommate..."

	"Tell him to come with you!" Paula interrupted.

	"Well, I did, but he's saying that he doesn't want to be a burden
on our family weekend."

	"Let me talk to him," Paula said.

	"K.  Hold on," Gavin said, handing the phone to Alex.

	"Gavin!" Alex whined.  "I seriously don't want to cause you or your
family any problems this weekend."

	"It's not a problem," Gavin tried to reassure him.  "Here, talk to
Mom."

	"Mrs. Butler?" Alex said, taking the phone.

	"Alex!  Get your things together and come with Gavin," she
instructed.  "It will not be a burden to have you here, I promise."

	"Are you sure?"

	"I am sure, Alex.  Any friend of Gavin's is welcome in my home,"
she said.  Alex smiled.  In her voice, he heard his mother's a bit.
Perhaps it was the motherly instincts that they both possessed.

	"Thank you, Mrs. Butler."

	"You're more than welcome.  May I speak to Gavin again?"

	"Yes ma'am."  Alex handed the phone back to Gavin.

	"Hey again, Mom."

	"Hey.  Tell him to bring his dirty clothes, I will wash his too."

	"I will," Gavin said.  "Mind if I talk to the kid for a second?"

	"Not at all.  He will be glad to see you, I am sure," Paula said.
"Conner!" she called.  Gavin heard the kid running toward the living room
where she had moved.  He grabbed the phone from her enthusiastically.

	"Gavin!" Conner said.

	"Hey kid!  What's going on?"

	"Not much.  Will you please hurry up and get here?" Conner asked.

	"I will be there in a few hours, bro."

	"Can we play a game this weekend?"

	"I'm sure that we can find the time.  Mind if my friend Alex plays
with us?"

	"Sure...Is he your boyfriend?" Conner asked.

	"He's just a friend," Gavin said, winking at Alex.

	"OK.  Whatever you say!" Conner joked.

	"Alright.  Well, I've got to get off the phone so that we can get
going.  I will be there in just a little bit, OK?"

	"Alrighty.  Love you, Gavin."

	"Love you, too, Con-Con."

	"Bye."

	"Bye," Gavin said.  He closed his phone and looked at Alex.

	"So.  I guess I'm getting to see North Alabama this weekend."

	"Yes," Gavin said, walking to Alex as he sat on his side of the
room he shared with Eddie.  He stood in front of Alex and looked down at
him.  Gavin reached out his hand, which Alex took.  Gavin tugged slightly
and pulled Alex to where they were facing one another.  He gently kissed
Alex's lips.  He let go of Alex's hand and wrapped the free hand around the
man's waist before him.  He let it rest in the small of Alex's back, just
where the back ends and the ass begins.

	Alex separated their lips for a moment; he had to catch his breath.
Gavin went to his neck, kissing and sucking on his muscular neck.  He
suddenly stopped and looked into Alex's eyes.  "Why did you stop?"

	"Because we should probably get going.  My brother is probably
sitting in my room, planning what we're going to be doing tonight, and we
have to get your laundry together."

	"Why?"

	"Because if we don't, my mom will never let me hear the end of it.
I think that, in her mind, she wants to let you know that you actually are
welcome at our house."

	"She is really nice.  I can see where you get it."

	Gavin smiled.  "Yeah!  I do come by it honest."

	"I'm glad that I met you," Alex said, putting his hand on Gavin's
chest.

	"I'm glad I met you, too," he said sweetly.  "Now, let's get
going."

	"Alright," Alex said.  The two gathered his things and put them in
one of the suitcases he'd brought with him from Lorenzia.  Within just a
few minutes, the pair were walking down the deserted hall toward Gavin's
car.  Shortly, they were driving on the interstate.

	"You know.  It will feel quite good to get out of Montevallo for a
few days."

	"Yes.  It will, and Conner will be glad to see us."

	"Speaking of siblings," Alex started.  "I talked to Margaret
yesterday."

	"Really?  How is she?"

	"She's good.  She may be coming down next weekend for College
Night."

	"Wow!  So I finally get to meet the mysterious Margaret Saavedra."

	"Yes."

	"Does she have a ride from the airport?" Gavin asked as they drove
passed Trussville and got onto I-59.

	"She was going to get a taxi from the airport.  She's staying in
the hotel on campus for the trip."

	"We can go and get her from the airport!  No sense in her taking a
taxi all the way down," Gavin said.

	Alex thought for a second.  "Would you really mind doing that?"

	"Not at all.  And I even understand that we'd have to keep a bit of
a distance while she's here."

	"I want to tell her, Gavin.  Of any of my family members, she'd
probably be the most likely to understand.  I just don't know how to do
it."

	"It will come to you, babe, and regardless of how she acts, I will
be here to support you."

	"You truly are amazing, Gavin Butler!"

	"I do what I can," Gavin said as he continued to drive.

	"Will you forgive me if I'm not too affectionate next weekend?"

	"There is nothing to forgive," Gavin said.  Alex put his hand on
Gavin's shoulder as he drove up the interstate.  He squeezed his shoulder a
couple of times.  "That feels good."

	"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Alex said.  He moved his hand from
Gavin's shoulder down his arm toward his hand.  He found the tips of his
fingers and touched them with his.  "And I appreciate that you are as
understanding as you are."

	"If you keep saying that, Alex, I'm going to pull this car over and
spank you," Gavin joked, turning for a second to smile at Alex.

	"And I don't know that I would complain," Alex joked.

	"Oh really?"

	"Nope.  I've decided something over the last couple of days."

	"OK?  What is that?"

	"That I want you to be my first," Alex answered.  "This weekend
affirmed that you are something very special."

	"That is so nice of you, Alex."

	"I know," Alex said, smiling.  "I can't promise that it will be
anytime soon or that I can actually get up the gumption to do it, but it
will be with you, I hope."

	"You know.  I appreciate that, and I think that you're worth
waiting for," Gavin said.

	The sound of Gavin's ringing cell phone took them from their
conversation.  "Hello?" Gavin said as he answered the phone.

	"GAVIN!" Conner said.

	"Hey Conner.  What's going on?"

	"Not much, Con-Con.  What's up with you?"

	"I'm waiting for your slow ass to get here," Conner answered.
Gavin laughed.

	"You got big plans already?" Gavin asked.

	"Yeah.  I want you to read me a story tonight."

	"OK."

	"And tell Alex that he has to read me a story, too."

	"I don't know, Conner.  You'll have to ask him...NICELY."

	"OK.  I will when he gets here."

	"OK."

	"And then we're going to play a game.  I think Scrabble.  I've
learned a lot of words lately."

	"OK.  You'll have to show me and Alex."

	"OK."

	"Alright.  Well, we're getting off the interstate in just a few
minutes, so we will be there in just about an hour."

	"Alrighty, Gavin.  I love you!"

	"I love you, too."  Gavin smiled into the phone.  Alex watched him
as his smiled.  He'd seen the smile, but never looked at the muscles in his
face as they made the motion.  It was something else about him that could
be added to the already exhaustive list of things Alex liked about Gavin.
As they drove, Alex keenly watched his face.  Gavin talked to his mother
for a moment as they drove through Springville and Ashville.  They were
passing through Steele when Gavin was finally able to hang up the phone.
Alex was still looking at him keenly.  "What?" Gavin asked as Alex stared.

	"Just soaking you in."

	"OK.  That's a little strange, Alex," Gavin said.  "Just kidding,"
he corrected himself with a smile.

	"I was about to say!" Alex said, turning back for a moment and
looking at the road ahead.  Gavin reached over and patted Alex's leg.  It
was a very sweet touch.  Upon their arrival in Gadsden, though, Gavin had
to take his hand from Alex's leg.  It was more to navigate through the city
than anything else.  He drove down 431 for a while until he came into Boaz.
He gave Alex a quick history about how Boaz was once the only place in
Alabama with Outlet Malls.  He didn't stop, or even offer to stop, though.
His mind, like his car, was racing to his destination.  He was excited that
Alex had come, but he was also excited about seeing his parents and his
brother.  After being stopped at a couple of lights, Alex turned down
highway 75.  He passed so many familiar landmarks, such as churches,
stores, places he'd hung out.  He passed the turn to go back to his old
high school, where he'd been the only openly gay football star in the
town's history.  He continued to drive south until they got to the airport
in Marshall County, Alabama.  He turned off of the highway and weaved his
way through country roads until he came to a long, dirt driveway that led
to a modest farm house.

	"They're here!!!!" Conner exclaimed as he stood in the front door
way and waited for Gavin's car to come to a complete stop.  It was almost
like he was a puppy waiting anxiously for his owner's arrival.  As they
pulled closer, they saw Conner open the door and wait at the top of the
stairs.  Gavin smiled at the sight of his brother and his unkempt hair.
Alex felt a little nervous at the sight of Gavin's brother, but nonetheless
thought it was very sweet.

	The car came to a stop behind a pick up truck and a minivan.
Before Gavin could get the door opened, Conner had run off the porch and to
the door of the car.  He waited for just a second until the door was fully
open and Gavin had stepped out of the car.  He latched onto Gavin and Gavin
to him.  There was a bond between them that Alex knew could only exist
between siblings: it was the same bond that existed between his sister and
him.

	"I'm so glad you're finally here!" Conner screamed as he wrapped
his arm around Gavin's neck.  Gavin closed his eyes and soaked up the
moment between them.  If he'd missed anyone from home, it had been Conner.
Alex climbed out of the car and had made his way around to the front of the
car.

	"I'm Ray Butler," Gavin's dad said to Alex as the brothers
continued to hug each other.

	"Alex Saavedra.  Nice to meet you, sir."

	"Our boy givin' you problems down at Montevallo?"

	"Not a moment.  It's more me giving him trouble," Alex said,
holding up the cast for a second.

	"Oh my goodness!" Paula said as she inspected the cast.  "You poor
baby," she said, before even introducing herself.  "I'm Paula by the way,"
she said as she continued to look up.

	"Nice to meet you, ma'am.  I'm Alex."

	"It's nice to meet you.  I've heard a lot about you," she said,
letting go of his arm and looking into his face.

	"I hope it's all been good."

	"Quite good, actually," she smiled at him.  She was between Alex
and Ray, and she smiled and winked.  Alex smiled.

	"Who are you?" Conner interrupted, pointing at Alex.

	"I'm Alex.  And you must be Conner?"

	"Right!  I'm Conner Butler!"

	"It's nice to meet you, Conner," Alex said, walking over and
offering to shake Conner's hand.  Conner, without instruction, took Alex's
hand and shook it.

	"Your mouth sounds funny!" Conner said.

	"CONNER BUTLER!" Paula yelled.

	"Well, it does!" Conner tried to justify.

	"It's because I'm not from America."

	"Where are you from?" Conner asked, still in Gavin's arms.

	"I'm from a place called Lorenzia, in Europe."

	"That's where you went last summer, isn't it?" Conner asked Gavin.

	"Yes..."

	"Did y'all meet there?" Conner asked.

	"No.  We just met at school a few weeks ago," Gavin explained and
Alex agreed.

	"OK.  Let's go play a game real fast!" Conner said, climbing down
from his perch in Gavin's arms.

	"They just got here, Conner.  Let them get settled a little bit."

	"Party pooper!" Conner said as he stomped off toward the house.

	"Sorry about that," Paula said to both of them.

	"Not a problem," Gavin said.

	They got their bags out of the car and followed Ray and Paula into
the house.  "Just leave your bags in the laundry room and I will get to
them in the morning."

	"Alright, Mom.  Thanks," Gavin said.

	"Thank you, Mrs. Butler."

	"It's not a problem guys.  After that, you guys get washed up.
Dinner will be done in a minute, and we'll eat as soon as Gavin's
grandparents get here."

	"Meemaw and Pawpaw are coming?"

	"Yeah.  They called just a few minutes ago and invited themselves
over."

	"Nice!" Gavin said.  "Alex, you're going to love my grandparents.
They're really sweet."  Gavin led a still nervous Alex to the laundry room.
"Don't be surprised if my grandfather tries to slip you money!" Gavin
warned.

	"Alright," Alex said.  As they entered the laundry room, Gavin set
his bag in front of the washer.  He reached around and took Alex's as well.

	"I'm glad you came up with me," Gavin said as he turned to look at
Alex.  He leaned up against the washer and took Alex's hands in his own.

	"Me too.  Your family seems amazing."

	"They really are, the two most amazing men I know are right here in
this house," Gavin said.

	"Really?"

	"Yeah.  You and Conner!" Gavin joked.  After their chuckling
subsided, Gavin looked deeply into Alex's eyes.  Alex looked back at him
with a similar gaze.  "What's wrong, babe?"

	"Nothing at all," Alex said, smiling.  Gavin didn't totally believe
him at first, but Alex reassured him that everything was fine.

	"Alright, babe."  Gavin smiled at him again.  There was something
about looking at Alex that made him beam with joy and delight.  "Would it
freak you out if I kissed you right now, knowing full well that my brother
could come in at any moment and find us kissing and then run and tell
everyone?"

	"Not the kiss part," Alex said.  He leaned into Gavin and pecked
him on the lips.  "That work for you?"

	"Yeah.  That works for me."

	"GAVIN!" Paula called.

	"Yes ma'am?" Gavin said.

	"Your grandparents are here!" Paula yelled.

	"Time for you to meet the grandparentals!" Gavin said, winking and
kissing Alex on the cheek.

	Now, keep in mind that Alex had met millions of people.  He had
never, a day in his life, been nervous about the process.  This time was
different.  Everyone else that he'd ever met knew he was a prince.
Everyone else knew about his heritage.  These people didn't.  To them, he
was simply Alex, Gavin's friend.  Gavin took him by the hand out of the
laundry room, but released it as he walked toward the front of the house.

	"Meemaw!" Gavin exclaimed.  He gave the older woman a big hug,
practically enveloping her dainty silhouette with his big, muscular frame.

	"How is my college boy?" Edna said.

	"I'm good.  How's my favorite Meemaw?"

	"She's pissed at your Pawpaw."

	"What did he do...this time?"

	"Driving like a mad person all through town.  I thought he was
going to kill me as we came through Little Mexico."

	"I always drive that way, Edna.  And you've been complaining about
it the entire time we've been married."

	"One would think he'd learn!" Edna said to Gavin.  Gavin chuckled;
Alex smiled.

	"Hey Gavin," Paul said.  They shook hands; Paul passed him money;
they hugged, nothing more was said of things that happened.

	"And this must be Alex," Edna said, walking past Gavin as Paul took
her coat and hung it on the coat rack just inside the door.

	"Oh yeah.  Meemaw, this is Alex Saavedra," he said.  Alex extended
his hand, which she took graciously.

	"It's nice to meet you, ma'am," Alex said.

	"Likewise.  Gavin told us about you the last time that he
called...which was too long ago," she said, looking at her grandson.

	"Edna!  Don't give the boy problems," Paul said.  He got a look
from Meemaw.

	"I'll make sure he does it more often," Alex said, looking at Gavin
and smiling.  Gavin returned the smile.

	"And you just won Meemaw's approval," Gavin said, winking at Alex.

	"Such sweet boys.  Y'all make a cute couple," Edna said.

	"We're just friends, Meemaw," Gavin said, in agreement with Alex.

	"Mom!" Paula said, saving the day.  She walked into the dining area
where they'd walked and hugged her deeply.  She went to her father next and
hugged him.  They talked for a moment.  With his grandparents distracted
for a moment, Gavin pulled Alex into the living room.  Conner was sitting
in front of the TV, watching cartoons patiently as instructed by his
mother.

	"What's up, kiddo?" Gavin said, sitting beside him.

	"Not much.  This is a really good episode of SpongeBob.  It's very
provocative!" Conner said seriously.

	"Oh really."

	"Yeah.  It's the one where Mr. Krabs tries to keep the restaurant
open for 24 hours a day and almost kills Squidward."

	"Oh!  OK," Gavin said.  Alex sat on the other side of Conner, who
was sitting in the middle of the couch.

	"What do you think about it, Alex?"

	"I think that overworking that poor squid is simply awful," Alex
said.  Gavin smiled as Conner nodded in agreement.

	"Alex.  Will you tell me a story, too, before I go to sleep?"

	"If you'd like I can."

	"I would like!" Conner said.  Alex and Gavin shared a quick
pleasant look between each other.

	Paula called the boys in for dinner in just a few minutes.  She sat
at one end of the table, while Ray sat at the other.  Edna and Paul sat
next to each other on one side; Gavin sat on the other side, flanked on his
left by Conner and on his right by Alex.  They said grace and then began to
eat.  Gavin had warned his mother of Alex's obsession with gravy, so of
course, there was enough for him to drown his biscuits and his country
fried steak in.  One mustn't also forget the mashed potatoes.

	"So Alex.  Where are you from?" Edna asked during the meal to make
small talk.

	"I am from Lorenzia, actually, the city of Cabocha," Alex answered.

	"That's where you went a while ago, right, Gavin?"

	"Yes ma'am."

	"Gavin came back telling us about how beautiful everything in
Europe was.  He especially talked about Lorenzia, though.  He told us about
how the beaches were clean and virtually unspoiled.  He told us about how
green the mountains were and how beautiful the people seemed to be."

	"I will not second guess him on that one.  Every single person that
I've ever met in Lorenzia has been truly spectacular.  The only exception
to that rule is my older sister, Elizabeth."

	"So she's evil?" Paul asked.

	"I wouldn't say evil, but she doesn't have all her scruples," Alex
said.

	"What's a scruple?" Conner asked, mispronouncing the word.

	"To say that someone doesn't have all their scruples means that
they're slightly crazy."

	"Like Gavin?" Conner asked.  The whole family chuckled at the
innocent question.

	"Careful how you answer this one, babe," Gavin said.

	"Wait.  Babe?" Edna questioned, looking at her grandson.

	"Sorry.  Careful how you answer this one, Alex!" Gavin said,
winking at Alex.  The whole table noticed it and the expression on Alex's
face.  Everyone seemed to know that there was something more between them,
something that they either couldn't or wouldn't explain to them.

	"No.  He's completely sane," Alex said.

	"Man, has he got you in some shit!" Conner said, nodding his head
as he returned to his plate.  Gavin wanted to laugh, but held back his
laughter as Paula and Ray stared at Conner.

	"So our Conner has an interesting mouth!" Paula said.  "I would
blame it on TV, but I know he probably learned most of it from his big
brother," she said, staring at Gavin, but then smiling.

	"It's alright.  Elizabeth has a colourful tongue as well," Alex
explained.  "And my twin, Margaret, has been known to throw an expletive or
two while out shopping."

	The table chuckled at his comment.  "Oh!  Did Mom tell y'all what
happened a couple of weeks ago?" Gavin asked his grandparents.

	"No, honey.  What happened?"

	"Well.  It started out oddly.  I messed up something in the office
I was working in on campus and so they fired me..."

	"Oh no!" Edna said.  "Do you need some money?"

	"No ma'am, but thank you for the offer," Gavin said before
continuing his story.  "So I'm upset and mad and everything, and I ask my
manager at my other job for a few extra hours until I found something on
campus."

	"Uh huh..." Edna said as she put a bite of mashed potatoes in her
mouth.

	"Well he said no, and I'm just thinking that I'm screwed.  Well, by
the time I got home that night, the director of the dorm I live in called
me and offered me an assistant position, which I took."

	"That's wonderful!" Edna said.

	"But the weird thing was, as I was coming home, I went to check my
mail and in my mail box was a letter about a scholarship that I'd received
and a check from the University for $10,000."  Edna looked at Gavin
stunned, as did Paul.  "How awesome is that?"

	"Are you SURE that there was nothing attached to it?"

	"I was skeptical at first, but then I got it all checked out, and
it was on the up and up," Gavin said.

	Alex looked intently for a moment at Gavin, as did everyone else at
the table.  Something caught Paula's eye, though, that went unnoticed to
the rest of the diners at the table.  She caught just the way that Alex
looked at Gavin.  She noticed the look in her parents' eyes when they
looked at each other.  She noticed the look in her husband's eyes when he
looked at her.  Alex was smitten with Gavin, despite how much they wanted
to play their relationship down as just a friendship.  She also knew for
certain who it was that had helped her son out.  From the look in his face,
he knew that nothing was attached to it and that Alex was sincere in his
overwhelming desire to help her son out...nothing more, nothing less.
Before too terribly long, they finished dinner.

	Paula began to clear the table of dinner dishes.  The rest of the
brood there, with the exception of Alex went into the living room for a few
minutes.  Being that Alex was still there, Paula enlisted his help with
clearing the table.  Alex jumped at the opportunity to do something for the
family that had so welcomed him into their little circle that afternoon.
Paula gave him a quick explanation of how to work a dishwasher, and Alex
followed them to the letter.  He was, for lack of better phrasing, excited
about the opportunity to be doing such a simple task that he'd never had
the opportunity to do before.

	After a couple of minutes had passed, Paula checked to make sure
that everyone was out of earshot and then walked up to Alex, speaking
quietly.  "Alex.  Thank you for helping Gavin out."

	"With what, ma'am?"

	"The money.  I know it was you that sent him the check.  I could
see in your eyes that you care about him so deeply and that you just were
trying to help him out."  Alex looked a little puzzled at the woman at
first.  He contemplated denying his part in the action, but realized that
such an abandonment of his part would be quickly thrown aside by this same
woman.  "You don't have to tell me anything more, Alex.  I saw the way you
looked at him at the table," she said smiling.  "It's the same way that
Paul looks at me."  They continued working for a second more.  "And Gavin
seems to light up when he talks about you...it makes me happy."

	"He is probably one of the most amazing people I've ever met,
Mrs. Butler.  He's nice.  And when I fell, Gavin helped me out so much.  I
don't know that I will ever be able to repay him for his kindness."

	"Just know that he is who he is and that he wears his heart on his
shoulders, especially with family and guys he likes," Paula advised.

	"MOM!" Conner said as he came into the kitchen.

	"Yes baby?" Paula said, turning her attention to the younger child.
"Can I stay up late tonight and hang out with Gavin and Alex?"

	"No sir.  You have to be in bed at 9, just like usual."

	"What time is it now?" he asked.

	"You tell me," Paula said.  Conner intently studied the clock.

	"It's 8:35," he said.

	"Right!  Now.  How much time do you have before you have to be in
bed?"

	"25 minutes!" he answered.

	"That means you have just enough time to take a quick shower and
then brush your teeth and everything," Paula said, smiling.

	"Alex.  Will you then tell me a story?"

	"Sure," Alex said, washing his hands.

	"Alright!" Conner said as he walked from the room.

	"Don't worry, Alex.  I won't mention anything to Gavin."

	"Thank you."

	"You better decide what story you want to tell Conner.  It'll have
to be good."

	"Yes ma'am.  I may tell him a story that my grandmother used to
tell me.  Her stories always seemed to do the trick," Alex said as he stood
there.

	Alex and Paula could hear Conner in the living room saying
goodnight to the grandparents.  They decided that, at that point, it was
time for them to make their way out of the house.  Paula and Alex joined
them for a second in the living room before they walked to the door,
grabbing their coats.  They said an extended good-bye to everyone,
including Alex, whom Edna had to hug before she left.  As they pulled away,
Conner ran upstairs and got a quick shower.  When he finished, he ran back
down with wet hair, wearing just a pair of Spider-Man underoos.

	"I'm ready for bed!" Conner announced as Gavin and Alex sat in the
living room.

	"OK, kiddo.  I'll be up in a second to read you the story," Gavin
said.

	"OK!  Then Alex!" Conner instructed, running out of the room and
back upstairs.

	"Alright.  I better get upstairs," Gavin said, looking at Alex.

	Alex turned to look at his face.  "Alright, babe!" Alex smiled and
winked, remembering what Gavin had said at the table.  Gavin smiled and
then kissed him on the cheek before going upstairs to his brother.  Ray and
Paula were in another room, and with Gavin's departure, he was alone in
their house.  As odd as it might seem, Alex felt at home in that house.  It
was, in his opinion, small and quaint.  It was full of love and emotion
between the family of four and their extended family.  It was quite
different from the dorm and from the palace in which he'd grown up.
Everything seemed cold and sterile in the dorm; in the palace, he felt
small and dominated by the constraints of things.

	He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.  He simply took deep
breaths and enjoyed the fact that the only thing he could hear after
turning the TV off was the sound of the country.  He lost himself in the
moment, almost falling asleep as he sat there waiting on Gavin's return.
Before he knew it, Gavin was back downstairs.

	"It's your turn, Alex," Gavin said as came back into the living
room.  "You're sure you don't mind reading him a story?"

	"I am sure," Alex said.  He stood and looked at Gavin.

	"Alright.  When you get down, though, I want to show you something,
if you're up for it."

	"OK," Alex said as he walked up to Gavin.  Alex put his hand on
Gavin's chest and looked deep into his eyes, seeing both passion and love.
Alex smiled one last time and walked up the stairs.  At the top, he
followed Conner's voice to his room.

	"Hello?" Alex said, knocking on the door.

	"Hey Alex!" Conner said, continuing to play with some toy as he sat
on his bed.

	"So how does this story time work?"

	"Well.  You can pick a book and then tell me a story, if you want."

	"OK.  Why don't we do it," Alex said as he thought, "the way we do
it in Lorenzia."

	"How is that?"

	"Without books.  We just tell a story from memory."

	"So no books?"

	"Nope."

	"I like that idea better, because Gavin always makes me read along
with him, and sometimes that's a chore!" Conner said.  Gavin, who was
standing right outside the door, unbeknownst to Alex and Conner, smiled.

	"OK.  So I'm going to tell you a story about Cavelladoro, but I'll
have to tell you in Cabochea.  I don't know how to tell it in English,"
Alex said.

	"But I only speak English."

	"When I was your age, I didn't speak Cabochea very well either.
This was one way my grandmother helped teach me.  She would tell me to just
lie there in the bed, with my eyes closed and listen to the story."

	"OK.  I can do that," Conner said, closing his eyes tightly and
complying with Alex's instruction.

	"Now.  Te vou a contara la stoira de Cevellodoro.  Le era uma chica
con granda casa en las aforas de uma cidad ail oeste de Lorenzia, na
provença de Periñán.  Um dia, le etava aburidu y decidó que iva a
promenadara en el boxe.  Dopo de um rado, le s'estava moto cansado.  Le
encontró uma casita en ese boxe.  Dopo di inspetara la casa, ella savo que
la porta estava aperta.  Le entró la casa y olía bom sôpa.  Le tratava um
puoco de la sôpa en la prima boula, pero foe moto calente.  Le tratava um
puoco de la sôpa en la seconda boula, pero foe moto fride.  Le tratava um
puoco de la sôpa en la trecera boula, e foe perfechisimo.  Foe tã
perfechisimo que comó toda la boula!"  Gavin moved to stand in the doorway.
Alex looked up at him and smiled.  Gavin pointed to the Conner, who'd
fallen asleep beside Alex.  Alex slowly climbed from the bed, without
finishing the Cabochean version of Goldielocks.  He turned off the lamp and
walked toward the door.  Gavin stood there, waiting for him.  He let Alex
move past him and then closed the door to Conner's bedroom.  As Alex walked
out of the room, Gavin put his ample hands on Alex's shoulders and slowly,
affectionately massaged them.

	"That feels good," Alex said as they walked down the hall, then
down the stairs to the first floor of the house.

	"I'm glad you enjoy it," Gavin said as they slowly descended the
staircase.  At the bottom, they turned into the living room to find it
still unoccupied.  They both sat down on the couch, and Gavin, taking the
remote, turned the TV on.  Alex started yawning as they sat there enjoying
a relaxing moment in Gavin's family home.  Feeling tired, Alex scooted
closer to Gavin and put his head on Gavin's shoulder.  Gavin only disturbed
him to wrap his left arm around his shoulders and pull him closer.

	Paula and Ray came in from the sun room they'd added onto the back
of the house the summer before and noticed them sitting there as they
walked past the doorway into the living room, headed to their bedroom.  Ray
wrapped his arms around his wife.  They smiled at each other and began to
climb the stairs for their evening rest.  "Friends?" Ray whispered.

	"Yeah.  I don't think so!" Paula said, smiling with her husband.

	The next morning came before anyone knew it.  Gavin fell asleep
quietly next to Alex on the couch; Paula and Ray were in the same lover's
embrace they always slept in.  Conner, the only one who slept by himself
was still fast asleep among the books and toys that occupied the majority
of the space in his room.  The sun shining into his room woke him up
slowly.  His eyes slowly opened, and just as slowly, he realized that his
older brother was at home.  He quietly climbed out of his bed and grabbed
his blanket.  He slowly went from his room toward Gavin's.  He walked into
Gavin's room only to find that he wasn't there and he hadn't slept there
the night before.  He hung his head a little bit and then walked
downstairs.  He thought for a moment that it had all been a dream, and
waking up from it disappointed the younger of the Butler children.  The
descent was slow and deliberate.  He didn't want to wake up his parents,
who were still asleep.  He turned into the living room to find the TV
turned off.  He smiled though as he saw his brother sitting there sleeping
with Alex resting his head softly on one of his legs.  Conner smiled
through his still sleepy haze.  Carefully he climbed up onto his brother's
sleeping body, resting his head on Gavin's muscular shoulder.

	"Hey buddy," Gavin said.

	"Hey Gavin.  I love you."

	"I love you, too," Gavin said, still sleeping for all practical
purposes.

	"I like your boyfriend," Conner said unconsciously.

	"Me too, Con...Me too."

	The three slept like that for about an hour until Paula got up and
noticed the position of the three of them.  She smiled as she stood there
for a second in her nightgown and robe and watched her two sons and the man
who had managed to capture the elder's heart.

	Gavin and Alex enjoyed themselves for the rest of the weekend.
Gavin showed him around Albertville, as well as Guntersville and Boaz, two
towns close to Albertville.  Alex was amazed by the beauty that could be
seen for miles around as they drove through the state park.

      He thought as they drove that he would never have experienced such a
place had it not been for Gavin.  His thoughts wandered to other things,
like how he'd done a complete 180, all because of Gavin, the amazing man
whose company made his experience in America one that Alex would hopefully
never forget.