Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2016 18:47:43 +0000
From: Sam Bam <mansambambam@gmail.com>
Subject: The suite saga 77

Please do consider giving nifty a little Christmas gift
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html  and keep the place full of cheer.

Give me a shout via email or tumblr if you're happy or mad or wanting more
http://mansambambam.tumblr.com/
I'm off on holidays until the new year so this is the last chapter I'll be
able to put up for a bit. It's not over, another 59 chapters still to
come.


"Are you okay?" Robin asks as they get closer to Bea's house. Robin isn't
sure Blue is ready for this.

"I'm terrified." Blue admits.

"I can drop you at a food place and come get you with Bea if you don't want
to go to the house. If you're not ready." Robin says.

"I don't want to make it into a bigger deal. I need to face it, ready or
not." Blue says.

"Do you want to go in and meet them?" Robin asks.

"Not really. I mean what do I say, thanks for abandoning me because I loved
my childhood and hate my brother?" Blue laughs and Robin joins in.

"I bet they regret it. I figured that is why Lana never worked, losing you
would have been impossible to get over. Same for your momma losing Bea and
Chris." Robin says quietly.

"I've thought a lot about it too. I just can't work out what my feelings
are and I get side-tracked imagining theirs. I don't believe Paul is a
monster. I bet my mom made him out to be to Cheryl because she was upset
whenever they talked about it." Blue says.

"You can talk to me. You should talk to someone not just mull it through in
your head." Robin says gently.

"I don't want to. Not before talking to Momma, hearing her side properly. I
wish she'd come down to see me when I found out." Blue says.

"I can't believe she didn't." Robin says thinking that his own mom would
have been there in a second, would never have let him go through anything
like that without her.

"You lucked out with great parents." Blue says reading Robin's thoughts.

"I really did." Robin says.

"Your mom has been great this holiday. I still can't believe she threw all
your traditions out and served lobster." Blue says.

"It was awesome. So was the soup you made with the leftovers." Robin says.

"I had a really great time. Thank-you for inviting me. Your parents didn't
care that an extra person showed up at all and your sisters welcomed me."
Blue says.

"You got my sisters to put down their phones and make gingerbread houses
with you. My mom was over the moon that they joined in an activity without
complaining. That was the best present you could have given." Robin says.

"My momma has never let me make one. I always wanted to make a whole city
of skyscrapers. Your mom was happy to let me, even your dad joined in."
Blue says.

"That was a miracle, my dad justified it as a construction task but you
could see he had more fun with melting chocolate and adding sprinkles than
measuring the pieces out." Robin laughs.

"I sent momma some pictures of it and she said she's bet Gervais that I'd
make one," Blue smiles.

"So you are talking." Robin says.

"About everything but the triplet stuff." Blue sighs.

"You seem to be the one making all the effort. I've not seen her sending
you pictures or even calling often." Robin says.

"I know and when I call she mostly talks about what she and Gervais have
been doing. I think I've been replaced." Blue smiles.

"She treats you like shit. I love your momma and she is great to me but she
is not a good mom to you." Robin says.

"Gervais used to say the same but she was a good mom. She's hard on me and
can be pushy but I'm a good guy, she raised me with good values and some
great skills." Blue says.

"That's true but from the outside sometimes it is really hard to
watch. Nothing in your relationship with your momma is unconditional and
maybe that's why you want to turn every encounter into a relationship. You
just crave the hugs and kisses and sweet nothings that don't come with
strings attached. It's why we get along so well, we're both tactile and not
afraid to get affection from each other, even if it goes too far
sometimes." Robin says.

"I loved that very first night cuddling you. It was all my dreams come
true." Blue says.

"You sure kept me warm that winter." Robin says and smiles at Blue as they
pull up at the house.

"You totally distracted me. I thought I'd be sick my stomach was in knots
before." Blue grins.

"Pure accident but I'm glad you're okay." Robin says.

Bea comes outside with her bag the second they pull up, she's been looking
out for them. Blue looks at the house with a strange feeling. He could have
grown up here. This could have been his home.

He's tried not to think too much about the life he might have had, its
obviously something that has shaped Chris's personality and he really
wanted to avoid being bitter. But looking at the normalcy of the house he
can't help but wonder what his life could have been and if it would have
been better or worse.

Paul looks out from an upstairs window at the son he threw away. Every day
he has regretted what he did and he knows the decision has shaped his
marriage and the relationship he has with Bea and Chris.

"He's so big." Lana says standing by his side. She has never contemplated
leaving Paul, she knows why he takes his frustrations out on her and she
will always feel responsible. Despite the view from the outside they have a
strong relationship, she doesn't feel trapped by their circumstance, that
Clara has never accepted that has added to their estrangement. Lana wishes
they could have resolved things, let the kids meet each other much sooner.

"I can't imagine Kit with muscles like that." Paul says tears running down
his cheeks, he slips his arm round Lana's waist and pulls her closer.

"Can we go and meet him?" Lana asks anxious to see her son up close after
19 years.

"Do you think we should?" Paul asks. Lana looks at him in surprise, her
usually dominant husband

"Come on lets go. We'll regret it if we don't. We might not ever get
another chance." Lana says.

Paul takes his wife's hand and they go outside. Robin, Bea and Blue have
been chatting animatedly while the boys take the chance to stretch their
legs.



"Blue?" Lana says tentatively.

Blue turns around to look at them. Paul is tall like his children and Lana
is tiny, birdlike. Blue can see they've both been crying. He wants to run
and hug them but is rooted to the spot.

Robin looks at them in wonder trying to see which features Blue gets from
Paul. These people look so normal, not like the horrors Bea and Cheryl have
painted them as. Bea looks on curiously, she's never seen her dad cry
before, even when his business went under, yet here he is face covered in
tears.

Slowly Blue steps towards them and soon all three are in a big teary hug.

"I have so many questions." Blue says when they step apart.

"Come inside you can stay and go tomorrow." Lana says.

"No, we have to get going. I need to talk to my momma, to hear her side."
Blue says quietly.

"Just for an hour. Please." Paul says quietly.

"Come on I get two weeks with Clara, you can give dad an hour." Bea says.

"Where's Chris?" Robin whispers to Bea.

"Out with friends, don't worry." Bea whispers back.

Blue has never felt so shy or tongue tied. He can't seem to form any words.

"What's your major?" Paul asks feeling lame but desperate to know anything.

"I'm undeclared. I think it might end up being chemistry." Blue says.

"Blue is a great student, amazing grades. He could choose anything and do
well." Robin says trying to fill in some of the silence.

"Bea said you cook. Is that why you like chemistry?" Lana asks.

"I don't know. Oh wait." Blue says and starts rummaging in his bag and
hands Lana a paper bag of cookies he made for the journey.

Robin looks at him and laughs.

"Sorry I can make more." Blue says.

"I know, that's not why I'm laughing. It's so typical of you to magic up a
gift. You're making me look bad, I'm meeting my girlfriends parents empty
handed." Robin says making Blue grin and breaking the ice a little.

"We made them in your kitchen, you helped." Blue says.

"Those cookies are totally from me." Robin smiles.

"Do you do sports? You're so muscular." Paul asks.

'No, Robin is the sporty one he was a wrestling champ in high school and a
cheerleader. I tried working out but I didn't like it that much. I just
swim and do yoga." Blue says.

"Blue got all hulked up gardening and chopping wood, he does loads of
physical outdoor work at home." Robin says.

"Do you watch sports? Who are your teams?" Paul asks.

"I've never got into sports. I get so confused when the guys watch games on
TV. My school was so small we didn't have any team sports, so I'd never
played any before Robin and I tried some this year." Blue says.

"You're built like that and you never even tried? What a waste. If I'd
known Kit could bulk up like that we'd have made him a superstar." Paul
says shaking his head.

"I think we should go." Blue says abruptly.

"'Yeah we want to make the most of the daylight." Robin says seeing his
friend's distress.

Bea stares at her dad with contempt. How could he ruin this like that?

"Can you make sure you bring my red bag and the blue one when you take Kit
up to school?" Bea asks.

"Sure honey." Lana says looking sad.

"Drive safely." Paul says looking confused.

"It was good to meet you Robin. Blue please come back any time, we know it
must be difficult and confusing for you." Lana says stroking his face
trying to take it all in.

"Thanks. It's all still too new for me. I'm sorry." Blue says before
leaving.

"I am so sorry Blue. I should have known he'd do something like that." Bea
says as they dive off.

"I don't think he did it on purpose." Robin says.

"Maybe not but I'm his biological son and he hasn't seen me in nearly 20
years and in the 3 sentences he says to me he brings up a missed
opportunity with my brother who he saw every fucking day. Fuck him." Blue
says.

"I am loving the reappearance of your backbone but be careful." Robin says.

"I don't need them in my life. I have managed without so far." Blue says.

"I'm glad it's not just me who gets that treatment. I am invisible compared
to Kit." Bea says.

"It was one awkward conversation that no one was prepared for. Don't cut
them off on the basis of that." Robin says gently and Blue nods. His
irritation and anger already long gone. He's met his dad and the woman who
could so nearly have been his mom.

The trio settle in to the journey and share Christmas stories. Blue goes on
about the lobster again making Robin smile.

"Did you bring any gingerbread back? Its my favorite type of cookie." Bea
says.

"No Robin's dad took the whole thing into work and auctioned it off for
charity." Blue says proudly.

"We can make some when we get to Clara's place. We have to stop off and
pick up her dry order anyway. We can probably find somewhere for the
molasses." Robin says.

"Dry order?" Bea asks.

'Beans, lentils, rice, nuts, coffee. She'll do a bulk buy a couple of times
a year. I just need to collect it for her on the way. Its why we said we'd
not have much room in the car." Blue says.

"Why doesn't she buy it from your local store?" Bea asks still loving all
the details of Blue's life.

"The food the store sells is mostly local. Sold on for local people. It
stocks some longlife things but not a lot. Most people bulk buy things like
rice, oats and flour and everyone grows something. It works because if you
have a glut of something you can take it to the store and get credit, as
long as you don't all have the same glut." Robin says.

"And we all can a lot of things too and send a few jars to the store,
everyone uses a different recipe. Momma makes great preserves but we can't
use it all. At the retreat they have bees and sell on the excess honey. All
the farmers sell a little to the store too." Blue says.

"They don't have their own stores or stalls by the road?" Bea asks.

"No we don't exactly have passing trade. Much easier to send a little to
the store for local people." Blue says.

"OMG my mom says she doesn't know what you put in those cookies but dad
inhaled the bag, she barely had time to rescue one for herself and Kit is
in a strop for missing out." Bea laughs and Blue smiles.

"So your dad and Kit are totally alike, not keen on me but love my food."
Blue says.

"My dad never eats sweet stuff. Complains sugar is empty calories and
dentist bills. It's a huge deal for him to eat a bag of cookies believe
me." Bea says and Blue smiles to himself feeling oddly proud.

Whenever he's not driving Blue watches the interactions between Bea and
Robin and feels more and more guilty that he asked Robin to break up with
Bea. They are great together, cute, funny and affectionate. What he and
Robin did meant nothing and he hopes Robin has a change of heart and
decides to stick with Bea. Breaking up seems like the wrong thing for them
both.



"Are you nervous?" Blue asks Bea.

"Not really. I mean I don't think it will be as awkward as you meeting
mine." Bea says.

"That was so weird. Your dad said the wrong thing but they wanted to meet
me. Both of them actually seemed like they wanted to meet me." Blue says.

"They really did. Will you keep in contact with them?" Robin asks.

"I don't know. I want to talk to momma and then once I've understood a bit
more I want to speak to them again, ask all the questions I have." Blue
says.

"They might be totally Kit centric but they'll come up on a weekend for
you. Mom is sending me a million messages right now asking me to tell you
they'll do whatever you want. I think they mean it." Bea says throwing her
phone to Blue in the backseat.

"Wow, your dad really did like the cookies." Blue laughs handing back the
phone after reading the messages.

"Mom will be hounding you for the recipe." Bea says.

"Was just basic choc chip and coconut, Robin's favorite." Blue shrugs.

"Show Bea the pictures of the gingerbread city." Robin says and Blue smiles
does.

"Looks like you two had a lot of fun together." Bea says.

"It actually really worked out for me. I got a real break rather than
diving in to more drama. I am still mad at those guys but I had such a good
time. How was yours?" Blue asks.

"It wasn't so bad. My parents are stressed about what Clara might do. I
think my finals all went great so I'm certain I'll keep my scholarships but
Kit is reliant on Clara. My parents are working out what loans he can get
and Kit is mad at me because I won't come out with as much debt and its all
my fault if he does. Never mind he could have worked harder." Bea says.

"It must be a big shock to him that Blue is smart. He's had an excuse that
he's just not wired like you and now he can't use that." Robin says.

"Another reason he hates me." Blue says.

"He doesn't hate you." Bea says.

"No? He tried to set me up, he wanted to expose me as this big cheat who
snaked his guy. He told me he was going to take everything from me, that
Gervais was just the beginning. The whole plot to break me up with George
and have me lose Gervais again was his way of humiliating me, he wanted to
see me suffer. He really, really hates me." Blue says.

"He said what?" Robin asks spitting mad, no idea that Chris has been so
mean.

"He's not that calculating Blue, you're confused." Bea says.

"No I am not. He was very, very clear. He was encouraging Gervais to lead
me on so he could expose me. He wanted me to be a bad guy. Even when the
truth came out he was disappointed that he no longer had an excuse to bring
me down and not happy that I hadn't tried to get his boyfriend to leave him
for me." Blue says.

"I really don't believe you, I'm sorry, I know my brother and while he has
jealousy issues and can be oblivious to others pain he is not cruel." Bea
says.

"Blue doesn't lie about people." Robin says.

"Well he has interpreted things wrong." Bea says.

"I doubt it. Blue downplays the bad things that happen to him. If he says
Chris said these things to him it was probably worse." Robin says.

"I know Kit and you don't." Bea says.

Blue slumps in his seat and when he takes over driving encourages the other
two to sleep in the back so he doesn't have to talk to them. He thought he
and Bea had a connection, that they were friends.

He knows he isn't wrong about Chris that he was vile to him, gleeful that
Blue had put a foot wrong, reveling at his chance for revenge.

The weather turns bad and they have to take things slower, stopping
frequently they debate getting a room for the night but Blue wants to press
on.

"I don't want to meet Clara when I'm half asleep." Bea says.

"I'll call Roe, we can take you straight to hers, get some sleep and then
have brunch together tomorrow at mine." Blue says.

"Okay that sounds okay." Bea says nodding thoughtfully.

"Katelyn is so excited to meet you." Blue smiles.

"I don't know Andy that well, its kind of weird she's excited." Bea says.

"Blue is Katelyn's big brother too, she sees you as a sister already. Humor
her." Robin says as Blue steps away to make the call.

"It's a lot of pressure. You all see it as cute that this kid is excited to
see me but I'm coming to meet my birth mother and find out about my
roots. I won't have the energy to entertain a teenager." Bea says.

"No one is asking you to babysit twenty four seven but theres no harm in
giving her some advice on boys and talking about movies and music at
night." Robin says.

"I don't see why I can't just share a room with you." Bea says.

"If we do that then Blue and Gervais have to share a bed." Robin says
abruptly.

"I am just stressed about it all." Bea says.

"I know. Just remember Blue is too and he hasn't been able to talk to his
mom yet and we will need to give him space to do that." Robin says.

"You stick up for him over me too much." Bea says.

"If it came to it I'd chose my friendship with him over anything with
you. I'm not saying that to be cruel but he has stuck by me through a lot
and he needs me." Robin says feeling fed up with people shitting on
Blue. He feels for Bea and her situation but meeting Clara is a life's
dream for her where Blue is dealing with his whole life being a lie. He
cannot believe that no adult has properly stepped in to help Blue and is
ashamed that his mom had to point out to him that he had let his friend
down.

It's not like he or Gervais are equipped to support Blue, not really but
they should both have done better at putting the focus on the big issue and
not the romantic relationships.

Robin really hopes that Andy has snapped out of whatever is going on with
him because he needs someone to talk to himself.

The rest of the journey they are all subdued and in their own worlds. Blue
is a little concerned that the nice spark between Robin and Bea has already
dimmed in a matter of hours. Then remembers why Bea is with them and his
own jitters when going to her house and he had no firm plans to meet the
parents.

They arrive in the early hours exhausted. Roe has waited up for them and
they get Bea settled before leaving.

"Blue I'm here if you need me any time." Roes says as she hugs him goodbye.

"Thanks. Sorry to have kept you awake." Blue says.

"Its no hardship. I'll see you tomorrow. We'll call when Bea is awake." Roe
says and Blue hugs her again.

The guys leave the food and most their things in the car and go straight to
Blue's room. Gervais is asleep in Blue's bed. Blue shrugs far less
surprised than Robin. They strip off and climb in, first Blue then Robin.

Gervais stirs and leans over Blue and kisses Robin.

"Thanks for taking care of my baby." Gervais mutters before falling back to
sleep on Blue. Robin snuggles on to the other side of Blue's chest and is
asleep before he can think what Gervais means.

Blue looks down at the two heads on his chest, smiles and passes out
himself.

Robin wakes first needing to pee, he slips out to the bathroom and when he
comes back Blue and Gervais have shifted themselves to be fully entangled
with each other. Robin stares for a second he knows he ought to wake Blue
and move them apart but they look so happy that he can't. Whatever those
two do to each other, subconsciously they're still totally in love.

Robin pulls on some clothes and decides to let them be. He's grinning as he
comes out the door just as Clara is walking past.

"What's funny?" Clara asks.

"Look." Robin says holding open Blue's door.

"I am going to have trouble ahead with the twins. Blue needs to be less
reckless." Clara says shaking her head and closing the door.

"Chris hates Blue anyway." Robin shrugs as they walk through to the
kitchen.

"Because Blue pulls stunts like this." Clara says.

"Why do you never back Blue? He's a really great guy." Robin says.

"Gervais and Chris are in a relationship, one that seem to be far more
stable than any that Blue has had. Blue is jealous and trying to turn
attention on himself with all this childish I can't be your friend
business. I won't pander to him and support such destructive actions."
Clara says.

"Gervais was the one waiting in Blue's bed." Robin says and heads outside
into the cold rather than suffer the indoor ice storm.