Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 06:17:52 -0400
From: Vance Lister <vlista20@hotmail.com>
Subject: Tyler chatper 7

That night, before going to bed Tyler took his pajamas into the bathroom and
got dressed for bed.  When he got back to the bedroom Connor was already in
it.  He walked around the queen size bed and crawled in the other side.  "Oh
man, Connor this is one comfy bed." he said, as he literally sunk into the
mattress.
	"Yeah," Connor said, putting his hands back behind his head.  "See why I
sleep so late now?"
	Tyler rolled onto his side scooting closer to Connor.  "Definitely!" he put
his hand on Connor's chest and rubbed it.
	"You had sex before Tyler?"
	His hand stopped mid rub.  "Why you asking me that?"
	"Curious I guess."
	"You aren't gonna get all jealous and snub me the rest of the night are
you?"
	Connor chuckled.  "I take that as a yes."
	"Just with one guy.  That boyfriend I told you about."
	"Wasn't that like two years ago?"
	"Year and a half.  I was fifteen, that's not too young."
	"How old was he?"
	"Seventeen. Well there was the fifty year old."
	Connor looked at him sharply, and Tyler laughed. "Just kiddin' ya."
	Grinning, Connor shook his head and looked back up at the ceiling.  "Did
you have sex with that guy a lot?"
	"Twenty six times."
	Connor laughed.  "You kept count?"
	Laughing himself, Tyler nodded.  "I know, I'm a geek."
	Connor rolled onto his side and put his hand on the small of Tyler's waist.
  "Did you all out have sex or just oral sex?"
	"All out have sex."
	"What's it like?"
	"You want a play by play, or just my opinion?" He asked grinning.
	"Well did you like it?"
	"Yes, very much.  It hurts a bit at first, but once you get used to it,
it's real great.  And the best part is you've both got the same parts, so
you know what feels best."
	"You know my mom would never hear us if we fooled around a bit now."
	Though tempted as hell, Tyler shook his head.  "I could never do that.  I'd
be too nervous I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself.  Besides, I'd feel guilty
as hell every time I saw her for the rest of the week."
	Connor nodded and rubbed Tyler's arm. "Yeah you're right.  Momentary lapse
of reason there."
	They fell asleep facing each other with their hands on each other's waists.
  Connor woke up the next morning just as the sun was peeking through the
windows, his bladder screaming at him to be relieved.  He jumped out of bed,
rubbing his hands up and down his arms as the room was freezing.  He ran out
to the bathroom, did his business then ran back and crawled under the
covers.  Tyler was still sound asleep, still facing him.  One hand was stuck
up under the pillow the other was curled into his chest.  His mouth was
partially open and his eyes fully closed, the lids lying gently over his
eyes.
	The peaceful sight was making Connor's heart ache.  He had no idea of
exactly what Tyler had lived through, but had picked up enough clues to know
it was bad.  To see someone who looked so peaceful and angelic like Tyler
was now, it was very sad to have to think on what they'd had to live
through.  He wished he could shrink up real small, crawl past an eyelid and
get inside to find out exactly what had gone on, and exactly how Tyler felt
about it all.
	He'd noticed over the last few weeks that Tyler changed the subject anytime
anything was brought up about his feelings.  He'd also noticed plenty of sad
looks in his eyes when he thought no-one was looking at him.  He thought of
what Rick had said the first day he'd seen Tyler, about him having baggage.
He was sure Tyler had plenty, but was more then willing to help Tyler sort
his baggage out.  Tyler was way too great a guy to turn his back on, ever.
	He closed his eyes and fell asleep with a smile plastered to his face.
Half hour later, Tyler's eyes fluttered open and a smile immediately came to
his face, as he saw Connor's smiling lips inches from his own.
	He gently and slowly moved his hand up and over them, then set it down on
Connor's cheek.  He didn't want to wake him up, seeing his sleeping
beautiful face.  "I love you Connor," He said quietly, as he thought it
would be too soon to say it out loud when Connor was awake.  He knew he
loved him though.  There had been so very few people he'd loved in life, he
was sure of that feeling when it did come.
	He moved his hand quickly and looked up at the door as it opened and Carol
walked into the room with an arm load of laundry.  He watched her quietly
open the drawers and put the clothes away.  When she turned away from the
bureau she turned to the bed and jumped a little, seeing Tyler awake and
looking back at her.
	"You don't have to stay with him 'til he gets up hon.  He sleeps 'til noon.
  You can get up and help me make pies if you want."
	Tyler's face lit up and though she'd been joking about the pies, she got
the feeling he'd really enjoy helping.  "So, if you want just get dressed
and meet me in the kitchen okay?"
	He nodded eagerly.  "Okay ma'am."
	She smiled, thinking he certainly was polite, then turned and left the
room.  Tyler looked back at Connor then leaned in over him and brushed his
neck with his lips.  A soft snoring continued out of him and Tyler grinned,
figuring Connor was not one to be easily woken.  He pushed back the blankets
and got out of bed.
	He grabbed his loose fitting jeans, another white T-shirt, some boxer
shorts and a red plaid button up shirt.  He walked out of the bedroom, his
arms full of clothes and saw Carol just coming out of the bathroom.  "Is it
okay if I take a shower ma'am?"
	"Certainly hon, there's towels in the cupboard over the toilet."  She
smiled again.  "And Tyler, you don't have to call me ma'am.  Carol is fine."
	He smiled and nodded.  "Okay, thank you."
	She squeezed his shoulder smiled again then walked out through the archway.
	Twenty minutes later he joined her in the kitchen where she was molding out
pie shells.
	"You want some breakfast first hon?"
	He smiled at her, always calling him hon and sweetie, something he'd not
been called before and something he found he liked.  "No ma'am, I don't
usually eat breakfast."
	She looked up at him.  "No who?"
	He looked at her confused then smiled.  "Carol."
	She grinned.  "You don't really have to help with pies if you don't want
you can go watch TV or something."
	He turned his head back to the direction of the living room, then looked
back at her and shook his head.  "I'd rather help."
	"Well I need to get two more shells formed out."  She slid over two empty
pie plates and a big ball of dough.  "You just roll that dough out thin."
She held her hands out on the counter to show him how big the flattened out
dough should be, "then lay your pie plates over it and cut about an inch out
from the plate."  She turned and got a canister, then set it down near him
on the counter.  "And you'll need flour."  She showed him how to flour the
counter and the pin.  He kept grinning at her humorously 'til finally she
asked what was so funny.
	He blushed a bit then said, "I've just never been told to make such a mess
before."
	She chuckled, thinking Connor was right in Tyler being so funny.  "The more
mess the better in this case."
	Tyler nodded as he took the rolling pin from her. He rolled out the dough
as she instructed.
	"So what's your favorite dessert?" she asked as they worked.
	He shrugged.  "Long as it is sweet, I like about anything."
	"Do you like chocolate cream pie?"
	"Oh yeah," his eyes lit up a bit.
	"Pecan pie?"
	"Oh yes," they lit up twice as much.
	"Pumpkin?"
	"Certainly."
	She grinned at his look of enthusiasm.  "You get to celebrate Thanksgiving
much before?"
	Tyler's heart fell as he hoped she wouldn't hassle him with questions all
week.  He felt real comfortable around her and didn't want to piss her off,
so he knew he owed her an answer.  "Back at my parents house we had real
fancy thanksgivings.  Had to wear a suit and tie and everything.  We had
caterers come for the day, 'cause my mom couldn't cook a lick."
	"Were you an only child."
	Tyler nodded, it being a harmless question.
	"Julie's always been a real nice girl.  Do you like her?"
	He looked up at her and smiled.  "Very much,"
	"I imagine she had something to say about her parents not taking you with
them."
	"There was a whole lot of yelling." he grinned, and that surprised her.
"They remind me of one of those Italian families on TV.  You know, where
everyone is yelling over every one else trying to be heard.  I don't think
they are Italian though."  He said, shaking his head.
	She smiled and he looked back down at his pies.
	"They treat you okay though Tyler?"
	"Yes ma'am." he shook his head again,  "I mean Carol."
	There was a stretch of silence and he was the one to break it.  "Did you
read that paper Connor wrote about you?"
	Carol smiled with pleasure.  "Yes, such a sweet boy," she said shaking her
head,  "I cried the whole way through it."
	He looked up at her in surprise. "Why'd you cry.  It was real good."
	"I cried because it made me feel good."
	"I never heard of crying when you feel good," he said, eyeing her not that
he didn't believe her, just that he was real surprised.
	"Oh it happens Tyler, quite a bit actually."
	They were just pulling the pumpkin and pecan pies out of the oven when
Connor straggled in, his hair in cowlicks and pillow creases on his face.
"Whoa," Tyler said, stopping short as he looked at him.  "That's what you
look like in the morning?"  He filled his voice with disgust, neither Connor
nor his mom bought it and they both started laughing.
	He grinned bashfully at her, then smiled at Connor, "you missed out on the
pie making."
	"I usually do," he chortled, "it's the smell of them cooking that gets me
out of bed." he ran his hands through his hair flattening some of the cow
licks.  "How long you been up?"
	"An hour or so."  He watched as Connor walked over and hugged his mom, and
massaged his chest as though to ease the stab of jealousy he was feeling.
	"I bought bagels yesterday." she said after they'd hugged.
	Connor rubbed his stomach then walked over to the fridge.  "You eat
breakfast yet Tyler?"
	"No,"
	"Geez ma, you put him to work and don't even feed him?"
	"I said I didn't want any." Tyler said grinning.
	"And you still don't want anything?" Connor asked, standing up holding out
the bag of bagels.
	"No not yet."
	After Connor ate his breakfast they all spent the rest of the morning
peeling vegetables and preparing side dish casseroles.  Tyler couldn't
believe all the food they were making and was really looking forward to the
next day.  Just after having bologna sandwiches for lunch, the doorbell rang
and Connor jumped off his stool and ran out to get it.
	He smiled a little wearily seeing Robert standing on the porch.  "Hi," he
said casually.
	Robert, whose head had been turned looking out at the street, turned and
smiled at him.  "Don't worry I haven't any 'cause to beat the hell out of
you yet."
	Connor chuckled and stepped aside, letting Robert in.  Robert stopped just
inside the door and turned back to him.  "Is Tyler here?  Please say yes."
	Connor nodded.  "Yeah he's here.  Is something wrong?"
	"Just that he didn't tell Julie where he was going.  She's been calling her
house looking for him.  She got worried and called work, hoping to catch him
there.  She said she thought he'd be here but couldn't remember your number
off the top of her head and it wasn't listed.  I may have to teach that boy
some manners."
	Connor looked at him sideways.  "You ain't gonna yell at him are you?"
	Robert looked at him, his eyes glinting in humor.  "No man, I was kidding.
Who in hell would blame him in the first place?  No one has ever cared where
he was before.  'Cept me and when he wasn't home, he was always with me
before."
	Connor nodded sadly, having to be glad that Tyler had at least had Robert.
"You guys been friends long?"
	"Since we were seven." Robert looked around again.  "Where is he?  Can I
see him?"
	Grinning, Connor nodded.  "Sure sorry, right this way."  He led him through
the dining room and into the kitchen where Tyler was still sitting on his
stool.  He turned as they walked in and his face lit up.
	"Robert." He said jumping off the stool.  He walked over into Robert's arms
and gave him a big hug.  "What are you doing here?" he asked, taking a step
back.
	"Julie's been calling her house.  She's been worried because you weren't
there, so I told her I'd track you down."
	Tyler cocked his head to one side and looked up at him as he was nearly a
foot taller.  "Why was she worried?"
	Robert glanced at Connor over the top of Tyler's head.  "'cause she likes
you Tyler.   People worry about people they like when they don't know where
they are."
	"Oh," Tyler said dropping his eyes to Robert's chest though he still didn't
really get it.  He turned to Connor and Carol.  "This is my best friend
Robert." he said smiling.  "Robert this is Connor, my boyfriend.  And his
mom Carol."
	Robert walked over and shook Carol's hand.  "Nice to meet you."
	Carol smiled warmly at him.   "Nice to meet you too."
	"Can you stay for a while Robert?" Connor asked.  "Maybe for dinner?"
	Robert looked to Carol, who nodded it was fine with her the looked at
Tyler.  "That okay with you."
	Tyler rolled his eyes and snorted.  "No get the heck out."
	Robert grinned and pushed Tyler's head back with the palm of his hand.
"You do have to call Julie though."  He handed him a folded up piece of
paper with her number on it.  "Here use my calling card." He said pulling
out his wallet.
	"Oh don't worry about it hon," Carol said with a wave of her hand.
	"My card is like two cents a minute.  It's much cheaper."  He said smiling
at her as he put his card in the palm of Tyler's hand.  Tyler walked over to
the phone, picked it up, dialed the number on the card, the card's pin
number then the number on the paper.
	Connor smiled at Robert, getting a stronger feeling that Robert was the
type of friend anyone would want, but very few people deserved.  Tyler, he
knew was one of those deserving people and it made him a little jealous at
how close he sensed they were.  It was jealousy he'd never let show however,
as he was not gonna be one to mess with what looked like a friendship made
in heaven.
	"So what are you thanksgiving plans?" Carol asked, smiling up at him from
her sweet potato casserole.
	"Going to my gram's,  she's only in Greenwich Village so it's not far away.
  We won't go over 'til tomorrow morning."
	"Is Julie there?" Tyler asked, as the sound of Mr. Henderson's voice came
on the line.
	"Who the hell is this?"
	"Tyler."
	"We left you there because we didn't want you bugging us."
	"Well can you at least tell her I called?"
	"No,"
	He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at Robert as he clicked
the off button with his thumb.  "He won't let me talk to her."
	"Who won't?" Robert snapped, immediately becoming angry.
	"Her dad."  Connor and his mom exchanged a look while Tyler continued to
look at Robert.  Robert stalked over and took the phone out of Tyler's
hands.  He also took the card and the number and dialed the many numbers
again.
	Tyler put his hand on Robert's arm.  "Don't yell at him too bad.  I still
gotta live with the guy."
	Robert grinned down at him and squeezed his hand around Tyler's shoulder.
"Yes sir, this is Robert Ackerman."  His voice was disguised and Tyler
grinned at the fake last name.  "I'm with social services sir, and I
understand you will not allow a call through to your daughter from Tyler
Adams.  Is there a reason for that sir?"
	Connor and his mother both put their hands over their mouths and started to
chuckle, getting a strong impression that Robert had done this sort of thing
before.  Tyler smiled over at them, his own eyes lit with humor before he
looked back up at Robert.
	"And why is it sir that he was left behind in the first place?  Are you not
aware that taking in one of these children makes you responsible for them?
That they then become a part of your family?"
	Robert was silent for a minute while he rolled his eyes to whatever the man
was saying on the other end.
	"Perhaps when you get back we should all sit down and decipher why exactly
you have volunteered for the position of being a foster parent.  You don't
seem to me as though you fit the bill.  Perhaps we are going to have to
reevaluate the situation.  Perhaps you folks are not fit to take in kids and
not fit to take the money that comes along with them."
	Tyler gasped a little bit as he put his hand over his mouth, thinking
Robert may have gone just a little too far.  Robert shook his head at him
and squeezed his shoulder tighter.  "Well first off, I think you should
allow him to talk to your daughter.  It was your daughter that wanted to
talk to him.  Second off when he calls back, I'll expect you to at least be
cordial to him."  He nodded a couple times said goodbye then clicked the
phone off.
	Connor started clapping and Robert smiled over at him.  He turned back to
Tyler and handed him the phone.
	"You shouldn't have said that money thing." he said shaking his head.
	"Don't worry so Tyler.  He's scared now and that's what matters."
	Tyler looked up at him again and nodded before he shakily dialed the phone.
  Robert stayed beside him 'til he was sure it was Julie on the line.
	"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Julie.  I didn't know you'd check up on me."
	"Well of course I would Tyler.  I care about you.  I want to make sure
you're okay."
	Tyler blushed as he smiled into the phone.  "Well I'm okay, I'm staying at
Connor's so actually I'm real good." he said, smiling over at Connor who
smiled flatteringly back.
	Her voice lowered and he could hear a door close behind her.  "Is there
really a Robert Ackerman with social services, or was that man who called
Robert Simons, your friend."
	Tyler chuckled.  "Yeah, it was my friend.  Don't tell your dad though
okay?"
	"No way," Julie said laughing, "got him pissing his pants.  Good for him."
	Tyler smiled again over at Robert who was standing near Connor at the
kitchen counter.  He looked the two over, standing there together and felt
warm all over seeing his two favorite people standing side by side.  He hung
up the phone a minute later and returned Robert's card to him.  "Well your
conniving worked again." he said grinning.
	"Did he answer the phone?"
	"No she did.  Guess he was too scared."
	Carol looked the two boys over, getting the feeling that Robert had been
taking care of Tyler most of his life.  Also getting the feeling he loved
every minute of it and she was thankful as hell that Tyler had someone at
least looking out for him.
	"Why don't you boys go watch TV or something?"  She said smiling.  "We've
done about all we can do for today."
	Tyler put his arms across his chest, cupping his elbows with his hands.
Robert looked at him and smiled, but did not say anything 'til they reached
the doorway to the living room, "Where's your room Connor?"
	Tyler smiled inwardly, thanking his lucky stars for sending him such a
brilliant friend.
	"Right through here." Connor said, turning back to them briefly before
walking through the archway.  They all walked into Connor's room and Robert
immediately walked over to the computer.
	"Wow man, this is one nice computer."
	"Well it's older, but I've pepped it up."
	"You know a lot about them?" Robert asked, brushing the keyboard with his
fingers.
	"Enough to take it apart and put it back together.  I'm better with that
stuff than the software side of them.  But I can pretty much fix anything I
mess up."  He leaned over and pushed in the power button on the CPU.  The
monitor was set to turn on automatically and within a few seconds the screen
came to life.
	Robert checked out the camera set up on a tripod on top of the monitor.
"Go into chat rooms much?" he asked grinning.
	Connor's mouth fell open and he looked back at Tyler who was standing
behind the two of them.  "So do you get your perverted-ness from him or did
he get it from you?"
	Robert and Tyler looked at each other and smiled humorously.  "I think we
taught each other."  Tyler answered.
	"You two want to play a game?"  He opened a cabinet filled with CD's.  "I
don't have any three player, but the one who doesn't play first can play the
winner."
	Tyler walked over and picked his book bag up off the floor.  "You two play,
I've got homework."
	"Would you un-nerd for five minutes." Robert said, shaking his head as he
put his hands on his hips.
	"Would you un-father for five minutes." Tyler grinned, as he sat down on
the floor at the foot of the bed.  "I mean it, I got stuff to do.  It's not
like I won't talk to you guys."
	Robert looked at Connor and shook his head.  "He just doesn't want you to
see how pissed off he gets when he loses these games."
	Tyler shot out his foot and kicked Robert in the shin.  "Shut the hell up."
	Robert took a step back grinning himself. "See just the thought of it
pisses him off."
	Shaking his head, Tyler chuckled a bit as he opened his English book.
Connor patted the top of his head as he walked by to grab the extra chair
out of the corner.  He and Robert sat down in front of the computer and
picked out a game.  They spent the afternoon talking, playing and laughing
and Connor knew without any doubts by the end of the afternoon that he liked
Robert very much.
	That night, after crawling into bed Tyler rolled onto his side propped his
head up on his hand, and looked over at Connor who was in the same position.
  "Your mom said something today about when social services were in your
life.  What did she mean?"
	"My grandmother called them when I was about seven.  Told them my mother
was unfit.  They started coming here once a week for spot checks, to see how
we were getting along.  It only took them a few months to figure out the
woman was full of shit."
	"Why is your grandmother so mean?  Why would she do that?"
	"No idea.  Mom won't even talk about her.  She's maybe mentioned her four
times, that I can remember."
	"It must be tough with no father and no grandparents."
	Connor narrowed his eyes and snorted, as though in disgust.  "Don't you
start feeling sorry for me.  You don't have either of your parents.   Do you
have grandparents?"
	"Course I have grandparents."
	Rolling his eyes Connor shook his head.  "Do you see them?  Are they in
your life?"
	"No,"
	"When was the last time you saw them?"
	Tyler dropped his head off his hand and wrapped his arm up under his
pillow, letting his hand hang down over the top.  "Two years probably." he
put his other hand on Connor's chest and played with one of the buttons on
his pajama top.  "Last time I saw them was in court.  The day my parents
were sent to jail."
	His eyes widening, Connor gasped, leaving his mouth hanging open a bit.
Tyler watched him, knowing he had to say more now, but not sure of how much
he should say.  "They were sent to jail because of the way they treated me.
My grandparents were there to say my parents had done nothing wrong.  Course
they had no idea what was going on but they were so mad about the whole
situation, they had to blame someone and they decided to blame me."
	"Both sets?" Connor asked, his voice filled with disgust.
	"Well my dad's parents.  My mother's parents I never met.  Seems they were
as upstanding as your grandparents when it came to their daughter.  I think
that's what made her such a bitch.  Learned by example you know?"
	"How long did they get sent to jail for Tyler?"
	"Mom was five years, dad was fifteen."
	Connor reached up and put his hand in Tyler's that was hanging over the
pillow.  "You gonna tell me what they did?"
	Tyler slowly nodded.  "But you can't tell anyone. I told you I would tell
you when I felt comfortable with you.  That also means I feel comfortable
that you won't hold it against me.  It started when I was real young, too
young to do anything about it."
	"I would never hold it against you Tyler.  You can trust me."
	Tyler took a deep breath and rolled onto his back, not able to look Connor
in the face while he said it.  "My father and I got along real well 'til I
was probably eight or nine.  But long before that my mother started messing
with me."
	Connor squeezed his hand tighter.  "You mean sexually?"'
	Tyler nodded, as he stared at the ceiling.  "She used to do it all the
time.  But it was years before dad caught her.   When he did he blamed both
of us.  He used to beat on her and he used to beat on me.  It didn't stop my
mother though.  It only made her do it more.  Like I had to console her or
something, because she said it was my fault too.  That she never made me do
anything, that I actually forced it on her.  She'd say that while she was
forcing it on me, so she never fooled me about that little detail."
	"In that time after my father found out she started beating on me too, they
used to lock me in the closet for days.  They'd tie me to the bed and hit me
with belts, extension cords, hangers, pretty much everything they could get
their hands on."  He knew Connor had started to cry beside him, but couldn't
bring himself to look.  "Robert, was the only one besides my parents, who
knew what was going on.  He used to take care of me after particularly bad
beatings.  He was the one that got me taken out of the house, and he was the
one that has stayed my best friend all these years.  I owe my life to him,
'cause I know if I'd stayed there much longer, they would have killed me.
They both hated me; I know that because they told me every day."
	Connor pressed his face into the pillow and stretched his arm out so his
hand was on Tyler's chest.  He rubbed his hand up and down, having no idea
what to say, and having had no idea Tyler's life could have been so bad.
	Tyler rolled back on his side and put his hand on Connor's cheek.  "You
don't think it's my fault do you?" he asked quietly.
	Connor lifted his head out of his pillow, his face wet with tears.  "No way
Tyler.  Not one bit.  You were just a little kid.  They should have been
shot for what they did to you."
	"Well you're not the only one that thinks that."
	"Robert?" Connor asked.
	Tyler's eyes widened a little.  "And me silly."
	He smiled at him sadly.  "God Tyler, I just had no idea it was anything so
bad.  I feel so bad."
	Shaking his head Tyler sighed.  "Don't feel bad for me.  I didn't tell you
so you would.  I only told you because you had a right to know."
	Connor sighed as well, before wrapping his arms around Tyler and holding
him close.  They fell asleep in each other's arms.  Tyler, feeling like a
small weight had been lifted from his chest, and Connor, feeling like one
had been put on his.


Copyright 2005 Vance Lister.  All Rights Reserved.  
  
Please email responses to vlista20@hotmail.com  
  
This story was edited by Joe-aka_dannybhoy  
  
This and my other stories are available online at www.storylover.us