Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 08:04:04 +0000
From: Jason Parker <archangelmatthew72@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Angel: Part 18

Author's Note: I would like to apologize for my mistake in Chapter 16.  The
song used there, Rev 22:20 is in fact by a band called Puscifer, NOT A
Perfect Circle as I said. I apologize for the mistake and extend my
gratitude to the fan who emailed me and corrected my mistake.  Thanks Mike!

Disclaimer: Disclaimer Dishmaner. These things just get lamer and lamer.
Disclaimer Dishflamer. They also get tamer and tamer. Disclaimer Discramer.
You've been warned, so don't be a blamer. Disclaimer Distrainer. This is
getting really hard to rhyme things with 'aimer' so I'm gonna stop here.
Probably to much relief too. Wouldn't want to cause grief for your...
er... shoe? OK, that really is quite too much bad rhyming already. Time for
the story.

* * *
An Awkward Breakfast (with
scones!)


	Drew's dream felt so real! He could feel perfectly the washboard
abs his face was pressed against. The feeling was so intense, he could
barely believe it. And the smell! They had a musky, manly smell of--

'Wait a minute?' Drew thought, 'since when can you smell in dreams?'
	He eased his eyes open. He could make out the individual hairs that
ran down the valley of abs to a waistline. He went rigid as he noticed for
the first time an arm wrapped loosely around him. Holding his breath, Drew
turned his head around. Scott raised his head from the headboard and smiled
at him.
	Drew sat bolt upright and scrambled away from Scott so he was on
the edge of the bed. "Sorry," he said. "I-I didn't mean to fall asleep on
you like that..." He looked away uncomfortably.
	Scott shrugged. "It's OK. I didn't mind."
	Drew raised his head and they locked eyes. Thoughts raced

through his mind. Why hadn't Scott left him and spent the night in his own
room? "I thought you were straight?" he blurted before he could stop
himself.
	"So did I." Scott laughed.
	They both suddenly shifted their gazes away from one another.
	"I'll... let you get... dressed..." Scott said nervously and
stood. He grabbed his own shirt from the floor where he had put after
taking it off in the night. He didn't even bother to pull it on before he
was out the door.  He slipped unnoticed into his own room and leaned
heavily against the door. Scott dragged his hand through his hair and
exhaled long and deep.

* * *

	Someone was gently stroking his cheek with a finger. Warm breath
blew across his cheek, and then Jason heard a soft, melodious voice close
to him.

	"Sometimes you are a waterfall
	Full of love unconditional
	The strength within to help me see what's right
	Sometimes you are the sunlight

	Sometimes you are a rainbow
	Through my troubles you bring me hope
	Through the darkness you bring me sight
	Sometimes you are the moonlight

	And you're shining through, you're shining through
	Shining through on me and you

	Sometimes you are the morning dew
	Protecting all of those around you
	Sometimes you are a goodbye kiss
	'Cause in the end love is all there is

	So shine on"

	Jason turned his head to smile up at Matt.  He moaned happily.
"Mmmmm. Good morning Mr.  Musical."
	Matt grinned and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Your mother's

already knocked on your door twice," he whispered. Matt crawled backwards
across him as Jason slowly sat up in bed.
	Loud knocking came again from Jason's door and his mother's voice
carried in. "Jason, we're about to have breakfast. Everyone else is already
down and your father got in late last night."
	"OK mom, I'll be down in a sec." Jason called back.
	"I should go."  Matt whispered as Elizabeth's footsteps pattered
down the staircase.
	Jason touched his arm lightly and looked at him pleadingly.
	"I don't want to make a scene..." Matt started.
	"You won't." Jason thought for a moment. "I have an idea. Dad
doesn't know anything about you or even about what Sara does, as far as I
can tell. If I introduce you to him, neither Mom nor Sara will be able to
do anything."
	"I'm not sure Jase..."
	"Please? I don't ever want to lose you again."
	Matt kissed him tenderly. "You won't. I promise you." Then he stood
and patted Jason's leg through the duvet. "Now go get dressed
Mr. Morning-breath."
	Jason suddenly blushed. He cupped his hand over his mouth and nose,
exhaled and then quickly breathed in through his nose. "Hey!"  he narrowed
his eyes, "I do NOT!" He grabbed a pillow and took a swing at Matt.
	Matt ducked out of the way and backed out of pillow-range. "All
right, all right! Truce!" He held up his hands. "But you still need to get
dressed."
	Jason slipped out of bed and riffled through his wardrobe. He
pulled out fresh boxers, his pinstripe jeans and a tight black T-shirt he
liked that said "F**k yeah I'm weird!" on it. Jason turned, unsure whether
or not to undress in front of Matt, but Matt was standing by the window,
his back to Jason. He couldn't help but smile at Matt's consideration.
	When he was dressed, he slowly approached Matt from behind.  He was
going to play a bit of grab-ass, but before his fingers reached skin,
Matt's hand caught his own. Matt turned around grinning.
	"Naughty naughty" He wagged his finger in jest.
	Jason blushed, and looked down. Matt's cloth-covered loins came
into view. He looked back up at Matt's face. "You better get dressed too
you know. I'm not introducing you to my dad in a loincloth."  He giggled.
	Matt smiled and the bands of liquid cloth flowed swiftly up his
arms and spread down the rest of his body. He stood now, donned in jeans
and a white button-up shirt with a sewn pattern of x's that went down both
sides of the chest. It was slightly translucent, showing a hinting of skin
underneath. Jason couldn't help but admire his choice in clothes. He looked
totally hot.
	"Human looking enough?" Matt asked.
	Jason giggled a bit. "Not nearly." He teased and then reached up
and undid the top few buttons of Matt's shirt as well as the bottom one.
	"Does that matter?" Matt asked him when he was done.
	Jason nodded vigorously. "People generally only fully button their
shirts when they go to work. Besides, you look hot as hell this way."
	Matt went and stood in front of the full-length mirror in the
corner of the room. He gazed at himself, head cocked slightly to one
side. He narrowed his eyes and Jason saw a sliver of liquid stuff shoot up
his arm, underneath his shirt and cross his chest. It wrapped around his
neck and formed a hemp-knit necklace with wooden beads.
	Jason forced himself past Matt towards the door. "OK, we really
need to go now."
	"Worried your mom will come back?" Matt asked, still looking at
himself in the mirror.
	"No."  Jason blushed. "But if we don't go soon I'm not sure I'll be
able to keep myself from jumping on you and taking you back to bed."
	Matt's eyes locked onto him in the mirror. "I think it's probably
best if I meet your family before that happens..."
	"Aw shucks." Jason said in mock disappointment. He scuffed his foot
on the carpet, then grinned and extended his hand for Matt to take.
Together they walked out of Jason's room and descended the stairs

down into the hall. Jason led him through a set of doors on the left of the

hall and into the living room. They could hear quiet chatter accompanied

by the clink of china coming from the next set of doors, which were

slightly ajar.
	"Wait here." Jason said in a whisper before rounding the door and
slipping into the dining room.

* * *

	His mother, Elizabeth occupied one end of the long table, with Sara
next to her on her left. Next to her was Scott and then Drew, all facing
three empty chairs. On the opposite end of the table sat his father, deep
in a newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee. They all looked up as Jason
entered. His mother looked at him in welcome, his sister narrowed her eyes
disapprovingly. If she was reacting this badly to Matt's presence the
previous night, Jason could only imagine how she'd react when he introduced
Matt to his father.
	Scott had a slightly angry expression on his face, which troubled
Jason for a moment, but not nearly as much as how Drew looked at him.  He
was looking at Jason as if he had just slapped him in the face. The
previous night flooded back to Jason. How he had started to come out to
Drew and then left him to find Matt in the street. Jason looked at him
apologetically as he could, hoping Drew would understand.
	His father on the other hand beamed at him warmly.
	"Welcome back dad." Jason said, forcing a grin.
	"You too kiddo."  His father said. "I heard you had an eventful
term."
	Jason nodded and wondered just how much his mother had told him
about that.
	"You going to have a seat?" His dad asked, pointing to one of the
three empty chairs.
	"Um..." Jason hesitated. "Actually dad, I wanted you to meet

someone." He said and stepped back to the door. He swung the door back and
Matt stepped through. "This is Matt."

	Everyone stared at Matt with varying expressions. Drew and Scot
were looking at Matt in something akin to awe and the both wore expressions
of new understanding. Sara and his mom were staring at Matt, smoldering
with anger. His dad smiled warmly at Matt.
	"Please, come join us." Jason's dad invited Matt.
	There was a crash from the end of the table. The cup of coffee
Elizabeth had been holding had slipped from her hand and shattered on the
wooden floor. She didn't seem to notice; she was so fixed on Matt.  Only
when Nancy came bustling out of the kitchen with a sponge did she react by
getting down on her knees and taking the sponge. She muttered her apologies
and cleaned up the mess herself. She picked up the bits of broken china and
went through the door behind her into the kitchen, followed closely by Nan.
	"Is everything all right Lizzy?" Jason's dad called though to her.
	Her reply came back a bit choked.  "Yes, everything's fine. Just...
fine."
	Jason hated to do it like this, but he had been right. With his
father there, neither his mom nor Sara had been able to make any complaint
or act against Matt without revealing that they already knew him. And that
would have lead to further questions that none of them wanted to have to
answer.
	Elizabeth reemerged a moment later, slightly pale. She took her
seat at the end of the table and then proceeded to look around at the rest
of them. Around the room and at the floor. She looked everywhere, except at
Matt.
	Jason took his seat near on his father's left and Matt eased into
the chair next to him.
	"Well, now that my son has decided to join us, I think it's about
time we ate." His father said to the rest of the table with a chuckle. No
one else laughed. Mr.  Parker pulled a cloth off of a large bowl next to
him, revealing still warm scones and toast. He passed the bowl to Jason
after taking his pick. Jason did likewise. Matt looked curiously at the
bowl and chose a single scone.  He set it on his plate, perfectly in the
center and then reached out and offered the bowl to Jason's mom.
	"Thank you." She said icily through tight lips.
	Matt could feel her resentment and anger rolling off her in waves.

Like a tide, ebbing and flowing, it was matched by a second force of anger
from Sara. He avoided their gaze and studied the doughy biscuit in front of
him. He watched Jason carefully, as he used his knife to slit the scone in
half. Matt took up his own knife. He tilted his head slightly it caught his
reflection in the polished metal.
	He took the scone gingerly in his hand.  "You eat this?" He
whispered to Jason so none of the others could hear.
	Jason half turned and looked at Matt. An angel, sitting, knife held

awkwardly in one hand and a scone in the other. He had to struggle to keep
from laughing. Rather than risk opening his mouth and having a giggle
emerge, he nodded.
	Matt pressed his knife against the scone. The knife pressed in, but
the scone didn't split as it had for Jason. He looked at Jason who was
still watching him. Jason made a back-and-forth motion with his own knife
subtly so that no one else would notice. Matt mirrored his action and was
surprised to find the dull bit of metal actually slit through the bread. He
cut it fully open and set both halves on his plate.  Then he looked at
Jason again.
	Jason dipped his knife into a small plastic container, which
proclaimed itself to be 'butter', and spread a small amount of the
yellowish paste on his scone. Jason passed the container to Matt and again,
Matt copied him. He couldn't help but notice how unsanitary it was to use
the same tool he'd used to cut the scone, to dip in the

container.
	He though for a moment that was it, but when he looked at

Jason, he had spread a reddish jelly on top of the buttered scone. Matt

looked at the small jar Jason passed him. It called itself 'Raspberry

Jam.' He dipped his knife in the stuff, wincing to see his butter smeared

blade sink into the jar. He spread some of the 'jam' on the scone. It

amazed him how much effort humans seemed to put into their food. All that
he'd heard about eating was that cooking the food took most of the

preparation. Here, his food had already been cooked and yet it had still

taken so long to prepare. He was made suddenly aware of how much more
efficient and easy meditation was.
	Matt looked at Jason who was busy chewing large bites of his
scone. Matt raised his own in front of him. He sniffed it delicately. It
smelled... sconey, he decided. He'd watched people do this all the time,
how hard could it be? He opened his mouth and took a small bite of the
scone.
	The tastes assaulted him and made him forget all about Elizabeth
and Sara. He was completely consumed with the barrage of sensations in his
mouth. Meditation was never this good! The lump of food sat on his
tongue. And it continued to do so. He looked to Jason and noticed his jaw
moving up and down. Matt copied his actions and his tongue pushed the
mouthful under his teeth. It was quickly ground up and turned into a
paste. It had begun to taste less appealing by now.

Something wasn't right. He was still missing something. Again, he was

thankful that mediation was so easy and yet... if all food tasted as good

as that first bite had, then perhaps he could understand why humans did

it.
	Jason's throat seemed to move up and down every now and then. Matt
tried to do the same but it didn't have the same effect. The food remained
where it was, as a thick paste in his mouth. Jason leaned next to him and
whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
	"Swallow!" he hissed.

* * *

	Sara watched Matt with a bitter smile on her face.  She couldn't
help but enjoy seeing Matt's ineptness as he struggled to eat. She ate from
her own plate, laden with toast, bacon and eggs, while watching Matt
intently.  She was vaguely aware of her father saying something.
	"So how long is your friend staying?" her father asked.
	Jason 'ummed' and then said, "Actually, I was hoping he could stay
for Christmas, if that's OK with you?"
	Sara's knife slipped from her hand and clattered on her plate. It
bounced with a ring of metal and toppled onto the floor.
	"What the blazes is wrong with you down there?" Her father asked,
looking at her ended of the table. He didn't even wait for an answer, but
turned back to Jason. "Of course he can stay if he wants to.  The more the
merrier!" He took a bite of scrambled egg and swallowed.  "Maybe later
today you kids can all go and get us a tree?"
	"Ah, sure dad." Jason said.
	Sara couldn't believe this was happening. Matt was in HER house,
with HER family, and HER father was actually inviting him to stay! She
seethed at Matt and Jason. Matt for being Matt, and Jason for being clever
enough to realize that in front of their father, neither she nor Elizabeth
could protest against Matt's presence.

* * *

	Back at his end of the table, Matt had finished his scone and
studied the glass of yellow liquid Jason had poured him. Jason was

busy digging into his own plate, which was by now heaped with a rapidly
depleting amount of various foodstuffs. Although the scone had been an
interesting experience, Matt thought it best to limit himself to one
'interesting experience' at a time. He took a sip from the glass and chewed
as he had with the scone. It sloshed around in his mouth and Matt realized
this stuff could be swallowed straight.
	The taste was tangy, but not unpleasant. In fact, it was rather
refreshing. He swallowed the stuff down and took several more gulps from
the glass, draining it. The stuff was strangely addictive. It refreshed
you, but left you wanting more. He took the container and poured another
glass. There was a picture of a sliced open orange on the carton.
	"Tropicana Orange Juice," he muttered softly, reading it off the
carton. He took a few more gulps and then froze. He could feel the liquid
going down his throat but then he couldn't tell where it went. He set the
glass down. Jason didn't seem at all bothered, but Matt was deeply
troubled. Where did all the stuff go? What happened to it inside his body?
He knew humans digested what they ate, but angels? He'd never heard of
another angel eating. Something he'd have to take up with Tobias next time
he saw him. If he was ever allowed back into Heaven by Miriam that is...

* * *
	No one else seemed to notice, or at least think it odd that Matt
ate only one scone. Matt listened to their quiet conversations among
themselves, his mind eavesdropping on what they said without meaning
to. Jason's father had dragged Jason and Drew into a deep conversation
about their academics, although Matt sensed that Drew was somewhat
reluctant to talk at the moment.
	Elizabeth and Sara had finally relented their glares at him and
were now carrying on with Scott about something they called 'the stock
market.' It made little sense to Matt, the obsessions people had for
material things.
	Jason's father pushed his chair back and stood, tucking his
newspaper under his arm. Elizabeth stood also and started to collect her
plate, helping Nancy who had again emerged from the kitchen. Mr.  Parker
thanked Nancy for the breakfast and then walked from the room.
	Elizabeth whispered to Sara as she took her plate. "I have to get
out of here or so help me god I'm going to start throwing things at him."
She swept off into the kitchen, the door swinging closed behind her.

Sara, Scott, Drew, Jason and Matt sat in an uncomfortable silence for a

moment before:
	"Matthew?" Jason's dad stuck his head back through the dining room
door. "Might I have a word with you?"
	Matt glanced at Jason.  "Of course Mr. Parker." He said standing.
"What can I do for you?"
	"Just step into my study for a moment won't you?" Mr. Parker
requested in a tone that left little room for protest. Matt followed him
through the doors, through the living room and into Mr. Parker's study.
Mr. Parker shut the door firmly behind Matt and went behind his desk.  The
man took something from a drawer and held it by his side so Matt couldn't
see it. He took a seat in a leather, high-backed chair by a small crackling
fire. He gestured for Matt to take the seat facing him.
	Matt sat and shifted nervously in the silence of the room. He
wasn't used to such feelings as nervousness, and he decided it was not a
sensation he liked. He tried to calm himself. After all, it was only
Jason's dad. What could possibly happen?
	Matt's anxious mind breached the gap between them, eager to end the
silence. He dove into the man's mind and then reeled back.  Matt looked at
him in shock. "You know!" Matt gasped.
	"Very good Matthew," Jason's dad said, aiming the gun he had
concealed by his side at Matt. "Very good indeed."

* * *

	As soon as Matt had left the room, Drew stood and ran past Jason
into the living room. Sara stood and gestured for Scott to follow her. He
came around the table and then stopped by Jason. He looked down at Jason.
	"You should be ashamed," he said with a curled lip.
	Jason gaped at him.
	"You didn't even tell Drew, and now you bring your boyfriend in
right in front of him."  Scott said in a dire tone. "You claim to be his
friend?  Well you just slapped your 'friend' in the face." He spat and
followed Sara through the doors. Moments later Jason heard the door to the
hall open. Scott and Sara's voices echoed through for a moment and then the
door closed.
	Jason sat in silence, unsure of what to do. The soft sound of
sobbing eventually roused him from his seat. He followed the noise into the
living room. Drew was curled up in one of the large comfy-chairs. He was
clearly trying not to be heard but failing miserably. He looked up as Jason
entered the room.  Drew jumped out of the seat and moved hurriedly to the
door to the hall.
	"Drew!" Jason called out to him.
	Drew didn't stop. His hand was on the doorknob when Jason called
out again.
	"I'm sorry!"
	Drew froze and his hand returned to his side. His hands balled into
fists and they clenched and unclenched.
	"You're... 'sorry'?" He said slowly.
	Jason took heart.  "Yes! I'm--
	"You're 'SORRY'?" Drew almost screamed as he turned and faced
Jason, tears streaming steadily down his face.
	Jason stepped back, shaken by the force of Draws anger.
	"We were best friends since high school!" he shouted. "We were like
brothers!" Drew sputtered.
	Jason was shaken to the core. He felt his legs give way and he sat
heavily on the carpeted floor with a 'thud.' The floodgates opened and
Jason felt hot tears start to run down his face. "I'm sorry!" he said a
gain, hoarsely.
	Draws shoes came into view of Jason's hanging head.
	"What are you sorry about?" Draws voice trembled with emotion. "Do
you even know what you've done?"
	Jason shook with a sob. He couldn't even bring himself to look at
Drew. His best friend...
	"I'm sorry I didn't tell you!" He cried. "I thought you'd hate me
if you knew I was gay and I didn't want to lose the best friend I ever
had!"  Jason wailed.
	Drew sat heavily on the carpet in front of Jason. "I'm too much in
love with you to ever hate you." He said in a pained voice.
	Jason choked on his next sob. He looked up at Draws face. "W-
what?"  Jason couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Y-you...?"
	Drew nodded, tears still trickling down his face. "Ever since I saw
you on that first day at high school."
	"Why didn't you say anything?"
	"Same reason you didn't," Drew tried to smile at the irony of it
but found it was too much to do. "I didn't want to lose the most amazing
person I ever knew."
	"Drew, I never knew..."
	"That goes for both of us, I think."
	It all made sense to Jason now. Why Drew and looked so pained when
he introduced Matt. "Oh god Drew, I'm so sorry! If I'd known I'd have never
brought Matt in like that. I never meant to hurt you like that." Fresh
tears were blossoming in his eyes and Draws face turned into a blur of
color.
	"Yeah, Matt..." Drew said sadly. "It wouldn't have made a
difference. We saw you two last night."
	"I'm sorry, I never meant for you to find out that way." Jason

sobbed again. "I tried to tell you earlier... But then Matt... and...." he

trailed off, choking slightly again on a sob. He looked again into Draws

face. "Do-- do you still love me?"
	Drew shrugged. "I dunno any more. Not that it really matters
now... now that you have Matt." Drew grinned, through his tear streaked
face. "He's hot. I don't suppose he has a brother does he?"
	Jason couldn't help but giggle. "He has a sister, I dunno about a

brother... But he is a bit gorgeous isn't he?"
	They laughed together. Then both sniffled and wiped their faces a
few times.
	"Are we still friends?"  Jason asked hopefully.
	"The best." Drew nodded. "Forever."
	They sat in silence, getting their breathing under control.
	"Jason, there's something I need to do." Drew said finally. He got
on his knees and leaned towards Jason. "Because if I don't then I'm always
going to wonder what it would have been like if... if things had turned out
differently."
	Jason looked at his best friend of six years, on his hands and
knees, his face barely a foot from Jason's own. "W-what's that?"
	Drew locked eyes with him. "Kiss me. Just once." he whispered.  He
started moving forwards on his hands, their faces getting closer and closer
together.
	Jason was stunned by the request. Could he do it? His best friend?
He cloud do it, but should he? He stared back into Draws hopeful eyes and
decided. Yes, he could do it. More to the point, he should do it. He WOULD
do it. For Drew.
	The distance between them vanished suddenly and their lips
met. Jason parted his lips and his tongue darted out and met Draws.

* * *


	Ooooo I feel like such a rotten bastard. I mean, just leaving you
on the edge like that... Jason and Drew kissing... Matt being held at
gunpoint by Jason's dad... Miriam and Damien still unaccounted for...  Gee,
if I weren't me I'd hate myself.  Fortunately though, I am me so I
don't. It's OK if you want to though. I guess I kinda deserve it after an
ending like that huh?
	If on the off chance you choose not to hate me, or just managed to
suppress your hate for long enough to e-mail me, then send 'em on to
ArchangelMatthew72@Hotmail.com. Cherrio!