Anthony had every intention of doing some writing and cleaning his house. However, when he stepped into the dwelling, a wave of nostalgia washed over and overtook his entire being. The brunet walked into the kitchen and made a cup of coffee. When it finished, he took the mug with its steaming liquid into the library and relaxed in a comfy armchair. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let his mind wander into his and Hunter's entwined pasts.

The unconventional family's origin story began when his parents, Elaine and Bob, Hunter's parents, Dottie and Doug, and Stella, who wasn't known as "Auntie Stella" yet, were in college. Elaine, Dottie, and Stella were freshmen, and pledges to the same sorority, while Doug and Bob were pledging to their fraternity. The five of them met through mutual friends at a party one night. By the time they all said goodnight to one another, they'd begun to forge an unbreakable bond. They were so close that they were known as the fabulous five musketeers.

The shared bond between Elaine, Bob, Dottie, and Doug wasn't just one of friendship. It was also an open and romantic one between just the quartet. Before anything got confusing and too sexual, the four college students met to discuss being bisexual and the mutual physical and emotional attraction to one another. They expressed their thoughts, feelings, expectations, and boundaries of the blossoming relationship. They also made a pact that allowed Dottie and Elaine to be intimate with one another and for Doug and Bob to enjoy the same freedom. However, in the individual male/female pairing, Dottie was committed to Doug, and Elaine was devoted to Bob. This, along with their vow of discretion, was the secret of success to the longevity of their loving and respectful involvement.

The year Anthony was born, Hunter was two and a half years old, and the two families each put up an equal amount of money to purchase the property where Dottie and Doug currently resided. Instead of having their names on the deed, they agreed to put the house and land in a trust left to Anthony and Hunter. When Elliot and Xander were born, their names were added as beneficiaries. The four elders decided to use the property as their summer home. To keep things fair, Elaine, Bob, and Anthony would stay in the guest house one summer, then the following year, Doug, Dottie, and Hunter were in the guest house. That way, no one hogged the main house. When Anthony and Hunter were in their mid-teen years, their parents let them stay in the guest house so they'd have their privacy, and the parents enjoyed their private time in the main house.

Anthony's walk down memory lane took him to a sadder period.

He'd just started college and was in the middle of a performance. The crowd was in a frenzy, waiting for the second half of his show to start. Even after all this time, he could still hear the chanting of his name and cheers. His body was tingly, and the electricity flowed between him, and the attendees sizzled and popped in the air. It kept his momentum surging.

As he sat in the chair, Anthony's breath and heartbeats increased when he saw the memory replay like a movie.

He got a running start and burst onto the stage in an energy-filled triple-back flip before he executed a perfect split. As soon as he got to his feet and was about to start his version of Olivia Newton John's "Physical, Tim, his parent's head of security, ran up to him and whispered into his ear. His dad was driving home from a political rally when he swerved to avoid hitting a deer in the road. The tires hit an icy spot, and he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. Bob died on the way to the hospital. For a few minutes, everything stopped. He couldn't hear the crowd, didn't feel the blazing heat of the lights, and failed to notice the tears streaming down his cheeks.

Anthony was uncontrollably sobbing, and his body quaked in the chair as he wrapped his arms around himself.

He remembered the feeling of his legs giving out on him and passing out in front of the audience. Luckily, Tim caught him, carried his limp body off the platform, and safely got him into the limo that took them to the airport to board the private jet Elaine sent for him. The only comfort he felt, at least until he was in his Mom's, Papa Doug’s, and Mama Dottie's arms, was when he saw Hunter, on the plane, with open arms waiting to hold him.

The phone rang and shook him from the painful remembrance. He didn't even look at the number before answering. His heart told him who was on the other end. "You've always been there for me," he softly said.

"I can be there in ten minutes," Hunter responded.

"I...," Anthony started to say but stopped because his sobs disrupted his speech. He took some staccato breaths before trying to talk again. "I m-m-miss him, so m-m-much, Hunter," he managed to finally get out.

"I know, my love," Hunter said. He paused to blow his nose from crying. "I miss my Papa Bob. He would've been over the moon that we're finally embarking on our path to a happy ending."

"I always promised to be honest with you, Hunt," Anthony stated. "As much as I want you here, I know you've got clients waiting on you…"

"They are important, but not as much as you."

"I think I'll be fine, and just as it always has, the sound of your voice calmed me and is healing my bit of sorrow," Anthony paused and softly chuckled. "We've always had this unexplained, phenomenon psychic connection."

"Yeah, we have, Antboy. It's never wavered or let us down. It doesn't matter the distance or length of time we go without physically being in contact or seeing one another. It somehow let us know when we needed each other. Like just now, I'd just put Edna under the dryer when I saw an image of you curled up in a chair, sobbing. The only time you've been that emotionally distraught was when you relived Daddy-Bob's death."

"You called right when I reached the moment I felt comforted by seeing you, on the plane, with tears streaming down your cheeks, waiting to hug me." Anthony paused to take a deep breath and wipe the tears from his cheeks.

"Nothing and no one could ever stop me from being there for you, Anthony."

"It's the same for me where you're concerned, Hunter."

"Oh, Mom and Daddy have asked me to find out if you can come earlier. Apparently, there's some new development a-brewin'."

"A-brewin'?" Anthony asked with an amused chuckle. "When did they say?"

"Your call, Ant. They really miss you," Hunter paused. "Although, I don't know why," he said before laughing.

"Well, I am the favorite, the most adorable, the..."

"The most worrisome and always in some kinda trouble."

"You're sooo gonna get it, you brat," Anthony stated before he started laughing.

"Ha-ha! Made ya laugh," Hunter exclaimed.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything, for today, for when we were growing up, all the times you've held me, and all the times you tickled me to get me out of my feelings or to let me know you loved me."

"You did all those things for me too, babe. It's an extension of our undying love for one another. We're soulmates and were created to make each other happy and feel loved. I know you, inside and out, just as you know me."

"Babe, do you think our boys are gonna get along?" Anthony asked.

"I know they will. In fact, they'll do more than get along. They'll love each other and have each other's backs."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's in their blood. There's no way that our offspring could hate or dislike each other."

Anthony giggled. "You're just talkin' out your ass, Hunt."

"Dude, asses can't talk. I'm usin' my mouth." Hunter snickered. "I'm sooo tickling your feet for that one."

"Love ya."

"Love ya too, sweet boy," Hunter said. "Papa Bob is watching over us and beaming with pride and love. I can feel it in my heart."

"I can feel it too, Hunt."

"Can't wait to see ya tonight and for us to spend the first of many nights to come with our boys."

"I'm getting in the shower when I hang up with you," Anthony said as he got up from the chair, walked into the kitchen, and put the cup in the sink.

"We're never gonna be apart from each other again, are we?" Hunter asked.

"Nope, we're a done deal. We only need to be sure the boys are okay with us being together."

"What if they're not?"

Hunter's sniffling and the cry in his voice tore at Anthony's heart. "We'll find a way. Honestly, babe, as much as we love our kids, we can't live our lives on their terms. Even if, for some reason, we have to live in separate houses until Elliot, Xander, and Julian graduate high school, we'll make time to be together."

"Hey, ya know what I'm looking forward to?" Hunter excitedly asked.

Anthony shook his head and chuckled. "No, what, babe? By the way, you sounded sooo cute just now. I love it when you get excited and get that childlike quality to your voice."

Hunter boyishly giggled, "you get the same way when you're really excited, babe," he said.

The pair chuckled.

"I'm looking forward to our first date. We've never gone on a first date. We've just always been together.

"Hey, you're right," Anthony exclaimed. "This is gonna be a blast."

"Oh, fuck a duck in the rain and get high. I gotta go get Edna out from under the dryer," Hunter giggled. "I'd totally forgotten about her."

Anthony's head flew back as he boisterously cackled. "That's always been one of my favorite Hunter sayings. Don't get fired. You'll need the money to take me on this mind-blowing and unforgettable first date." Anthony giggled.

"Hey, who said I was payin'? And, damn, you're expecting a lot from this date. I was thinking of McDonald's, and if things progress nicely, maybe a movie." Hunter couldn't go any further before he started laughing like crazy. "Besides, they can't fire me, Ant. I own the place."

"But I wanna go to Burger King," Anthony mock whined.

"Keep whining, and I'll take ya to Taco Bell, and just to make the punishment worse, I'll order as many beans as I can, lock the doors and windows, and fill the car with my ass’ fragrant aroma."

Anthony gasped, "Oh, you're evil. A person needs a hazmat suit with built-in pine-scented air fresheners to endure your farts."

Hunter chuckled and said. "See ya when you get to the house. I love you, Anthony."

"I love you too, Hunter."

To be continued...

Posted: 07/28/2023