by: Tyler Peel

© 2007 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.

Chapter 37
Danielle

"Sniff, sniff. I smell coffee... that means it's morning? Shit!" Derek grumbled as he lay face down on the bed hugging Tyler's pillow. He felt the covers pull down off of his back and a kiss on his sweaty back between his shoulder blades; then another kiss right below followed by a series of kisses running down his back as the covers were slowly pulled down.

<WHUMP> Derek felt something hit the pillow he was sleeping on. He opened his eyes to see the jar of Boy Butter about two inches from his nose. "I guess we know that one of us got a full night's sleep?" Derek asked as he felt a hand reach around and cuff his morning erection.

Tyler rolled Derek over and kissed upwards from the base of his cock. When Tyler reached Derek's chest he teased each nipple running his tongue around in circles.

"Oh...my...," Derek moaned.

When Tyler reached Derek's lips he began grinding his own erection over the top of Derek's. He reached over and unscrewed the lid on the jar of Boy Butter.

"Your hair is wet!" Derek said.

"Mmmm hmmm," Tyler said.

"Did you shower?" Derek asked

"Mmmm hmmm," Tyler moaned while kissing Derek.

When Tyler got the lid off, he sat up on Derek's erection, took Derek's hand and slammed it into the jar of Boy Butter.

"Ewwwww!" Derek said laughing and Tyler just grinned. Tyler turned completely around and stuck his ass in Derek's face. He lowered his balls into Derek's mouth while he went back to work on Derek's cock.

Derek raised his buttered hand up over his head and began lubricating Tyler's hole. Tyler wasn't waiting and pushed backwards into two of Derek's fingers.

"This would explain the shower then...," Derek said laughing.

"Mmmm hmmm," Tyler moaned, as he devoured Derek's cock. Derek got two fingers snugly inside of Tyler and Tyler was still pushing back for more.

"That's as deep as my fingers go. I think we need something longer?" Derek joked.

Tyler spun around and impaled himself down on Derek's cock. After Derek groaned from the sensation he looked at his hand and wasn't sure what to do with his greasy, Boy Butter hand. Tyler took his hand and inserted Derek's two fingers into his mouth and began sucking on them.

"Oh Damn! That is so hot and I have no idea why," Derek said laughing.

Derek pulled his greasy hand out and took hold of Tyler's cock, lubing and massaging it. Derek's hips began doing push ups into Tyler. Tyler wrapped his arms tightly around Derek and rolled over to put Derek on top. Derek put his arms under and around the backs of Tyler's knees and began thrusting furiously. Tyler clamped down on his sphincter as tight as he could.

Derek made an "Ooooooooooh" shuddering sound like Danny makes diving into a full bag of cinnamon buns.

Derek looked into Tyler's eyes, and he saw Tyler mouth the words 'fuck me'. Derek did just that. Derek remembered about pulling out so he could tickle Tyler's prostate gland. It took a moment to find the spot, but when he found it he watched Tyler's eyelids flutter and his eyeballs roll back in his head. Derek slowed down his pace and looked to see the pool of precum forming on Tyler's tummy. Tyler ran his fingers through the pool and scooped some up, sticking his wet fingers in Derek's mouth.

"Here it comes..." Derek said and Tyler pulled him down upon his chest and kissed the top of Derek's head. With each orgasm Derek slammed himself as deep as he could into Tyler. Tyler would tighten himself as much as he could in rhythm with Derek. Derek collapsed on top of Tyler.

"It's okay Babe. Just relax!" Tyler said still holding Derek inside of him.

"Shit! How do you do that?" Derek asked panting and sweating.

"Do what?" Tyler asked.

"Tighten down and hold it for so long? I get to the point that the feelings overtake complete control of me and I just lay there like a road kill," Derek said, and Tyler laughed at his analogy.

"I just try to be like you!" Tyler said.

"What do you mean?" Derek asked.

"I try to be a tight-ass!" Tyler said bursting into laughter. Derek pinched Tyler's butt.

"HEY!" Tyler said still laughing.

"I was going to finish you off but now I am reconsidering...," Derek said lying on Tyler's chest.

"It's okay Babe. I don't need you too. I have a 24-hour a day orgasm as long as you are with me. I don't need sex when I've got you," Tyler said kissing Derek's forehead.

"You're are so full of shit, Mr. Peel!" Derek said.

"I really don't think it's shit...," Tyler said, laughing.

"That wasn't what I meant and you know it!" Derek said.

"You think so? I will go one entire year without having a voluntary orgasm to prove it to you!" Tyler challenged.

"Like hell you will! If I don't get me daily injection of Tyler's protein I would die!" Derek teased. Tyler laughed.

"Derek, if I didn't have to leave this room I think I could live my days out here as long as I'm with you," Tyler said.

"We might need food?" Derek said kissing Tyler.

"I'm sure we could call Steven and order a protein shake!" Tyler said laughing.

"Do we have to go back to the farm?" Derek asked.

"Yup, but we don't have to go back to the house! I like Bessie," Tyler mused.

"Hadn't really noticed...," Derek teased.

"Will you buy me a cow?" Tyler asked with a big grin.

"You're already getting the milk for free!" Derek said winking at Tyler.

"You need to brush your teeth!" Tyler said.

"You really know how to kill a romantic moment," Derek sighed, and got up out of bed to go to the bathroom.

"Three, Two, One...," Tyler counted quietly to himself.

"Holy Shit! You ran a bath for me?" Derek asked, looking out the bathroom door at Tyler.

"For us! Go have take a leak, and then I need to flush myself out," Tyler said grinning.

Tyler sat down on the toilet while Derek relaxed in the tub with the jets lightly blowing bubbles.

"If you really loved me you would hold my love juice inside of you for the day!" Derek teased.

"You can really be disgusting sometimes, Derek!" Tyler said.

"Turn the bathroom fan on!" Derek said waving his hand in the air.

"You don't like my Eau du Bessie cologne?" Tyler asked flushing the toilet and then washing his hands.

"Hahahaha!" Derek laughed. "That had to be the worst thing I've ever smelled!"

"Wait until she gives birth! Danny says the smell is even worse," Tyler said, getting into the tub behind Derek. Tyler lay back and Derek rested against Tyler's chest, and Tyler began to massage Derek's neck.

"Rise and shine kiddies!" Danny hollered from the doorway in Cody's room. "Looks like they're gone!"

"In here!" Derek yelled and Danny came into the bathroom.

"Morning, guys!" Danny said smiling and eating away on a cinnamon bun. Derek and Tyler leaned back and looked up and over to the right to see Danny grinning at them.

Cody came into the bedroom carrying the jar of Boy Butter. "So... what have you boys been doing this morning?" Cody asked laughing as he held up the jar.

"Getting Derek all cleaned out?" Danny asked laughing.

"Actually it's the other way around," Tyler said.

"Really?" Danny asked with his eyes wide open.

Derek looked at Tyler and together they said, "Really, really!" Everyone laughed.

Danny kneeled down on the bathroom floor and hugged both of them. "Shit, I'm so happy for both of you!" he said, giving them both a kiss.

"How was it? What was it like? Are you sore? Isn't it amazing...?" Danny went on with a list of questions.

"Danny!" Cody scolded him. "You don't ask questions like that. They will volunteer what they want, when they want to!"

"Thanks, Cody!" Tyler said.

Cody bent down and kissed Tyler and then Derek. "Congrats on this momentous event!" he said.

"It's not our first time!" Derek said.

Danny was reading the jar and then laughed out loud. "Churn your love around?" He said.

Tyler snorted.

"Don't even go there, Danny!" Derek said.

"Can I have a bite of that?" Tyler asked.

"Right!!!!" Danny said popping the rest of the cinnamon bun into his mouth.

"I'm so going to get even with you for that!" Tyler teased as Cody came back into the bathroom with two hot mugs of coffee for Tyler and Derek.

"Mmmm." Derek said, "Cody, you're the best!"

"Cody would you like fuck my ass while Danny watches?" Tyler asked, giving Danny an evil grin.

"Huh?" Cody said and everyone laughed.

"You're one sick mother-...," Danny began to say until Cody put his hand over Danny's mouth.

"We're just about to leave you guys alone," Cody said grinning as he dragged Danny backwards out of the bathroom.

"Churn Baby, Churn... disco inferno... churn baby churn...," Danny sang while doing a little dance and Tyler and Derek tried to splash bath water on him.

"Was your mother ever in Iowa, Derek? Danny might be her son!" Tyler teased.

"If she was... she was smart enough to abandon, Danny!" Derek joked.

"I HEARD THAT!" Danny yelled from Cody's room. Tyler and Derek laughed.

Derek rolled over on his knees, stuck his face under water, and put Tyler's cock in his mouth. Derek came back up coughing and hacking.

"You're supposed to put me in your mouth and then go under water, Babe!" Tyler said laughing.

"Oh... you have a lot of experience at this?" Derek said trying to catch his breath.

"Nope. It just seems obvious to the moderately intelligent people of this world!" Tyler said. "Pull the curtain and let's get showered! They're probably waiting for us."

"They're probably empting my jar of Boy Butter!" Derek said standing up and pulling the plug out of the bathtub.

Tyler and Derek came out of the bathroom naked and found Danny ploughing Cody's ass in their bed.

"What the fuck? You guys have a bedroom!" Tyler said laughing.

"No point in messing up two beds!" Danny said between breaths.

"We must remember to book separate floors next time!" Tyler said to Derek.

"How about some privacy here?" Danny asked.

Tyler looked at Derek and grinned. Tyler grabbed the jar of Boy Butter and inserted his index and middle finger into the jar as he smiled at Derek. Tyler went behind Danny's ass and inserted his two fingers.

"Oh fuck!" Danny groaned.

"Oh Puhleeze!!!!!!!!" Tyler said. "If there was any more room up here we could park my Jeep!" Cody snorted

Derek kneeled beside the bed and slid his face in between Danny and Cody, and began sucking on Cody's cock.

"Oh yeah...," Cody moaned as he ran his fingers through Derek's wet head.

As Tyler finger-fucked Danny's ass, Cody grabbed hold of Tyler's growing erection.

"You can put something else in there if you want, Ty!" Danny said grunting. Derek reached out and slapped Danny's ass.

"Maybe not, then...," Danny said as he panted.

Tyler removed Cody's hand off of his erection and winked at him.

"Oooooh... oooooh... ooooooooooooh!" Cody moaned as his orgasm began into Derek's mouth. Derek pulled off of Cody and fed Danny Cody's load. Danny's rhythm slowed to hard, forceful strokes in and out of Cody when his orgasm began. Each time he thrust inward to Cody, Tyler would push harder.

"I need to wash up!" Tyler said.

"I need to brush my teeth!" Derek said.

Tyler and Derek left for the washroom and when they returned they could hear Cody and Danny in the shower laughing.

"You didn't get to cum, did you?" Derek asked grabbing at Tyler's boxers.

"No!" Tyler said sternly.

"Oh. Okay," Derek said and began getting dressed. "Are you okay, Ty?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Tyler said pulling out an extra set of clothes to take along.

"You don't sound like it?" Derek asked but Tyler didn't respond.

"Would you talk to me about it? Please?" Derek asked.

"I can't really explain it. I am completely and totally comfortable with you but doing anything with Cody, Danny, Kyle or Jeff... I know you love me and I am really cool about it, but I am not comfortable doing anything with anyone but you!" Tyler said. "I really don't want to talk about this. I'm just keeping my word to always tell you what I am feeling inside."

"Sweet! I'm going to go jump in the shower with them!" Derek said, and Tyler just ignored his comment.

"That was a joke, Ty!" Derek said.

"I know," Tyler responded. Derek frowned at his inability to make Tyler smile.

Derek spun Tyler around and kissed him. "I love you, Tyler, and I hope you know that you are the only one for me?" Derek said. Tyler smiled but politely shrugged Derek off.

Derek went over and closed the partition door and then sat down on the bed.

"Please sit down beside me?" Derek asked calmly and Tyler sat down. Derek slid his right hand into Tyler's left hand and squeezed it three times. Tyler smiled and squeezed back three times.

"We don't have to talk," Derek began. "I need to know that you know how much I love you. If you don't want to go out to the farm then we won't. If you want to be away from Danny and Cody today then I will arrange it. If you want me to leave you alone then I can do that, as well?" Derek asked leaning over and kissing Tyler's cheek. Tyler smiled and turned and kissed Derek.

"Thanks, Derek. I'm really okay. We need to be there for Danny and for Bessie. What you just said means a lot more to me than you realize. If I want sex I turn on the computer or jerk off in the shower. When I want to make love or need to be loved in a sexual way I have you. I hear so much about gays having open relationships and multiple partners but they never seemed to last. I just think that I am a monogamous person. There are some people I would like to have sex with, but you are the only one I want and need to make love to!" Tyler said.

Derek got up and knocked on the door before opening it. Cody and Danny were getting dressed.

"Sorry to interrupt guys, but we are going to be a little bit late," Derek said. "We're going to grab a cab out to the farm so go ahead. We'll be along in 30 minutes or so."

"We can wait?" Danny said.

"No, it's okay." Derek said winking at Danny. "Don't hold breakfast for us!"

"Mom will have a fit! We were sent by Mom to make sure we brought you back for breakfast," Danny said.

"We won't be long, guys!" Derek said closing the door.

"You didn't need to do that," Tyler said.

"Yeah I did. If only so you know that I do know when you need me," Derek said. Derek lay down on the bed and pulled Tyler into his arms.

After lying there for five minutes Tyler asked, "Where's my speech?"

"No speeches. You don't need a lecture... at least not from me. All you need to know is that I love you and I'm here for you," Derek said.

<Silence>

"If you want to talk I'll listen. If you've got a question I'll try to answer it," Derek said.

"It's so simple yet so complex," Tyler began. "I love you more than any human being in this world, Derek, but it scares me because in my life everything I've ever loved has been taken away from me. I feel like I can hold on to you and protect you, but loving and caring about too many people is just too much to handle. I'm not sure what would happen to me if I lost you?" Tyler said and paused.

"Danny and Kyle want to get closer to me and I would like them to, but I am afraid. There's a lot more pain than love when you let people inside." Tyler said.

"Isn't it you that said something about not living on the side of the road in life?" Derek asked grinning.

"Yeah...," Tyler said.

"You need to take your own advice, Ty. What if Kyle or Danny died tomorrow? Isn't it better to have loved them to the best of your ability today?" Derek asked.

Tyler didn't respond.

"Life is too short, Ty. Don't let your fears hold you back. Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all!" Derek said squeezing him three times.

"Danny kissed me yesterday up in the loft," Tyler said.

"Is this a confession?" Derek asked lifting his head up off the pillow.

"No, not at all," Tyler said. "It was more of the conclusion of the problem that existed between us."

"Sorry, go on...," Derek said sitting up and leaning on his elbow.

"Danny and I almost became a couple before you ever showed up. I warned him not to fall in love with me, even though he sort of did. I actually caught him and Cody in the act one night at his room. I was feeling sorry for myself afterwards because I really did like Danny, and I felt like he had dumped me even though I was the writer of how that chapter in my life with Danny ended. We didn't talk for a while. Then we got into an argument before he flew home. It was all about telling you everything. He was angry with me and reminded me that if things didn't work out between us then I would be totally at fault," Tyler said.

"And?" Derek asked, listening intently.

"He admitted that he did love me in more than a friendly way but agreed that we are better to remain best friends. Yesterday we talked about our lack of time to talk together. Neither of us gets to spend much time together alone. I do love Danny but if I have five minutes free I want to spend them with you!" Tyler said.

Derek kissed the back of Tyler's head and smiled to himself.

"There's more...," Tyler said. "He really wants to sleep with me or rather me sleep with him..."

"In the Biblical sense?" Derek asked.

"Exactly!" Tyler said.

"And you said?" Derek asked.

"I didn't really say much. I told him I didn't want to change or spoil what we had. Sure, I would be lying if I said I wouldn't enjoy having sex with him, but it really isn't important now and I no longer feel like I missed out on anything," Tyler said. "This morning I didn't mind helping out, so-to-speak, but I knew deep inside of me that it just wasn't the right time for this to happen... if ever!" Tyler said.

"Okay now... we've come full circle. You are afraid that sleeping with Danny might awaken those feelings inside and then you wouldn't love me anymore or at least as much and then it would complicate things with the four of us and so on?" Derek asked.

Tyler began to whimper and shake and Derek held him tight. Tyler covered Derek's hands with his own. "I couldn't handle losing you or your family," Tyler said, starting to cry.

"Our family, Ty, our family. Can I speak for a moment?" Derek asked.

Tyler nodded and sniffled and then wiped his eyes.

"I think what you are feeling is completely natural," Derek said. "I would never have any problem with you being with Danny. If it ever happens then let it happen! It's more important that you can be yourself and not spend your time wondering 'what if'? If it meant that Danny was to be the one for you then that is who it should be," he said, kissing the back of Tyler's head.

"I don't want Danny and even if I thought I did, I want you a million times more!" Tyler said.

"What about Kyle?" Derek asked. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to!"

"Kyle is different. I love Kyle very much, but I am not in love with Kyle. That is never going to happen, but there is a side of me that feels it could bring us closer together. Then I think to myself 'what the fuck?' how much closer do we need to be? We don't need to be any closer, and I'm not going to mess up a 14-year-olds life!" Tyler said wiping his eyes.

"I don't think you would mess it up when the goal is to deepen the love, but I understand and respect what you are saying. No one knows how it might effect Kyle later in life," Derek said.

"That's exactly what I told him," Tyler mumbled

"Are you feeling any better?" Derek asked.

"Are you feeling any worse?" Tyler asked.

"Not at all. There is nothing you told me about your relationship with Danny that I hadn't already figured out. This doesn't change anything from my side, but hopefully you will feel free to be yourself with him whether I am around or not. Maybe you could make sure that if you ever decide that Danny is the one please tell me right away. I don't want to be dragged along because you feel sorry for me," Derek asked.

"You will always be number one, Derek, because nothing is ever going to happen between Danny and me!" Tyler said.

"You should never say never, Ty!" Derek said.

"We better get going," Tyler said.

"Not yet!" Derek said.

"When?" Tyler asked.

"When you tell me that you know that I love you, and that you understand that I realize what you are going through," Derek said.

"I know you love me and I know you understand, and I do appreciate it. If I didn't love you and trust you, I would never have told you what I was feeling inside, Babe," Tyler said.

"I love these moments when get even closer together," Derek said hugging Tyler. "Now let's get out there and have breakfast for Danny's sake!"

"What do you think is going on with them?" Danny asked as he stared out the window on the drive to the farm.

"No idea. I wonder if they had a fight?" Cody asked.

"No, they didn't have a fight or I would know," Danny said.

"What do you mean?" Cody asked.

"Tyler would tell me or send me a signal," Danny said.

"Really?" Cody asked.

"Word! Whenever they have something going wrong between them he usually lets me know to be careful and tread lightly around Derek," Danny said.

"Would you stop saying 'word' please?" Cody said.

"Why?" Danny asked.

"Because Tyler and Derek say it all the time and I am sick of hearing it!" Cody said.

"Something wrong, Cody?" Danny asked.

"No."

"Okay... I'm sorry I used that expression and I will try my best to avoid it. Better?" Danny asked.

<No response>

The rest of the trip to the farm was in silence. As Danny turned into his laneway he stopped the car and put it in park. He turned to look at Cody.

"Why did you stop here?" Cody asked.

"Why are you upset with me?" Danny asked.

"I'm not!" Cody said with his arms crossed. "Breakfast is waiting. Let's go!"

"You're lying to me and we both know it, and I think I know what it is," Danny said.

Cody looked over him with a furrowed brow.

"It's Tyler and me, isn't it?" Danny asked, and Cody looked out his window.

"When I said he gives me a signal or a sign, that is just because we know each other so well and I have built up that trust. We aren't hiding something from you," Danny said.

"He trusts you more than he trusts me!" Cody said, not looking at Danny.

"Of course he does!" Danny said, and Cody turned and glared at him.

"Don't give me that look, young man!" Danny teased, and Cody mouthed the word 'fuck you' to him.

"Cody. Listen carefully! Tyler has a really tough time trusting anyone. Derek has screwed him over so many times that I can't even believe they are even together! You were in with Dakota's posse! You kept secrets from him," Danny began.

"I told him everything!" Cody yelled

"You told him everything... eventually! You were spying on the two of us. You knew things that you could have told Ty sooner but didn't and if I hadn't blown your cover about your 'team meetings' in Dakota's room then who is to say when it would have come out? Don't you dare put any of Tyler's lack of trust in you on him or me!" Danny said and Cody just looked out the window.

"This morning... I grabbed his cock and started jerking him and he moved my hand away," Cody said staring at the dashboard.

"Cody, he loves you and he loves me too, but he is only IN love with Derek! I love Tyler but I am only IN love with you! It takes time to earn his trust. Don't ever forget how he made a deal to get your DVD back, or the work he put into those drawings he gave you for Christmas. Whose idea do you think it was to phone you to come down to Baltimore and go bowling before Christmas? I'm betting that you and Derek didn't pay for your plane tickets and if he and I had anything going on between us, beyond being best friends, then I seriously doubt he would have brought you and Derek with him!" Danny said getting angry.

"I wouldn't be his brother or friend if it weren't for you...," Cody said sulking.

"Yes and no, Cody! You might not have met Tyler as quickly if it weren't for me, but you are his brother and friend right now because of you and not because of me! Tyler would never be rude or mean to you no matter what you did to him but he certainly wouldn't go out of his way to include you in our family if he didn't feel you were worth it. He loves you, Cody, because of you and nothing to do with me!" Danny said.

"He also gave me the money to pay for dinner last night...," Cody said with his voice trailing off.

"There you go! One more thing he has done for you, because of you! He could have appeared to be the big time spender but he wanted you to impress my parents. Let's get one thing settled right now! Nothing, not even you, are going to stand in the way of my friendship with Tyler and Derek! If you have the slightest problem with that then I will drive you back to the hotel right now!" Danny said.

Cody stared forward, looking at the farm as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I love you Cody, and if I had the opportunity to chose between you and Tyler right now I would still chose you! You are the one I am in love with... the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. If I spent tonight in Tyler's bed you can damn well know that nothing would ever happen and if it did it still wouldn't change how important you are to me. He is my first real friend and I'm not going to fuck up my friendship with Tyler. If you're jealous of my friendship then you deal with it because it is all in your head! If you've got a problem with that then say so now!" Danny said, putting the car into gear and taking off towards the house leaving a tire marks in the driveway.

Danny turned the car off and threw the keys at Cody. "Here! You take them in the house. I am going to the barn!" Danny said, slamming the door shut and storming off towards the barn. Cody got out and wiped his eyes. He slowly walked up to the house and opened the door to the mudroom. Janet looked over from the kitchen where she was making breakfast and said, "Where are the others?"

"They'll be along in a bit," Cody mumbled.

Janet looked at him and could see he had been crying. She walked over to the mudroom and asked, "Is something wrong, Cody?"

Cody began crying, and Janet put her arms around Cody and pressed his head down into her shoulder.

"I need my Mom," Cody said crying.

Janet shushed him and patted his head. Cody held her so tight Janet thought she might pass out. Janet steered the two of them into the living room and they sat hugging on her antique settee. Janet rubbed his back with one hand and stroked the back of his head with the other.

"I'm sorry," Cody said through his tears.

"Don't be sorry, Cody," Janet said, her eyes beginning to tear up.

"I just needed you, Mom," Cody said.

"I'm afraid I will have to do!" Janet said not hearing correctly.

Cody sniffled and separated from Janet's arms. "I meant I needed you, not anyone else, I'm sorry," Cody said, again wiping his eyes.

It didn't take Janet one second to comprehend what Cody had said and she pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek. "I will do my best to be here for you, Cody," she said, smiling as a tear rolled down her cheek. Janet held Cody in her arms in silence until his breathing calmed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Janet asked, and Cody shook his head no.

"Well... whatever happened will certainly work itself out before you even realize it. You are the most important person in Danny's life."

"I'm sorry," Cody said again, reaching his arm up around Janet to wipe his eyes.

"Cody, you are family, and even if you weren't you still shouldn't ever feel the need to apologize for crying. It's one of God's gifts to us!" Janet said releasing Cody and smiling at him. Cody smiled, and Janet rubbed his hands held in her hands.

"You don't have to talk about it but if you ever want to, then know that I am here for you," Janet said smiling at Cody.

"We had an argument because I was jealous and I was wrong," Cody said starting to cry again.

"It's okay, Cody. Danny is a very forgiving person. Sometimes we all get a little jealous of all the love Danny has to give and forget that just because he loves others doesn't mean he doesn't love us," Janet said, pondering her own words.

"I was an ass... sorry, Mrs. Armitage, I meant jerk!" Cody said.

"Cody, you can call me Mom or Janet, and there's always room for one more in the pew, Cody," Janet said smiling.

"Huh?" Cody asked.

"What I mean is you're not alone. I have always been jealous of Danny's relationship with his father, and I always felt like I had to compete for Danny's attention, but I am now learning that it was all in my mind," Janet said, staring off in the distance.

"I can't begin to imagine how horrible my life would be without Danny in it," Cody said, looking at the floor.

"Me neither, Cody." Janet said, wiping Cody's eyes with her thumbs. "We suffer from the same affliction. We both love this wonderful guy named Danny," Janet said, and then stopped, realizing what she had said. Cody looked at her briefly wondering if she overheard what he said to Danny last night. The door opened and Danny walked in to see the two of them sitting in the living room.

"Well... there... you... go...," Danny said.

Janet stood up. "I'll leave you two to talk," Janet said, bending over and giving Cody a quick kiss on the lips. Danny's mouth dropped open.

As she walked by Danny, Janet stopped and warned him, "If you do anything to hurt Cody, I will remind you that you are not too old to still be put over my knee," Danny's eyes bugged out wide enough to match his open mouth. Cody snorted and smiled.

Danny walked into the living room and sat down next to Cody. "Dude, this is so not right! You sitting in the living room with my mom?" Danny said laughing.

"She's wonderful, Danny!" Cody said grinning from ear-to-ear.

"I don't think I want to know what the hell just happened here. I love you Cody and I am sorry for the way I acted outside and I hope you will forgive me?" Danny asked.

"Will you forgive me for not trusting you?" Cody asked as he took Danny's hand in his.

"Hmmm...," Danny grinned. "How long do I get to think this over?" Danny asked tapping his chin.

"Owww!" Danny said smiling from the punch in the arm.

"I feel really stupid and really bad," Cody said. "Even stranger... I feel like I betrayed what little trust Tyler has in me."

"I think it's the opposite, Cody. You've just proven why Tyler does trust you!" Danny said, giving Cody a kiss.

"I don't understand?" Cody asked.

"You do, but you don't realize it yet and I'm not telling. I will only say that the journey you are now taking is a great one and at the end you will find that Tyler will be the best friend you've ever had. Whether it's good or bad you can always trust Tyler to talk to," Danny said smiling.

"I still don't understand?" Cody asked.

"Talk to Tyler and you will see," Danny said.

"Talk to him about what?" Cody asked.

"About whatever is on your mind," Danny said still grinning.

"I can't talk to him about this," Cody said.

"Then you don't trust him so why should he trust you?" Danny said getting up and pulling Cody up with him.

Cody walked past Danny and went into the kitchen.

Danny heard Grandma moving around in her room and went upstairs to help bring her down for breakfast.

Cody walked up to Janet and hugged her. "I need you, Mom. Thanks for being here for me."

"I need you too, Cody!" Janet said hugging him tightly. "After breakfast would you like to take a walk with me to this special place I go to at the back of the farm?" she asked.

"Yes, please. I want to spend as much time with you as I can today! If that is okay with you?" Cody asked.

"That is more than okay, Cody. I want to get to know my other son better," she said giving him a kiss on the lips.

"Thanks, Mom," Cody smiled. "Can I help with breakfast?"

"You most certainly can," Janet said, wrapping her arm around Cody's waist.

"Hey, Josh!" Tyler said, as he and Derek hopped into the back of the taxi.

"Hey guys! How's your trip going so far?" Josh asked, and neither answered.

"That good, huh?" Josh said laughing.

"We're waiting for Bessie to calve and hopefully before we fly back tomorrow morning," Tyler said, and Josh laughed.

"You flew out to Des Moines to watch a cow give birth?" he asked laughing.

"...And a few other things as well. Hey, we need to stop at Toys R Us, and then go by that flower shop again!" Tyler asked, and Derek looked at him and Tyler winked.

"Don't forget, Ty, you wanted to get oats for Bessie too!" Derek said, and Josh laughed.

Tyler and Derek returned to the taxi carrying a dozen roses wrapped in a box with a red bow, a large stuffed Teddy bear and small stuffed raccoon. Tyler strapped the big stuffed Teddy bear into the front seat beside Josh. Josh howled in laughter when Tyler did this.

"Who's the bear for?" Josh asked, "And don't say the cow!" Derek laughed hard over that comment.

"You tell 'em!" Tyler said to Derek.

"The Teddy Bear is for Zana and the roses are for your wife!" Derek said.

"Really?" Josh asked turning around to look at the two of them.

Derek and Tyler looked at each and smiled. "Really, really!" they said in unison, laughing.

"It might be late tonight when we head back to the hotel!" Derek said.

"Or it might be in the next hour!" Tyler added. "The raccoon is also for Zana, and when she is old enough you can explain that raccoons, being nocturnal, stay awake at night to protect her from anything bad!"

"Guys, that is so sweet! Though Kelly might think I've been cheating on her when I give her the roses!" Josh joked.

"I doubt it!" Derek said. "We signed the card from all four of us apologizing for taking you away from home! The only trouble you might be in is if she finds out that all four of us are gay!" Derek added, laughing.

"Hahahaha!" Josh laughed. "I don't think that's a concern with Zana being colicky! We've only just been allowed to have sex again since Zana was born and she's damn good at interrupting us!" Josh said laughing.

"Please apologize to Kelly for us taking you away from family time!" Tyler said, as Josh turned into Danny's laneway.

"Apologize?" Josh laughed. "When she saw the tip money I made from you guys she wanted to invite you all over for dinner!"

The boys got out of the cab and Tyler stuffed $60.00 into Josh's shirt pocket. Josh was about to object and Tyler put his hand up. "Talk to the hand!" he said smiling and walked away.

"Let's go to the barn first!" Derek suggested as he winked at Tyler.

"Race ya!" Tyler said running off ahead of him.

"No fair! You didn't give me any warning!" Derek said running after Tyler.

"Morning, Sir!" Tyler greeted Roger.

"Morning, Tyler, and cut the Sir crap out!" he said laughing.

"Yes, Sir," Tyler said, holding the barn door shut.

"Is there a problem with the door?" Roger asked and Tyler laughed.

<Bang, Bang, Bang> "Let me in you bastard!" could be heard from the outside. Tyler released the door and Derek fell backwards. Roger laughed.

"Morning, Sir!" Derek said, and Roger sighed.

"Morning, Derek! Call me Sir once more and you get to muck out the stalls alone today!" Roger said.

"Yes, Mr. Armitage!" Derek said grinning and Tyler laughed.

"What needs to be done first?" Tyler asked.

"Eat breakfast! Now both you boys haul your lazy asses up to the house!" Roger said, grinning.

"We need to see Bessie first!" Tyler said.

"We?" Derek asked shaking his head.

"I need to see Bessie first. Is it okay to give her some oats?" Tyler asked.

"Are you kidding? That's like giving a cinnamon bun to Danny!" Roger laughed. "Let me see the package you have there?" He asked and Tyler handed him a package of oats he purchased.

"Yeah, that's fine, just make sure her water pail is full and only give her about two handfuls!" Roger said, and Tyler ran over to her stall. Roger and Derek watched Tyler and laughed at him.

"Morning, Bessie!" Tyler said grinning. Bessie got up and came over to the gate. Tyler leaned over and gave her a kiss. Bessie wagged her tail back and forth.

"How's my favourite Iowa girl this morning?" Tyler asked as he held a hand full of oats up to her mouth.

"Bessie, I need the hand back!" Tyler said pulling his hand away. Derek came up behind and put his hand on Tyler's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Ty! As long as you got one hand you'll be okay," Derek winked.

"You want to give her the second handful?" Tyler asked with a big grin.

"You're really getting into this whole farming thing aren't you?" Derek asked.

"Do you want to or not?" Tyler asked seriously.

"Sure and thanks!" Derek said giving Tyler a quick kiss. Derek grabbed a handful of oats and held his hand out to Bessie. She looked at him for a few seconds and Tyler said, "It's okay, Bessie, he's with me so you can trust him!" Bessie licked up the entire handful of oats all at once.

"Eeewwwwwww!" Derek said as he pulled back his wet arm. Roger laughed at him.

Tyler opened the stall and slowly entered with a handful of hay. Bessie wouldn't take the hay but she did want some Tyler time for herself. Tyler took a brush they had hanging up and carefully rubbed her with the brush as he talked to her.

Cody came into the barn and called everyone to breakfast. Derek was the first to leave the barn holding his left arm as far away from his body as he could.

"How's Bessie this morning?" Cody asked.

"She's great as always... aren't ya girl!" Tyler said scratching under her neck. "She reminds me of my dog when I scratch her. Her eyes sort of close and she gets this blank stare on her face that she is experiencing pure ecstasy!"

"You think you might be spending a little too much time in the barn?" Cody teased. "C'mon, breakfast is ready."

Tyler gave Bessie a kiss and snuck her another half handful of oats before he left. As they walked back towards the house Tyler asked how Mrs. Armitage was this morning and Cody said everything there was great. Tyler looked at him.

"Ty, if you get some time this afternoon can we talk in private?" Cody asked. "It doesn't really have to be today...," he said.

"Sure. Anytime you want as long as Bessie isn't birthing! Everything okay?" Tyler asked.

"No, but I don't want to talk about it right now," Cody said as they entered the mudroom.

"Morning, Tyler!" Janet greeted him with a smile and a hug.

"Morning," Tyler said suspiciously. "Morning, Grandma!" Tyler said smiling and went over and gave her a kiss.

"Thank you for last night!" Grandma said quietly in his ear.

"I just hope it was as good for you as it was for me?" Tyler asked winking at her.

Grandma smiled and winked back at Tyler.

When breakfast was over the boys did all the dishes.

Janet pulled Roger aside and asked, "If Bessie calves you're going to spend the night in the barn?

"You know I always do! I want to keep an eye on the new calf for the first 24 hours," Roger said.

"I was thinking..." Janet said smiling. "Why don't we zip up two sleeping bags together and we'll both stay out there tonight and let Tyler and Derek use our room?" she said, playing with the buttons on his shirt.

Roger looked at Janet and Janet winked. "Why hell, yeah! That sounds like a great idea!" Roger said as he kissed Janet and headed out to the barn.

The four boys did all the dishes and put everything away.

Roger opened the door and yelled, "IT'S TIME!" and ran back to the barn.

"Holy crap!" Tyler yelled and pushed his way past everyone to get his shoes and coat on. They all laughed at him.

Tyler arrived in the barn to find Roger looking into the pen. "Just relax Bessie... you're going to be fine!" he said.

"How is she?" Tyler asked.

"Not good, but not bad," Roger said. "Looks like she's going have a breech birth!"

"What does that mean?" Tyler asked.

"The calf is going to come out backwards," Roger said, as Bessie moaned

"Can you give her anything for pain?" Tyler asked, and Roger laughed.

"No, Tyler, only a Vet can do that! You keep an eye on her and I'm going to go hook up the hose with a mix of cold and hot water so we can clean her out afterwards," Roger said.

When Roger left, Tyler opened the pen and slowly moved towards the corner that Bessie was lying in. He scooped out handfuls of water and held it up to Bessie's mouth for her to drink. As she consumed some water from Tyler's hand, he stroked her neck.

"It's okay, girl, we're going to be fine," Tyler said.

"We're going to be fine?" Derek asked laughing. "Are you giving birth too?" Tyler stuck his tongue out. Bessie moaned and tried to roll over.

"Look!" Cody yelled. "There's something coming out her ass!"

Derek snorted and looked at Cody.

"Shit! It's a breech!" Danny said as he came into the pen. Two hooves began to appear.

Danny ran behind Bessie and tried to grab hold of the two hooves and pull but his hands slipped off from the wetness. He pulled off his plaid shirt and wrapped it around hooves trying to get a better grip when Roger yelled for him to get the bottle of milk warmed up for the calf.

Danny ran out of the pen shirtless to grab the bottle of milk. Roger was testing the water temperature.

Tyler went over to the back of Bessie and took Danny's shirt and wrapped it around the hooves. He carefully placed one foot on Bessie's rear end and began pulling. The calf came out about six inches and Tyler slipped and fell back into the wall.

"Guys! Get in here now!" Tyler said ripping his shirt off. Derek and Cody looked at each other.

"NOW!" Tyler yelled again.

"Derek, stay with Bessie and talk to her. Cody, come here and help. Get your shirt off! Get down beside me and wrap your shirt around one leg." Cody had a terrified look on his face.

"Don't think about it, Cody! Just get down here beside me. Good! Now put your left foot on her right there!" Tyler said tapping the left side of Bessie hindquarter.

"Got a good grip?" Tyler asked Cody as Danny returned. Cody smiled and nodded.

"Oh my God!" Danny said laughing.

"On three!" Tyler said. "One, Two, Three." Tyler and Cody counted out loud together.

"Push Bessie, push!" Derek said, stroking the side of her face.

Tyler and Cody each had a foot on Bessie's behind and began a slow, continuous pull and the calf began to come out.

"Guys! Keep your arms together. You don't want to split the calf in two!" Danny said smiling. "DAD! DAD! Get over here!" Danny yelled, and Roger came running just in time to see the calf pop out and land on Tyler and Cody's legs. Bessie mooed and moaned.

"Good girl, Bessie!" Derek said, giving her a kiss.

"Oh Shit!" Cody yelled as he realized he was soaked from the baby calf. Everyone laughed.

Danny brought over the water pail and washed the calf's face. The new calf rolled and struggled to break free. Tyler inserted two fingers into the calf's mouth and pulled them in and out. The calf began to settle down as she concentrated on sucking on Tyler's fingers.

"Way to go, Ty!" Danny said. "I didn't think you knew to do that?"

"I got lots of practice this morning!" Tyler said with newborn calf lying across him.

Danny laughed the loudest.

"I see Mommy, Daddy, and Baby are all doing fine?" Roger teased. They all laughed except Tyler who gave Roger the evil eye along with a smile.

Roger whispered in Danny's ear, "Go get the camera."

"Hey, Tyler, since you are fairly wet now do you want to help complete the job?" Roger asked, laughing.

"Anything to help Bessie!" Tyler said.

Roger handed Cody a 2-gallon plastic jug with a large nipple on it. "Try this and see if you can get her to drink from it." Roger said.

"So it's a girl?" Derek asked.

"If you would have stayed awake in sex education you'd know that already!" Tyler said. Derek curled his lip at Tyler.

"Too bad it wasn't a boy. I thought we could name it Tyson! Ty's son!" Derek said laughing.

"Come over here and let me hug you, Derek!" Tyler said standing up.

"Tis okay!" Derek said holding his hand up.

"Here, Tyler!" Roger said handing Tyler the hose.

"You want me to wash the calf down?" Tyler asked.

"Not exactly!" Roger said.

"Huh?" Tyler asked with his eyes wide open.

"You did say you wanted to experience everything about farm life, didn't you?" Roger asked, laughing.

"Huh?" Tyler said again.

"He did! I heard him say that too!" Derek said.

"You're gonna need this as well." Roger said handing Tyler a clear plastic glove that when put on went all the way up to his shoulder.

"Seriously?" Tyler asked.

"Well you know... you really don't need to wear the glove considering you're all wet anyway...," Roger said and Cody snorted and Derek laughed.

"Give me the damn glove!" Tyler said, taking it from Roger. Danny arrived with the camera. He snapped a few pics of the pen and a close up of Cody feeding the calf in his arms while lying on the floor against the wall.

Tyler put the glove on and took the hose from Roger. "Now what do I do?" Tyler asked.

"Well... in your case I would say just do what comes naturally!" Roger said winking at him and everyone laughed. Tyler pointed the hose at Derek and turned it on spraying him with water.

"Assmite!" Derek yelled.

"Hang on a second, Tyler," Roger said as he hooked the winch up to Bessie's harness and raised her up on her feet.

"Go ahead now. Son!" Roger said.

"Do I turn the hose on before I insert it?" Tyler asked and everyone snickered at him.

"I would unless you think you're talented enough to turn it on from inside her?" Roger teased.

"He's pretty talented!" Derek teased and covered his face for fear of more water coming at him.

"I think I will turn it on before going in... I mean she's obviously much tighter than Derek!" Tyler said, grinning.

"Ooooooooo!" Cody and Derek said laughing.

Tyler hid the nozzle of the hose inside his right hand. He twisted the spout open until Roger told him that was a strong enough flow. Placing his closed fist up against Bessie's behind he closed his eyes shut and began to insert his fist inside her.

"Forgive me, Bessie!" Tyler said and Bessie moaned at the intrusion. <Snap went the digital camera>

Tyler heard the click and opened his eyes to see Danny with the camera and everyone laughing at him. "Bitches!" he said.

"Oh God, this is so not nice!" Tyler said with his eyes shut tight as his arm moved deeper inside Bessie. Cody and Derek couldn't even look.

"Now that you are right inside her Tyler...," Roger began and Derek snorted.

"Sorry!" Derek said laughing.

"See if you can turn the nozzle to the right so the water flows in faster," Roger said.

"Dad! The brace! Where is it?" Danny asked.

"Shit!" Roger yelled. "Tyler, don't move an inch!" Roger went into the next pen and dragged in a set of leather straps.

"Give me a hand, Danny," Roger said, and they each strapped one of Bessie's hind legs and ran the chain through her front legs and clamped it on a ring attached to the wall in front of Bessie. Tyler kept patting Bessie's thigh.

"What's that for?" Tyler asked.

"When she's had enough water and wants the hose removed she will begin moaning. Sometimes they kick backwards!" Roger said. "She could break your leg!" he added.

"What?" Tyler yelled. "I've got my arm stuck up her butt to my shoulder and you now decide it might be the time to brace her?" Everyone laughed.

"She's not gonna kick you, Ty! She knows you are there and she won't hurt you!" Danny said.

"Then what are the fucking braces for?" Tyler said laughing.

"Well...," Danny said. "She is looking at Derek!" Danny said winking at Tyler and everyone roared with laughter.

"I hate you all!" Derek teased.

Bessie moaned and started to move her feet.

"Almost time to turn the water off, Tyler," Roger said and Tyler nodded.

"What does filling her with water accomplish?" Cody asked.

"Well, Cody, she's not really been moving around too much in the last few days so she builds up in the bowels and this will clean all that shit out of her!" Roger said.

"Huh?" Tyler said. "You mean she's about to blow it all out her ass?"

"That's exactly what is going to happen. She's going to feel 200% better in a little bit. Now you can begin slowly taking the hose out of her," Roger said.

"How long is a little bit?" Tyler asked.

Bessie let out a loud moan and before Tyler's arm was half way out of her she blew his arm out and all of the contents of her bowels. Tyler was thrown back off his feet and Bessie blew herself clean all over Tyler. <Snap>

"Oh, Fuck!" Derek yelled laughing.

"Oh God! The smell!" Cody said covering his nose with his hand. <Snap, snap, snap>

Tyler couldn't open his eyes but said. "I'm going to kill you, Danny!" Everyone laughed and Danny snapped one more picture.

Roger took the hose from Tyler's hand and hosed his head and face down so he could open his eyes.

"Is that what sloppy sex with Derek is like?" Danny asked, and Derek punched him in the arm.

"Give me the fucking hose!" Tyler yelled and laughed as he took it away from Roger and gave himself an impromptu shower in the pen. The only clean part of Tyler was his arm that had been covered by the plastic glove. Roger unhooked Bessie's legs and then removed the harness from her. She immediately turned around and went over to Cody to begin licking her newborn calf clean.

Tyler stripped himself down to his wet boxers.

"Danny, run up to the house and get some towels for Tyler and let your Mom know the good news!" Roger said. Danny went up to Tyler and kissed him.

"You were great Ty! A natural born farmer!" Danny said.

"You really think so?" Tyler asked.

"No, but you sure smell like one!" Danny said holding up Tyler's camera. "You can't soak me while I'm holding your camera!" he said.

Derek came up behind Danny and tried to quietly reach over Danny's shoulder and take the camera. "Don't even think about it, Derek!" Danny said laughing as he moved his hand to where Derek couldn't reach it.

"Seriously, Ty, you've got what it takes and you two were great as well!" Danny said petting Bessie.

"Would you get me a towel, please?" Tyler asked, hosing down his Toronto Maple Leaf's ball cap. Danny laughed and ran out of the pen.

"I wonder what they're going to name her," Cody asked.

"How about 'slippery when wet'?" Tyler suggested.

"I think they should name her Ty, short of Tyler," Derek teased.

"I never knew Tyler was into scat!" Cody joked winking at Derek.

"Cody, I'm near naked holding a hose in my hand!" Tyler said.

"Actually would you hose me down? I stink!" Cody said, standing up. Tyler turned on the hose and showered Cody completely. Cody then stripped down to his boxers and held his and Tyler's pants up to be hosed down.

"Shit! I've got it!" Cody yelled.

"What?" Derek asked.

"The name for the new calf!" Cody said.

"What name is that?" Roger asked coming into the pen.

"Hang on!" Cody said and whispered the name in Bessie's ear. She licked him.

"Seems like Bessie approved?" Derek said.

Cody whispered into Roger's ear and Roger laughed. "That's perfect!"

"What?" Derek asked getting impatient.

"Danielle!" Cody said, smiling.

Tyler and Derek burst into laughter just as Danny came running into the pen with towels.

"What's so funny, and Cody, do you really want to do it right here?" Danny teased, seeing him stripped down to his boxers.

"I have to agree with Danny, you guys look damn hot in wet boxers and amniotic fluid!" Derek said laughing.

Janet and Grandma arrived to see the new calf. "Oh look!" Grandma said. "She's beautiful!" Bessie looked over at Grandma and twitched her ears. "You did a good job, Bessie!" Grandma said.

"Congratulations, guys! Danny was just saying that the three of you worked really hard to deliver your first calf?" Janet said. "What are you going to name her?" she asked.

Derek, Cody, and Tyler all looked at each other smiled. "Danielle!" They all said together.

"What?" Danny yelled. "I don't think so!" Grandma, Janet, and Roger began laughing.

"Sorry, Babe!" Cody said, "Bessie already approved it, didn't ya, girl!" Boomer started barking. "Even Boomer approves!"

"Boys, get over to the furnace!" Janet said and everyone moved out of the pen. Tyler was the last to leave and he gave Bessie a kiss. "You did really good, Bessie." Tyler said and fed her a handful of oats.

"I'm gonna miss you when we leave tomorrow!" Tyler said and Boomer barked.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Boomer!" Tyler said petting him.

"You boys get up to the house and get showered. Lunch will be ready in about an hour!" Janet said with arm around Cody's waist. Tyler and Derek noticed this and looked at each other.

"Want to make the run across like this?" Tyler asked Cody. Cody grinned and wearing only their towels, boxers, and shoes; they made the run to the house from the barn. Both stripped naked in the mudroom and ran up to the bathroom. Tyler turned on the shower.

"Who goes first?" Cody asked.

"Doesn't really matter. We can shower together and save the water. They are on a well out here." Tyler said, winking at him.

"You go ahead and then I will shower afterwards." Cody said and Tyler looked at him.

"Is something wrong, Cody?" Tyler asked.

"No. I just don't think we should shower together," Cody said wrapping his towel around him and opening the bathroom door.

"Cody?" Tyler called and Cody turned around.

"Talk to me, please?" he asked.

"It's fine, Tyler. Go shower," Cody said.

"You can't really wander around the house naked so why don't you shower and I will go afterwards?" Tyler asked.

Cody closed the door, dropped his towel, and headed towards the shower. As he passed by, Tyler teased him saying, "Nice cock big boy!" Cody glared at him for a second without saying anything and pulled the shower curtain shut.

Tyler leaned against the vanity wondering what that was about. "Sorry," he said over the noise of the shower but Cody didn't say anything. Tyler left the bathroom and found Danny's room to go wait.

"Holy shit! Plaid bedspread, plaid drapes, plaid wallpaper... I guess we know how to decorate Danny and Cody's room?" Tyler said. Tyler looked at his bookshelf filled with hockey trophies, medallions, and certificates. There was a picture of Danny's date for the Prom sitting there as well.

Danny walked in to his room and said, "Hey. I brought your backpack up here. Mom's washing your and Cody's clothes right now." Tyler jumped.

"Did I scare you?" Danny asked coming up behind him and hugging him.

"Yeah. You did. She's really cute! I wish I had lost my virginity to someone as hot as her!" Tyler said.

"She's my cousin!" Danny said laughing.

"Isn't that okay in this part of the country?" Tyler teased and Danny reached around and pinched his nipple. "Is there something wrong with her mouth?" Tyler asked.

"She wears braces!" Danny said.

"That would explain the scars on your dick then..." Tyler joked and Danny pulled Tyler down on to the bed and started tickling him. Tyler was laughing too hard to fight back and he didn't want to drop the picture out of his hand.

Cody came out of the bathroom and heard the two of them in the bedroom. He paused outside of the doorway listening for a moment.

"Making fun of my girlfriend are you?" Danny said as he sat on top of Tyler.

"Nah... she's a hawtie! Did you get a homerun or did you strike out with her?" Tyler teased.

"Bastard!" Danny said laughing and continued to tickle him.

"So was your Prom catered by KFC or Bob's Big Boy?" Tyler asked laughing hysterically.

"Fucktard! It was catered by Dairy Queen!" Danny said winking. Tyler paused for a moment and burst into laughter.

"Of course it was...," Tyler said, laughing. Cody figured they weren't talking about him and walked into the room.

"You know you're not only full of shit, Ty, but you smell like it too!" Danny said getting up.

"I knew you took a female to the Prom, Danny, because I didn't see any steers on her!" Tyler said laughing as he tossed the picture on the bed and ran to the bathroom. Part way down the hall Tyler stepped on wet carpet. He realized that Cody had been standing there for a while based on how much water was on the carpet.

<Sniff, sniff> "You smell like Avon Lavender cream soap! Don't be surprised if Dad starts coming on to you at lunch," Danny said, teasing Cody. Cody didn't say a word.

"Something wrong?" Danny asked.

"No," Cody said sitting down on the bed and putting on clean white socks.

"Okay," Danny said looking at him with a furrowed brow. "The deodorant is in the top drawer. Let Tyler know also!" Danny said leaving the room.

Tyler came back into the room before Cody had finished dressing. "That was fast!" Cody said without looking up at Tyler.

"I didn't want to waste any more water," Tyler said.

"I'm sure they have enough water," Cody said.

"Did you guys shower this morning? We used a lot of water cleaning Bessie out and they are cooking for seven of us twice today! Maybe you know more about how much water they have than I do?" Tyler asked, not wanting an answer.

Cody got up and left the room without saying anything. He returned shortly carrying a wet towel and said, "Do you normally just drop a wet towel in the middle of the hallway?" Cody asked.

"No I don't, Cody! It's a clean dry towel that I put down to soak up the water you left while standing there after your shower listening to Danny and me in the bedroom," Tyler said, not looking at him. Cody turned and stormed out of the room without saying another word.

Lunch consisted of a pot of baked beans, breaded pork tenderloin cutlets, homemade apple sauce, mashed potatoes, carrots in an orange glaze, biscuits and gravy, and two raspberry pies for dessert; one pie just for Danny and one for everyone else to eat. Derek stared at Danny until he caught his eye. When he had Danny attention he looked over at Tyler, then Cody, and then back to Danny. Derek shrugged his shoulders and Danny responded back the same way.

"Thank you for another wonderful meal, Mrs. Armitage!" Tyler said, getting up to clear dishes. Derek joined him to help.

"Can I take your plate, Cody?" Tyler asked, and Cody moved his hands away but said nothing. Tyler removed his plate. Danny watched all of this go on and quietly stared at Cody. When Cody looked over at Danny he looked away.

A fresh pot of coffee brewed while Tyler and Derek did the dishes. Danny watched carefully as Cody seemed to be watching the two of them in the kitchen. When either one would approach the table Cody would look away like he was trying to appear uninterested.

"Would anyone like to play some cards?" Grandma asked, sipping on her tea.

"You wouldn't be talking about a game of thirty-one, would you grandma?" Danny teased.

"Well... that's certainly a good game to play...," she said, sipping on her tea.

"I might lose the deed to the house if I play anymore!" Janet said, getting up from the table.

"How do you play grandma?" Tyler asked.

"It's very easy, Tyler!" she began.

"It's very easy to lose all of your money to her!" Danny said laughing. Grandma swatted the back of Danny's head.

"As I was saying..., just before I disinherited Daniel...," Grandma began.

"Oooooooo!" Cody, Tyler, and Derek said, and then laughed.

"The dealer deals out five cards to everyone but themselves. You pick your three best cards and pass them to the person on your left. The dealer gets their two cards from the person on their his right. Kings are worth ten and aces are worth eleven. They must all be in the same suit. You always pick up a card from the deck or the open-faced discard pile and always discard one card at the end of your turn. The first person to get a total of 31 points from the same suit can lay down their cards on their turn. Usually we throw in a couple of quarters or a buck and the winner takes the hand...," Grandma said, looking away and fixing her hair.

"A buck!" Danny yelled. "When did we start playing for a buck?"

"Inflation, my dear boy," Grandma said smiling.

"We used to play for a penny a point." Danny said interrupting her. "When you reach 1000 points the game is over and you subtract your score from the winners and you owe the difference in pennies!" Danny said.

"It's the 21st century, Daniel, and don't go giving your friends the idea that I am some sort of card shark!" Grandma said, rolling her eyes in disgust.

"I just happen to have a deck of cards in my pocket here!" Grandma said and everyone started to laugh.

"Like hell, grandma! You're not taking my friends to the cleaners!" Danny said, getting up and went into the dining room and got a deck of cards that said 'sunny Arizona' on them.

"Now Danny, you know those cards stick to my fingers," Grandma said.

"That's cause you used to glue them under the table!" Danny said, shaking his head and they all laughed.

"Daniel! Is that a nice thing to say about your grandmother?" Grandma asked.

"It's bad enough you're going to take all of their money but at least do it honestly!" Danny said.

"Danny! All the money I make is going into your inheritance!" Grandma protested.

"All the money you make goes into church bingo, scratch tickets, and the powerball lottery!" Danny said.

"Enough, Daniel!" Janet said.

"Thank you, Janet!" Grandma said. "Now who wants to play?" she asked.

Tyler, Derek, and Danny all agreed to go in but Cody said, "Actually I might play a bit later. Mrs. Armitage was going to take me on a tour of the farm!"

Tyler, Derek, and Danny all exchanged glances but said nothing. Janet and Cody left for their walk and Roger headed to the barn.

"Now then...," Grandma said, as the door in the mudroom closed. "Ante up boys! Dollar per game, no chits."

"Huh?" Derek asked.

"It means ya gotta have cash to play," Tyler said laughing.

"Ten dollar bill is the smallest denomination I have," Derek said and Grandma quickly pulled out a large wad of bills from her sweater pocket and counted out five 1-dollar bills and one 5-dollar bill. After the money was on the table Grandma slowly opened the deck of cards and removed the two jokers.

"Count the cards, Grandma!" Danny said, staring her down. She paused to glare at her grandson and then counted them out.

When she counted them out there were 51 cards. "This deck must be missing a card?" Grandma said and Danny looked down under the table.

"No Grandma. It's on your lap and I will bet it's an Ace!" Danny said.

Grandma lifted the card off her lap and tried to slide it into the deck but Danny grabbed it and showed everyone the Ace of Diamonds.

"I think I'll sit out this round." Derek said reaching for his dollar.

Grandma slammed her hand down on top of Derek faster than Danny could take a cinnamon bun out of bag and said, "Ya want it back? Win it!"

Grandma took the deck of cards in one hand and began cutting the deck three times. Tyler and Derek's eyes popped wide open at watching her.

"I warned you guys!" Danny said laughing.

"My grandson is so mean to me!" Grandma said dealing. The cards were dealt before anyone knew what was happening.

Grandma won the first six rounds and Derek and Tyler knew they had been suckered in. In the seventh round things weren't going so well for Grandma, and she knew she needed to do something.

"Did I ever tell you about the King of Norway, Derek?" Grandma asked. Derek shook his head.

"Oh God... here she goes...," Danny sighed. Grandma glanced to her right to look at Danny.

"The King and Queen of Norway went out into their garden looking for a spade to plant some flowers. <Tyler began laughing> they couldn't find the spade so they searched the grounds looking to see if their son Jack had it? <Derek snorted> Jack wasn't around because he had gone to the Crazy Eight club with his girlfriend Duecy! <All three boys started laughing> Jack had been trying to get Duecy into bed but she wouldn't budge without a promise of a diamond ring and to be made the Queen...," Grandma began...

All three boys had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard. "That's enough!" Tyler said throwing a twenty-dollar bill in the centre of the table and standing up. "You're damn good, Grandma!" Tyler said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Here's twenty bucks for Bingo! I want you to play on my behalf and we'll split the winnings!" Derek said, laughing.

"Sixty-forty!" Grandma said, checking out his twenty-dollar bill to make sure it wasn't a fake.

"Where are we going?" Cody asked.

"To my secret place!" Janet teased and put her arm through Cody's.

"This place is so beautiful, I can't imagine anywhere nicer," Cody said.

"Wait till you've spent half your life here and then you might think of a few places," Janet said, smiling.

"Dad and I have always moved around. We've never spent more than two or three years in one place. I just want a place to call home." Cody said.

"Look up there!" Janet said pointing the small forest of trees in the most southern part of the farm.

"What?" Cody asked.

Janet reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny pair of binoculars and handed them to Cody. He looked into the forest but wasn't sure what he was looking for.

"Look straight ahead and the move over about 100 ft." Janet said. "Look for the tree with the box attached to it about 20 feet off the ground," she added.

"Oh! Okay, I see it. What is it?" Cody asked.

"It's an birdhouse built for an owl!" Janet said.

"Is there an owl living in there?" Cody asked.

"There is and he or she is probably asleep but knows that we are here," Janet said.

"This is so peaceful here," Cody said. Janet took a plastic bag out of her other pocket and handed it to Cody.

"What's this? It's looks like a small steak," Cody asked.

"It's liver!" Janet said and Cody made a face. "That's the same face Daniel makes!" she said laughing.

"Yuck!" Cody said, smiling.

"Follow my path over here and when you get to the coffee can nailed on the tree open the bag and drop the liver in. Try not to touch it!" Cody looked at her and smiled. He walked about 70 feet to the can and dropped the liver in the can. The sound of it hitting the bottom of the tin made the owl look out and Cody saw it. When he returned to Janet they walked a little further down the trail to the edge of the forest and sat on a fallen tree.

"Is this your place?" Cody asked all smiles.

"It is! Now be quiet, stay still, and watch. The owl might come out to eat before dark," she said.

"Do you always feed the owl?" Cody asked in a whispered voice.

"Only in the winter when it's tougher to find food. The owl kills all of the rodents that get into the crops," she said.

"So it's kind of a trade off then?" Cody asked.

"Let's just say that we are secret friends since it sort of goes against nature," Janet said, and Cody smiled.

"How is my second son doing?" Janet asked.

"Not so good," Cody said.

"You feel like talking about it?" Janet asked.

"I do but it isn't something that serious and besides I would rather spend my last day here with my Mom," Cody said smiling, and Janet squeezed his arm. "It means a lot to me to be a part of your family."

"It means a lot to me as well. I'm sorry for my... umm... lack of enthusiasm yesterday," Janet said.

"I don't blame you in the slightest. Mrs... I mean Mom." Cody said. "I just want you to know that I will do everything possible to be worthy of Danny and you and Mr. Armitage." The owl flew out of his home and directly to the coffee can. He picked up the liver and headed directly back to his home.

"Did you see that?" Cody yelled.

"Uh huh!" Janet said smiling.

"I wish I had the camera to take a picture!" Cody said.

"No Cody, we don't take pictures here. We respect and appreciate that we allowed to peek into their world. We do enough damage to their habitat as it is. I shouldn't even be feeding that owl but it has become a secret friendship and you are the only other person to know about it," she said, smiling at him.

"Thank you Ma'am. I'm honoured! Not just to see this but to be at the farm and spend time with you," Cody said.

"You miss your Mom, obviously?" Janet said.

"I really don't remember her. You don't miss what you've never had, but you see everyone else with their moms and that secret relationship and you can't help but wonder," Cody mused.

"I am sorry for you, Cody," Janet said, getting up to start back.

"Don't be, Ma'am!" Cody said. "I've got the best Dad in the world and we might not have had that relationship if things had been different."

"You're pretty good at accepting whatever is thrown your way. That's very mature of you, Cody," Janet said as the house and barn came into view.

"I wish I felt that way. Jealously seems to have kidnapped my heart," Cody said.

"You're jealous of the friendship between Daniel and Tyler?" Janet asked.

"Is it that obvious?" Cody said.

"Not until lunch time!" Janet said. "Of all of you I trusted Tyler the least. I didn't like that he seemed to have so much control over the three of you but it seems like he doesn't abuse it and he really does love all three of you."

"He does, Ma'am, and Danny and Tyler are best friends and it makes me feel like an outsider even though they don't treat me like one or think of me that way, but I can't help feeling jealous," Cody said.

"Do you spend much time alone with Tyler?" Janet asked.

"Not really. If Tyler has time alone he is with Derek first, Danny second, and me third," Cody said.

"Maybe you need to make some quiet time with him. Tell him how much need him and what you are really feeling inside?" Janet suggested.

"You know Mom... your son said the same thing to me this morning. I guess you taught him well!" Cody said.

"Better than I realized, actually!" Janet said smiling. "Cody, make some time with Tyler and tell him what you really feel inside. If he is as great as the three of you say then I think you will find that he will be there for you."

"That's the thing. He is there for me in so many ways but I still feel jealous and I know I shouldn't and I know I am wrong," Cody said.

"You just want a little quiet time with Tyler every now and then, right?" Janet asked.

"Yeah, I guess...," Cody mumbled.

"Then tell him. It's no different than you and me needing a little quiet time together and don't be surprised if your boy friend gets a little jealous of us!" Janet said, and Cody grinned.

"That's my boyfriend's loss!" Cody said, smiling at her. Janet kissed Cody's cheek and they went back inside the house.

"Where is everybody?" Cody asked Grandma.

"Danny went for a nap, Derek is in the shower, and Tyler is with Bessie!" Grandma said.

"How did the card game go?" Janet asked smirking.

"It was fun!" Grandma said, getting up to reheat her tea.

"I'm going out to the barn, Mom. If Danny wakes up tell him I'm busy, please!" Cody asked. Janet winked and nodded at Cody.

Cody opened the barn door and saw Tyler with his arms folded leaning on the pen watching Bessie and Danielle. Tyler looked over at Cody as he headed towards him and then stared back into the pen.

"Hey," Cody said.

"Hey," Tyler replied, not looking at him.

"Want to go up into the loft?" Cody asked.

"Don't you already have a boyfriend?" Tyler asked coldly. Cody didn't respond.

"Sorry. That was rude and I apologize," Tyler said.

"I deserved it so don't apologize," Cody said watching Danielle sleep spooned into Bessie. "I wanted to go up into the loft so we could talk in private," Cody said, not looking away from Tyler.

"Let's go then," Tyler said, walking away and Cody followed. Tyler sat down on the same bale of hay that he and Danny had sat down on.

"Come in to my office," Tyler said smiling. Cody sat down beside him and didn't say anything.

"One of us should probably say something," Tyler said.

"I'm sorry," Cody said, as a single tear ran down his face. Tyler didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry for everything," Cody added. Tyler still didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry for being connected with Dakota, for spying on you and Danny last summer in the shower, for listening in on your conversation with Danny today. Hell, I'm sorry I ever entered your life," Cody said.

"I'm not," Tyler said.

"You're just saying that to be nice," Cody said sulking.

"You think I lie to you?" Tyler asked.

"No. Sorry. I'm sorry for that as well," Cody said.

"Do you want to tell me what this is all about?" Tyler asked.

"Short and sweet and to the point?" Cody asked.

"That would be a pleasant change in my life," Tyler said laughing.

"I'm jealous of you and Danny," Cody said not looking at him.

"Oh," Tyler said. "I thought you were mad because I let go of you this morning," Tyler said.

"I wasn't mad about that, I just figured you didn't want anything to do with me and I know if you were to be with someone other than Derek it would Danny," Cody said.

"Excuse me? Where the fuck did you get that idea?" Tyler asked.

"I just see it in the way the two of you are. It's like you have this secret little world and code words that are private between you and him. To be honest, Ty, I have no fear of Danny leaving me but I am afraid of you taking him from me. If you say jump he asks you how high?" Cody said. Tyler stared at him like a deer locked in on a set of headlights.

"That's partially true," Tyler began, "It's not that it's a secret, but more so that we understand each other's body language and moods really well. It's nothing against you. We are just closer but that doesn't make you farther away. As for me stealing Danny it isn't ever going to happen and I think you need to reconsider the trust in your relationship with Danny if you feel he would leave you because I call him. I can see where you might think and feel that way, Cody, but in reality it would never happen. Danny and I set the boundaries of our friendship before you ever came into the picture," Tyler said.

"I know, I know... I am wrong and I am sorry and I can't help but feel that way. After the things I've done to you I don't deserve to have you as a friend," Cody said, not looking at Tyler.

"Look Cody, this is all too complex for my brain. You're not telling me everything and that makes it hard for me to figure out what you are saying sometimes. I know that wasn't easy for you to say but I appreciate your being honest with me even if I don't fully understand what you are thinking," Tyler said.

"That doesn't surprise me. I don't understand me most of the time either," Cody said.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Tyler asked.

"You don't need to ask, Ty," Cody said.

"Well, you asked to talk to me so I was trying to listen and not say too much," Tyler said.

"Thanks. I appreciate that. Go ahead," Cody said.

"In the beginning you made me suspicious of you. When I figured out it was you I was angry. Not at what you did but the fact that you weren't completely honest with your boyfriend. You apologized to Danny and told him the truth. Then I find out that you were connected to Dakota but I learned that it wasn't really your fault except for the fact that you should have stood up and been a man and told the truth. Do you know why I love you? Why I honestly and truly believe in you and love as a friend and brother?" Tyler asked.

"Cause you're stupid like me?" Cody said laughing. "Sorry. No, I don't know why and I'm not sure I would believe you are telling me the truth anyway."

"Do I lie to you?" Tyler asked.

"No," Cody said. "I just think that you would be nice to me because of Danny."

"Not at all. At one time I was advising Danny to get the hell away from you, but I'm glad he didn't listen," Tyler said. "Now do you want to know why I love you?"

"Please," Cody said, looking Tyler in the eye.

"Of all the people in my life right now you have been the toughest person to love. I've had to dig deep and put personal feelings aside to see the rest of you and not just the parts of you I prejudged. Loving you has been so much work!" Tyler said. Cody looked over with a half smile and shook his head.

"Cody. Listen please. The free stuff in life doesn't really matter. The stuff you work for is what counts. All of the hard work I put in to finding out who the real Cody is inside turned out to be worth every ounce of effort. You have been the toughest person for me to love and in a sense, the most rewarding because I never thought it would happen. I can't do anything about you being jealous of me and Danny but I can assure we are not ever going to be having a relationship in the way you have with him now," Tyler said.

"Do you trust me?" Cody asked.

"A lot more than I did 15 minutes ago," Tyler said grinning. "I know how much courage it takes to say what you just said and that shows your love for me by taking the risk to speak what is really on your mind. My respect for you is way up, too!" Tyler said smiling.

"Thanks, Ty," Cody said.

"I think we need to learn more about each other and spend more time together. I will do my best make more time for you," Tyler said.

"You don't need to do that. You are the busiest of all of us," Cody said.

"You're right. I don't need to, but I do want to. I can't promise you that we will be as close as Danny and me are but I would sure like us to try to be. I need you in my life, Cody, and my world is a better place for having you in it. I don't need to wait for a day when you do something special for me. I am thankful for you and all of my brothers every single day," Tyler said, taking Cody's hand in his.

"Why did you stop this morning in the hotel room?" Cody asked.

"Honestly?" Tyler asked.

"No, lie to me, Puckhead!" Cody teased.

"I've always been afraid that if I did something with you or Danny that it might change how I feel about Derek. You and Danny are both so great and so sexy that there is some thing inside me that I need to keep locked away and never let out. It's a problem that I have and it has nothing to do with you or Danny. This probably won't make sense but if I were to give you a blow job it wouldn't effect me in the slightest but if you were do the same to me it might change how I feel about you and about Derek. I can't defend it or explain it. It just is what it is. I don't want a sexual relationship with anyone but Derek," Tyler said.

"Sort of like my being jealous of you and Danny?" Cody asked.

"I guess. There are some things inside of us that need to be released regardless of the consequences and other things that need to be kept under lock and key. We both need to allow ourselves to have more trust in each other and I think that will happen in time but it does take time and work on both sides," Tyler said. "I know that at this moment I love you and I wouldn't trade you for anything.

"I need time alone with you, Tyler. Not a lot, but a little more than we've had. The most time I've had with you was after Danny left and we worked together on finding a house. That was great fun but we never really spent any time together, if you understand?" Cody asked.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It seems like you guys depend on me a little more than you should and I take control more than I should. That in of itself takes up a lot of my time. Do you realize all that I've been doing since I left Philly?" Tyler said, laughing.

"I do and it tires me thinking about it," Cody said.

"One of the reasons I get up to jog every morning is so I have some quiet time to listen to music. I could happily lock myself away in a cabin for a week!" Tyler said laughing.

"But... you would miss Derek too much to do that!" Cody hinted.

"No I wouldn't. I know he loves me and there is something to be said for being away and missing someone!" Tyler said. "You know that you could help me get some quiet time?"

"Really? How?" Cody asked.

"Take me away. To a park, a movie, just go somewhere and do nothing... together!" Tyler said smiling. "Everyone else demands my time so why don't you?"

"I could never do that to you. I am just thankful for the time you do give me even though I want more of it," Cody said.

"So why don't you take more of my time but meet me halfway and take me somewhere I can rest?" Tyler said.

"You're serious?" Cody asked laughing. Tyler didn't respond. He only stared at Cody.

"Got any other questions?" Tyler asked.

"Lots but I've taken enough of your time and most are too embarrassing for me to ask anyway," Cody said.

"Try one on me. Test me? Take a chance and learn to trust me," Tyler taunted him and then squeezed his hand three times.

"Have you ever thought about me when having sex?" Cody said and broke out in laughter. He covered his face in embarrassment.

"Yes!" Tyler said. Cody peeked at Tyler from between his fingers.

"Really?" Cody asked.

"Uh huh!" Tyler said.

"I don't believe you," Cody said laughing.

"When I have sex with Derek he really is the only one I ever think about. Every second I am with him I wonder why I am the luckiest guy in the world to have him. When I'm in the shower... that is my time to play!" Tyler winked.

"Hahahaha!" Cody laughed.

"When I first saw you in the shower after practice with your wet hair I popped a woody in my cup! When I saw you in the shower with Danny that first time all I could think about was how sexy your body was and how hot you looked with wet hair. Danny gave me a pic of Derek holding him naked for Christmas. He took it with his cell phone camera," Tyler said.

"Yeah, I remember. It was his desktop picture for a while." Cody said.

"That picture has me and Derek in the same position as you and Danny were in the shower. Every time I look at that picture I see you! Between you and me! I jerk off a lot more over you than I do over Danny," Tyler said grinning.

"Yes!!!!!!" Cody yelled pumping his fist in the air.

"You really shouldn't do that!" Tyler said laughing.

Both became silent for a few minutes over their private revelations. Tyler got up and pulled Cody up to him. He wrapped his arms around Cody's waist and began to kiss him.

"That is an 'I love you kiss'!" Tyler said. "Not an 'I am in love with you kiss'!"

"How do you know the difference?" Cody asked.

Tyler looked each way to make sure they were alone and said, "Hell if I know," and they both burst into laughter.

"Thank you, Tyler. I really do love you," Cody said.

"I really do love you, too!" Tyler said, and they both embraced and held each other for a while not saying anything.

"We should go check on Bessie!" Cody said.

"And our boyfriends!" Tyler said winking.

"I still don't know how to say thanks for all you do for me, Danny, dad... hell, everyone?" Cody asked.

"You're my family, Cody! I would do anything for you!" Tyler said walking down the stairs ahead of Cody.

Cody caught up to him and pulled on his arm to stop him. "Ty, I know I haven't had the chance to prove it to you, but I would do anything for you as well," Cody said, staring him in the eye.

Tyler winked and said. "I know you would, Cody. By the way, how are things going with Mrs. Armitage?" Tyler asked.

"Great! I love her so much," Cody said smiling.

"Seriously?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, she's really cool. She wants me to call her Mom!" Cody said still grinning.

"K... she scares the crap out of me. I'm just trying to stay out of her way," Tyler said.

"Just give her a chance, Ty!" Cody said.

"Whatever...," Tyler said.

"Ty. This is one of those times when you need to trust me!" Cody said.

Cody and Tyler looked in on Bessie and Danielle to find both were happily asleep so they headed back to the house. Cody opened the mudroom door first to see Janet smile at him and he grinned back and winked.

"Welcome back, boys! How are mom and her baby doing?" Janet asked.

"They're asleep!" Cody said smiling.

"I think my two other babies upstairs are also asleep!" Janet said, and Tyler and Cody ran upstairs to find them. They stood at the entrance to Danny's bedroom door and saw Danny asleep in his farm clothes cuddling with Derek who was wearing only a bath towel.

"Should we wake our babies up?" Tyler asked quietly.

"Sure but lets have some fun!" Cody said and Tyler grinned.

Cody walked over to Derek so Tyler went over to Danny. Cody carefully bent down and began kissing Derek. Tyler followed suit and began kissing Danny.

"Ahhhhhh!" Danny yelled when he opened his eyes, which woke Derek up who grunted when he saw who was kissing him.

Derek looked over at Danny to see the back of Tyler's head and said, "Oh, Cody... it's about time, Babe!" Tyler didn't even move his head to punch Derek's thigh and Derek started to laugh as he grabbed his throbbing leg.

Tyler looked into Danny's smiling eyes and said, "Oh Derek! You're so much sexier than I realized!" Tyler took hold of Danny's crotch through his jeans and said, "Have you grown? It feels like you don't have that little boy cock anymore?"

"You're dead, Tyler Peel!" Derek said laughing as he jumped up and landed on Tyler's back forcing him down on top of Danny.

While Tyler and Derek wrestled, Danny called for help from his Cody, who said laughing, "If I had Tyler and Derek on top of me I wouldn't be complaining!" '

"If I live to get out of here I am going to kill you, Cody Conners!" Danny said and Tyler and Derek turned their attention to tickling Danny. All four began wrestling and laughing until Janet yelled up stairs for all four of her children to settle down! Cody rolled off Tyler and was in the middle beside Danny. Tyler put his arm around Cody and gently tapped him three times. Derek held on to Danny to keep from falling out of bed.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna fall out of the bed," Derek said.

"I'm not moving!" Tyler said.

"I can't move!" Cody said lying on his side.

"Derek, just lie face down and I will get on top of you!" Danny said and everyone laughed.

Tyler's face was shoved into the back of Cody's head. "You smell like... like...," Tyler began.

"Lavender?" Danny said laughing.

"That's it!" Tyler said and Cody elbowed Tyler. "You guys have had your nap so why don't you get lost and let us sleep for a while?" Tyler suggested.

"I think we've just been dumped?" Derek said laughing.

"I think we've just been kicked out of my bedroom!" Danny said grinning.

"Don't worry guys... if we wanted to have sex we would do it in front of you both so you would learn how to do it right!" Cody said with his eyes closed. Tyler snorted.

"They sort of make a cute couple!" Derek said

"If they both weren't so ugly looking!" Danny said winking at Derek.

"Danny?" Tyler called with his eyes shut. "Think about this: it's nine days before Christmas; 30 minutes after leaving the Cheesecake Factory; dorm hallway; and you naked!"

"He's a bit cranky without his beauty sleep, huh?" Danny asked Derek.

"We better let him sleep for thirty years...," Derek teased. "How about we sneak out and go shopping? I would like to bring something back for our brothers," Derek asked, getting dressed.

"Yeah, and it will get us out of the house too! I can't wait to meet Luke!" Danny said.

"Don't forget Chris and Jeff as well! They are coming skiing with us," Derek said.

"Did someone say shopping?" Cody said sitting up. Derek and Danny laughed.

"Get your stuff if you're coming!" Danny said as he and Derek walked out of the room.

Tyler pulled Cody back down and Cody said, "I don't really have to go shopping if you want me to stay here?"

"I never want you to leave, Cody!" Tyler said kissing the back of Cody's head. Tyler reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad of bills and stuffed them inside of Cody's jeans without saying a word.

"What's that? Shit! I know what that is!" Cody said.

"It's so you can buy some stuff for all of us to give to our brothers." Tyler said.

"I still have all your money from the dinner!" Cody said.

"Our money, Cody!" Tyler said. "I'm sorry for letting you down, Cody," Tyler added.

"Oh fuck... you've never let me down, Ty. Just shut the fuck up," Cody said laughing.

"I've been thinking and I realized that I didn't trust what Danny, Derek, or you have been trying to tell me. You can't earn someone's trust if they won't give you a chance to prove it. So in that sense I failed you and I am very sorry, Cody. I should have paid more attention to you and it is my loss if I don't make some time to spend with each of my brothers," Tyler said.

"No offence, Ty, but suck it up!" Cody said laughing.

"Geez... you sound like Luke now!" Tyler said smiling.

"Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment! We need to have your conscience surgically removed though! You've got nothing to apologize for so shut-the-fuck-up and lets just try to make time to get to know each other better?" Cody said smiling.

"Get going and have fun! I'm going to phone home and make sure someone is around to pick us up tomorrow!" Tyler said.

"See ya in a bit!" Cody said giving Tyler a kiss and then leaving the room. Tyler opened his cell phone and dialed the Andersons.

"Thank you for calling Santa's workshop. Santa can't come to the phone right now because he's exhausted from his trip around the world, and the elves are out back barbecuing that lazy-assed Blizten. After the tone, please leave your Christmas list, and maybe we'll get back to you! <BEEP>" The voice said.

"Luke?" Tyler asked.

"Ty?" Luke said.

"How are you doing?" Tyler asked.

"Great now! When are you coming home?" Luke asked. "Hey Casey? It's Tyler!" Luke yelled into the phone, and Tyler pulled the phone away from his ear.

"We're flying out tomorrow morning," Tyler said, "and your Mom is supposed to pick us up around noon at the airport. Are you coming to meet us?" Tyler asked.

"You bet!" Luke said.

"Danny can't wait to meet you!" Tyler said.

"Oh?" Luke asked.

"You'll love him, Luke! I promise you! He was my first real friend when I came here," Tyler said.

"Okay...," Luke said.

"Something wrong?" Tyler asked.

"No," Luke said.

"You love Cody, right?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah," Luke said.

"Well, he is Cody's boyfriend!" Tyler said. "Don't be surprised if Danny is the second person to give you a hug!"

"Who's first?" Luke asked.

"The guy who misses you and loves you the most!" Tyler teased.

"Hmmmm... must be Cody then?" Luke teased.

"You're so not getting peanut butter now!" Tyler joked.

"Noooooooooooo!" Luke said.

"Just teasing ya, Pookey! Can I talk to Casey?" Tyler asked.

"In a second! How's your cow doing?" Luke asked.

"She gave birth this morning and Danny got a whole bunch of pictures. I even helped the birth happen!" Tyler said proudly.

"Sweet!" Luke said.

"I miss you a lot, Luke!" Tyler said softly.

"I've missed you too!" Luke sighed.

"When are you leaving for your hockey tournament?" Tyler asked.

"As soon as we pick you guys up! We have a 7:00 p.m. game and the drive is about 4 hours." Luke said.

"That's going to be cutting it close. We can grab a cab to your house!" Tyler said.

"NO WAY! I want to see you before we go!" Luke said.

"Okay! Well we are flying out of here just after seven a.m. tomorrow morning but then we have 45-minute layover at O'Hare airport in Chicago. We'll be in Baltimore around eleven!" Tyler said.

"Cool. Casey and me are kind of bored today," Luke said.

"Can you get online?" Tyler asked.

"Sure. Why?" Luke asked.

"www.peanutbutterlovers.com" Tyler said and Luke dropped the phone. "Luke? Luke? Hello? Love you!" Tyler said as he hung up the phone laughing. Tyler went downstairs to find Janet in the kitchen. He came to a complete stop and appeared caught by surprise when he saw her.

"Did I scare you?" Janet asked laughing.

"Ummm... no I guess. I was just going to make a coffee for myself but I can do it later," Tyler said not knowing why he even said that.

"You can go ahead and make yourself a coffee!" Janet said smiling.

"That's okay, Ma'am. I should head back to the hotel anyway. I want to get the pictures uploaded and get packed up," Tyler said.

"Well dinner won't be a few hours yet so you have time. Roger and I are going to sleep out in the barn tonight so he can keep an eye on Bessie and the newborn calf. You and Derek are welcome to stay here for the night and we can drive you all out to the airport in the morning," Janet suggested.

"Thank you Ma'am. I really haven't heard what the other guys are doing," Tyler said turning around and leaving the kitchen.

Tyler went upstairs and packed up his things. He thought about waiting for his clothes that Janet was washing but he figured Danny would take care of that. Tyler tapped on Grandma's bedroom door.

"Come in!" Grandma said

"Hi, Grandma, I was just heading back to the hotel and I wanted to say goodbye," Tyler said sitting down on her bed.

"You're not coming back for dinner?" Grandma asked pulling down her reading glasses to look at Tyler.

"Between you and me?" Tyler said quietly. "I don't think so."

"Oh. That's a shame. You brought a lot of fun," She said smiling. "I remember when my husband was alive and running the farm. We had fun! We had parties and pig roasts and bonfires...," she sighed as she reminisced.

"When you get out to the barn be sure and give Bessie a hug and a kiss for me! I'll miss her a lot," Tyler said standing up.

"You really are an animal lover, aren't you?" Grandma asked.

"I think it was Winston Churchill who said something like, 'the more I get to know the human kind; the more I love my dog'!" Tyler said laughing.

"Well, just remember where your brothers stand in your family," Grandma said.

"Yes Ma'am! All of my brothers are exceptionally bright and really don't need me. The truth is that I would rather have a dog in my life than any human being," Tyler said.

"I understand what you are saying Tyler, and take it from a crusty old broad that in time you will realize how important family is," she said.

"I already do, Grandma. I've already learned that lesson the hard way," Tyler said, kneeling down to give her a kiss and hug. "Don't spend all your winnings on booze and men!" Tyler teased.

"I did quite well! Danny had already threatened me about taking any of Cody's money. He said he doesn't have much. I would never rob a poor man... just a stupid man!" she said winking.

"Am I that dumb?" Tyler said winking back at her as he left her room.

Tyler grabbed his backpack and went back downstairs. He realized that he had to go through the kitchen to get his shoes and coat so he tried to pass by Janet inconspicuously but she stopped him.

"Did you want a ride into town?" Janet asked.

"No, Ma'am. My friend Josh is picking me up," Tyler said smiling as he put his boots on.

"You're not really comfortable around here are you Tyler?" Janet confronted him.

Tyler was taken aback by Janet's forwardness and stood motionless and turned to her and said, "Honestly, Ma'am, not at all. Thank you for all your work and everything you've done to make us feel at home." Tyler turned and opened the door and left for the barn. Tyler flipped open his cell phone and asked Josh to come in about 30 minutes.

"Hey, Bessie!" Tyler said looking over the gate on the pen at her. Danielle was sucking away on her momma's teat.

"Can I come in and say goodbye?" Tyler asked as he set his backpack down. He grabbed a handful of oats and feed them to her. Tyler gave her a kiss and moved out of the pen, locking her gate.

Tyler put his backpack on and hunted down Roger who was out back walking one of their horses.

"Danielle seems to be doing good," Tyler said.

"She sure is, thanks to you and Cody! You did good work this morning, Tyler. You got the instincts to know how to care for animals just as well as you care for your brothers," Roger said.

"Thank you, Sir. Anyway, I am off and I don't think I will be back so I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality and tolerating three city boys," Tyler said putting his hand out to shake Roger's hand. Roger looked at him strangely.

"You're not coming back for dinner? I thought all four of you were going to stay the night and we would drive you all to the airport in the morning?" Roger said.

"I have stuff to do before I leave and someone needs to check out and stuff...," Tyler said running out of things to say.

"I see...," Roger said unbuckling the harness.

"I think the other three will be out here tonight though." Tyler said.

"I can't imagine that without their leader!" Roger teased. Tyler didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

"Sir, I'm not their leader. Each of them does as he chooses. They just seem to follow me a little more than I follow them. Remember, Danny was already here and we just followed him," Tyler said with a straight face.

"Tyler, I meant it as a compliment," Roger said smiling.

"Yes Sir. I should be off! Josh will be here shortly." He said turning and walking into the barn.

"Boomer!!!!!!" Tyler yelled, and Boomer came down the stairs from the loft. "Hey boy! I just wanted to say goodbye," Tyler said, patting Boomer who immediately flopped down on his back to get a belly rub. Tyler headed out of the barn and saw Grandma looking out her bedroom window and Janet watching from the kitchen. He was careful to make it look like he hadn't noticed them. As he walked down the long driveway to the concession road Tyler turned a couple of times unable to shake the feeling of darkness he saw surrounding the Armitage house seeing it as the first place he never wanted to return to again.

While standing at the end of the driveway waiting for Josh and his cab to show up two farmers drove by and offered him a ride which he politely refused telling them that his ride was on the way. 'What a friendly place' he thought to himself.

Josh arrived in his own rusting Toyota Corolla to pick Tyler up. Josh tried his best to get him to come back to the house and meet Kelly and Zana, but Tyler told him that he had things to do to prepare for his flight home the next morning. Tyler walked down the hallway to his room and dug out his pass card from his wallet. He opened the door to hear Danny's voice laughing and was wondering what they were doing back at the hotel. He had made his way into the room before everyone heard the door click shut.

Tyler stopped dead in his tracks to see Danny lying naked face down on the bed with his legs up to his chest and Derek on top of him and Cody on top of Derek along with an open jar of Boy Butter sitting on the bed beside them. They all froze and turned to look at Tyler. Tyler looked into Derek's eyes and then into Danny's eyes. He turned and ran out of the bedroom. The only sound he heard was Derek yelling, "Wait!"

Tyler pushed the door on the elevator and when it didn't open he ran to the fire escape stairway and hurried down the four flights of stairs to find himself at the back of the hotel.

Tyler sat down on the bottom step to catch his breath. "Why did I let him do this to me again!" Tyler said to himself.

He banged his fist into the wall and got up and went looking for a door to escape and he found himself in the front lobby.

"You look lost or late?" Steven said smiling from the front desk.

"Actually I need a quiet place to use my cell phone!" Tyler said. "Can I sneak into the coffee shop for a little bit?"

Steven nodded and winked.

"If anyone is looking for me you haven't seen me, okay?" Tyler asked, as his body seem to shake.

"Are you in trouble?" Steven asked.

"No. Just having a bad day! I need to see about changing my flight back to Baltimore to tonight!" Tyler said as he stepped over the rope blocking anyone from going into the closed coffee shop. Tyler searched his backpack praying that he had his ticket in there and his prayers came true. He dialed the number on his ticket but the line was busy so he pulled out his laptop and wireless USB antenna and went online to find out what he could do. He found a direct flight leaving at 6:30 p.m. leaving for Washington Dulles Airport and he could connect on a commuter flight to Baltimore from there.

Tyler froze when he saw Danny and Cody come running out of the elevator and look around the lobby. He hoped they wouldn't spot him. They then went outside and looked around to see if they could see Tyler. After a few minutes they got into Roger's pick up and left. Tyler finished booking his flight and went to see Steven about checking out.

"I need to check out now but the other three aren't leaving until the morning," Tyler said.

"Did you use the mini-bar?" Steven asked.

"Not that I know of? None of us really drink anyway," Tyler said.

"That's okay. If there are any charges then it will be added to bill and charged to your credit card," Steven said. "Just sign here and please drop your pass card off on the way out! Thank you for staying at Radisson Airport Des Moines!" he said, smiling and Tyler thanked him for everything.

Tyler punched the elevator button and it opened immediately. "Figures!" he said to no one. When the elevator door opened he peeked outside and saw there was no one in the hallway.

"Why did I just do that?" Tyler asked himself.

He walked up to the door of his room and pulled out his pass card. He stopped and paused. Tyler thought about knocking but then decided it was his room as well. Then Tyler considered turning around and leaving but he looked at his watch and realized that he needed to get to the airport.

<Swipe> and Tyler opened the door and walked in. The first thing he saw from the doorway was that the bed was made. As he entered the main part of the hotel room he saw Derek sitting in a chair. His eyes were red from crying. They exchanged glances but both looked away from each other. Tyler pulled out his suitcase and opened up the one drawer in the bureau he had put some things in.

Tyler walked over to Cody and Danny's room and opened the door. "Would you mind waiting in there until I am packed!" Tyler said.

"You're leaving?" Derek asked.

"I'm flying back to Baltimore tonight at 6:30 p.m. Now please leave the room until I am finished packing," Tyler said, holding the door open.

"We need to talk...," Derek said with his voice quivering.

"We don't need to talk... at least right now," Tyler said.

Derek got up and slumped out of the room and into the connecting room. Tyler pulled the other door shut so Derek could get back in when he left. Tyler packed as quickly as he could so he could get away from everything that had happened.

Tyler took the pad of letter writing paper and wrote a short note. "The room is all taken care of downstairs. Please let them know in the morning if there are any mini-bar or movie charges," he wrote and left the note unsigned with his bracelet on top of it. As he gathered up his backpack and suitcase he spotted the jar of Boy Butter in the garbage can. He thought about telling Derek that he could have the room back now but his hurt was rapidly evolving into anger. Tyler slammed the door hard enough for Derek to know he had left the room.

Tyler dialed Josh up to tell him that he had to leave for the airport immediately and not to worry about driving all the way to get him. Josh was insistent but Tyler prevailed as Josh had just gotten home. Tyler thanked him and asked him to give Zana a hug and kiss for him. Tyler flagged down a passing airport shuttle bus and paid his two dollars to take him to the departures check in.

While waiting in the airport lounge for his flight, Tyler opened his laptop and went searching for some new music to listen to during his flight. He settled on 'In A Little While, by Uncle Kracker.

He sat by the window in a half empty airplane for his flight home. He could see the people rushing through the terminal trying to make flights. He thought he saw Derek standing there watching through the glass but he figured it was his mind playing tricks on him. He closed the window shade while the plane sat on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced. Tyler turned on his MP3 player and kept rewinding the chorus of the song over and over again.

"Sometimes I feel like something is gone here; something is wrong here, I don't belong here. Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town and I've lost what I've found it'll all turn around. In a little while I'll be thinking about you. In a little while I'll still be here without you. You never gave me a reason to doubt you. In a little while I'll be thinking about you baby, I'll be thinking about you baby."

Derek heard the slam of the door and walked up to the pass through and waited. Part of him wanted to go in and part of him didn't want to open the door and find Tyler was gone. When he opened the door he found the room to be empty and he saw a note sitting on the bed. On top of the note was Tyler's ID bracelet.

Derek grabbed his cell phone and called Danny.

"Find him?" Danny said answering the phone.

"He was here, but he left," Derek said, trembling.

"We'll be right back in five minutes!" Danny said.

"What happened?" Cody asked.

"Tyler went back to the room and left. I don't know anymore than that," Danny said pulling a u-turn in the middle of the road. Cody didn't respond.

Danny banged on the door until Derek opened it. They could both see that he was still crying. Danny pulled Derek into a hug and said, "It'll be all right!"

"No it won't!" Derek said through his tears. "Look!" He said holding up Tyler's ID bracelet.

Cody picked up the note and read it aloud for everyone. "Where's he gone?" Cody asked.

"Didn't you say anything to him?" Danny asked.

"No. He wouldn't let me. He wanted me to stay in your room while he packed."

"He booked a flight home tonight," Derek said slumping down into one of the chairs.

"When? Where?" Danny asked.

"I don't know what airline. I assume it is the same one we flew in on but it leaves in two hours," Derek said looking at his watch.

"Let's go!" Danny said.

"Where?" Derek asked.

"To the airport!" Danny said, and Derek and Cody looked at each other. Cody shrugged his shoulders.

"He doesn't want to talk to me right now!" Derek said. "I know him and he knows me. He's doing to me what I always did to him."

"Do you want him back or not?" Danny asked.

"I love him more than anything or anyone in this world!" Derek said as the tears started again.

"Let's go then!" Danny said, putting his coat back on.

"No." Derek said. "He doesn't want to talk with me now."

"I wasn't asking Derek! We're going! If there's a chance you can stop him and talk to him then we have to try," Danny said putting Derek's coat in his hand.

The boys searched the airport but couldn't get any further inside to see Tyler. They split up to search to find him but had no luck. Derek just stood at a window and watched all the planes leave him as he felt his life was doing.

The cell phone rang six times before Larry answered it.

"I'll get it! I'll get it!" Luke said jumping up from the bar.

"No Luke, don't touch that. It could be an emergency when they call my cell phone," Larry said, walking into the great room.

"Dr. Anderson!" Larry said answering the phone.

"Don't say a word about who this is, Dad!" Derek said.

"Okay... I think it's in my office, hang on. Linda, I will be a little bit!" Larry said leaving the kitchen. Derek heard the office door close.

"What's wrong, son?" Larry asked.

"Dad, I can't really explain and what I am going to tell you has to stay between you and me," Derek said.

"Uh huh. Are you in jail?" Larry asked.

"No!!!!" Derek yelled.

"Tyler and me had a fight. Well... we really didn't have a fight exactly," Derek began.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Larry interrupted.

"Yeah, Dad, but I'm okay that way," Derek said.

"What about Tyler? You didn't hit him again did you?" Larry asked.

"No, Dad! Will you just listen please? Tyler flew out at 6:30 tonight and he is headed to Dulles and on to Baltimore. I thought it might be better if you or Mom could pick him up at the airport. At least you should know that he is dropping by to pick up the Jeep and head back to Philly," Derek said as his voice began to break.

"Do you want to tell me anything more about it so I know what I am dealing with?" Larry asked.

"I don't think I can, Dad. It's the worst thing I've ever done to him," Derek said. "Hang on a second, dad. I'm talking to my Dad. Could you leave me alone for a few please, Cody?... Sorry, Dad."

"Where are you?" Larry asked.

"I'm at Des Moines International airport. Danny suggested I try to talk to Ty before he left but we couldn't find him," Derek said.

"Do you have all of his flight information?" Larry asked.

"Yeah, he didn't tell me but I figured it out from the departure time," Derek said.

"Okay, I will be there or your Mother should I get called in for an emergency," Larry said. "You know I try to stay out of your private life now that you are an adult but I can't help either of you if I don't know what happened!"

"Dad... I don't even know where to begin," Derek sighed.

"Tell me this then. What does Tyler think happened?" Larry asked.

"It's not what he thinks Dad, it's what he saw. He came into our room and I wasn't alone," Derek said.

"Dear God, Derek! <Sigh> All right, I will make sure I bring him home. I've got his keys so I won't give them back to him tonight, but I can't stop him from leaving in the morning before you arrive home," Larry said.

"Just tell him that I love him," Derek said.

"And that you're sorry?" Larry asked.

"You better not go there, Dad. I am sorry, but I sort of had his permission," Derek said.

"Sort of?" Larry asked.

"He said he wouldn't really care if I had fun with Danny and Cody even though he wouldn't," Derek groaned.

"Christ, Derek! Aren't you smart enough to know what that means? Don't you realize that what he is saying is that if you really don't want to be with him you are free to go! You're either in a committed relationship or you are not! There is no middle ground," Larry yelled.

"No lectures, please!" Derek said as his voice started to break.

"I will do my best to keep him here. I have to tell your Mother though, because we have to figure out what to do with Kyle if your trip to the cottage is off," Larry said.

"It's okay, Dad. The trip is still on. I don't want to disappoint Kyle, Chris, and Jeff. We'll just be less one person," Derek said.

Derek was giving his Dad the flight information when Danny arrived. Cody waved him over to where he was sitting a few seats away from Derek.

"What's happening?" Danny asked Cody.

"Derek is talking to his Dad," Cody said.

"Shit," Danny said putting his head down. "I don't even want to fly there now. I can't even imagine meeting his family now if they know about this." Danny's cell phone rang and it was his Mom.

"Honey?" Janet said. "When are you boys coming home for dinner?"

"Soon, Mom, Tyler had to fly back tonight. We are at the airport right now." Danny said wondering if his mother would question what he told her. She sensed something was wrong and figured it had to do with her and Tyler and decided not to pursue it.

"Okay, Daniel. Come home when you can? I've got all your clothes ready to go," Janet said.

"Thanks, Mom! I'll be there as soon as I can." Danny said, closing his cell phone.

Danny got up and sat beside Derek and put his hand on Derek's back. Derek flinched and Danny moved his hand away.

"Yeah, love you too, Dad. See you tomorrow," Derek said.

"It's going to be all right, Derek. I know Tyler and I know he loves you. I have to go home and get packed and Mom's got dinner waiting for us," Danny said.

"I can't eat," Derek said.

"Okay I understand. Cody will stay with you and I will be back as soon as I can," Danny said.

Larry sat in the arrivals lounge waiting for Tyler to come through security. He almost missed Tyler because he didn't see the Toronto Maple Leaf's ball cap on his head. He saw the look of a beaten down man on his face.

"Tyler!" Larry yelled, and Tyler turned and saw Larry waving as he approached him.

"Dad?" Tyler said blinking a couple of times because he couldn't believe that Larry was here. Larry put his arms around him and hugged him.

Larry took Tyler's suitcase and said, "Let's go home, Son." Tyler gave him a half smile at hearing the word 'home'.

"Want to grab a coffee for the ride home?" Larry asked.

"Yeah, that would be great. Just a small one, though I feel like throwing up at the moment." Tyler said.

"That's to be expected based on what Derek told me," Larry said. "I told the boys that you were coming home early because you had work to do on buying the house."

"Thanks Dr. ummm, I mean Dad," Tyler said.

"I thought it was better that I lie to the boys than you," Larry winked.

"Does Mom know?" Tyler asked.

"Not exactly. I just told her that you two had a fight and you were coming home early and not to tell the boys anything," Larry said.

"Thanks, Dad. I don't want Mom, Luke, or Kyle to know anything about it. I think Kyle would never speak to him again if he found out," Tyler said.

"But you still will speak to Derek?" Larry asked as they got into the van but Tyler didn't respond.

Larry paid the parking attendant and they drove to a coffee shop in silence.

"I have to at some point," Tyler said as he opened the door of the van to get out.

"Sorry?" Larry said.

"I will have to talk to him. I just couldn't right now. I might have said something I would regret later," Tyler said.

"So there will be a later?" Larry asked smiling. Tyler didn't respond.

"Do you still love Derek?" Larry asked holding the coffee shop door closed before they went in.

"I've never loved anyone more, Dad," Tyler said tearing up a little.

"Good, Tyler! Do me a favour and don't lose that thought over the next 24 hours!" Larry said.

"I already know that, Sir. If I had to question how much I love him then it wouldn't have been real love in the first place," Tyler said and Larry smiled and held the door open.

Larry parked a couple of doors down from their house. "Is there anything you want to talk about before we get inside the house and you are mauled by your brothers?" Larry teased.

"I don't think so, Dad. I just want to get back to Philly," Tyler said.

"Well you're not leaving tonight!" Larry said sternly.

"I'm too tired to drive, Sir," Tyler said.

"Well the boys won't be back until close to noon tomorrow so if you decide you want to avoid them then you can be gone before they arrive, but I hope you will stay and talk with Derek. You've already seen what happened the last time you didn't communicate with him. I'm too old to go through that again," Larry joked and Tyler smiled.

"Tyler, you're a part of this family regardless of what happens between you and Derek. You don't get to pack up and leave us all here! If you love us as much as we love you then you have to remember you have as much responsibility to us as we all have to you," Larry said.

"Thanks, that's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today," Tyler said smiling.

"I love you and the entire family loves you!" Larry said.

"Okay, the second nicest thing anyone has said to me today. I'm not giving up my family, Dad!" Tyler said still smiling.

"Thanks, Tyler. That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today," Larry teased.

"I love you very much, Dad, and thanks for coming to get me," Tyler said.

"Okay, now that is definitely the nicest thing anyone has said to me today!" Larry said smiling. "You better thank Derek for calling me. He loves you enough to worry about you getting home safely!"

"That was the first thought that entered my head when I saw you at the airport," Tyler said and Larry signaled and pulled out to finish the drive up the road to home. Abbey was the first to greet Tyler.

"Hey girl? I missed you so much," Tyler said as Abbey checked out the smell of his clothes. "That's Boomer you smell!" he said, as Abbey gave several licks on the cheek.

"Can I have the keys to my Jeep?" Tyler asked and Larry looked at him.

"You're not going anywhere tonight!" Larry told him.

"No, Sir. I just want to put my suitcase in there now because I don't need anything out of it," Tyler said looking at him strangely. "Dad. If I was to leave in the middle of the night then it would defeat everything I said to Kyle about running away from home."

"Good to hear, Tyler," Larry said.

"Besides, I have an extra key in my wallet and backpack if I need to go?" Tyler said grinning at him. Larry glared at him. "I miss my little brothers, Dad!"

"Are you feeling any better now that you are home?" Larry asked in the garage.

"It feels great to be home. It feels great to have a place to call home!" Tyler said setting his backpack down and giving Larry a hug. "I love you more than you will ever realize." Larry squeezed tighter.

"Hey, Tyler welcome home!" Linda said giving him a hug and a kiss. "What's wrong? I'm a Mom, I can sense these things," she said.

"I'm just tired from the long flight," Tyler said.

"Can I fix you something to eat?" Linda asked.

"No thanks, Mom, I really just want to shower and go to bed, but first I want to visit my brothers," Tyler said.

"Well two of them are asleep and the other one is wired into his computer!" Linda sighed.

"Night, Mom," Tyler said giving her a kiss. Tyler carried his backpack up to Derek's room and unpacked his computer. He could see the light was on in Kyle's bedroom so he went to Luke's room to kiss him good night.

Quietly opening the door and peering in he could see Luke and Casey in bed. Casey had one arm slung over Luke and their legs seem to be tangled up. Mango was lying on the floor on his head. Tyler picked him up and carefully placed him under Luke's arm. He kissed Luke's forehead and Luke's eyes opened only briefly and he was gone again. Tyler then kissed Casey who rolled over away from Luke. "Good night, boys, and sweetest of dreams!" Tyler said closing Luke's bedroom door.

Tyler returned to Derek's room and stripped down to his boxers. He opened the door to the shared bathroom and turned on the shower. It wasn't three seconds until Kyle's bathroom door opened.

"Tyler??" Kyle yelled and jumped up into his arms. "I missed you so much!" Kyle said and then kissed Tyler's cheek. "You smell like a barn though!"

Tyler held on tight as a tear rolled down his cheek. When they separated Kyle saw Tyler turn and wipe the tear away.

"What's wrong?" Kyle asked.

"I just missed you and that's why I am going to shower," Tyler said.

"You're lying! I knew something was wrong when I heard you were coming back without Derek," Kyle said.

"I have to shower, Kyle!" Tyler said dropping his boxers and getting into the tub. As Tyler showered in silence he could see Kyle's silhouette through the glass and he knew that their conversation wasn't over.

Tyler turned off the shower and slid the glass doors open to see Kyle sitting on the vanity staring at him. "Do I get a kiss goodnight?" Tyler asked with a smile of Kyle.

"Are you going to tell me what is really going on?" Kyle asked.

"I guess I don't get a kiss then...," Tyler said wrapping the towel around his waist and walking into Derek's bedroom. Kyle followed to the entranceway and stopped. Tyler dug out a clean pair of boxers and his deodorant from his backpack.

"What?" Tyler said as he turned around.

"Nothing I guess...," Kyle said.

"I love you, Kyle," Tyler said and Kyle just stared at him. "Because I don't tell you everything that is going on in my life you don't love me?" Tyler asked. Kyle turned and walked back into his own room. Tyler pulled the comforter down and turned out his light.

Kyle came back into Derek's room ten minutes later and kissed Tyler. "I love you but I'm not talking to you!" Kyle said and Tyler started to laugh.

"So that's what they mean when they say 'friends with benefits'?" Tyler joked. Kyle punched Tyler in the stomach and said, "How's that for a benefit?" and then walked out of the room. Tyler lay there thinking how empty his bed was without Derek in it. He took the second pillow and wrapped his arms around.

"What have you guys been up too?" Danny asked as he entered his room pulling two suitcases.

"We've watched all 46 channels every minute for the last couple of hours." Cody said and Derek glared at him and tossed the remote control on the bed.

"Did you guys eat?" Danny asked.

"I'm not hungry!" was all Derek would say!

"Didn't think so. I picked up Quiznos chicken carbonara subs for you guys and two chocolate milks." Danny held the bags up, and both looked at him like he was from another planet. "Guys you have to eat something!" Danny said.

"Okay! Both of you open up your subs and listen to what I have to say!" Danny said. Derek just looked at him.

"Don't gawk at me Derek! Do as you're told! You guys don't know Tyler like I know him!" Danny said.

Derek and Cody just stared at him. "If you guys don't start eating then I'm not going to explain how this is all going to work out... likely!" Danny added.

"Likely?" Cody asked.

"There are not guarantees in life, Cody, but I can assure that you both will sleep better." Danny said and they both opened their subs.

"Did you get extra onions on mine?" Derek asked.

"No! Your breath is bad enough in the morning without extra onions on top of it," Danny said grinning. "Now listen carefully, guys! Both of you are not good listeners! Tyler is great at dishing out advice but he doesn't always practice what he preaches. He will think about what has happened and what he has said and realize that he is also at fault here!" Danny said.

"Number one! Derek you had permission to play around with us even if he didn't really want you to! Cody? Are you any less in love with me right now?" Danny asked.

"No," Cody said.

"Derek! Are you any less in love with Tyler right now?" Danny asked.

"No," Derek said.

"Are you any more in love with me and Cody?" Danny asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Derek said biting into his sub.

"Do you feel that you would rather be with me and or Cody than with Tyler?" Danny said rephrasing his words.

"No," Derek said.

"You didn't go and sleep with the football team! You were having fun with your brothers! You had permission and if Tyler had been here he would have been included! We didn't come back to the room to have sex! It just happened. Tyler isn't aware of all of these facts yet!" Danny said.

"Tyler doesn't need anymore facts after what he saw today. I think the look in his eyes will haunt me the rest of my life," Derek said setting his sub down.

"Derek? Listen, please! There is no nice way to say this so hear me out. Tyler is fucked in the head because of what has happened with his family and his friends in the last year. What he is feeling is normal for someone who has gone through what he has. He is holding on to anything he can in life and lives everyday in fear of losing what he has and this is why he keeps to himself. On the outside you would think he is the most outgoing person on the planet but he really lives in a closet in his own world," Danny said, and Derek seemed to ponder what he was saying.

"How does this fix things?" Cody asked.

"It doesn't fix them. It's the facts. Tyler is a one-man guy! That is great but he isn't living in the real world. None of us are out at the bar picking up guys or sleeping around. We are brothers by choice above all else. This is a natural part of our bonding. It's like being 15 and jerking off with a friend who stays the night. It's something that brings you closer and it doesn't mean anything more than that. I want Tyler to make love to me so we can become closer even though it will never happen!" Danny said, and both Derek and Cody looked at him in shock.

"Don't say a word, just listen! Tyler making love to me is something that will bond us together as friends not lovers! I am in love with you, Cody, and nothing with Tyler would ever change that. If I fall out of love with you, Cody, then that will be because of you and me and not anyone else. The same goes you with and Tyler! Tyler doesn't realize that having some sexual fun with your two best friends doesn't make him fall out of love with you," Danny said, directing his comments at Derek.

"Tyler is my best and closest friend! That doesn't make you Derek any less but we have known each other longer. I don't want to have sex with Tyler all the time but I'm not insecure about my love for each of you guys! I don't want to sound like a slut here, but I would have sex with any of the three of you to show you how much I love you all of you, but I will still only be in love with Cody. My roommate Tony is a great friend and I love him very much but he isn't what I consider to be a brother or a best friend and I don't feel the need to be closer to him. I really think I need to explain to the Puckhead that sex is a part of loving someone and it doesn't mean that you can't love someone else even more," Danny said.

"That's actually well said, Danny," Derek mentioned. "Why did it take you this long to speak up about it?"

"Fuck you, assmite!" Danny said, winking at him. "We're not losing Tyler and you're not going to lose the most important person in your world!" Danny said to Derek.

"How are you going to do that?" Cody asked.

"Play by Tyler's rules!" Danny said grinning and both boys sat up.

"When we find him. Derek will talk alone with him about what happened and about what was said here tonight. Tyler is a good listener but slow at digesting things that involve the heart. When you are done, Derek, you will tell him that Cody and me want to talk with the both of you. I am going to tell him that we love him, that no harm was intended, that nothing has changed between any of us, and that it is time he opened his heart and ears to what we have to say rather than what he thinks is right or wrong. He's not being fair to the three of us! If he really wants to be Derek's lover and our friend and brother then he has to meet us halfway. We're going to have rules that all four of us agree too and we're going to hear everyone's opinion on stuff that involves the four of us. Too often we let Tyler lead us and I'm not saying he has used any of us. His heart is always in the right place and I know he thinks he is doing the best for all of us but what he thinks is best for all of us isn't always what the rest of us want. Then we're all going to have sex!" Danny said and Derek and Cody started laughing.

"Right!" Cody said sarcastically.

"Word!" Derek said fisting with Cody.

"You guys aren't listening!" Danny said. "Tyler is going to learn that we can all have sex together as a group and it doesn't change a damn thing between us! Just because he can't handle his own insecurities doesn't mean we can't! He's not giving us enough credit to be able to manage our own feelings and show that we are mature enough to decide what lines we cross and what lines we don't!" Danny said.

"I am going to tell him from me, but in front of you guys," Danny said. "That he ranks trust as the most important quality in a friend or lover. Trust is a two-way street and running away like this shows that he doesn't trust us. If he can't trust us to follow what I am suggesting then I really don't want him as a friend," Danny said.

"Now unlike Tyler... I want to know what you guys think about what I just said?" Danny asked.

"What if he says no?" Derek asked.

"Do you think he really loves you?" Danny asked.

"Up until 6 hours ago... yes," Derek said.

"If he really loves you then he will meet all of us halfway. If he doesn't really love you then he won't, and at least you will know the truth," Danny said and Derek didn't say anything.

"I think you're wrong about one thing Danny," Cody said.

"What?" Danny asked slightly angered.

"All of it! When you say he doesn't listen to what we want. No one ever questions his choices or ideas. If someone does challenge him he really listens! He apologized to me today for not spending enough time getting to know me. If he feels he is in the wrong he will apologize for his part! Whatever his decision is, Derek, you can count on the fact that he won't be lying to you!" Cody said.

"Are you scared?" Derek asked Danny.

"Terrified, but Tyler has taught me well and if he is really true to his word then it will all work out more than all right, the future will be better for the four of us!" Danny said. "I don't want to lose the best friend I've ever had but friends compromise and work together. It's not my way or the highway!" Danny said.

"I still think you're wrong, Danny," Cody said.

"How so?" Danny asked crossing his arms.

"Those arms imply you're getting defensive," Cody said.

"Sorry. Please tell me how I am wrong so we have the best plan of action?" Danny asked.

"Tyler isn't about 'my way or the highway'. He does everything for us. More than any of us can pay him back in a lifetime. He has only a few requests of us. One of which is we keep the sex out of our brotherhood as you called it. I agree with him. What we did was wrong and I'm not sure I can ever look him in the face again," Cody said and Danny didn't respond.

"I think it shows a lack of respect and appreciation for all that he has done for us and quite honestly... none of us are worthy of his friendship," Cody said.

"Good, Cody!" Danny said. "Make sure you tell him that in front of all of us so he can see that each one of us is being honest with how we feel. Derek? Got anything to say?"

"I don't want to have sex with you guys. I want that to be out of bounds between us. I agree with Tyler completely on that. Not because I feel I am less in love with him or more in love with you guys but out of respect for his feelings. If the time comes that he feels it is okay then I won't argue the point. I can't be a part of forcing him into anything... including remaining my boyfriend. I never want to feel like I feel right now ever again!" Derek said.

"Okay then... that pretty much shoots down my entire idea," Danny said feeling dejected.

"No it doesn't, Danny!" Cody said. "You are right. You need to tell him exactly what you've said to us. Be honest! We all need to tell him exactly what we think and feel at this moment. It's the most shameful thing I've ever done. Even more than all that has happened with Dakota because I do love Tyler! The only thing I am not ashamed of is to tell him how ashamed I am!" Cody said wiping a tear and Derek gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I think it's time for bed guys! We've got an early morning flight and definitely a very long day ahead of us tomorrow." Danny said.

"You're right. Danny, you are sleeping in our room tonight and I am sleeping in here with Derek." Cody said, and both looked at him.

"What?" Danny said.

"You heard me, Daniel!" Cody said sternly.

"Excuse me?" Danny said.

"Guys, lets not have another problem here." Derek said. "I will sleep here and you guys go back to your room."

"NO!" Cody said. "Danny, I love you and I expect you to trust me! Tonight I want to be here for Derek. You have your best friend, now let me be alone tonight with my best friend!"

Danny looked at Cody and then at Derek.

"Danny! Derek and I have different point-of-view on this than you have. I'm not leaving Derek alone and I don't want you to try to convince him to say or think anything other than what he feels in his heart! I can't explain it but I know right now that Tyler would want me to protect Derek," Cody said.

"Derek needs protection from me?" Danny asked angrily.

"No, he needs protection so he can be alone with his thoughts and feelings and not be influenced by anyone," Cody said. "You need to trust me and not be offended or hurt in any way!" Cody said staring Danny down.

"Fine!" Danny said.

"Danny! Don't 'fine' me! As you just said about Tyler, I need you to trust me here and let me build my friendship with Derek. He means so much to me and I want to be here for him now! You would say the same thing to me if it were Tyler and I have never questioned you about it when things like this happened," Cody said.

"You're right! I am sorry." Danny said. "Please forgive me both of you?"

Cody looked over at Derek and winked so Danny couldn't see. "No!" They said in unison and waited for Danny's mouth to drop open before bursting into laughter.

"Bitches!" Danny said. "The lot of you!" Derek and Cody laughed harder.

"Go to bed, Danny. I love you!" Cody said getting up to give him a kiss.

"Thanks, Danny," Derek said giving him a hug.

Derek and Cody stripped down to their boxers and got into bed. "I'm setting the rules tonight!" Cody said.

"K..." Derek said looking at him strangely.

"We're not having any sex! I am going to hold you because I need to hold and you need to be held. When I tell you I love you it's because I really do love but only as a friend," Cody said.

"You're kind of new to this aren't you?" Derek teased. Cody looked hurt.

"I'm sorry, Cody. I know you mean well! It just sounded so... regimented?" Derek said.

"I think today has been far too confusing for everyone and we need to make sure there is no more confusion. Everyone needs to be more upfront with their feelings whether they are good or bad," Cody said. "Whatever happens between you and Tyler I don't want to lose our friendship Derek? I'm not giving you up!"

Derek pulled Cody into a hug and they kissed and then parted. Derek rolled over and turned out the light. Cody slid over and put his arm around Derek. Derek took his hand in his own and squeezed it three times.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you and Tyler," Cody said and he started to cry uncontrollably. Derek rolled over and wrapped his arms around Cody.

"Shush! It's okay, Cody. We're all at fault here and I am responsible for all of my actions," Derek said.

"I let you and Tyler down... again," Cody said through his sobs.

"Maybe, Cody, but tonight you have risen above the rest of us to show how much you love and care about the three of us. Especially me! I am very lucky to have a best friend like you!" Derek said kissing Cody's forehead.

Cody's crying slowed during their silence. "It's always amazes me when I learn that someone's beauty on the outside pales in comparison to their beauty on the inside. Danny's a lucky guy!" Derek said and Cody put his arms around Derek and squeezed him tight.

"I keep telling him that...," Cody joked and Derek snorted.

"I heard that!!!!" Danny yelled from the other room.

To be continued...
 

tylerpeel@tickiestories.us

Posted: 01/06/09