by: Tyler Peel

© 2007 by the author

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

Chapter 47
Elephants and Asses

Casey opened his eyes and looked up at Luke. Luke looked down and smiled.

"How long have you been awake?" Casey asked.

"A little while...," Luke said and Casey realized that he wasn't as much holding Luke as Luke was holding him. Casey smiled.

"Do you remember all the things you said last night?" Casey asked Luke.

"Yup! Why?" Luke asked.

"Do you still mean what you said?" Casey asked.

Luke untangled himself from Casey and rolled over on his side facing him. Luke gave Casey a quick kiss. "Does that answer your question?" Luke asked.

Casey smiled and said, "I was afraid that when I woke up this would all be a dream."

"Case, I'm not in love with you but I do love you more than anyone I've ever known in my life. Do you understand?" Luke asked.

"Yup," Casey said and smiled.

"Are you okay with it?" Luke asked.

"This is all kind of heavy stuff to think about," Casey said.

"Okay, let me say it another way..." Luke began. "I love you as my best and closest friend in the world and I never want that to change. Some day I'm going to marry a girl and you are going to marry either a girl or a guy! We are still going to be best friends and I will always be there for you and you will always be there for me," Luke said and Casey looked up at him and smiled.

"I think Tyler calls it best friends with benefits?" Luke said smiling as he moved his hand down under the covers and rubbed Casey's member lightly. Casey grinned and placed his hand on top of Luke's hand.

"What I'm afraid of happening is that you might think we are going to end up like Ty and Derek because I just don't think that will ever happen," Luke said, and watched carefully for Casey's reaction.

"I know that. I don't just have a best friend; I have the best possible friend I could ever ask for!" Casey said and Luke kissed him again.

"What are you going to do about Megan?" Casey asked.

"Nothing... I guess. I did hate her but now I just feel sorry for her. It looks like her Dad is an older version of Paul. I can sort of see why she wants out of where she is," Luke said.

"Maybe we should have lunch with her on Monday?" Casey suggested.

"HUH?" Luke asked looking at Casey.

"Maybe she needs the Lucas Anderson touch to help her see the world?" Casey said.

"Tyler said she was up here snooping around the bedrooms. Did she say anything to you?" Luke asked.

Casey thought for a moment and decided not to say anything about Megan hitting on him. "She knocked on your door and came in an apologized and left," Casey said, figuring that he wasn't lying to Luke but rather didn't tell the complete truth.

"Our door, our room, and I did apologize to her and accept full responsibility but let's wait and see what happens in school on Monday. If I hear from any of her girl friends that she said something that wasn't true then I'll never speak to her again!" Luke said.

"For the first time in my life I don't feel alone and I don't feel afraid!" Casey said.

"I hear ya! I feel the same way. You really are so important to me Casey that I can't even put it into words," Luke said.

"I think you just did!" Casey said as he hugged Luke.

"Just remember this is our room and our house and when I told you everything I have is yours I meant that," Luke said.

"Stop being so serious, Luke!" Casey said.

"I can't help it. I'm afraid of losing you. I want you to know how much I love and at the same time I want you to understand my limits?" Luke said.

"We didn't do anything last night except kiss and hug each other so just be quiet for a moment and let me enjoy this," Casey said. Luke looked down at Casey and smiled.

<Five minutes pass>

"I want you to know that I will always do my best to protect you!" Luke said.

"Just be my friend Luke, a real friend and that is all I will ever need," Casey said.

"That's all?" Luke asked.

"That's it! We both know what happened to Tyler in Iowa and I don't want shit like that to come between us. I know you don't like guys and to be honest that stuff isn't important to me. I just want to be able to hug you and hold you and call you my friend... my best friend!" Casey said looking into Luke's eyes.

"Whoa... you really are a much better friend than I deserve!" Luke said and leaned down to hug Casey.

"Let's just not make all the mistakes our brothers have," Casey mumbled into Luke's chest.

"I can still measure you every so often?" Luke teased.

Casey laughed and said, "Just be my friend Luke as long as I am worthy of it."

<Ten minutes pass>

"Sooooo... of all of our brothers who do you think is the sexiest?" Luke asked.

"You mean after you?" Casey asked.

"Well duh! Of course!" Luke said rolling his eyes and Casey laughed.

"Hmmmm...," Casey said, as he thought about it.

"Ah hah!!!!" Derek said as he walked into the kitchen to find Tyler feeding all three dogs pieces of bacon.

"What?" Tyler asked looking at him strangely.

"You're feeding my dogs human food!" Derek said with a grin.

"Ummmm... well... yeah...," Tyler said smiling. "But it's just bacon and a little bit of grease is good for their coats?"

"It's okay, I like feeding them human food as long as it is in its pure form. It's not about how long they live but the quality of life they have," Derek said as he poured himself a mug of coffee.

Matt and Jeff were the next to appear in the kitchen and both looked exhausted.

"Looks like you guys never even got to sleep?" Tyler asked. Matt and Jeff looked at each other and grinned.

"Nuff said!" Tyler told them. "Breakfast is almost ready. Derek, do you want to go wake the rest of them up?" Tyler asked as he stirred a pot of homemade hot chocolate.

Derek could hear noises so he tapped on Luke's bedroom door.

"Wot?" Luke yelled and Derek opened the door to find Casey and Luke in a passionate kiss rubbing each other's bodies feverously.

"Ummm... breakfast is ready but it looks like you two have already eaten?" Derek asked and Casey started laughing.

"Some nutrition might get us through the morning?" Luke suggested to Casey who just grinned.

"I have to wake the others up. Do you guys want to wake Cody and Danny?" Derek asked. Luke and Casey jumped out of bed and ran for the door. Derek stopped both of them!

"Whoa! Hold up! You guys need to wear clothes when you've got your weapons out!" Derek said holding his hand out to stop them.

"Who says?" Luke growled.

"I say!" Derek said and both boys put on clean pairs of boxers.

Everyone gathered around the table except for Luke and Casey.

"Where are Casey and Luke?" Tyler asked carrying bowls of hash browns and sausages to the table.

"I heard the showering running when I came downstairs," Jesse said as Luke and Casey appeared giggling amongst themselves and wearing only boxers with wet hair.

Tyler set a bowl down in front of Danny. "What the fuck is this shit?" Danny asked.

"Danny? Watch your mouth!" Derek said nodding over towards Luke and Casey.

"Sorry everyone... my bad!" Danny said and then gave Derek a quick, cold stare.

"Shredded wheat! It's good for you!" Tyler said and Derek started laughing.

Danny whistled. "Abbey!!!" He called and Abbey trotted over. "Here you go girl!" Danny said setting it down in front of her.

"Danny?" Derek yelled. "Dogs can't have milk! It gives them the runs! So if you want to clean up after Abbey...," Danny grabbed the bowl away from Abbey, and she stared at him.

"Fine!" Danny moaned and gave her a piece of bacon to make up for taking the food away.

"Sounds like you guys are in a good mood this morning?" Tyler asked.

Luke and Casey looked at each other and started laughing. Everyone else exchanged glances and smiles.

"We were talking last night and this morning about having sex with you guys...," Luke began and three forks dropped on plates while Derek began choking. Tyler began hitting Derek's back until he caught his breathe again.

"What the hell are you talking about Lucas?" Derek asked and then slurped some coffee.

"Hold up a second?" Danny said holding his palm up at Derek. "Are you two an item now?"

Luke and Casey looked at each other and started laughing.

"Danny!!!!!!!!" Tyler said glaring at him.

"Well when I saw them in bed last night it certainly looked like...," Danny started to say.

"Danny!!!!!!!" Derek yelled.

"Are you gay, Luke?" Kyle asked and Chris giggled.

Luke and Casey began laughing.

"Kyle!!!!!!" Derek yelled.

"No, I'm not gay, Kyle!" Luke said as he turned and gave Casey a long passionate kiss.

A collective inhale silenced the room and Danny wiped sweat from his face with his napkin in fun. Derek gave him the evil eye.

When their kiss finished Casey said, "Nope, he's not gay." Quiet snickers and snorts filled the room.

"So you guys are like really, really close friends?" Danny asked and Cody elbowed him.

Luke and Casey looked at each other and then nodded in agreement.

"Yeah... that's a good way of putting it," Luke said as he stuffed a piece of toast covered in peanut butter into his mouth.

"I agree!" Casey added nodding as he poured more hollandaise sauce on his Eggs Benedict. Everyone looked around in silence.

"Soooo... where were we?" Danny asked.

"Right!" Luke said with a mouthful of food. "We were talking about having sex with you guys," Everyone stopped eating again.

"Luke!!!" Casey said. "Are you talking about having sex or making love?"

Matt snorted and covered his mouth with his napkin. Derek glared at Matt.

Danny started it and Cody, Chris, and Kyle joined in to help finish. "Well... there... you... go...," There was more laughter from everyone with the exception of Derek and Tyler.

"C'mon Derek... you have to admit this is kind of funny?" Matt asked and Chris and Kyle laughed even louder.

"I never thought I would be sitting at a table with two eleven year olds discussing love versus sex!" Jeff added.

Luke brought everyone to a complete silence when he said, "The truth is that we didn't really want to have sex with any of you!"

"Huh?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, but we did create someone using parts of all of you guys!" Casey said and they all started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Luke demanded to know. Everyone looked down at their plates and began eating again.

"We decided to take the best parts of you and create one really hot guy!" Casey added.

"That's right Case..., we would use Kyle's lips, Derek's eyes, Jesse's chest, Jeff's legs, Danny's smile, Cody's hair, Chris' nose and ear lobes, and Matt's big cock!" Luke said and the table erupted in laughter.

When they calmed down Tyler said, "I thought you were using everyone?"

"We did!" Luke responded and spread some peanut butter on a piece of bacon.

"You didn't use me!" Tyler said.

"Sure we did!" Luke said ignoring him and Casey started to giggle.

"Where?" Tyler asked.

"It's not important." Luke said not looking away from his plate and grinning.

"Okay... now I want to know where you are using Tyler and what part of him?" Danny asked grinning.

"Shut up, Daniel!" Tyler said.

"Well we weren't going to use Tyler's... you know... that foreskin thingy just creeps me out!" Luke said and everyone started laughing except Tyler and Derek.

"So you couldn't find one part of Tyler's body to use?" Danny asked.

"Shut up Danny!" Tyler said.

"I can think of several parts but I am biased," Derek said while munching on a bacon strip.

"Don't encourage them!" Tyler said to Derek as he glared at him.

"I'm un-incorrigible; just ask Dad?" Luke said and Derek snorted orange juice through his nose and everyone laughed.

"We did have a very important place for you Ty!" Casey added.

"Uh huh...," Tyler said tapping his fingers on the table while leaning on his left hand.

"Do tell????" Danny asked leaning forward on the table and laughing while Tyler gave him the evil eye.

"Aren't family meals just the best?" Danny asked Matt. Matt snorted and winked.

"Well... we couldn't use you for sex because you're just too neurotic!" Luke said as he spooned hash browns into his mouth. Everyone roared with laughter.

"NEUROTIC?" Tyler yelled.

"I think they meant erotic!" Cody said.

"No, I know what I meant. Let's face it Ty - you're the kind of guy who is probably wondering if you left the stove on while you're having sex?" Luke said and Derek started choking with laughter. Everyone at the table was wiping their eyes from laughing so hard.

"Where did you get that from?" Tyler asked, wanting to know as he looked over at Derek.

"Face it, Ty, you're always doing ten things at once and worrying about twenty other things. We figured the best place for you in creating this ultimate perfect male was to put you in the kitchen making food because when we are done having sex with this God like creation we'll need to refuel!" Luke said matter-of-factly and Matt and Derek laughed so hard they both fell backwards out of their chairs, which caused more laughter. Chris lay his head down on his arms and shook with laughter.

When Derek regained semi-composure he said through his gasps for breath, "Ha ha, remember, Ty, when we were sitting outside the townhouse and you listed all the places we could have sex?"

"SHUT UP DEREK!!!!!" Tyler yelled not amused at being picked on by his boyfriend, much less an eleven year old.

"...the kitchen counter!!!" Derek yelled through his laughter and everyone began laughing again. Luke and Casey fisted each other and grinned.

"We knew it all along, huh, Case?" Luke asked

"Word!" Casey said.

Tyler glared at Derek and Derek tried to apologize but couldn't get the words out through his laughter and tears.

"You think I'm neurotic?" Tyler asked Luke. Casey nodded his head from side-to-side as he ate but never looked up at Tyler.

"Think?" Luke asked pausing for a second. "Well... if the Freudian slip fits... wear it!" Luke said and looked up at everyone grinning. Tyler stood up and Luke jumped up and over the back of his chair. Tyler took off after Luke and he chased Luke around the kitchen island.

"You're so dead when I get a hold of your scrawny little ass!" Tyler said laughing at Luke.

After a few laps around the kitchen island they paused. Luke was panting across the counter from Tyler waiting to see which way he was going. Tyler went to his left and Luke took off and they ran until they were across from each other again but on opposite sides of the counter. Luke grinned and turned. He grabbed a piece of peanut butter bacon off of his plate, shoved it in his mouth, and grinned. Tyler tried to reach across the counter and grab Luke but he ducked and Tyler missed. Tyler started running and Luke ran the opposite way.

"Will you two settle down and for Christ's sake, Luke..., at least you could be an adult?" Derek said laughing.

Luke stopped, standing directly across from Tyler who was still panting and laughing. Luke looked beyond Tyler to see Casey stealing a breakfast sausage from his plate.

"HEY! Casey! Don't be eatin' my sausage!" Luke yelled and started running.

"It didn't bother you last night!" Casey said and the room broke out into laughter again. Cody got up from the table and went over and fisted with Casey. He then gave him a hug and kiss.

Tyler went the opposite way and as he neared the space between the island and the table Casey pushed his chair out and blocked him.

"Grow up and sit down!" Casey said looking up at Tyler.

"You're no fun!" Tyler said and kissed him. Tyler grabbed a sausage off of Luke's plate as he went by Casey to sit back down in his chair. Luke came to his chair from the other side of the island just in case Tyler was going to grab at him.

"If you wanted to eat my sausage you only had to ask?" Luke said grinning and Tyler flinched just enough to make Luke jump out of his seat thinking Tyler was going after him again.

"So who did you guys choose to 'make love' with?" Chris asked grinning.

Derek scowled at Chris and Chris said, "Kyle told me to ask!"

"Shut up, assmite!" Kyle said laughing. Derek glared at Kyle.

"Well you got mad at me the last time I asked them a question!" Kyle said defending his question.

"Well Casey chose Cody... obviously," Luke said. Cody winked at Casey and Casey blushed.

"And Luke chose...," Casey began.

"Shut up!!!!" Luke yelled. Casey frowned and gave him a funny look. Everyone became very quiet.

"But you told everyone who I picked...," Casey said.

"Yeah but anyone could guess that. They all know we were just teasing them about the perfect guy shit."

"Casey, you can't go telling stuff like that if Luke doesn't want you to and Luke you had no right to tell any of us a private conversation with Casey," Tyler said.

"I'm sorry, Casey...," Luke mumbled.

"It's okay..., I'm not ashamed of picking Cody," Casey said. Luke dropped his fork on his plate.

"Fine! This will make us even. I just want to say that I don't want to have sex with any of you! I like girls and if I was going to do anything with anyone it would be my best friend Casey!" Luke said and Casey smiled at his plate. Everyone else at the table grinned and complimented Luke on his choice.

"Casey and I didn't have sex last night or do anything weird like you freaks... <Matt looked at Jeff and snorted> I just realized how lucky I am to have him for a best friend." Luke said with his voice breaking up. "We talked about the difference between love and sex and decided that it didn't matter if we were gay or straight we didn't want to do what happened in Iowa and take a chance of messing up our friendship." Derek, Cody, and Danny all looked away.

"Sorry, guys, I didn't mean it to come out that way," Luke said.

"It's okay, Luke," Derek said on behalf of the others. "We know what you meant and you are right."

"Cody said it best when he told me not to repeat the mistakes he's made because there would be nothing worse for him than losing Danny, Derek, and Ty," Casey added innocently. Danny squeezed Cody's thigh three times.

"So... we talked about how important all of you are to us and what these bracelets really mean. We talked about figuring out the one person you trusted the most, counted on the most, and who has always been there for us no matter what," Luke said not looking at any of them.

Derek and Tyler both sat up a little straighter in their chairs expecting to be singled out as Luke's choice. They looked at each other and both slumped back down in embarrassment and hoped no one else noticed.

Danny snorted and they both looked over at him. Danny smiled and shook his head in quiet disgust.

"Once we figured out who it was, each of us then said that would be the person we would want to make love to or have make love to us!" Casey added.

"Are you sure you guys are really eleven years old?" Matt asked winking at them.

"You don't have to say it out loud, Luke," Casey said and Luke reached under the table and squeezed Casey's hand. "Though you do have to tell that person!" Casey added and everyone looked at the shocked face of Luke and grinned.

"It's never a dull moment at the Anderson house?" Matt said grinning.

"Agreed!" Jesse said. "I'm staying!"

"Not if you're flying back to Seattle from Philly tomorrow because we need to leave in the next couple of hours," Tyler said.

"Noooooooooo!" Luke yelled.

"Don't worry Luke; I am taking all of my neurosis with me since I have to meet with Dr. Reynolds on Wednesday anyway," Tyler said and Danny, Derek, and Matt found that to be funnier than Tyler wished.

"You got an appointment?" Jesse asked.

"Yup. Help doesn't walk in the door Jesse! I am guessing you didn't make any phone calls?" Tyler asked.

"I will...," Jesse said looking away.

"Everyone out of here, please? Jesse's going to help me do dishes since he didn't do his homework last week," Tyler said.

Casey slapped Jesse's butt as he passed him and said, "Bad Jessie, bad!" Casey laughed and ran out of the room.

"Wash or Dry?" Tyler asked.

"Wash! The person who washes is always done first!" Jesse joked.

"When you're done washing you have to begin putting away the dry dishes!" Tyler said.

"D'oh!" Jesse said imitating Homer Simpson.

"So when are you going to seek some professional help?" Tyler asked.

"Soon," Jesse said.

"Okay. I'm not going to rag on your ass about it. I've waited six months too long and added to everything else I'm now neurotic as well!" Tyler joked.

"I'm thinking of hiring Luke and paying him in peanut butter," Jesse said.

"If you can't find someone then let me ask Dr. Reynolds to locate someone for you and I will pay for it!" Tyler said as he placed two dinner plates back in the cupboard.

"My parents can afford to pay for it," Jesse said.

"I thought you guys didn't want your parents to know about it?" Tyler asked.

"Hence the problem, we haven't figured out how to get the money for it out of mom and dad without them knowing, but Matt and I are working on it," Jesse said, and Tyler walked out of the kitchen to the foyer.

"MATT!!!!!" Tyler yelled.

Matt came down from Kathy's third floor apartment to the railing along the second floor and said, "Yeah, Ty?"

"Come down here for a moment, please," Tyler asked.

"What's up?" Matt asked following Tyler into the kitchen.

"When I meet with Dr. Reynolds this week I am going to ask him to recommend someone to help Jesse in the Seattle area. I'm going to give your cell phone number to Dr. Reynolds and have him pass it on to a doctor there. They will call you to set up an appointment for Jesse. Jesse, you have to go see the doctor once and if you don't like him then you don't have to go back. All of your brothers are going to pay for this, so don't worry about the cost," Tyler said.

"You mean you're going to pay for it?" Jesse asked.

"Doesn't really matter as long as you get the help you need, right?" Tyler asked and Jesse blinked.

"Wow, thanks, Ty! We'll pay you back as soon as we can," Matt said giving Tyler a hug.

"Don't worry about it Matt. This is an investment in our family's future and in Jesse's future. Do we have a deal Jesse?" Tyler asked extending his hand to shake on it.

Jesse looked at Tyler and then at Matt.

"If you don't want help then say so and I won't bring it up again. All I can tell you is that I need it and I'm not ashamed of wanting to take control of myself again," Tyler said.

"Thanks, Ty," Jesse said shaking his head.

"No one can help you if you don't want the help, Jesse," Matt added.

"I'll finish the dishes, Jesse. Go spend sometime with your two brothers before we leave," Tyler said winking. Jesse hugged him and left.

"I can help finish?" Matt offered.

"In a few hours we'll be gone to Philly so go and enjoy the time left with Jeff!" Tyler said and shooed a grinning Matt out of the kitchen.

Tyler slurped down his last mouthful of cold coffee and stuck his hands in the hot, soapy water when Derek came into the kitchen.

"You can have anything you want as long as it doesn't involve my hands!" Tyler said.

"I just came down to tell you that your bath has been drawn, Master Peel!" Derek said in a fake English accent.

"What colour did you use?" Tyler asked and laughed alone at his own lame joke.

Derek looked at him stoned faced.

"Ahem..., I mean thank you, Jeeves!" Tyler said.

Derek went around the island and put the tablecloth back on the table and pushed all the chairs back into where they belonged. He spotted two feet and a pair of SpongeBob boxers moving silently along the floor in the great room from the back of one sofa to the other sofa.

"Let me help you dry!" Derek said rather loudly.

"I'm okay," Tyler said.

"Not according to Luke!" Derek said laughing and pointing behind him. Tyler twisted his face and Derek rolled his eyes.

Derek whispered, "Why is Luke hiding in the great room?"

"I didn't know he was there?" Tyler said.

Tyler winked as he said, "Why don't you take the dogs out and I will be upstairs shortly," Derek smiled, and left the kitchen calling for Abbey, Echo, and Chaos.

Abbey came running down the stairs and Echo and Chaos looked down over the steep first step.

"Give me a break guys!" Derek said climbing the stairs to retrieve his dogs. "You guys are doing this on purpose aren't you?" Derek asked and kissed each one of them before picking them up and carrying them down the stairs.

"Done!" Tyler said out loud to himself and turned around to walk into Luke. "Yes?" Tyler asked and Luke flung his arms around Tyler's waist. Tyler bent down and lifted Luke up.

"Why are you crying?" Tyler asked but Luke just laid his head down on Tyler's chest and didn't say anything.

"Where's Casey?" Tyler asked.

"Upstairs," Luke said.

"Are you guys having a problem again?" Tyler asked and Luke shook his head.

"He's spending some time with Cody before you guys leave," Luke said.

"Okay, I give up? What's up or down or somewhere that it shouldn't be?" Tyler teased and Luke hugged him tight. "Luke, I don't mean to put a rush on you but I have a full day ahead of me and I am making dinner for our hockey coach tonight so spit it out please?"

"I'm sorry," Luke said, and started to cry.

"Sorry for what?" Tyler asked.

"For what I said earlier," Luke said, with tears slowly running down each cheek.

"Oh, Pookey, you have nothing to apologize for! You told the truth and there are only a few times in life it is okay to lie and this wasn't one of them. I guess I am a little neurotic but I can promise you I wasn't offended. What you learned in 24 hours took four of your brothers almost twenty years each to figure out. I keep telling everyone you are a forty year old trapped in an eleven year old's body!" Tyler said smiling.

"I was only teasing but it wasn't funny," Luke moaned.

"It was funny, Luke, and you are welcome to tease me all you want? My love for you has never wavered in the slightest! In all seriousness Luke, you rule my world and I thank God for every moment I get to spend with you," Tyler said and Luke smiled and hugged Tyler.

"I really need to get upstairs... Derek made a bubble bath for me in the Jacuzzi tub!" Tyler said.

"Sweet! Can I come in too?" Luke asked.

"Ummm... I think Derek was really thinking...," Tyler began.

"Yes! I knew you loved me." Luke said jumping up off of Tyler and pulling Tyler up by his right hand.

"C'mere Luke." Tyler said pointing to his back. Luke jumped up and Tyler carried him piggyback up the stairs to Linda and Larry's room. Tyler flipped Luke over his head onto their parent's bed. Tyler began stripping down and Luke watched carefully. As Tyler pulled his shirt up over his head Luke observed the hair under his pits and the sculpted detail of his chest.

"What?" Tyler asked noticing that Luke was watching him.

"Sorry... I was just thinking...," Luke said as he pulled his boxers down and revealed his erection. He looked up at Tyler and smiled. Tyler shook his head and smiled. Tyler pulled Luke up and they walked hand-in-hand into the ensuite bathroom.

"Does that thing ever get hard?" Luke asked.

"I've been wondering that myself lately...," Tyler whined and Luke laughed. Tyler climbed the three steps up to the oval Jacuzzi tub and tested the water with his foot. He slowly sank down into the very hot water and held Luke's hand to assist him into the tub as well.

"I thought this was supposed to make bubbles?" Tyler asked and Luke turned the dial up to full speed.

"TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!" Tyler yelled as the bubbles overflowed the tub. Tyler couldn't even see Luke. Luke laughed.

"C'mere and say those three words you always say to me!" Tyler said pulling Luke on to his chest.

"Gimmie dollah, Mista?" Luke joked.

"The other three!" Tyler said smiling and then lightly bopping the top of Luke's head with his fist.

"Amo usted?" Luke said with a grin.

"Close, but not quite!" Tyler said laughing.

"Amo usted Mister por favor déme dulce ahora?" Luke said laughing hysterically.

"I don't know what that meant but I'm sure it was bad! It figures you would only pick up the bad parts of another language," Tyler said shaking his head.

"It means, Ty, 'I love you Mister please give me candy now?'" Luke said laughing.

"You say that to Danny and you'll get an all day sucker!" Tyler said winking and Luke burst out laughing.

"I heard that!!!!!!" Danny yelled from down the hall.

"How does he do that?" Tyler asked and Luke shrugged his shoulders laughing.

"Go to sleep, Ty, and I will wash you clean!" Luke said.

"You'll only wash parts of me clean, Luke!" Tyler ordered.

"Sometimes you're fun like Derek!" Luke said and winked.

Derek came into the room and spotted the SpongeBob boxers immediately. "No fucking way!" Derek said to himself as he approached the ensuite bathroom. He stopped and looked in to see Tyler asleep in one end of the over-sized Jacuzzi bathtub and Luke sitting on his lap. Luke was making bubble designs on Tyler's head with soap. Derek snorted and laughed but they couldn't hear him over the noise of the tub.

Derek slipped back out as quickly as he could and got Cody's digital camera. He turned the flash off and snuck up inside the bathroom and started taking pictures.

"You'd better not have an erection!" Derek said and snapped a picture as Luke turned around smiling. Luke reached down into the water and grabbed Tyler's cock.

"Nope! He doesn't have one, but how can you really tell when it's that big?" Luke joked.

"Luke!!!!!!!" Tyler yelled waking up. Derek started laughing and Luke fisted with him.

"Hey? Don't blame me! Your boyfriend wanted to know if you were hard?" Luke said and Tyler made a face at a laughing Derek. Luke continued adding soap bubbles to the side of Tyler's head.

"I'm making an alien!" Luke said.

"He looks more like Krusty the Clown!" Derek said laughing and Tyler flipped him a 'snow' bird.

"We were going to invite you in with us...," Tyler said sulking.

"Three's a crowd!" Derek shot back.

"Yeah, so get lost big brother!" Luke said laughing. Tyler dunked Luke under water for saying that.

"I owe you one for that!" Derek said.

"And I will collect it! Now hurry up and get naked and join us!" Tyler threatened.

"Right...," Derek said leaving the room to get changed.

Chaos and Echo came scampering in and both climbed up the three steps to the edge of the Jacuzzi tub. Luke bent down in front of Chaos with some bubbles on his nose.

"Derek!!! Camera!!!" Tyler yelled and Derek came back in and grabbed the camera. Echo and Chaos stopped to look at who was there but it was only Derek. Chaos turned back to Luke and sniffed the bubbles on his nose. Chaos sneezed in Luke's face. <Snap>

"Eeeeewwwww... gross!" Luke said wiping his face and Tyler and Derek laughed.

"That's a Kodak moment!" Tyler and Derek said in unison.

Derek slipped into the tub on the other side.

"I'm ready for my back massage!" Luke told Derek. Tyler opened his eyes to grin and closed them again.

"You are, are you?" Derek asked. Luke slid up and laid face first on Derek's shoulder. Derek wrapped his arms around Luke and rubbed his back.

"I love you, Luke," Derek whispered, and Tyler grinned.

"I love you too Derek. Thanks for sharing Tyler with me," Luke said and squeezed Derek's neck three times.

"Hey Ty?" Luke called.

"What, Pookey?" Tyler said.

"What are the times when you're allowed to lie?" Luke asked.

"Ummm... help me here, Derek!" Tyler said sitting up in the tub.

"When you see Grandma with her blue hair you always tell her how nice it looks!" Derek said laughing.

"When your future mother-in-law asks you how you liked her tuna casserole without peanut butter in it you say it is delicious!" Tyler said.

"Not fucking, likely!" Luke said, laughing and turning around to face Tyler.

"LUCAS! Watch your mouth!" Derek said.

"But I can't see the mirror from here," Luke said, winking at Tyler.

"Luke, using bad language just makes you look uneducated and it loses its effectiveness the more times you say it," Tyler said.

"Sorry," Luke moaned, and Derek kissed the back of his head. "Anything else that I can lie about?" Luke asked grinning.

"Not that I can think of, but the point is that sometimes you have to lie in order avoid hurting other people's feelings," Derek said.

"Word! Like when Danny asks you 'do I look fat in this?'" Tyler said and he held up one finger in the air.

All three mouthed the words together as they heard Danny's voice say, "I heard that" <laughter> "and I heard that too!" Danny added and Derek, Luke, and Tyler all stared at each other in shock with their mouths hanging open.

Tyler whispered in Luke's ear and he smiled and nodded. Luke stood up in the tub and kissed Derek. He climbed out and wrapped a clean towel and around him and left the ensuite bathroom.

"What did you say to him?" Derek asked.

"It's a secret!" Tyler said as he leaned forward and crossed the tub to Derek's side. Tyler crawled up on top of Derek and began kissing him. Tyler reached down under Derek and began fingering his hole.

"Oh geez...," Derek moaned, and closed his eyes.

"Can we drain about 1/3 of the water out of here?" Tyler asked.

"Ummm... yeah... but why?" Derek asked, opening his eyes. Tyler inserted his finger deeper.

"Okay... now I know why!" Derek said grinning.

<Tap, tap, tap on the door> "It's just me!" Luke yelled and opened the door to the bathroom. "Here you go!" Luke said dumping a handful of condoms on the tile next to the tub.

"Thanks. Luke!" Tyler said grinning.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Derek, I'm supposed to tell you the time is 9:23." Luke said and closed the door behind him as he left.

"9:23?" Derek asked.

"Seven minutes ahead of schedule!" Tyler said as he took a deep breath and went down under water to take Derek's member in his mouth.

"Seven minutes? We could do it twice," Derek said and Tyler tweaked his nipple from under water.

"Ow!" Derek said laughing. "I didn't think you could hear me from down there?"

Tyler came up for air and said, "I heard that!" And they both laughed. "Aren't you supposed to be draining some water?"

"Right!" Derek said using the big toe on his right foot to knock the plug out and let the water drain for a bit. When about a third of the water was gone Tyler put the plug back in. Derek rested his head in the indentation at the one end of the tub. Tyler told him to put his hands behind his head and hold on to the tub.

Tyler lifted Derek up in the water to the surface and held his ass in both hands. Tyler began going down on Derek to make him completely hard. Derek forced his weight back down in the water and sat up to kiss Tyler.

Tyler stood up and grabbed a condom. Derek, not one to miss an opportunity, grabbed Tyler's cock with both hands and began sucking on the partially covered head. Derek inserted his tongue into the foreskin and ran it around the tip of the head. Tyler flung his head back in a sudden rush of ecstasy holding a half opened condom.

Derek tried his best to deep-throat him until Tyler gently pushed him off and put the condom on his member. Tyler sat down in the middle of the tub facing the window. Derek stepped over and sat down on top of Tyler. With a little finger work first, Derek easily impaled himself on Tyler. Tyler used his hands under water to support himself and tried thrusting his hips upward but that splashed too much water so Derek began riding Tyler from above. Tyler held still as he lifted his body as high as possible to make it easier for Derek.

Derek fell into a long, slow repetitive rhythm that was further eased by a lack of gravity under water. Derek placed his hands on the tub wall on each side of Tyler's neck. Tyler quickly reversed his thrusts so they would coincide with Derek's. Tyler looked up and smiled to see Derek's eyes tightly shut and his teeth biting down hard on his upper lip.

"Let's try another position?" Tyler said bring Derek back to reality. Derek lay back down against the end of the tub lifting his body up to the surface of the water. Tyler squatted and inserted his knees under Derek's legs and began pumping Derek's ass. Tyler leaned on the tub next to Derek's head. Water would splash up each side of Derek and then fall back into the tub. Tyler used his right hand to reach down into the water and grab Derek's cock to pump it.

"I'm close...," Derek screamed quietly. Tyler pulled out immediately and leaned over to kiss Derek.

"Are we done?" Derek moaned and Tyler grinned.

Tyler lifted Derek up out of the water and they swapped tongues for a minute. Tyler reached over and grabbed a condom package and opened it. He rolled a ribbed condom onto Derek without ever parting lips. Tyler moved over to where Derek had been. He reached out and grabbed a towel. He rolled it up and leaned his arms on it and put his face down on the edge of the tub thereby sticking his butt up in the air just above the water level. Derek grinned and inserted his finger into Tyler to loosen him up. After working three tightly held fingers in Tyler, Derek pulled on his own cock to tighten it up in the condom. He then stretched the tip out enough to leave room for him to fill it.

Derek took hold of Tyler's balls and played with them. He watched the back of Tyler's head move around. Derek pulled Tyler's cheeks apart and pushed the head of his cock against Tyler's hole. Three short pushes and Derek's head was inside. Derek could feel Tyler's ass clamp down around the bottom of the head of his cock.

Derek moaned and squeezed both of Tyler's cheeks with his hands. Derek began one long, slow deep stroke within Tyler. When he reached as far as his body would allow him he held himself there and twitched the head of his cock inside of Tyler. Tyler grunted.

Derek eased out to the point that Tyler's ring was safely holding the head of Derek's cock. Derek attempted re-entry with much more vigour this time. His slow and steady pace rapidly increased to the point that his legs were splashing water over the edge of the tub. Derek dropped down onto Tyler's back and hugged him as he pumped him repeatedly.

"I'm gonna cum...," Derek said as he wiped the sweat from his brow on Tyler's back.

"Unless you break my back first?" Tyler said between gasps for air. Tyler tightened his anal muscle and that sent Derek over the edge. Derek thrust himself deep inside of Tyler and held himself there making short little movements as his orgasm began. Tyler felt the heat of Derek's breath on his back as Derek screamed, "Oh God!" Derek's eyes rolled back in his head momentarily as the second and third eruptions inside of Tyler were even more powerful than the first. His orgasm ended as quickly as it began and he went limp on Tyler's back.

"Derek?" Tyler called.

"What?" Derek moaned from his post-orgasmic happy place.

"Please don't take this wrong way but would you get the fuck off of me!!!!!!!" Tyler yelled and Derek came back to reality and slid out and off of Tyler. Tyler dropped backwards down into the water wincing in pain and holding his ass closed tight.

Derek looked down at Tyler and asked, "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

"Just a little but it will be fine. It's this bubble bath that stings a little... okay, it stings a lot!" Tyler said and Derek grinned.

Derek leaned down and reached out to Tyler.

"NO! Don't touch me!" Tyler yelled holding one hand up to protect himself.

"I've heard about your kind?" Derek joked. "The moment it's over you put your clothes on and head back home to the wife...," Derek teased. Tyler looked up at Derek, not amused by his teasing.

Derek and Tyler both looked at Derek's sagging erection.

"Holy shit! You really blew a load!" Tyler said.

"No shit! That all came out in three shots! It felt like someone popped a balloon inside of me," Derek said, as he turned the hot water on to warm the tub and ease Tyler's pain.

"Are you going to be okay?" Derek asked as he kneeled down in the tub in front of Tyler.

"Yeah, I will be fine. Do you have any of those inflatable donuts I could use for the ride home?" Tyler asked and Derek laughed.

"C'mon out of here and have a quick shower. I will get some of Mom's Procetyel." Derek said.

"What's that?" Tyler asked.

"Prescription strength haemorrhoid treatment. I swear you will feel better in about 10 minutes," Derek said.

"No shit?" Tyler asked and winked.

"Speaking of... you may want to try to have one before I do this!" Derek said.

"Fine, let me have my shower first!" Tyler said and Derek kissed him.

"No problem. I will leave it right here on the vanity for you!" Derek said. "And thank you for my little surprise!" he said, giving Tyler a quick kiss.

"Thank you for being a big pain in my ass!" Tyler said, kissing him back. Derek laughed and left the bathroom.

Derek opened and closed the bathroom door behind him to find Luke asleep on his parent's bed. Derek wrapped his towel around his waist and then climbed up on the bed beside Luke.

"What are you still doing here?" Derek asked wondering if Luke was spying.

"I wanted to make sure you guys weren't bothered by anyone... like Danny!" Luke said yawning.

"Ahh thanks Luke! That was sweet of you," Derek said putting his arms around Luke and kissing his forehead.

"So are you going to tell me who your secret lover is?" Derek asked teasing Luke.

"He's NOT my lover!" Luke said resenting the implication. Tyler came out of the ensuite bathroom and stared at the two of them.

"What's the problem?" Tyler asked as he tossed the medication back to Derek.

"Derek wants to know who I was talking about at breakfast," Luke moaned and crossed his arms. Derek rolled his eyes.

"I was just teasing you Luke. I wanted to bug you about it not being me," Derek joked.

"Derek, leave him alone. He doesn't have to tell anyone and if you thought about it you could figure out who it is!" Tyler said.

"You know?" Derek asked and Luke sat up looking at Tyler.

"It took about ten seconds to figure out with all of the clues Luke gave," Tyler said taking off his towel and drying his hair.

"You don't know who it is!" Luke growled.

"Betcha I do?" Tyler countered.

Luke glared at him wondering if Tyler was trying to trick him.

"Luke, did I not promise you that I would never lie to you unless it was a present?" Tyler asked and Luke nodded.

"Well who is it then?" Derek asked.

"I'm not telling! That's Luke's private business," Tyler said, and Luke smiled.

"You're not telling because you don't know!" Luke said laughing and Derek grinned.

"If you want to wager with me Luke that is fine with me but I thought you would have learned the last time?" Tyler asked putting on clean boxers.

"Fine! Name your bet!" Luke said with arms crossed.

"Nope, we're not betting!" Tyler said.

"See!" Luke said to Derek. "He doesn't know!"

"No Luke, I do know but when you lose the bet you'll be angry with yourself and you'll take it out on me so we're not going to bet!" Tyler said as he put on his deodorant. Luke gave Tyler the evil eye.

"Fine, Luke! Here's what the bet would have been? If I lose I will buy you 5 jars of peanut butter and if you lose you have to give up peanut butter for 48 hours starting the moment you've lost the bet!" Tyler said smiling.

"Quit, Luke! I've been here! Tyler doesn't bet unless he is sure he is right!" Derek said.

"Did Casey tell you?" Luke asked.

"No one told me anything. I just put one and one together and came up with the answer. C'mere and I will whisper in your ear who it is without naming the person," Tyler said.

"That's no fair!" Derek moaned. "Then I won't know? You'll tell me later right?" Derek teased.

"Not a chance in hell because then I would lose Luke's trust," Tyler said as Luke stood up on the bed and walked over to Tyler.

Tyler whispered in his ear, "It has to do with protecting Casey."

Luke's mouth dropped open. "How did you know?"

"Simple! Keep your ears open, your mouth shut and observe and you will learn a few things," Tyler said giving Luke a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, now I am really curious?" Derek said.

Tyler pulled an invisible microphone out of the sky and said, "Cat cleanup in aisle five!!!!!"

"I don't get it?" Luke asked.

"Curiosity killed the cat," Tyler said winking at him.

"I'll buy you a jar of peanut butter if you tell me?" Derek pleaded.

"Forget it... I've got six jars," Luke said and walked out of the room.

"Luke?" Tyler called and Luke came back and stuck his head in the door.

"Wot?" Luke said.

"Good choice!" Tyler said smiling and Luke grinned.

"Luke?" Derek called. "Can I at least hear the clue?"

"Not yet...," Luke said leaving the room.

Danny hugged Casey a little tighter and Casey squeezed Danny's hand three times.

"Is everything better now?" Danny asked.

"Much better now that I know Luke loves me and we really are best friends," Casey said.

"I think that was kind of obvious last night...," Danny said laughing.

"What you saw last night was Luke putting on a show. He's not in love with me but he loves me like I love him... best friends!" Casey said looking at Danny raising his eyebrows.

"I know the feeling Casey because Ty and I have that same friendship except I don't get to sleep with him," Danny moaned and winked at Casey with a smile.

"Where's Casey?" Luke asked Cody, who was in Kyle's room using his computer.

"He's in Derek's room with Danny," Cody said not looking away from the monitor.

"What are they doing?" Luke asked.

"Spending a little quality time before we leave and I don't want Danny to feel jealous of me and Casey so I want them to get to know each other better," Cody said.

"Where are Jeff, Jesse, and Matt?" Luke asked.

"Jesse's playing Xbox in the great room with Kyle and Chris, Jeff is playing his guitar for Matt in the living room, and don't ask me where Tyler and Derek are because I haven't seen them since breakfast." Cody said smiling at Luke. Luke sat down on Kyle's bed and moaned.

Cody stopped typing and looked over at Luke. "Bored huh?" Luke nodded.

Cody typed three more lines and clicked *send* "Okay, I'm all done here." Cody said getting up from the computer. He tackled Luke down on the bed and began tickling him.

"No sour faces today!" Cody said giving Luke a quick kiss.

"I just don't want you guys to leave...," Luke moaned.

"I don't want to go either, Luke, but we have school tomorrow like you!" Cody said. "How about we go tackle Danny and Casey?" Luke grinned.

"You didn't cum yet!" Derek said as he took his towel and dried Tyler off.

"I'm saving it for tonight!" Tyler said taking his towel back to the en suite bathroom.

"What's up tonight, Mr. Peel? Aside from you of course...," Derek teased.

"I have a date!" Tyler said as he put his antiperspirant on.

"Sounds hot?" Derek asked putting on a clean pair of boxers.

"He is! Tanned, sculpted body, tight ass, and has the sweetest smile God has ever bestowed on a man," Tyler said grinning.

"I see... sounds like you've got it bad for this guy?" Derek asked and laughed.

"I guess..." Tyler teased. "He's a football player," he added.

"Sounds like a total hawtie to me... the perfect package!" Derek said grinning.

"Actually he's not that great of a football player but I love him anyway!" Tyler said pulling on a pair of jeans.

"NOT THAT GREAT?" Derek yelled.

"Well... I busted his ass in the backyard playing football once and a few more times in bed!" Tyler said and Derek tackled Tyler down on his parent's bed.

"Who's tackled who, Mr. Peel?" Derek asked sitting on top of Tyler.

"I had my jeans half way up when you jumped me from behind...," Tyler said laughing.

"And your point would be?" Derek asked holding Tyler's arms down.

"Do you really want me to fight back, flip you over, and make you say 'uncle'?" Tyler asked.

"Only when we are naked," Derek said, and kissed Tyler.

"Let's get our family packed up. We have a dinner party to put on." Tyler said as he flipped Derek over on the bed. "Why don't you call the rents and tell them we are leaving shortly?" Tyler asked.

"Okay!" Derek said, reaching over to the phone on the nightstand.

"MOM AND DAD ARE HOME!!!!!" Luke yelled throughout the house.

"Damn you are quick!" Tyler teased.

"Hi, honey!" Linda said to Luke as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Did you have a fun night?" Luke asked.

"If you subtract the throwing up this morning and missing my boys then I would say yes!" Linda said. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm great!" Luke said and ran off to the kitchen.

Matt, Jeff, Cody, Jesse, Derek, Danny, and Tyler converged in the front foyer with bags, backpacks, and suitcases.

"Was it something I said?" Linda asked trying to make a joke. Everyone stared at her in silence. Linda appeared awkward as she removed her coat and when she finished everyone burst into laughter.

"You're all grounded. To your rooms now!" Linda joked pointing up the staircase.

"Derek and I took a chicken out of the freezer, made stuffing, and peeled potatoes for dinner!" Tyler said raising one eyebrow.

"Fine, you two are no longer grounded," Linda said as Larry came in the front door.

"Brown nose!!!!!!!!" Danny said and everyone laughed.

"You wish!" Tyler said winking at Danny.

"Who's grounded and for what?" Larry asked.

"You are, Dad! We get to go back to school," Derek said, smiling at him.

"You be careful driving that Jeep!" Linda said, giving Derek a hug and kiss goodbye.

"Who wants to ride with me?" Derek asked grinning.

"I do!!!!!" Luke said.

"Hey, Ty, do you want to try separating the dogs for the trip?" Derek asked.

"Might be a good idea!" Tyler said. "I'll need someone to ride with me if I am taking one of them along."

"I'll ride with you, Ty, and we can take Chaos with us," Danny volunteered.

"I think you should take Matt or Jesse as well!" Derek suggested staring Tyler down.

"Huh?" Tyler asked and then realized what Derek was referring to.

"Now I'm confused!" Matt said.

Derek pulled Matt aside and explained that if anything happened on the road then no parent would lose both of their kids. Matt blinked and nodded.

"We'll need to stop about halfway so Echo, Chaos, and Danny can pee!" Tyler added. Danny cuffed Tyler upside the back of the head.

The boys, dogs, and Matt and Jesse made it to Philly in just over two hours.

"That was a good idea switching dogs at the halfway point," Danny said.

"They need to learn that they can be separated for a bit but will always be together," Tyler said as he parked out in front of the townhouse.

"Why aren't we using the driveway?" Danny asked.

"I thought that maybe we should put Derek's Jeep in the garage," Tyler said.

Derek pulled up behind Tyler's Jeep in front of the townhouse.

"Holy shit! You guys live here?" Jesse asked, as he looked out his passenger window.

"We do!" Cody said. "And you won't believe how fucking awesome it is inside!"

Echo and Chaos hurried to find each other, pee, and with a little help, climb the stairs up to the front door.

"What are we going to do for parking?" Derek asked Tyler with his arms full of luggage to take inside the townhouse.

"I think since your vehicle is newer it should be parked inside the garage but it would make life easier for me if I had a key to your Jeep Cherokee so I could move it if you are blocking me?" Tyler asked.

"Sounds like a plan... why don't we just drive each other's vehicles as needed. Whoever is home first can park in the garage," Derek suggested, and Tyler smiled.

"C'mon guys and I will give you the short tour?" Cody said, making Matt and Jesse drop their things in the living room. "Follow me downstairs!" he added, waving them to come along.

"We have a fireplace, washroom, workout area, and a big screen flat panel display television!" Cody said, as he presented the room to Jesse and Matt.

"That's big!" Matt said.

"Big, big!" Jesse added and they fisted and laughed.

Matt and Jesse followed Cody up the stairs, two at a time, to be greeted by Echo and Chaos. Matt picked up Chaos and Jesse picked up Echo.

"Living room, kitchen, dining area, back patio, and...," Cody began.

"Another big screen television!" all three said together.

Danny came in the front door carrying a backpack and two suitcases. "Will you cut the guided tour crap and give us a hand here?" Danny asked Cody shaking his head.

"Two minutes!" Cody said holding two fingers up in the air. "Grab yer stuff guys!" he asked, and they followed him up the stairs.

"This is Danny's and my room. This is the laundry room. This is the main washroom and that is Tyler and Derek's room," Cody said.

"Damn! Look at the furniture!" Matt said.

"Look at the size of these beds," Jesse said, as he flopped down on Tyler and Derek's bed.

"Damn! We have beds finally," Cody said not having noticed them before. "C'mon... I'll show you guys upstairs to the guest and computer rooms!"

"There's another floor?" Matt asked as he rounded the staircase with Echo in his arms.

"This is the top floor or so I am told," Cody said grinning. "Tyler had it divided into two rooms. The front is a converted master bedroom with private bath and Jacuzzi tub! The back half of the floor is the computer workstation area."

"Shit! This room must be 30 feet long?" Jesse asked.

"It's 17 by 40 if you include the en suite bathroom!" Cody said.

"You seem awfully excited about this Cody?" Matt teased.

"This is the first time in my life I've lived in a place that had more than one floor!" Cody said smiling.

"The furnishings are really cool and I like the way you put the beds back-to-back!" Matt said.

"We'd better get downstairs and help out," Jesse said.

"Just leave your things here guys!" Cody said heading out of the room to go back downstairs.

"Whatcha makin,' Ty?" Derek asked.

"Matt and Jesse all settled in?" Tyler asked.

"It's rude to answer a question with another question you know?" Derek said winking.

"I'm a rude guy," Tyler said. "I thought I would make a spinach lasagne."

"Eeeeewwwww!" Derek said scrunching his face up.

"Fine! You don't get any!" Tyler said as he squeezed the water out of two packages of spinach.

"Shit! That means it's going to be good," Derek moaned. "So what is in it?"

"Remember the four-cheese spinach dip?" Tyler asked and Derek's eyes opened, and a smile formed on his face.

"Hell, ya! That's so good I would it take it over sex," Derek said, laughing.

"That's easy to say now that you've already had sex this morning!" Tyler told him.

"Word!" Derek said and grinned.

"Now you're getting neither for that comment," Tyler said, grinning.

"How do I work my way back into your good graces?" Derek asked as he planted tiny kisses on the back of Tyler's neck.

"Keep doing that..., but actually you could turn some music on, set the table, and peel the potatoes," Tyler asked.

"I already peeled potatoes for you this morning at Mom and Dad's!" Derek moaned, as he wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist.

"And you did such a good job too!" Tyler teased in a baby's voice.

"Fine... but it's only because I want sex again... this year sometime...," Derek said laughing.

"Fuck off, Derek! It's not that bad...," Tyler said, laughing and shaking his head.

"CD or radio?" Derek asked playing with the new stereo.

"Radio please... something good!" Tyler said.

"Right... so we don't have to listen to all that crap you like then?" Derek asked not looking up at Tyler.

*SPLAT* the sound made when a hunk of thawed spinach hits the side of your head.

"ASSMITE!" Derek said laughing as he turned to look at Tyler.

"Don't be dissing my crappy music!" Tyler said laughing.

"Fuck! You hit me with spinach?" Derek said holding some of it up in the air, in his hand as Tyler came over with a wet towel to wipe it off.

"Oh wait, stop! Leave it on that station!" Tyler yelled as he approached, dropping the towel on the sofa.

"Ty, isn't this that Canadian bitch Diva?" Derek asked.

"Shush! Yes, it is Celine Dion but she does have two good songs and this is one of them!" Tyler said lifting Derek up and holding one hand out and placing his other hand on Derek's shoulder.

"You want to dance to this shit?" Derek asked laughing.

Tyler began to sing as he pulled Derek to the middle of the living room and began slow dancing with him.

If you've got one heart you are following; one dream keeps you wondering, love lights your way through the night. One wish keeps you tryin' once your silver lining love lights your way through the night.

Derek grinned as Tyler sang and both danced entwined in each other's bodies to the music. Danny, Cody, Jesse, and Matt came up from the basement after hearing the noise coming through the ceiling in the basement.

"How gay is that?" Danny asked stopping at the top of the stairs with the other three standing behind him.

"What's with the spinach on the side of Derek's head?" Jesse asked.

"No idea, but I used to think Danny's cow print pyjamas were weird. This raises the bar to a whole new level of kink!" Matt answered.

"I think Derek's brains are trying to escape his head from having to listen to this garbage," Danny said, with his arms crossed leaning against the wall.

"I think it's cute and romantic!" Cody said smiling.

"Fag!" Danny said laughing, and Cody punched Danny's back.

"What's the song?" Jesse asked.

"It's called 'One Heart' by Celine Dion," Cody said.

"I rest my case!" Danny said, and Cody punched Danny in the back again. Danny snorted.

"Want to talk about your Cher farewell tour CD?" Cody asked Danny.

"Remind me to kill you later...," Danny grumbled. Cody fisted with Matt.

"You should see Danny dance to Cher's song 'Half Breed'!" Cody said and Matt roared with laughter.

"Time flies when you're about to die, Cody," Danny said as the song finished.

Cody and Matt began clapping, Jesse whistled, and the dogs began barking.

"That was the gayest experience I've ever had!" Danny said shaking his head.

"And Danny knows gay!" Cody added winking at Tyler and Derek from behind him.

"Sorry, guys, we were just having some fun," Tyler said, as he walked towards them holding Derek's hand.

"You guys are the endless party princesses!" Danny said and then grinned.

Derek scraped the spinach off of his face and threw it at Danny.

"You! Sidewalk! Naked!" Tyler said grinning and pointing out the front window.

"Point noted!" Danny mumbled.

"What can we do to help get ready for dinner?" Matt asked.

"Danny! Naked! Sidewalk!" Derek said, laughing, and Matt turned and looked at Danny.

"I read in the National Enquirer that wearing spinach is all the rage this year!" Danny said laughing.

"C'mon Danny, let's go upstairs and I will pound your ass for a while," Cody said.

"Really?" Danny asked grinning.

"No, not really... we're going to unpack," Cody said pushing Danny towards the staircase.

"Let's get back to work," Derek said, and Tyler looked at him strangely.

"That's my line," Tyler said grinning.

By five o'clock the table was set, everyone had changed and showered, and dinner would be ready in about an hour.

"Dad should be here any minute now?" Cody said pacing the living room floor.

"Tense?" Derek asked, laughing. Cody paused to glare at him.

"Why is the table set for eight people?" Cody asked.

"Oh... I forgot to tell you, Cody...," Tyler began with a grin.

"WHAT?" Cody yelled and turned to face Tyler.

"Settle down... I'm setting your dad up on a blind date tonight," Tyler said. Derek, Matt, and Cody looked at him in disbelief.

"What?" Cody yelled again.

"Don't worry... he doesn't even know that it's happening," Tyler said opening the fridge.

"How is my Jello doing?" Danny asked running down the stairs to the living room.

"I'm not sure but I wouldn't play with it," Tyler said.

"Who did you invite for dinner?" Cody demanded to know.

"You don't think it will be set in time for dinner?" Danny asked.

"Hard to say? Remember I told you to cut about a third of the liquid out of it so it would set in time," Tyler said.

"Danny? Shut the fuck up. It's a package of raspberry Jello with a can of fruit cocktail in it. It's not the end of the world if it doesn't set in time for dinner. Now who did you invite?" Cody yelled while Danny stared at him with his mouth hanging open.

"I invited Dora. She wants to meet your Dad," Tyler said showing a slight smile.

"Oh... she's nice. I like her," Cody mumbled. "Dad could use some new furniture as well!"

Derek put his arms around a shaken Danny. "It's okay Danny. I'm sure it will be fine. We all appreciate the effort you put in to making Jello for dinner. *snort*" Derek said.

"You think it's funny?" Danny asked seriously.

"No Danny... but yes," Derek said not being able to hold back his laughter. "It's really nice that you contributed to tonight's dinner but it ranks up with the difficultly of making Rice Krispies Squares."

"Derek!" Tyler said shaking his head. "It's going to be great, Danny, and if it doesn't set I promise you that we'll eat it all together later tonight... naked!" Danny grinned and went over to get a hug from Tyler. Cody shook his head and Matt and Derek laughed.

"I say we save the Jello for tonight?" Matt suggested and everyone laughed.

*Knock, knock, knock*

"Shit! That's Dad," Cody said fidgeting.

"What are you so nervous about?" Matt asked.

"I dunno..., I just am," Cody said.

"Don't you think you should answer the door?" Tyler asked.

Cody ran to the door.

"Hey, Dad!" Cody said smiling as he opened the door.

"Hi Cody," Coach Connors said giving him a hug.

"C'mon in," Cody said holding the door open.

Tyler approached the coach first and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Dad, welcome to our home."

"Thank you, Tyler. Thank you for inviting me," Coach Connors said while still hugging him.

"Family is always welcome here, Dad, and besides it got us out of a hockey practice tonight," Tyler said, as he released himself from the Coach's arms.

"Coach, these are our friends from Seattle," Tyler said, as he guided the Coach over to meet Matt and Jesse. "Matt and his little brother Jesse. This is Cody's Dad and the Coach of the soon-to-be-famous Drexel Dragons hockey team!"

"Nice to meet you, boys. Just call me Richard or Rich! Most call me Dick but in this house that would get too confusing!" Coach Connors said and the boys all started laughing. Cody blushed.

"Nice to meet you, Rich! This is my baby brother, Jesse," Matt said as he shook the Coach's hand.

"The Spengler Cup final is on guys?" Tyler said as he brought the game up on the big screen TV.

"Coach? Can I get you a beer?" Tyler asked.

"Thanks, Tyler. Hockey, beer, and the scent of good food cooking in the air... can life get any better?" the Coach said.

"That wonderful smell is Danny's Jello setting in the fridge," Derek teased. Danny stuck his tongue out at Derek.

"Hey dad, would you like a quick tour of the house?" Cody asked.

"Sure son!" Coach Connors said getting up and following Cody upstairs.

All the boys gathered around the kitchen island.

"Why is Cody so nervous? His dad seems like a nice guy?" Matt asked.

"No idea, Matt, but this is the first time any of us have had a private dinner with him and people aren't always as they appear in public," Tyler said, as he tossed the salad.

"I've eaten at their place a few times. Coach Connors is a strange mix. He loves his gay son more than anything in the world but he is also a hardcore Republican. He watches wrestling and horror movies on TV and listens to classical music. He'll swear in the change room but swearing isn't allowed in his home," Danny said.

"So what you are saying is that all of the really important things in life are in line and where they should be?" Matt asked.

"Ummm... yeah! That's a better way of saying it," Danny said. "Let's split up. I hear them coming back." Everyone parted in different directions except Derek, Matt, and Tyler.

"That was tense!" Derek said laughing. "How is dinner doing?"

"It's all good... though I'm not sure about the Jello salad," Tyler said winking at Derek and Matt.

*Knock, knock, knock*

Cody was standing closest to the door and glared over at Tyler.

"I think I'd better get that!" Tyler said drying his hands on a dishtowel as he headed to that door.

"Hi Dora, welcome!" Tyler said as held the door open.

"Hi, Tyler," Dora said, as she hugged and kissed Tyler.

"Thanks for coming!" Tyler said.

"Who said I've already cum?" Dora replied and everyone in earshot started laughing.

"C'mon in. We have a house full tonight," Tyler said.

"I'm the kind of girl that likes that!" Dora teased as Tyler helped her remove her coat.

Echo and Chaos came over to check Dora out and she bent down to pet them both.

"Dora, you already know Cody, Danny, and Derek." Tyler began and Dora said hello and gave each of them a hug. "It is my pleasure to introduce you to three more members of the family. Matt and his baby brother Jesse from Seattle and Cody's father, Richard Connors... affectionately known to us as 'Coach'," Tyler said.

"Pleasure to meet you, Dora!" Coach Connors said as he held out his right hand.

"I'm so happy I was able to pleasure you," Dora said, grinning as she shook hands with Coach Connors.

Coach Connors laughed out loud as he gently placed his arm around her shoulder and led her to the kitchen.

"Can I offer you a beer or wine?" Coach Connors asked.

"I've had enough whining all day... so a beer would be just fine!" Dora said as she leaned into him.

Tyler, Matt, and Derek exchanged glances and then laughed over Cody's expression of shock. Danny came up behind Cody and wrapped his arms around him.

"Dinner will be in about 20 minutes so just relax and watch the game or chat," Tyler said.

Coach Connors, with his arm around Dora's shoulder, walked to the sofa where they sat down. They engaged in a short conversation about the work she put into decorating the boys new home with Matt, Danny, and a very nervous Cody.

"What did you need?" Tyler asked Jesse.

"Something to do," Jesse said, as he looked back over his shoulder at the conversation happening in the living room.

"Too boring?" Derek asked.

"I don't think I can keep a straight face watching Cody squirm," Jesse said laughing.

"You and the coach are the only two in the room with a 'straight' face so you better try to keep it up," Tyler said grinning.

"That was really lame, Mr. Peel!" Derek said, as he made the Caesar dressing for the salad.

"I feel bad for Cody. He looks really stressed out over this," Jesse said.

"You'll have more reason to shortly! I'm sitting him across from Dora and the coach," Tyler said, as he removed his spinach lasagne from the oven.

"So what can I do?" Jesse asked.

"You could put the broccoli and cauliflower into that bowl over there and pour the cheese sauce over top of it all," Tyler said, pointing to a glass bowl sitting on the counter next to the fridge.

"What's next?" Derek asked.

"Ummm... I'll cut the stuffed tenderloin up and you could put the mashed potatoes into a bowl please?" Tyler asked. "Danny, could you un-mold your Jello creation, please?"

"YES!" Danny said as he pumped his fist in the air and ran over to the kitchen.

"You're really obsessed with making me work with potatoes aren't you?" Derek asked.

"Yes, Mr. Potato Head!" Tyler said and Jesse snorted.

"Jesse, could you let the dogs outside before we eat?" Derek asked.

"Soup's on!!" Derek said and everyone moved towards the dining room table. Danny lit the three candles. Tyler seated Derek at the end of the table nearest the kitchen and Matt on the other end closest to the living room. Tyler sat down beside Derek with Jesse on his right and Cody at the end. Dora sat next to Matt with Coach Connors beside her and Danny on the Coach's right side.

"It's a tradition here that at special meals we say grace and give thanks for all this food and those we are fortunate enough to share it with." Derek began. "Who would like to say grace?" Derek asked looking over at Tyler who grinned at him.

"Coach?" Danny pleaded. "I asked in honour of Luke," Tyler gave Danny the evil eye and all of the boys laughed.

"I would be honoured, Danny!" Coach Connors said.

"If everyone would hold hands please?" Derek asked and Coach Connors quickly grabbed Dora's hand.

"Dear Lord, we thank you for this wonderful bounty before us and the friends and family that are here to share in it." Coach Connors began. "As we do everyday, we thank you for the freedom we have and ask you to remember the men and women who are so valiantly fighting for the freedom we have and the things we take for granted in our daily life. <Cody's head slumped down further> we ask that you continue to impart your wisdom on our great leader, President George W. Bush so that he may free the world of tyranny and injustice...

<Tyler raised his head slightly to look over at Derek and then they both looked over at Danny who was silently shaking and about to burst into laughter>

... along with your guidance and the strength Lord, the G.O.P. will retain its power this coming November so that our great leader can finish his mission you gave him. AMEN!" Coach Connors said and everyone looked up and around the table in shock.

"Amen," Tyler said.

"Amen." everyone else added quietly.

"Derek? Why don't you start by passing some of the dishes around and we can all serve our own plates?" Tyler suggested hoping to move the conversation forward.

"I didn't know that God personally charged our President Bush with a mission?" Dora asked sarcastically.

"It's a lot like King Arthur and the Holy Grail in the Monty Python movie!" Tyler said with a straight face and Dora started laughing.

"Touché!" Dora said and winked at Tyler.

"Looks good, Tyler!" Derek said winking at Tyler to show he understood what he really meant.

"What exactly does G.O.P. stand for?" Jesse asked.

"Oh God...," Tyler mumbled quietly enough for only Derek to hear and Danny to read his lips and grin.

"It' stands for the Gay Old Party!" Danny said grinning at Tyler. Everyone burst into laughter.

"It stands for the 'Grand Old Party' Jesse," Coach Conners said glaring to his right at Danny. "You think that's funny, Daniel?" Coach Connors asked.

"Pretty much..., Sir," Danny said grinning at an embarrassed Cody.

"Would you find 20 extra laps on the ice just as funny?" The Coach asked.

"Yes, Sir!" Danny said ignoring him as he scooped salad on to his plate.

"And would 40 laps be just as funny?" The Coach asked and slumped back in his chair.

"Yes, Sir, but we likely wouldn't be naming our first child after you then," Danny said without looking up. The room erupted into laughter, which included the Coach. Coach Connors left his chair and hugged Danny and kissed the top of his head. Cody exhaled.

"One would almost think there might be a Democrat in the room?" Coach Connors asked to no one in particular.

"DAD!!" Cody yelled and the room became silent.

Coach Connors was about to say something but Dora interrupted. "Now Cody, your father is much older and wiser..., and obviously heading towards senility if he supports the Republican Party. You're old enough now to know that you should remain silent, nod your head in agreement, and quietly vote for a Democrat in November," Dora said and Matt started laughing. Matt lifted his wine glass up and 'clinked' it with Dora.

Coach Connors quietly passed the potatoes to Danny as the room fell silent. Derek nudged Tyler under the table and gave him the look of 'what do we do now'?

"Hey Danny, could you please pass your fruit salad over? I'm dying to try it," Tyler asked, and Derek looked down at his plate grinning.

"I'll have some too!" Derek added and smiled. Danny beamed with pride.

Matt clued in to what was going on and asked, "How did you make it?" Matt and Jesse were the only ones to hear Cody's snort.

"I just followed the directions on the package!" Danny said innocently. The room became silent. Everyone stopped eating and looked around at each other with the exception of Danny. The table erupted in laughter.

"Wot?" Danny asked and then grinned at Tyler.

"I think Matt was actually asking about the process involved in making it?" Dora said.

"Oh... I followed the directions on the box and threw in a can of fruit cocktail," Danny said, as he returned his focus to devouring the salad on his plate. Everyone around the table again paused to look at each other and smile.

"Tyler?" Coach Connors called.

"Yes, Sir?" Tyler said as he wiped his mouth.

"As a Canadian, I think we would all be interested in your viewpoint on the U.S. invasion in Iraq?" Coach Connors asked and Cody choked on a mouthful of food.

"Wanna bet??" Danny mumbled and Derek snorted.

"Ummm..., I really don't like to debate politics with my hockey Coach, Sir," Tyler said politely and picked up his fork.

"Oh come now, Tyler, certainly I don't scare you that much. The worst thing that could happen to you is you end up skating extra laps... with Danny," Coach Connors said grinning. Danny froze with his fork in his mouth. Matt, Derek, and Dora started laughing.

"C'mon, Ty, we all want to hear your opinion on this?" Matt asked grinning at him as he tried to invoke a verbal brawl.

"Having traveled to England, France and some of South America...," Tyler began.

"Tyler? You can't factor in the opinion of the French. All they've ever done is surrender and make pastries," Coach Connors said laughing alone.

"What?" Cody yelled glaring at his dad.

"I second that 'what' Richard?" Dora added. "The world is still laughing at us over freedom fries."

"Mmmm..., fries," Danny moaned. Derek snorted.

"Please continue, Tyler?" Dora asked leaning forward on the table.

"From my experience in Europe I discovered that when they found out that I wasn't American they relaxed and we became friends," Tyler said, and Coach Connors glared at him as he played with his food.

"While I don't have the right to speak on behalf of Canada I will say that when we travel to another country we like to engulf ourselves in the local customs, traditions, and food. It seems that many Americans just complain that there isn't a Wal-Mart or McDonalds," Tyler said, and Dora smiled and nodded. "I'm not saying that every American is like that but as usual, the extremist minority is always heard more than the silent majority."

"So if you don't like America then why are you here?" Coach Connors asked.

"DAD! He didn't say he didn't like America! You asked for his opinion," Cody yelled.

"Cody! Don't raise your voice to me," The Coach said shaking his finger at him. Cody slumped back down in his chair.

"Richard? Don't suppress your son's opinions. He has as much right as you to express his feelings," Dora said, chastising Coach Connors.

"I do like America Sir, and Americans as well. I just don't like your current administration because they can't seem to justify their course of actions," Tyler said.

"Well son, you seem to value that Jeep you drive and without a stable flow of natural resources this country's economy would shut down... not to mention you would have no gas to drive that thing," Coach shot back.

"Richard, if America stops buying oil from the Middle East then they have as much of a problem as we do," Dora said.

"The world doesn't realize that it needs the United States to keep peace and freedom," Coach Connors said defiantly. Tyler snorted.

"What?" Coach Connors asked glaring at Tyler.

"America has invaded Iraq to remove a sadistic, megalomaniac leader that America put there in the first place," Tyler defended. Coach Connors didn't respond.

"Perhaps Richard can explain to all of us why America is focusing on Iraq instead of Afghanistan?" Dora asked.

"Who wants more fruit salad?" Danny asked, holding up his plate of Jello. Matt grinned at Derek from the other end of the table.

"I'd like some more," Jesse said reaching across the table to take the plate from Danny.

"Who started this war?" Derek asked.

"Arabs!" Coach Connors said gruffly and Dora laughed.

"Derek, you would have to go back to post World War II when the state of Israel was created for the modern version of this war but in reality it is a continuation of a 2000 year old war," Dora said.

"Almost every war in history grew out of religious intolerance and the fear of things we don't understand," Matt said, as he placed three more pieces of stuffed pork tenderloin on his plate.

"Like being gay?" Jesse asked.

"Like being gay or Muslim or mentally challenged. Being different isn't encouraged or embraced in this world," Matt said shaking his head in disgust.

"I concur with Matthew!" Coach Connors began and Matt stared at his plate wondering where this was headed. "It's like the lack of support for our President. People have the audacity to think that our President Bush only went into Iraq for oil! He had the courage to stand up and take on the oppressors of this world. Even in the face of political discontent in the homeland he stood for what he believed is right and hasn't bowed to any naysayers," Coach Connors said as he lightly banged his fork-fisted hand on the dining room table.

"WHAT?" Tyler yelled sitting up and leaning forward to stare down Coach Connors. "The goals and end result of going to Iraq were totally self-serving! He wanted to clear 'dad-ehs' name and to protect the Bush family's interests in oil. The Bush family has over a half century of ties to the Bin Laden family and several Saudis with known connections to drug cartels, gun smuggling, and terrorist networks so obviously what is going on in the Middle-East has the potential for devastating the value of the stock his family holds," Tyler said settling back down.

"Tyler? It would be the height of hypocrisy for our President Bush to put American soldiers lives overseas in harm's way for his own personal gain!" Coach Connors said, glaring at Tyler who wouldn't blink or turn away.

"Has anyone tried the lasagne? It's delicious!" Derek said and Matt grinned at him.

"The handfuls of people who are gaining from this war are military contract companies, major corporations, and the friends of the two Presidents!" Tyler said.

"President Bush is a man of integrity and would never do such a thing!" Coach Connors said in a slightly calmer tone.

"I wonder how many military contracts Halliburton has received from our Vice-President?" Matt mused aloud.

"I'll try the lasagne!" Jesse said as he passed his plate down to Derek so he could serve him some.

"Your President Bush probably couldn't even spell integrity, much less define it or even pronounce it!" Tyler said, staring down Coach Connors.

"In - tag - greet - e!" Danny said and then laughed. Everyone one else joined in with the exception of Coach Connors.

Coach Connors turned sharply to his right to glare at Danny.

"Yeah, yeah, I know... more laps at the next practice!" Danny said grinning at Tyler.

"That's the price you pay for free speech, Danny." Dora said and Cody grinned from across the table at her.

"Danny, you didn't quite get the pronunciation right! Every word is two syllables regardless of how it is spelled. 'Inta - greety'," Matt said in his best George Bush voice as he smiled at Derek.

"Listen up people! The world runs on oil and Saddam Hussein would do nothing but make mischief with all the oil reserves in Iraq. We have not taken over Iraq's oil production, but instead have liberated the people of Iraq so that all the country can benefit from the revenue and not just Saddam and his favoured few," Coach Connors said.

"Is this according to the Bush administration or the people of Iraq?" Dora asked. Coach Connors stared up at the ceiling and shook his head.

"I'm serious Richard! Are the people of Iraq thanking America and its allies for where they are RIGHT NOW?" Dora asked.

<silence>

"You won't see the liberal news media reporting all the good things soldiers are doing for the people of Iraq! You'll only see the thanks they get in the form of land mines, rocket propelled grenades, and suicide bombers! The Iraqi people will be thankful when they have their own American style democracy where its citizens are free to choose their leader," Coach Connors said.

"God help us all," Cody said quietly and then paused to realize he said it out loud and everyone was looking at him. "Excuse me... I'm not supposed to say what I'm thinking!" he said to his plate.

"Actually Dora, the people of Iraq were quite happy to hear of the pending invasion to rid their country of a horrible dictator, until they learned of the American plan to sell off the national interests of Iraq to foreign companies. Iraqi businessmen began supporting local terrorist cells and very likely Al Qaeda as well. When you think about it they are actually very patriotic people. I think any patriotic citizen would do the same thing if it where happening in their own country," Tyler said, as he scooped a spoonful of Danny's fruit salad on to his plate.

"Ah... the spoils of war!" Danny said smiling. "Yeah... we know... more laps!" Danny said turning to his left to look at Coach Connors.

"It doesn't sound like the Iraqi people are gaining much from us freeing them?" Jesse asked innocently.

"No, son...," Coach Connors said clasping his hands together and leaning his elbows on the table. Jesse twitched and blinked. "Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait! He violated 13 articles that the United Nations set before him. The food for oil program, while in theory was good, turned out to be doing nothing more than lining his pockets. He murdered upwards of two million of his own people. His continued existence was a threat to the entire region and had he not been removed when he was, this threat to the region would have grown. The cost of war and lost lives twenty years from now would exceed any costs incurred today!"

"Just a question here...," Matt began, "Isn't Iraq only a threat to Iran and Israel since their military and financial resources were pretty much depleted from U.N. sanctions over the past ten years?"

"Then you add in the conspiracy theory that President Bush was redeeming his father's mistakes and you take a left turn at Albuquerque and next thing you know our President is making Hitler look like he was misunderstood!" Coach Connors said sarcastically.

"Oh please, Richard... It's not just President Bush redeeming his family but it's also his entire inner circle, which is mostly made up from his father's old cronies. Look at the connection between Vice-President Cheney and Halliburton! They have to redeem their credibility. Face up to it that war is a business that lines the pockets of a few and takes more casualties than a K-Mart blue light special on Christmas Eve!" Dora said, and Derek burst into laughter.

"My point being...," Matt continued. "Saddam Hussein might have been a threat to the region but doesn't it pale in comparison to Al Qaeda's threat to U.S. soil. So why exactly are we in Iraq when we should be focused on Afghanistan?"

"You don't understand Matthew; this war is about the resources of the future!" Coach Connors said.

"WHAT?" Tyler yelled.

"I second that 'what'... again!" Dora piped up.

"I thought you said this war was about terrorism?" Tyler asked shaking his head in disbelief. "Someone needs to draw a line and be honest and tell the American people what this war is really about."

Cody snorted and his Dad gave him a cold stare.

"I agree with Mr. Connors," Jesse said. "I think it is about resources. If there was oil in Afghanistan you can bet that they would be the top priority right now."

<Silence>

Coach Connors stared directly across the table at Jesse. Jesse looked up at Coach Connors and then immediately looked away.

"President Bush drew a line and thank God it was over there and not here! America will not lie down in the face of growing terrorist attacks around the world or on our soil! As one of the few civilized countries left in this world and the only superpower, it is our job to make this planet a safe and better place to live in!" Coach Connors said tapping his index finger down on the dining room table.

"Correct me if I am wrong here, Coach, but didn't earlier attacks on U.S. soil like the first attempted bombing of the World Trade Center have nothing to do with Saddam Hussein and Iraq? From all I have learned, most of the Arab world doesn't like Hussein because it was America who put him in charge. Hussein himself hated Arabs, Jews, Americans, and Al Qaeda. His Muslim faith was an insult to Allah and all moderate Muslims! Let's face the facts, he is an equal opportunity socio-path hell bent on the domination of Iraq! Taking Saddam Hussein out of power is fine but at a cost of about a half a trillion dollars and over two thousand American lives -- he is obviously an embarrassment to all that the Republican Party stands for!" Tyler said.

"I think the administration needs to review how the Pentagon is using its budget!" Matt said grinning.

"I think Tyler just complimented the Republican Party? Go figure...," Derek said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Derek, the founding principles of the Republican Party are well thought out! Fiscal restraint, lower taxation, less government, and a free, open market for trade and commerce but somewhere along the line, around McCarthyism, everything went astray," Tyler said.

"They may not have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but that doesn't mean they don't exist in the Middle East!" Coach Connors said. "Most world leaders as well as many at the U.N. believed they did exist at the time."

"That's were you are wrong, Richard. No concrete proof ever existed of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq! The U.N. inspectors found nothing and that is why the U.S. didn't get support from the U.N. to go into Iraq," Dora said.

"The weapons may not have been built but a lot of the pieces to make it existed," Coach Connors defended.

"Richard, you can build a fairly decent bomb from an array of things inside the average American house. If we live by your theory then most of America is made up of terrorists-in-waiting," Dora said and several snickers where heard around the dining room table.

"The lack of hard evidence is what kept Canada out of the war. We did however patrol the Gulf to help keep American warships safe. Not that your President Bush ever bothered to remember that when thanking all of the countries that helped," Tyler added.

"Don't look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, Ty!" Cody said. "That lack of public acknowledgement has probably helped keep Canada safe from terrorist attacks."

"Terrorists wouldn't attack their own country, Cody!" Coach Connors said.

"WHAT?" Tyler asked.

"Let's face it Tyler... we all know that Canada is harbouring terrorists. The province of Quebec contains one of the largest groups of Muslims outside of the Middle East," Coach Connors said.

"Being Muslim doesn't make you any more a terrorist than being a born-again Baptist, Republican, Democrat, Socialist, or a Communist! There are extremists everywhere and religion is only a part of it. Over a decade ago some assmite killed fourteen women in a Quebec University! Columbine! Oklahoma City! Terrorists are terrorists! They come in all shapes, sizes, sexes, and religious backgrounds," Tyler said angrily.

"The latest theory is that Al Qaeda planted false information to trick the American's into attacking Iraq, which would in turn divert U.S. resources away Afghanistan and Pakistan," Matt proposed.

"You think Americans are that dumb?" Coach Connors asked.

<silence>

"Shut up, Daniel!" Coach Connors said, and everyone began laughing including the Coach.

"No more potatoes Danny! You've had two servings already!" Tyler said pointing at him. Danny frowned and then nodded.

Coach Connors put his arm around Danny and kissed the side of his head and said, "Ten more laps next practice for eating too much!"

<Danny groaned>

"Don't moan! Tyler is getting 100 laps for arguing with his Coach!" he said.

"A HUNDRED LAPS?" Tyler asked laughing.

"It was going to be two hundred laps but that spinach cheese lasagne was soooo good!" Coach Connors said as he rubbed his belly.

"Coach?" Tyler asked. "I don't think anyone is against stopping terrorism. We all want to live peacefully with our neighbours on this planet, but no country or religion has the right to inflict their own standards on any group of individuals. Americans live with and by the rules they created for themselves and they are not applicable or relevant in any other country or vice versa. Only society as a whole can define a set of moral standards."

"Here, here!" Dora said holding up her wine glass.

"Sort of a do unto others thing?" Matt asked as he refilled his glass of wine.

Coach Connors winked, smiled, and nodded at Tyler and then said, "Ninety-nine laps!" Everyone laughed.

"You are soooo doing the dishes, Coach!" Tyler said laughing.

"Who thinks Iran is next?" Matt asked and everyone glared at him.

"I thought this discussion was over with?" Derek asked as he stared at Matt.

"With Iran's increased interest in nuclear arms it would seem a logical choice!" Coach Connors said as he started his third serving of Tyler's spinach and cheese lasagne and Derek shook his head.

"Is that because the President of Iran today was a student leader in the American embassy hostage taking back in '79?" Dora asked.

"I guess we are going to take over the world one country at a time?" Danny surmised.

"Look everyone!" Coach Connors began, "I understand where you are coming from but you need to look at our history! Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Germany are all better off today because of America's involvement. We don't go into a country to rape and pillage and then leave. At the soul of being an American is our desire for every country in this world to have all that we have; freedom to vote, think, and share ideas. Our republic isn't perfect and we don't always get the best man for the job every time but our intentions are honourable. You won't get an argument from me about the right-wing side of the Republican Party. Church and State are two separate things. There are as many whack-jobs in both parties but the real problem is that the silent majority never speaks up and that leaves only the extremists to be heard. Next thing you know... everyone assumes they are speaking for entire Party? Get informed like Tyler and get out and 'rock the vote' as you kids put it," Coach Connors said as Tyler leaned forward on the table, smiling at the Coach.

"Isn't 'rock the vote' a democratic slogan?" Tyler asked.

"No Tyler, it's non-partisan group encouraging the youth of today to cast a vote," Dora said.

"You see Derek, this is the Coach we know, love, and respect!" Tyler said. Dora reached under the table and took Coach Connor's hand into hers.

"I think we need to continue this discussion?" Dora said, and the entire table groaned. Coach Connors grinned.

"We need to discuss this alone... maybe over dinner?" Dora proposed.

"Yes... I think that would be a wonderful idea!" Coach Connors said now grinning from ear-to-ear. Danny looked over at Cody to see his mouth drop open. He waited until he caught Cody's eye and then dropped his own mouth open to mock Cody. Cody narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Who would like dessert and some coffee or tea?" Tyler asked as he stood up at the table and began removing food trays.

"I'm positively stuffed!" Dora said.

"Too full of apple pie?" Coach Connors asked.

"Hmmm... maybe I could share some of yours?" Dora asked and then winked as she leaned into the Coach.

"I don't know... apple pie is very American, like Republicans!" Coach Connors teased.

"DAD!!!" Cody yelled.

"Down boy! I was just teasing Dora!" Coach Connors said as he smiled and stared into her eyes.

"They look like they're in love!" Derek commented quietly to Tyler in the kitchen.

"I'm not sure... they remind me more of Chaos and Echo checking each other out," Tyler joked quietly.

"If they start sniffing each other's butts I'm outta here!" Danny declared from behind them. All three laughed until everyone at the table looked over at them.

Cody brought more plates over and Tyler handed him some dessert plates to take back.

"Are you holding up okay?" Tyler whispered.

"Yeah... I guess," Cody said feeling embarrassed.

"Cody, your Dad is very cool! He is passionate and patriotic! He loves his country but he loves you even more," Tyler said and winked. Cody half-heartedly smiled.

Derek removed the now warm apple pie from the oven with mitts while Tyler pulled out a bowl of chocolate mousse from the fridge. Danny brought a decanter of coffee, cream, sugar, and a steeped pot of tea to the table.

"Does anyone else prefer chocolate mousse over apple pie aside from Danny and me?" Tyler asked from the kitchen.

"Huh?" Danny asked. "I want pie?" He moaned.

"Mmmm... chocolate mousse? Oh yeah, I will have a very small amount please, Tyler," Dora said.

"Less carbs, Danny, but with all the sweetness because I made it with a sugar substitute." Tyler said, and Danny curled his lip to show his displeasure.

"What cheese do you want to serve with the apple pie?" Derek asked as he looked in the crisper inside the fridge.

"Go with the jalapeno havarti. It has a mild kick to it," Tyler suggested as he scooped fluffy chocolate mousse into chocolate shells and randomly placed fresh raspberries on top.

The room became quiet as everyone began to devour their desserts.

"Tyler, this apple pie is so good that you could almost convert me to a democrat - almost!" Coach Connors teased.

Dora tried a bite of the apple pie from Coach Connor's fork. "Tyler, that is divine! What all is in there?" Dora asked.

"I used a mix of tart Flowers and Lewinsky apples, Clinton white cheddar because it's the cheesiest, a splash of Kennedy's Scotch, a hint of Hillary's lemon pucker, and a couple of tablespoons of Gore's fresh ground cinnamon!" Tyler joked and everyone laughed.

"That would explain why I have this mild urge to increase welfare spending, raise taxes, and join the ACLU!" Coach Connors joked to much laughter.

"Seriously Tyler, what is in this that makes it so... kicked up?" Dora asked.

"Three year old white cheddar cheese is finely grated in with the apples to give it a bit more of a kick... and the seven pounds of cinnamon didn't hurt it either!" Tyler added.

"Speaking of Scotch... does anyone know Ted Kennedy's favourite drink?" Coach Connors asked and everyone shook their heads no.

"It's called a Chappaquiddick! Scotch and murky water." Coach Connors said with a deadpan tone in his voice.

Tyler, Derek, and Dora roared with laughter and were the only ones who found it funny... at first! Tyler stood up and covered his mouth for fear he would spit out his chocolate mousse from laughing so hard. Chaos and Echo left the sofa to go over and find out what was going on. Coach Connors briefly explained to everyone else the history behind the joke. Derek just sat at the end of the table covering his eyes to catch the tears from laughing.

"You are so bad, Richard...," Dora said as she slid her hand into his. The room became silent again as everyone watched Coach Connors and Dora stare into each other's eyes

"More pie?" Tyler asked trying to keep the conversation going.

"I think he's already...," Danny began.

"Danny!!!!" Cody yelled and Danny shut up.

"Maybe I'll have some later...," Coach Connors said without removing his gaze from Dora's eyes.

Danny snorted and Derek kicked him while Tyler just shook his head.

Dora and Jesse got into a conversation about what Jesse was going to do with his life and Coach Connors regaled Matt with stories of when he played football in college. The four boys began working on cleaning up until Tyler suggested that it was too crowded in the kitchen and all he really needed was one person helping him. Cody quickly volunteered.

Derek and Danny each took a dog and got everyone to grab their tea and coffee and move into the living room. Coach Connors went over to the kitchen and sat down on a bar stool facing into the kitchen. He made small talk with Tyler about hockey and future games while Cody avoided any eye contact or conversation with his Dad.

"Cody?" his dad called quietly but Cody ignored him.

"Cody?" Coach Connors said a little bit louder.

"What?" Cody asked without facing him.

"I want both of you to listen quietly to me for a moment," Coach Connors said.

"Are we getting another lecture on how wonderful your George Bush is?" Cody asked sarcastically.

"You're an adult or at least you're supposed to be one so I am going to ignore that cheap shot," Coach Connors said. "I want you both to consider two things before you go knocking everything the current administration has done. Think back to late 2002 and the ten years before that! No one and I mean no one knew definitively whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Even Hans Blix, one of the U.N. inspectors could not deny that they 'might' exist! No one knew for sure and the idea that a madman like Hussein could use chemical weapons made the decision necessary. The second point is directed at you, Cody," Both could see Cody's body tense up as he feverishly rewashed the same lasagne pan over and over.

"Whether you agree or disagree with our freely and democratically elected government it doesn't make you unpatriotic unless you have a different version of our constitution than I have? I think everyone wants our troops home safe whether you think they should be there or not. Tonight we had a great free discussion from two different points of view! You could take a few lessons from Tyler on how to debate with passionate belief without taking it personally," Coach Connors said as Cody turned to give him a cold stare and then return his gaze to the sink.

"So you're not a Republican?" Tyler asked as he dried dishes.

"No, I am a Republican. When Cody's mother and sister died I could have shut down and given up to go on welfare but I didn't! I am capable of working and hopefully making a few lives better. It wasn't easy and the person that suffered the most was Cody. He was dragged all over the South and the price he paid for it is something I will never be able to repay but I wanted my son to rise up from whatever hole he might find himself in as he goes through this life and the best way to teach him that was by example," Coach Connors began and Cody stared motionlessly at the sink full of water below.

"There are lots of people in America in need of a helping hand but it seems that the Democrats don't encourage those people to climb out of that hole? Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat we all know that many Americans live below the poverty line and need help. I simply see the difference between the two parties as one wants all Americans to make the most of their lives and the other seems to want to mollycoddle them and use them for votes. Instead of voting for the party that says 'we help you when you're down' I think people should vote for the party that says 'grab my hand and we'll help you get back on your feet.' Now that is just my biased opinion but that is why I lean towards the Republican Party. I've never said I completely agree with this administration but the core values of the Party are true to my heart!" Coach Connors said.

"Nicely put Coach. One more reason why your entire team respects you but I'm still leaning toward the Democrats!" Tyler said.

"That's fine with me and I'm still leaning towards the Republican Party!" Coach Connors said smiling.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Cody said not able to face him.

"Don't be sorry son! I want you to prove me wrong! I want you to challenge what I say and make your own informed opinion. I never want you feeling you're in a hole and can't get out but if you are, I want you to know that I will always do my best to help you get back on your feet - just like your brothers would!" Coach Connors said.

Cody reached across the kitchen counter with soaking wet hands and hugged his dad. Tyler gently rubbed Cody's back.

Coach Connors and Dora left shortly after the dishes were done.

Tyler pointed to Matt once the door had been closed and said, "You... are pure evil!" Matt grinned.

"I could have told you that!" Jesse said and he forced a hug out of Matt. "Thanks for bringing me my second family," Jesse whispered in Matt's ear.

Derek suggested they all go downstairs and turn on the gas fireplace. Danny suggested they all go downstairs naked but a compromise of boxers or pyjamas only was reached. Danny arrived last with a half eaten bowl of his Jello fruit cocktail. Matt and Tyler started laughing when they saw Danny appear.

Tyler lay across one of the leather sofas with Jesse's back lying down on his chest. Tyler had his left arm around Jesse's neck with his left hand rubbing his chest back and forth. Derek sat on the floor in front of Tyler. Tyler's right hand was massaging Derek's neck while Derek held and played with Echo. Danny sat down on the other leather sofa in one corner and Cody immediately plopped himself down on the sofa, on his back, with his head on top of Danny's lap. Matt lay down on the floor in front of the fireplace with Chaos asleep on his chest.

"I think this dog has gotten bigger in 24 hours?" Matt whispered to the room so as not to wake Chaos.

"They've pretty much figured out how to go up and down the stairs now," Derek said.

"I don't wanna leave tomorrow!" Jesse mumbled with his eyes closed.

"Why don't you stay?" Danny asked. "You can share our bed!" Cody raised his head and dropped it down firmly on Danny's crotch.

"Ow!" Danny squealed and then laughed.

"Thanks for everything, guys. This really turned out to be the best birthday I've ever had - especially having all of my brothers around," Derek said. and Jesse's hand silently dropped down and he pinched Derek three times. Derek took hold of Jesse's hand, kissed it, and then held it in his own.

"I think the four of us have school in the morning?" Tyler said.

"Yes Mom!!!!" Derek, Danny, and Cody said and then laughed.

"It's nice to be home... to have a home...," Cody mumbled.

"Agreed!" Danny said while Tyler did acknowledge the comment and Derek didn't.

"It's nice to have family!" Jesse said with his eyes shut as he brought his left hand up to hold Tyler's left hand.

"Matt, do you want to sleep with us tonight?" Tyler asked.

"Thanks, guys, but I am seriously jet lagged. It might actually be only 6:30 p.m. my time but it feels like after midnight. I want to sleep in. Our flight doesn't leave until 3:30 p.m. so there isn't any rush," Matt said.

"What about you. Jesse? Where do you want to sleep?" Tyler asked.

"Well... I've never slept with Cody and Danny before...," Jesse pondered and everyone started laughing.

"That isn't what I meant!" Jesse protested. "If it's alright with you guys, it would be a nice memory to take home with me."

"Just to keep you safe Jesse, I will sleep in the middle," Cody mumbled as he drifted in and out of sleep.

Derek took Echo and Chaos outside to pee while Tyler set up the coffee machine for the morning. Tyler and Derek headed upstairs after realizing the puppies had already gone upstairs ahead of them.

"Night guys!" Tyler said walking into Danny's room with Derek in tow. Cody was in the shower and Danny was one shy of molesting Jesse in the bed.

"Where the fuck did you get a cow print comforter for your bed?" Derek asked.

"Dora found it for me!" Danny said giggling.

"I'm not sure it's safe to sleep in the middle here... much less in this bedroom!" Jesse joked.

"All ye who enter get milked!" Derek said and Danny grinned.

"You'll be safe, Jesse!" Tyler said, and crawled up on top of Jesse and began passionately French kissing Jesse while grinding his crotch into Jesse's boxers all in front of Derek and Danny.

When Tyler released Jesse he added, "If Danny can do better than that then let him have his way?" Tyler winked at Jesse but he was still off in another planet.

"I hate you!" Danny said pouting.

"That's not a good enough reason to hate me." Tyler said laughing.

"Excuse me?" Danny asked.

"Workout tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.," Tyler said.

"Now I seriously hate you!" Danny moaned.

"That's much better." Tyler said and gave Danny a very quick kiss.

"That wasn't much of a kiss!" Danny complained.

"Maybe I can do better?" Derek asked as he dropped down on Jesse and began kissing him passionately. Derek began grinding his crotch into Jesse's as he kissed him. Derek one up'd Tyler as he slid his hands inside the back of Jesse's boxers and kneaded his butt. Jesse's hands went everywhere as he didn't really know what to do but he definitely wasn't complaining about the attention. When Derek released him he quietly gasped for air as he tried to focus on his surroundings.

"I was talking about me! You're both so evil!" Danny said as he narrowed his eyes at the two of them.

"I think our work here is done?" Tyler asked of Derek as they left the room.

"Cody's alone in the bathroom! Want to do him now?" Tyler winked as he asked Derek loud enough for Danny to hear.

"Don't even think about it!!!!" Danny yelled.

"I want to wear the hand cuffs tonight?" Tyler asked winking at Derek as they walked into their room.

"Fine, but I get to be strapped into the harness then!" Derek responded as he closed the bedroom door behind them. Cody returned from his shower to see Danny sitting up in bed with a look of shock on his face.

"You really shouldn't tease Danny like that!" Derek said.

"Yeah... like you are completely innocent?" Tyler asked

"Where are Echo and Chaos?" Tyler asked as he began removing his jeans.

"I think they are with Matt. Chaos and him are really bonding." Derek said as he pulled back the covers on their new king sized bed. "I can't believe we get to sleep in a bed this big!"

"I think I need to grab a quick shower," Tyler said to Derek.

"If I'm not here when you get back, I will be upstairs in bed with Matt!" Derek said and grinned.

Tyler turned the shower on as hot as he could so as to steam the bathroom up. While waiting for the shower to warm up he grabbed a towel from the linen closet just inside the washroom door. He added toothpaste to his toothbrush and placed it on top of the sliding glass shower doors.

No sooner had he got himself wet than he heard a tapping on the bathroom door. "Yeah!!!!" Tyler yelled and he heard the door open.

"It's just me!" the voice said, but Tyler couldn't identify who it was from the sound of the running water.

"Don't flush or I will kill you!" Tyler said as he soaped up his face and hair. He heard a slapping noise against the top of the shower glass doors and turned around to see what it was. Derek was sliding the rear door open and stepping in.

"Hey!" Tyler said as he realized who it was.

"Hey yourself!" Derek said grinning as he stepped inside the shower behind Tyler with a big grin.

"I thought you were upstairs doing Matt?" Tyler asked as Derek's hands began washing his back. "Oooo, yeah!" Tyler said and he sunk his head down under the spray of the shower.

A gentle repetition of kisses started at the nape of Tyler's neck and worked their way down his back. Derek pulled Tyler up and around to face him. Derek leaned into Tyler and kissed him. When they separated Derek reached up to the top of the shower glass doors and brought down baby-blue rubber shower cap. He wet the inside of it and turned it around backwards. Derek then rolled it over the top of Tyler's head, carefully covering Tyler's eyes so he couldn't see a thing.

"You know this is has a fairly high level kink factor to it?" Tyler asked laughing as he felt around for Derek's chest to steady himself.

"Shhhhsh!" Derek whispered.

"You got this idea from Danny didn't you?" Tyler asked.

"I HEARD THAT!" Danny yelled.

"How the fuck does he hear everything?" Tyler asked and Derek laughed. Derek began kissing Tyler to shut him up.

"Mmmmm... oh yeah!" Tyler said. Derek pushed Tyler's arms up behind him against the back wall of the shower and held them there as he began forcing his tongue into Tyler's mouth.

Derek worked his lips over to Tyler's ear and whispered, "I love you, Tyler." Then Derek quickly put his finger on Tyler's lips so that he couldn't respond.

Derek moved down to Tyler's left nipple and began slurping away as the hot water beat down upon his own back. Derek moved his left hand down to his own hole and lightly fingered his anal ring while Tyler groaned and massaged his back and neck.

Derek slid the glass door open just enough to reach around to the vanity and grab a tube of lube. He stood up and took Tyler's right index and middle finger and coated them in lube.

"I smell peppermint?" Tyler asked.

"Shush!" Derek said and closed the sliding glass door. Derek bent forward to drop his mouth over Tyler's erect member. Tyler reached down over Derek's back and began working the lube in and around his hole. Derek moaned and Tyler worked his two fingers in and out.

Derek stood up and kissed Tyler. Tyler grinned at the touch of Derek's lips on his. Derek's left hand then squeezed Tyler's three middle fingers together, telling him to now use three fingers. Derek returned to the foreskin Luke so despised and he so loved.

After a couple more minutes of opening Derek up, Derek stopped and stood erect. He whispered into Tyler's ear, "open your mouth... slightly" and Tyler grinned and did as he was told.

Tyler felt something sharp just enter his mouth, just beyond his lips. Derek then told Tyler to bite down hard and hold still. Tyler made a strange face.

"Rippppppp!" Tyler knew immediately what had just happened and began laughing. Derek removed the piece of plastic out of his mouth and set it on the top of the sliding glass doors. Derek carefully removed the condom from its open package and got down on his knees. As he rolled the condom on to Tyler he kept kissing his shaft until he reached Tyler's balls. Grabbing the skin between Tyler's balls he twisted it back and forth between his thumb and two fingers. Tyler placed his hands firmly on the shower door and wall to brace himself for this new sensation. Tyler moaned. Tyler's testicles were already pulled tightly up and ready to release. Derek removed himself from Tyler, stood up and kissed him again.

Derek turned around and bent forward placing each hand in the forward corners of the tub. Derek adjusted the water slightly as it was beginning to cool. He felt Tyler's hands reaching forward and finding his butt. Tyler began fucking up and down the crack of Derek's ass. Derek pushed back to let him know that he wanted it now!

Tyler felt for the tip of the condom and pulled on it to make sure there was a sufficient reservoir at the end. Placing each hand on Derek's hips he put mild pressure on Derek's hole. Derek pushed back immediately and Tyler's head popped in. Tyler leaned forward on to Derek's back and began slowly moving inside of him. He would move in an inch and pull back a half of an inch. When Tyler was more than half way in he slowly pulled back out until all that remained inside was his head. Derek immediately impaled himself as he thrust his hips backwards meeting Tyler's forward motion. For the better part of two minutes, Tyler and Derek collided against each other as beads of sweat formed around Tyler's face.

Tyler dropped back down on Derek's back holding him still and quickly got into a comfortable rhythm. Tyler was able to relax and let Derek carry his weight while he drove deep inside of him. Tyler reached down with his right hand and began jerking Derek's cock. Derek began panting as his balls smacked back and forth between Tyler's hand and his own ass. Derek reached between his legs with his left hand cupped Tyler's balls as they had now receded inward for his pending orgasm.

Tyler's orgasm began less than four minutes in and he unconsciously squeezed Derek's cock so tight that Derek's orgasm came within seconds of Tyler's. When Tyler pulled out Derek immediately stood up to relieve the pain in his back. Tyler felt around for Derek and pulled his face into his lips. Both were shaking from the experience. Their erections pressed against each other and neither lost any girth as they both expressed their love for each other.

Derek reached up to remove the bathing cap off of Tyler's head but Tyler stopped him and continued kissing him. Derek grinned and Tyler sensed it. Tyler wouldn't shut up about how wonderful this had been and it expanded all of his other senses by not using his eyes. Derek finally put his hand over Tyler's mouth only to replace it with his lips.

Once out of the shower, they each took turns drying each other off. Tyler carefully applied lotion to Derek's ass and when finished he began kissing Derek again.

"I guess this means you sort of like me?" Derek asked and laughed. Tyler never said a word and quietly continued to kiss him and caress his back. As they left the bathroom Tyler grabbed a bottle of Vanilla scented lotion.

Derek lay down on the open bed and Tyler climbed on top. He generously applied the lotion all over Derek's back and butt and then began giving him a full body massage from his neck down to his feet. When he rolled him over he saw that Derek was fast asleep. Tyler climbed out of the bed and covered Derek up. He set his alarm clock and crawled back into bed on his own side. Carefully and quietly sliding closer to Derek, he worked his arms in and around Derek's body. Tyler felt three light taps and smiled followed by the closure of his eyes.

Kyle had just over a page left to read when Luke came bouncing into his bedroom without knocking, wearing only pyjama bottoms, and crawled into bed beside him. Kyle glanced over to his left to see Luke lying on his left side looking up at him.

"What?" Kyle asked harshly.

"Nuttin." Luke said.

"I have to finish reading this for English class tomorrow so can you go be bored elsewhere?" Kyle asked not looking back at Luke.

Luke slid closer to Kyle and wormed his way up against Kyle's side. He forced his head in between Kyle's left arm and his chest. Luke placed his left hand on Kyle's tummy.

Kyle set the book down on his crotch and looked down at Luke. "Don't you have a boy friend now... and a girl friend as well?" Kyle asked.

"Yes, I sort of have and no," Luke said.

"Luke, you have Casey back now and my bedroom is not a hotel," Kyle said getting perturbed at Luke's failure to leave.

Luke didn't say a word.

"If I tell you I love you will you go away?" Kyle asked and Luke laughed.

"Did you figure out who I was talking about at breakfast?" Luke asked.

"No, and I don't care. I just want to finish this chapter and go to sleep," Kyle moaned.

"Take a guess?" Luke asked giggling.

"If I take a guess will you go away?" Kyle asked.

"Promise!" Luke said still laughing.

"Mango?" Kyle said and Luke burst into laughter.

"No, but that was a good guess!" Luke said still laughing.

"Okay, I guessed, now can you keep your word and go back to bed please?" Kyle asked.

Luke got up from under Kyle's arm and as he put his feet down on the floor to leave the bed and walk out of the room he said, "It was you!"

"Huh?" Kyle asked as Luke walked down the hall to his room.

"Luke? Get back here!" Kyle yelled as he sat up in bed and set his book on his nightstand.

"Kyle, no yelling! Luke? Bed! Now!" Larry yelled from his bedroom.

"Sorry, Dad," Kyle said looking beyond Luke standing at his bedroom door. "What did you say again?"

"You heard me," Luke said grinning.

"Say it again... but quietly please?" Kyle asked.

"I said it was you. You were my choice," Luke said seriously.

"You have me freaked out to the point of throwing up now but can you first tell me why?" Kyle asked. Luke came over to Kyle's bed, grabbing his garbage can and setting it on the floor next to Kyle. Kyle gave Luke the evil eye and Luke smiled.

"You've always been there for me. You looked after Mom, Casey, and me when they went to clean out Kathy's house. You told Tyler the first day we met him that I was the one who touched his board first when it was actually you. No one has ever been a better friend to me than you and that includes Tyler!" Luke said as he stared at Kyle and watched his eyes water up.

Kyle pulled Luke in to a tight hug and squeezed his eyes shut.

"No matter how much of an asshole I am you've always been the one that is here for me. I love you Kyle and I always have," Luke said quietly into Kyle's ear.

"Get to bed Luke...," Kyle said with his voice breaking up. He turned off the light on his nightstand before Luke had even left the room. Kyle would wake the next morning to find Luke on one side, Casey on the other, and Mango stuffed in under his arm.

To be continued...

*Many thanks for Jim Clifton, Scott Hendrix, TJay and AL for their invaluable contributions to this chapter. Also credit worthy are the contributions of David, Peter, 60 Minutes (CBS), and Frank Rich's book "The Greatest Story Ever Sold". All information presented was gathered from the above sources. My sincerest thanks to each and every one of you - Tyler.
 

tylerpeel@tickiestories.us

Posted: 01/28/09