Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 19:30:15 -0500
From: "Webmaster @ JT's Place" <jtsplace@nctv.com>
Subject: Boybands - If I Ain't Got You - 32

Warnings and Disclaimers:

I don't know any of the members of NSYNC or any celebrity mentioned.  I
don't know anything about their sexual orientation or the orientation of any
other celebrities in this story (even though I wish some of them were gay).
This story is fiction and you shouldn't take it for anything else but that.
This is only for entertainment value only folks.  Hope you enjoy the show oh
I mean reading.

======================================

If I Ain't Got You

Chapter -- 32
by JT Poole

// Orlando, FL -- Wednesday Afternoon -- The Poole-Wahlberg Estates //

"I'm sorry Daddy J, I didn't mean to, I had no choice."  Kasai says, still
hugging JT.

"Boy go to your room."  JT says as Kasai looks at him and then stands up.
"Go on."

"But daddy..."  Kasai says.

"Boy go before I change my mind."  JT says, holding his head down as his
tears continued to flow.

"Baby?"  Mark says, looking at JT.

"Where did you find him Mark?"  JT asks.

"When I got to the school he was there waiting for me to pick him up."  Mark
answers as Nick stands up and slips into his room and closes the door.
"Baby you really scared Nick."

"I know I did.  I will have to talk to him later on."  JT replies, reaching
out his hand as Mark helps him up.  "What is wrong with that boy?  Why is he
skipping school?  Did he say something to you?"

"No he didn't say anything at all.  I asked him how was his day and he didn'
t say anything at all."  Mark says, sitting down next to JT on the sofa.

"Did you say anything about me knowing he wasn't in school?"  JT asks.

"No I didn't."  Mark says.  "I tried to stop you to let you know I didn't
say anything about that."

"So basically he doesn't know if I am yelling at him about skipping school
or not."  JT says, turning to look at Mark.

"Afraid not baby, I didn't say anything to him.  When I got to the school he
was sitting outside crying, he wouldn't say anything, he just got into the
van and that was it."

"Just great.  I wonder what else happened today?  JT asks as the doorbell
rings.  "Mark could you get that?"

"Yes baby."  Mark says getting up, walking over to the door, opening it to
see Chad and Ben standing there with sad looks on their faces.

"Hi Chad, Ben is there something wrong?"  Mark asks as the two men walk in.

"Can we talk to you guys for a bit?"  Chad asks as he and Ben, his husband
stands in front of JT.

"Sure you can, what's wrong Chad?  Is something wrong with Caleb?"  JT asks
as the two men sat down.

"No no, Caleb's fine.  We are here because Adam, my nephew told me something
very disturbing."  Chad states, as Mark sits down now.

"What was said Chad?"  JT asks.

"Well first, can I ask you a personal question?"  Chad asks, looking at JT.

"Sure you can, what's wrong Chad?"  JT asks.

"Was Kasai raped by someone at his old school?"  Chad asks.

"Ah...well yes he was, that's why he's at Lake Highland Prep now."  JT
answers him.  "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Well Adam told us that some kids found out that Kasai was gay and that he
was raped, and some of the kids there are giving him a hard time."  Chad
states, looking down as he relayed what his nephew had told him.

"What?  How could they have found out?"  Mark asks, looking at JT, then back
at Chad and Ben.

"I don't know baby, that might have been the reason why he was crying when
you found him today." JT says, getting angry.

"Adam also told us that Kasai has been skipping school too to avoid those
kids."  Ben says, as Chad smacks him on the arm.

"Baby you weren't supposed to tell them that yet."  Chad says as Mark and JT
smiles.

"We already know that part."  Mark says, getting up to answer the phone.
"Hello?"

"Hi this is Maddie from Structure.  May I speak to Kasai please?"  The
person asks on the phone.

"Maddie from Structure?  Why are you calling for Kasai?"  Mark asks.

"Calling to give him his schedule for next week."  The person replies.

"His schedule?  What schedule?"  Mark asks.

"His work schedule."  The person replies.

"Hold on just a moment."  Mark says, putting the phone down.  "Baby it's a
woman on the phone asking for Kai saying that she needs to tell him his work
schedule.  Did he get a job?"

"Not that I know of."  JT answers, getting up now.  "Call him down here to
the phone and then we are going to talk."

"Well I guess we will leave you guys alone to talk with him.  We were just
making sure things were okay."  Chad states, leaning down, giving JT a hug.

"Well we are glad you told us.  Thanks again."  JT states, accepting a hug
from Ben as well as the two men walk out of the house.

// Florida Hospital -- JC's Room //

"Good morning Mr. Chasez, are you ready to go home?"  Dr. Warrenton asks.

"Yes I am doctor, I would very much love to go home."  JC states, sitting up
in the bed.

"Looking at the progress you have made with the medication and you being
able to walk, is a perfect sign that you are healing up just fine."  Dr.
Warrenton states.  "I'm going to discharge you today.  How do you like
 that?"

"I love it doctor."  JC states, preparing to get out of bed.

"Do you have someone to take you home?"  Dr. Warrenton asks, signing the
forms needed to release JC from the hospital.

"Yes sir, someone should be here in a minute to pick me up."  JC answers
him.

"Are you going to be at home alone?"  Dr. Warrenton asks just as Dean walks
into the room.

"No sir, he won't be home alone."  Dean replies, smiling at JC, walking over
to the bed.

"Hello Mr. Cain."  Dr. Warrenton says, shaking Dean's hand.

"Hello doctor.  Does he have a good clean bill of health?"  Dean asks.

"He almost does."  Dr. Warrenton states.  "He's healing up just fine.
Because I'm releasing you, doesn't mean you can go out overdoing it.  Do you
understand me Mr. Chasez, Mr. Cain?"

"Yes sir, we understand."  Dean and JC answers in unison and then start
laughing.

"Good good, then you take it easy Mr. Chasez.  A nurse should be along
shortly to escort you out of the building."  Dr. Warrenton states, smiling
at the two men as he shook JC's hand and left the room.

"What do you mean I won't be home alone?  I'm the only one there now that
Justin isn't there."  JC says, looking down at the bed.

"I'm going to keep you company if you don't mind."  Dean replies, placing a
kiss to his lips.

"Oh you are, well that sounds like fun."  JC states, smiling as they both
hear someone clear their throat from the door.

"Hello Josh."  Justin states, rolling into the room.

"Justin?  What are you doing here?"  JC asks as Dean stands up.

"We need to talk."  Justin states.

"Now?"  Dean asks, walking around the bed to stand between JC and Justin.

"Now would be good.  This is the only opportunity you will have to talk to
me, so I suggest you take it."  Justin states, staring daggers at Dean.

"Dean can you leave us alone for a bit, please?"  JC asks, patting Dean's
hand.

"I'll be down in the lobby."  Dean states, glaring at Justin as he walks
out.

"New boyfriend or sex buddy?"  Justin asks rolling closer to JC's bed.

"I don't know yet.  What is it that we need to talk about Justin?"  JC asks.

"You have tried for over a month to talk to me, you are the one that knows
what you wanted to talk about."  Justin states, looking at JC.

"Does it really matter now Justin?"  JC asks, sitting up in the bed now.
"It's perfectly clear that there will never be an us again, I fucked up and
I know that.  I see that now."

"You should have saw that a long time ago Josh.  Was I that bad of a lover
that you had to cheat on me with all those men?"  Justin asks, tears in his
eyes.

"No Justin you were a great lover, I just didn't know what I had when I had
you, all I wanted was to party and have fun."  JC replies.

"I thought we partied and had fun Josh.  Something else must have been going
through your head, I must have done something..."  Justin says as JC cuts him
off.

"It wasn't you Justin, it was me.  All I wanted to do was have fun and fuck.
I didn't realize how much I loved you until you were gone."  JC states,
tears in his eyes now.  "I always loved you Justin, I hope you know that."

"I thought you did Josh, but love isn't what you did to me."  Justin states,
moving away from JC's bed.

"I know that Justin, I just..."  JC states, as Justin cuts him off this time.

"You just wanted to have fun and fuck, you said that."  Justin replies,
turning around.  "You had your fun you played, you hurt me Josh, you hurt me
bad.  Because of you, I'm...I'm in this chair."

"I didn't put you there Justin..."  JC starts, but Justin raises his hand.

"You are right Josh, you didn't put me here.  All this time I blamed you for
my accident because you upset me.  It's not your fault Josh, it's my fault,
I was the one that got into my car and didn't watch where I was going."
Justin states, more tears coming now.  "But if you hadn't lied, cheated and
hunted me down and tried to talk to me the way you did, I would have never
ran away in the first place and none of this would've happened."

"I know Justin, I know.  I wish I can take it all back, but I can't."  JC
states, looking away from Justin as more of his tears fell.

"You can't take it back Josh, it has already happened.  It's all said and
done with."  Justin states.  "You are my past Josh and you will stay that
way."

"Can you...can you ever in your life forgive me for all I've done?"  JC asks,
looking at Justin again.

"I have already forgiven you and moved on Josh.  That's why I am here
talking to you now.  I don't see no reason to continue to blame you.
Regardless of what comes of my life, I am with the person that I love and
that person loves me.  I am not going to hold on to anguish that I don't
need.  As of this moment, this is all water under the bridge to me."  Justin
explains, looking at JC.

"I am glad you have someone that you love and that loves you.  Nick made it
pretty clear to me how much he loves you."  JC states.

"Yes I love him very much."  Justin replies, looking around.  "I'm sorry
that the guys, Nicky and Chrissy treated you badly and you ended up in here
because of that."

"Like you said, it's all water under the bridge."  JC states, standing up
and stepping over to Justin.  "Can I hug you one last time?"

"I...I guess you can."  Justin replies as JC wraps him in a hug and kisses him
on the cheek.

"Thank you for coming to talk to me."  JC says, as he hugs Justin again.
"You will always have a place in my heart, whether you like me or not."

"Well all is forgiven. You take it easy and go home.  I'm going back to my
room."  Justin says, as JC releases him and he wheels to the door.  "You
still have a place in my heart too as my first love, but that's all.
Goodbye Josh."

// Up in Kasai's Room //

"And he screamed at me and and..."  Kasai says, crying into the phone.

"Babe its going to be alright, I promise you that."  Aaron says, hoping his
words would calm his boyfriend.

"It's not going to be alright Aaron, he's really angry with me this time.  I
don't know what daddy is going to do to me.  I know he's going to freak out
when he finds out I have been skipping some of my classes."  Kasai says as
he hears Mark calling his name.  "Aaron I gots to go, Daddy Mark is calling
for me.  I guess it's time for the firing squad now."

"Baby be strong, I'm on my way over."  Aaron says.

"No Aaron don't get involved in this, you don't know how bad daddy can get."
Kasai says, getting up from his bean bag chair.  "I will handle this by
myself."

"No baby, I'm coming over and that's final."  Aaron says as he hangs up the
phone.

"Great, he doesn't know what he's getting himself into."  Kasai says,
opening the door to the attic and walking down the stairs.

"Kasai get down here, you have a phone call."  Mark says again, as Kasai
comes into view of Mark and JT.

"Take your call and come join us in the kitchen."  Mark says, walking over
to the sofa to help JT up.

// Orlando Airport -- The Waiting Area //

"I can't believe we actually did it," Angie said excitedly, kissing Kevin
long and hard before pulling away from him to stare down at her new wedding
band. "I am Mrs. Kevin Richardson!"

"Yes you are beautiful... and I love you!" Kevin exclaimed as he helped her
into the back of the waiting limo. He shook Robert Sebastian's hand,
accepting his congratulations. "Thank you for helping set this all up for us
sir."

"It was my pleasure Kevin. Now you just make sure you treat my baby and my
grandchild right or I'll make you live to regret it," Robert said, his eyes
glinting dangerously as he studied Kevin's face for a minute, then leaned in
to kiss his daughter. "Take care Angel A... and you call me if you need
anything."

"I will Daddy... and thank you," Angie said softly as she kissed her father
goodbye, then scooted over to make room for Kevin. When Kevin finally
settled next to her, she laid her head on his shoulder, sighing with
contentment. "You know, this is the first time in over a week I haven't felt
the need to throw up as soon as the car began to move."

"It was probably just nerves baby," Kevin replied as he rested his head on
top of hers, and then picked up her hand, where her wedding band shimmered
in the waning light. "Are we going to tell the guys?"

"I have to tell JT and Mark," Angie replied, kissing their entwined fingers
and then letting them rest on her lap again. "They would never forgive me if
I got married and didn't tell them about it. Are you gonna tell Nick and
Justin?"

"I think it would be safer to wait `til after their wedding," Kevin replied,
kissing her forehead. "I love you Mrs. Richardson."

"And I love you Mr. Richardson," Angie replied, kissing his lips gently then
settling down to enjoy the rest of the ride. Pretty soon she drifted off to
sleep, lulled by the sound of Kevin's heartbeat beneath her ear.

When they finally pulled up to the house, Kevin shook Angie awake, careful
not to startle her too badly. "Hey beautiful, we're home... come on
sleepyhead, time to wake up."

"Not wanna wake up... wanna cuddle," Angie murmured, not opening her eyes.
Kevin smiled and leaned over to tickle her side. Angie shrieked, batting his
hands away. "Okay, okay... I'm awake!"

"That's better," Kevin said with an evil grin as he kissed his new wife.
When the driver came around to open the door, he stepped out into the late
afternoon sun, and then turned to help Angie out. When he heard the raised
voices from inside the house, he turned to Angie with a frown.

"I wonder what the hell's going on in there?"

"I'm afraid to even go in and find out," Angie said with a resigned sigh.
She heaved another sigh; then she squared her shoulders and headed for the
front door. "No sense wasting time. Might as well get this over with now."

// Back at The Poole-Wahlberg Estates -- The Kitchen //

"Every time I turn around it's something new with that boy."  JT says,
sitting down at the table.

"That's right its your boy."  Mark says, walking over to the refrigerator,
pulling a bottle of wine out.

"Mark I hope that wasn't sarcasm, I'm really not in the mood for that right
now."  JT says, as Mark walks over to the table and pours the both of them a
drink.  "Thank you."

"Your welcome."  Mark says, putting the wine bottle down on the table.
"When are we going to talk about this JT?  We really need to talk about what
you did."

"Well so far that I know of I didn't do anything.  You are the one that
believes I did something wrong Mark."  JT states, taking a sip from his
wine.

"You lied to me JT, you lied to me for almost ten fucking years about your
son."  Mark states, getting up from the table now.  "You lied to me, you
lied to every fucking body."

"I have not lied to anyone about anything."  JT states, taking another sip
of his wine.

"What the hell do you call it when everyone believes that Kasai is your
adopted son?"  Mark asks, sitting down at the table again, getting in JT's
face.  "Come on John Timothy tell me that?"

"Mark I didn't lie, I just didn't tell anyone that he was my real son.
There is no law or rule out there that states that I must tell everyone that
doesn't know that Kasai is my real son."  JT states as Mark gets up from the
table again.

"I'm your fucking husband!   Don't you think I have a right to know that
little bit of information you have kept from me for so long?"  Mark asks,
slamming his fist down on the table.

"Mark you need to calm the fuck down."  JT states, looking at Mark.

"I'm not going to calm down, you are sitting here like you haven't done
nothing wrong!"  Mark shouts, turning around quickly looking at the JT.
"Were you ever going to tell me that Kasai was your real son?"

"Mark why is this such a big deal?"  JT asks, standing up now.  "When you
met me I had Kasai with me.  When you married me, Kasai was with me.  What's
the problem here?"

"The problem is you let me and other people believe that he was adopted.
Does Kasai think he's adopted or does he know you are his real father?"
Mark asks.

"Kasai knows I'm his daddy, that's why he calls me daddy."  JT replies,
stepping closer to Mark.  "You are blowing this all out of proportion."

"I am not blowing this out of proportion JT.  You should have told me!"
Mark shouts, sitting down at the table again crying now.

"Mark why is this affecting you so much?"  JT asks, walking back over to the
table.

"Because you not telling me this makes me feel like you don't love me, don't
trust me enough to tell me something so important as that."  Mark says, his
tears staining his face.

"Mark you know I love you and I trust you..."  JT says as Mark cuts him off.

"If you loved and trusted me you would have told me that he was your real
son and not let me fucking believe that he was adopted!"  Mark says, hopping
up, knocking his chair backwards to the floor as he storms out the back
door.

"What the hell is going on in here?"  Angie asks, pushing the kitchen door
open as she and Kevin walks into the kitchen.

"Ah hi Angie, where have you been?"  JT asks, avoiding Angie's question.

"Don't worry about that right now JT."  Angie says.  "What's going on in
here, why all the shouting?"

"Mark is still mad that I didn't tell him that Kai is my son."  JT states.
"Damn Chantal!"

"Calm down JT, don't get your pressure up."  Angie says as Mark walks back
into the house and goes up the back stairs.

"Mark!  Mark wait."  JT says, getting up and walking up the stairs behind
his husband.

"Oh yeah this is going to be a real long evening my new husband."  Angie
says as they kissed and walked up the back stairs.

// Upstairs and JT and Mark's Room //

"That's not true and you know it Mark.  I don't just keep stuff away from
you, I tell you everything."  JT states.

"That's another lie."  Mark states, walking to the other side of the room.
"It seems our whole marriage has been a big giant lie."

"So that's how you feel about us now?"  JT asks, getting up from his spot on
the bed and walking over to the window.

"You kept something important from me for so long, how else am I supposed to
feel?"  Mark asks, as JT holds his head down.

"Mark I wasn't trying to hide that from you, I didn't think it would matter
that Kai is my real son.  If I thought it matter that much I would have told
you when we started dating a long long time ago."

"But that's how it felt to me, you were hiding a piece of your life from me.
It's like you didn't want me to know."  Mark states as someone knocks at the
door.

--- Angie's POV ---

"Guys, can we come in for a minute?" I said as I knocked on their door. I
held Kevin's hand tighter, nervous about telling my best friend what I had
just gone and done. Kevin smiled and whispered, "I love you" at me, which
went far towards calming my nerves.

"Come on in Angelina Ballerina," Mark said as he opened the door.

"If this is a bad time, we can come back later," Kevin hurried to add,
stepping back as if he was going to retreat to our room, but was stopped by
JT's voice calling out to us.

"You're not interrupting anything that can't wait until later," he stated
coldly, his eyes never leaving Mark's. "Come on in and tell me all about
what happened today."

Kevin and I walked into the room and the tension in there could be cut with
a knife. I could see JT sitting on the bed looking sad and angry, and I knew
that their fight from earlier was still going on. I went to sit next to him,
leaving Mark and Kevin standing there to watch.

"Hey Sugarloaf," I said softly, touching his arm as I sat down. "I heard you
had a pretty shitty day. What happened with Valgina?"

"So how did lunch with your Dad go?" JT asked, anger and pain dissolving
before my eyes as he turned his attention to my problems and totally ignored
my question about Valgina. "And why did ya'll get home so late?"

"Well, lunch went pretty well. Turns out Mablean the Mouth had already told
Daddy I was pregnant," I explained as I made myself comfortable on the bed
while Kevin went to sit in the big chair by the window.

"And how did Robert react?" Mark asked from his perch on the end of the bed
next to me.

"He wasn't angry, if that's what you're asking," I replied with a grin. "His
only concern was our not being married before the baby comes... which brings
me to why we were so late coming home."

"Well?" JT said impatiently when I appeared to be at a loss for words. He
looked between the two of us, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Angela Renee
Sebastian, you didn't do anything to that baby did you? Cause if you did..."

"Don't make me slug you," I snapped coldly, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Of
course I didn't do anything to Sweet Pea. No JT, Mark... Kevin and I got
married!"

"You what?!" Mark shrieked in disbelief, grabbing my arm and pulling me
around to face him. I held up my left hand, displaying the newly acquired
wedding band that matched the one Kevin was now flashing at JT. "Oh my girl
done got hitched!!!"

Mark pulled me into a bear hug, squeezing me until I begged him to let me
go. JT hugged Kevin, and then came toward me. He held out his arms, holding
me tight for so long I thought he'd fallen asleep standing up. When he
finally let me go, I had tears in my eyes too. I flashed a grin, and then
waved my ring in his face.

"I'se mahried now!" I exclaimed, watching the sadness leave as he burst out
laughing. "I is mahried now!"

"You shole is!" JT replied, both of us laughing so hard now that I could
barely see for the tears running down my cheeks. Mark and Kevin watched us
with varying degrees of concern until I turned around to let them in on the
joke.

"It's from "The Color Purple"," I explained as I tried to pull myself back
together. Kevin arched an eyebrow at me, rolling his eyes as he shook his
head at me.

"I know where it's from silly girl," he said with a smile as he took me in
his arms. I relaxed against him, nuzzling the side of his neck. He kissed my
cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Oh, before you two get too excited, there's something else," I said,
getting serious for a minute. "Nick and Justin don't know yet, and we'd like
to keep it that way for awhile. We don't want to upset either of them since
Kevin promised them that we wouldn't get married before they do."

"Don't worry about anything girl," Mark said as he hugged me again. When he
released me, he grinned at me. "Does Judge Mablean know yet?"

"Not unless Daddy told her... and that's not bloody likely," I quipped as I
kissed both of them and then moved towards the door. Well I for one have had
an incredibly long day, so I'm turning in. Good night guys... and please make
up. I don't want my baby being born into such an unhappy home. I love you
both."

Kevin and I walked down the hall to our room in silence, each of us lost in
our own little world. When we got to the door, I opened it but before I
could step across the threshold, Kevin grabbed me and heaved me over his
shoulder like a sack of flour.

"Put me down!" I yelled, laughing as I held on to him for dear life. Once we
were over inside the room, he put me on my feet again. I swatted at him,
still laughing. "You big silly! What if you had dropped me?"

"I'd never have dropped you beautiful," he replied, sounding entirely too
smug for his own good. I rolled my eyes, kicking my shoes off and collapsing
across the bed. "I can't believe how crazy things got after just a few
hours."

Kevin lay down next to me, one hand resting over my tummy. "I know! It's
really insane. But enough about them... how you feeling Mrs. Richardson?"

"That's right! I am Mrs. Richardson now!" I exclaimed, hugging him close and
giggling like an excited child. "I can't believe I'se mahried now!"

"You are so goofy," Kevin said, laughing when I rolled my eyes and stuck out
my tongue at him. His eyes grew curious as he watched me sit up and grab the
phone. "Who are you calling Angel A?"

"I think it's time for me to break the news to my Mom," I replied, dialing
her number as Kevin rested his head in my lap. I ran my fingers through his
hair, wondering if our son or daughter would get their hair color from him
or me as I waited for my mother to answer the phone.

"Hello Angela," my mother said into the phone, her voice sounding neither
angry nor disappointed, which seemed to be her two favorite emotions where I
was concerned. "How are you and the baby doing?"

"We're both fine Momma," I said, suspicious of the change in her demeanor.
"I just called to tell you that Kevin and I got married today."

"I know. Your father called me while you were in Las Vegas and told me what
was going on," Mablean said evenly, making me even more suspicious. "Angie,
I know that I can be hard on you, but I only do it because I love you baby.
And I only want the best for you, and I can't help but to believe you made a
mistake today."

"Momma, Kevin is the best for me," I said trying not to get upset. "In spite
of what he's done in his past, he truly loves me and he was willing to marry
me to make things right between you and me."

"I know... and I'm grateful to him for doing the right thing by you and my
grandchild... but Angie, he is gay," she said, still strangely calm. "What if
he leaves you for some man? What if he decides that he doesn't want to be a
Daddy to that baby?" What will you do then?"

"If he leaves us, I'll do the same thing you did Mama... raise my baby by
myself, the best way I can," I said through my tears, stopping when Kevin
pulled the phone from my hands. "Why--- why can't she just be happy for me?"

"Judge Mablean, if you have a problem with my past, take it up with me,"
Kevin said sternly, not caring about making his new mother-in-law angry.
"But you leave Angie alone! I love my wife, and I have every intention of
staying with her and my child until the day the Lord decides to take me away
from them... or until she decides she doesn't want me anymore. If you can't
accept me in your daughter's life, then that's just too damned bad. Here I
am, and here I stay!"

I don't know what Momma said in reply to that, but whatever it was made
Kevin smile so bright it almost blinded me. I was full of questions as he
said his goodbye, and then hung the phone up before lying down in the bed
and pulling me into his side.

"I think she finally believes that I really love you Angel A," he whispered,
kissing me gently. The shock must have been apparent cause he laughed. "She
just said, "Well it's about dayum time you stood up to me and protected yo
woman... welcome to the family baby." I almost fainted from the shock!"

"And he calls me silly," I said sarcastically, shrieking and trying to get
away when he started to tickle me.

We wrestled around on the bed for a bit, but Kevin ended up pinning me
beneath him and kissing me until we were both gasping for air. He let me go
long enough to turn off the light on the bedside table, and then brought me
close to his side again.

"I love you Angela Richardson," he said softly as he held me in his arms.

"I love you too Kevin Richardson," I replied as I laid my head on his chest,
listening to his heartbeat until I drifted off to sleep.

// Downstairs //

"Hi baby are you okay?"  Aaron asks as Kasai opens the door to let him in.

"I'm okay for now.  It seems the parental units have been arguing with each
other since we all got here.  Daddy Mark is angry with Daddy J about
something I don't know about and they have completely ignored me for right
now."  Kasai says, sitting down on the sofa.

"Well maybe that's a good thing baby.  I hope JT forgot about being mad with
you."  Aaron says as Kasai leans in and places a kiss to his lips

"What was that for?"  Aaron asks, licking his lips.  "Grape Soda?"

"That was for you coming here to rescue me from my mean ole daddy."  Kasai
laughs.  "And yes I had grape soda a few minutes ago before you got here."

"Mmm hm, I know baby, I can taste it on your lips." Aaron says as he drapes
his arm around Kasai's neck, pulling him closer to his chest s they share
another kiss.  "I have a whole lot of free time tomorrow baby, what do you
say me and you go to the mall tomorrow and pig out on pizza and have fun in
the game room?"

"I don't know Aaron, I might not be able to go, I have yet to feel the wrath
of daddy."  Kasai says.  "I know he knows about me skipping school and he's
probably going to ream me royally for it."

"Skipping school?  Why baby?"  Aaron asks.

"Because those snobby brats found out what happened to me and they have been
making fun of me."  Kasai says, laying his head on Aaron's chest as Aaron
kisses the top of his head.  "I got tired of dealing with it so I started
skipping and I got a job at Structure."

"You got a job?  Why?"  Aaron asks.

"So I can drop out of school and pay for a tutor, a tutor like you have."
Kasai says, tears slowly falling from his eyes.

"Why won't your dad get you a tutor?  If you were my son and you told me
that those brats were causing problems, I would get you a tutor quick like."
Aaron states, rubbing Kasai's back.

"I...I haven't told him about that yet."  Kasai replies, looking away from
Aaron.

"You haven't told him yet?  Why?"  Aaron asks, turning Kasai to look at him.

"Because he's dead set on me going to that school.  Daddy won't believe me
if I tell him what they have already done.   He would just say I am telling
him that to get outta going to the school."  Kasai explains as the two boys
hear someone clears their throat.

"Son I wouldn't say that."  JT says, coming down in the wheelchair lift.

"Da...daddy?  We didn't do anything, we were just talking."  Kasai says,
hopping up off the sofa.

"I know that son."  JT says, rolling over to where Kasai stood.  "I think we
need to go talk for a bit."

"Daddy can I say goodbye to Aaron first?"  Kasai asks, looking at JT,
turning to look at Aaron quickly.

"Aaron do you have some place to be tonight?"  JT asks the young man.

"Ah no sir."  Aaron replies.

"Then no you can't say goodbye to Aaron, he will probably still be waiting
here when we are done.  When we finish you can resume your time with him,
now scoot into my office young man."  JT states, wheeling past the sofa.

// Down in JT's Office //

--- JT's POV ---

Will this day get any better than this?  Lord help me through this sordid
drama. First Mark gets angry with me because I didn't tell him Kai was
really my son, then he gets a little miffed to find out that Kevin and Angie
got married earlier that day and we didn't get to witness it and to top
everything off, my son, the main focus of today's drama has been skipping
school because the kids at his school found out about his past at the other
school.  Please Lord, let this go somewhat well.

"Daddy I know what you are going to say."  My son says, sitting down in the
chair next to the desk.

"No you don't boy.  Shut up and don't say another word."  I tell him,
closing my eyes as I take in a deep breathe.

"Daddy J?"  He says, looking at me as I crack my eye to see his worried
gaze.

"Kai I know you have been skipping school since Friday and I know the two
reasons why you have been."  I tell him as he drops his head.

"Dad..."  He starts, but I cut him off.

"Son why didn't you tell me about this?"  I ask him, looking over at him.
"Why didn't you come to me the minute those kids started harassing you?"

"Because I thought you were going to chalk it up as me making an excuse to
leave the school."  He answers me.

"I don't think you would use that to leave school."  I tell him.  "If you
would have told me that those kids were bothering you about that, we would
have done something about it son.  You didn't have to skip school and get a
job."

"I told you I didn't like the place daddy, you wouldn't listen to me."  He
says, as I thought about what he was saying, he's right I didn't listen to
him.  "Thursday afternoon after Algebra class they let in on me."

"Who son?"  I ask him as he starts to cry.

"Jake Lobrowski and his friends."  He tells me as I think over and over
again where I have heard that name before.

"That name sounds familiar."  I say to him as he turns away from me.

"He's Jared's friend, the other guy that raped me."  He says as I roll over
to him.

"Oh God son, why didn't you tell me that guy was there at the school?"  I
ask him, crying with him now as he gets up from the chair and sits in my
lap.

"I didn't think you would believe me."  He says as I hug him to my chest as
he cries.  "I thought you would get mad with me and call me a liar."

"No son, I wouldn't call you a liar, not if you would have told me that."  I
tell him as he sniffles and looks up at me.  "I'm sorry son, you should have
told me the minute you saw him."

"I know I should have daddy, but I was scared that you wouldn't believe me."
He says, hugging me again.

"Well I believe you now son."  I tell him as I kiss him on the forehead.

"So do I have to go back to that place?"  He asks me, still looking in my
eyes.

"No son I am not going to make you go back there."  I tell him.  "I wish I
could find a school for you, but right now with it being so late in the
school term I cannot.  So you want a tutor you got one."

"For real daddy?"  He asks.

"For real son."  I tell him, shaking him playfully.  "But there's a
condition to you keeping the tutor."

"A condition?  What kind of condition?"  He asks, standing up in front of me
now.

"You can have the tutor, but you have to keep your job at Structure?"  I
tell him.

"I have to keep my job?  Why?"  He asks, sitting down now.

"You have to keep the job to occupy your free time when not with the tutor."
I tell him as he turns and looks at me.  "Without the job you will have too
much free time to get into trouble and you don't need trouble son."

"So I keep my job, I get a tutor and I don't have to go back to that school
again, right?"  He asks, as I roll over to him.

"That's right son."  I tell him, as he kisses me on the cheek.

"Thank you daddy."  He says, walking towards the door.

"Ah wait a minute mister, we have to talk about what I saw going on just a
few minutes ago too."  I tell him as he walks back over to the chair and
sits down.

"Daddy..."  He starts, but I cut him off again.

"Quiet boy."  I say.  "I know you like Aaron and I know he likes you too.  I
have watched the way you two act around and each other and ..."

"I love him daddy, he loves me too."  He says, interrupting me.

"You love him?"  I ask, rolling closer to him.  "Don't you think you are a
tad bit young to know what love is?"

"I know what love is daddy."  He says, turning away from me.

"How can you know what love is, you are so young."  I say to him as he
stands up.

"I know what love is daddy, it's the same thing you and daddy Mark have."
He says, folding his arms across his chest.

"You sure you feel love and not lust for Aaron?"  I ask him.

"I am not lusting after Aaron."  He says, taking offense to my words.  "I
love him the same way you love daddy Mark."

"Do you know what Love is Kai?"  I ask him.

"Yes I know what love is."  He answers me.

"What does that love feel like?"  I ask him.  "What does it mean to you
 Kai?"

"I love him daddy, I will give anything that I have for him to be happy, and
I am sure he will do the same for me.  When I am with him he makes me...he
makes me happy that I am alive, that I didn't kill myself, he makes me
believe that there is a such thing as happiness."  He says, sitting down in
my lap.

"Oh my son, I guess I was wrong."  I say, rubbing his back.  "I guess my
little baby is growing up."

"Not too much daddy, but I do love Aaron."  He says, as stays in my lap as
we roll towards the door.

"Well since you love him, all I ask is that you don't do anything you are
not ready for and don't scare daddy."  I tell him as I open the door and we
roll out of the room.  "Do you understand son?"

"Yeah daddy I understand.  I won't do anything unless I am ready and sure
about it."  He says, smiling as we stop in the hallway.

"Good son, good."  I say as he leans down to hug me. "I love you son."

"I love you daddy."  He says, smiling as we can see Aaron still sitting on
the sofa.

"Your boyfriend is still here."  I say as Aaron hears our voices and stands
up.  "You two can resume your time together."

"Thanks dad."  Kasai says, walking over to Aaron.

"Oh and Aaron, his curfew is at midnight."  I say passing the two of them
and heading towards the kitchen.

TO BE CONTINUED...


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