It was bound to happen if you really think about it, Alex finally bumping into Aidan's grandma, but when it did happen it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. It happened one afternoon when Alex drove over to pick up Aidan as he often did after work and Aidan would spend a few happy hours with Alex.

Alex had long since moved to the new apartment and had even fixed up the spare bedroom for Aidan. However, the boy made it clear that when he did sleep over he expected to sleep in Alex's bed and Alex didn't protest.  The spare room he told the boy was just for show, even though he didn't know exactly who for. As it turned out it was a wise move.

Alex was in an especially good mood that afternoon. He had taken off work a little early so that he would be there when the boy got home from school and was sitting outside Aidan's apartment listening to the radio and thinking about Aidan when someone began to tap insistently on the passenger side window. Jerking his head around he met the eyes of a grey haired woman who he knew immediately must be Aidan's granny.

Leaning across the seat he rolled down the window trying to think what he would say to explain his presence.

"Hello young man, you're Aidan's friend aren't you?" she said smiling and sounding much more friendly than Aidan had led him to believe.

"Yes, maam...I, uh....that is he's a friend of my little brother." He lied remembering what Aidan had told him to say if this should ever happen.

"Oh, yes....I remember him saying that, but I don't see your brother...ever when you come to pick him up." She said sounding cocky and he knew he was busted. Would she forbid them to see each other again or call the cops? His heart was beating ninety miles an hour and he felt dizzy.

He lowered his head and suddenly he knew what he had to say. He knew in his heart that this woman loved her grandson and wanted what was best for him, and that was what he wanted too. They were kindred souls in that sense and he decided to bear his heart and tell the truth.

"May I come in and talk to you about Aidan?" he said feeling a calm come over him that was almost mystical.

"Yes, I think that would be the thing to do. I have some tea brewed, we'll have a glass and you can tell me all about it." She said calmly. Somehow all his fears left him as he followed her up the stairs to the small but tidy apartment that she shared with the boy he loved. He could see some of Aidan's things here and there, pictures of him and his mother and grandmother and he smiled. This was where the person he loved most in the world lived and he wanted to walk around and suck up the very air he breathed.

Instead he sat in a ragged but sturdy arm chair and waited for the old lady to bring their tea. She sat down carefully on the sofa across from him and took a sip of her iced tea before speaking.

"He's a good boy, my Aidan, but he don't have a father....no man in his life, and he can be a handful at times," she said looking thoughtful.

"Yes maam, I agree he is a good boy. I met him by accident," he said remembering that day and smiling. It was funny now but not so funny when it happened. "I almost ran over him," he said then quickly explained what had happened that day. How they had talked and how sad Aidan had looked and how they had become instant friends.

He expected her to be skeptical or suspicious but she appeared to be neither. She took another drink of her tea and smiled, "He thinks I'm so stupid I don't know what goes on with him, but I raised four boys of my own and two girls and I know when they are sneaking around. The new shoes and new clothes were a hint too," she said smiling, "I never let on. I guess I felt a little ashamed that I couldn't buy those things he needed." She said then looked sad.

Alex instinctively reached across and touched her hand gently, "He doesn't care about those things. I practically had to beg him to let me buy them for him. He is so proud and he loves you a lot and knows you do the best you can."

Tears formed in her eyes and she pulled a tattered lace hanky from her pocket and wiped at them. She allowed herself only a moment of self pity and sadness then sniffed back her tear and started again, "So I suppose he's been staying at your place all those times he said he was sleeping over at a friend's?"

"Yes, maam. I have a spare bedroom for him and he helped me fix it up just like he wanted." That much was true at least, even if he didn't sleep there on his visits.

She sighed, "Do you love him?" she asked so suddenly that Alex thought he must've misunderstood her.

"Excuse me."

"I asked if you love him. I think he loves you. Why else would he go to all this trouble." 

For an old lady, Alex thought, she certainly knew a lot about people's feelings.

"Yes maam, more than is good for me I suppose, but I'd never hurt him. I swear to you. He is safe with me. I....I met him when I needed someone and there he was, and I think he needs me too. Is that bad?" Alex asked holding out his hands helplessly.

For a second she was quiet and Alex couldn't read her expression, then she sighed and smiled warmly, "The boy needs a man in his life, some male influence and you seem like a nice young man. I will allow you to continue to see my grandson on one condition, no more sneaking around or lying."

"I understand," Alex said with relief and joy, "I promise, and you won't be sorry. Aidan is a great kid and smart, so smart, and he's been so happy these past few weeks."

"Yes, I know, that's what alerted me at first. He was so unhappy before and suddenly he was a little angel and smiling all the time. How could I interfere with that?"

Suddenly the door flew open and that happy little angel walked in looking terrified.

"Whaaaat, what's going on?" he said near tears.

"Sit down sweetie," the old woman said motioning to a spot beside her on the couch, "Your friend and I have been having a nice talk. Land sakes, I just realized I don't even know your name. I'm Emma," she said offering her hand.

"Alex, maam. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"From now on it Emma, not maam," she said smiling warmly, "now that we've been properly introduced I think it's time we were on a first name basis. Why don't you stay for supper and we can talk about this a little more?"

Aidan was giving Alex that WTF luck and Alex just smiled and winked. Alex turned his head sideways like a puppy hearing a strange sound and Alex wanted to go to him and hug him, but he wasn't sure how Emma would react to that so he remained where he was.

"Yes, maam...uh, Emma, I'd like that. And maybe next time you can come have dinner at my place, I cook a mean pan of spaghetti."

Emma laughed, "It's been ages since I ate a man's apartment, especially one as handsome as you," she teased.

"Granny...." Alex whined, "You're embarrassing me."

The two adults laughed and suddenly Aidan joined in and oblivious of what his grandma might think he dived into Alex lap and gave him a big hug. Emma looked on with a gleam in her eye and Alex relaxed. The old lady was either very naive and trusting or wise and open-minded, either way Alex decided, things would be okay from now on.

They ate fried potatoes and brown beans and Aidan joked about farting all night and they all laughed. It was obvious he was as happy with this new arrangement as Alex was, because now the burden of lying and sneaking had been lifted from him. He had dreaded this moment but now that it had come and with such great results, he was sorry he hadn't introduced Alex to his granny long ago.

"Can I spend the night at Alex's on Saturday night?" Aidan asked later. He wanted to see just how far he could stretch this new found freedom.

"It's not polite to invite yourself to some one's house for a sleepover," she said sternly, but with a smile, "what do you have to say about that Alex?"

"Well, if it's alright with you, it's fine with me. I'm off weekends and there's a monster truck show at the fairgrounds and well, I sort of promised Aidan we would go. Of course that was before and if you say no, well I understand."

"And be the bad guy, no sir, not me," It's fine with me. I have to go take care of a friend who just got out of the hospital so the boy will have some one to watch after him, not that he needs it, but I worry when he's alone, " she laughed then, "but I guess he really hasn't been alone all those times, has he?"

Alex and Aidan just grinned and exchanged a knowing look and she shook her head and smiled, "I suppose you two think you were pulling the wool over my eyes, but let me tell you young man, I was on to you from the start." she said flicking Aidan's nose causing him to crack up with laughter. 

Suddenly he slid out of his seat and rushed his granny and hugged her neck and planted a sloppy little boy kiss on her cheek, "Thank you granny, for letting us be friends. You won't be sorry, Alex is the coolest and he don't teach he bad stuff. He don't drink or smoke or nothing...he's a good guy."

She sighed, "You're welcome baby, just don't make me sorry, okay? And no more sneaking around or lying. If you want to see your friend just ask."

"I will, I promise. And I'll do my homework and my chores and never complain."

She just smiled, "Don't make promises you can't keep young man, just try your best and that will be enough for me. Now if you boys have finished eating I am going to clean up this mess."

Suddenly Alex had an idea, "Why don't you let us clean up Emma? You can go in and take it easy. It's enough that you cooked, let us clean up."

"Are you trying to butter me up?" she laughed, "You don't have to, I already said you two could be friends, but I will let you this one time. I want to watch a little TV before bed."

As they cleaned up the table and washed the dishes Alex and Aidan talked quietly and excitedly as Aidan pressed his soft warm body against Alex. It was a nice feeling to know that they didn't have to worry about being caught any more and Alex was happier than he had been in a long time.

"I can't wait till Saturday," Aidan said as they finished up.

"Me either, I have a surprise for you," Alex said mysteriously.

"Awww, what is it?" Aidan whined.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told ya, would it?"

"A hint then, please....just give me a hint."

"Okay, it's bigger than a breadbox," Alex said laughing.

"What's a breadbox?" Aidan said frowning, "Is it the size of a loaf of bread?"

"A little bigger and the surprise is larger than that."

Aidan squinted his eyes and scrunched up his cute face and looked thoughtful, "Is it a basketball?"

Alex laughed, "Why would I get you a basketball you're lousy at sports?"

Aidan giggled, "I don't know, now I'm gonna go crazy all week trying to guess what it is."

"You'll live. Look buddy, I need to get home and I know you have homework so I'm gonna say goodbye to your granny and then go, okay?"

"Awww, do you hafta?" he whined, but only half-heartedly. He didn't want to press  his luck so soon after his granny had given them her blessings.

"Yep, but I'll call ya tomorrow, okay?"

"Can't I come over tomorrow?"

"We'll see, but right now, I gotta go."

After thanking Emma for dinner and for her understanding Aidan walked Alex down to his car and hugged him fiercely oblivious of anyone who might be nearby. Alex didn't care, a hug was nothing to be ashamed of and he hugged back just as fiercely.

"I love you Alex," Aidan said kissing the older boy's chest."

"I love you too," Alex said leaning down and kissing the top of Aidan's head.

"Night Alex," Aidan said at last tearing himself away from the person he loved more than anyone on earth.

"Night buddy, I'll call ya tomorrow."

"You better, or I'll be calling you," Aidan warned grinning fiercely.

Alex watched as the boy bounced off and didn't drive away until he was safely at his door. He had a smile on his face and a song in his heart as he drove home that night and life had never seemed sweeter. He thanked God for Aidan and for his grandmother's understanding and looked forward to what was ahead.

Upstairs granny was nodding in front of the TV but when Aidan bounced in she raised her head and smiled and motioned for him to come to her.

"Why didn't you just tell me about your friend?" she asked as she hugged him to her.

"I don't know. I guess I was afraid you'd think he was too old to be my friend, but he's perfect granny. He's nice and he would never do anything bad."

"I hope so, sweetie, I hope so. But he is older and some people might not understand, so for now let's just keep this between the three of us, alright?"

"Sure granny, no problem," Aidan said yawning, "I gotta go do my homework and take a baff."

"Alright sweetie, I'll check on you before I turn in."

"Love ya granny," Aidan said kissing her cheek again.

"I love you too, sweetie. Now scoot and get that homework done so you can get washed up and in bed."

Aidan scampered off and she smiled after him. She knew she was making the right decision, but she was still a little unsure of herself. They didn't have her fooled for a moment though, she knew they were more than friends and even if they hadn't done anything about it, they would soon enough. She wasn't surprised that Aidan was that way though, one of her own sons had been gay and had started messing with a man down the street when he was only 11. She still remembered all the uproar over that, but they had settled it without the law getting involved and no one was the worse for it. That had been a long time ago and she knew the risks were greater these days, but with her help those two might just make a go of it. She smiled, she was getting up there in age and if anything ever happened to her, it was nice to think that there would be someone to love and take care of Aidan. She knew that wasn't going to be easy to arrange, but she knew she had to try and she hoped Alex was the answer.

Aidan finished his homework in record time and dashed to the bathroom to poop and take a bath. As soon as  he hit the bath tub his hand went to his hard little cock and he began to pleasure himself as he thought about Alex and what he would like to do with him. He came almost violently, shuddering and spewing a small amount of thin whitish liquid into his bathwater. He leaned back and relaxed and let the post-orgasmic bliss wash over him and he became drowsy. Only when the bathwater began to turn cold did he quickly wash up and get out. He dried off and dressed in just his underwear he fell into bed and into a sound and pleasant sleep.

A short distance away Alex lay staring at the ceiling and counting his lucky stars. Not only was he not going to have to stop seeing Aidan, but he all but had his granny's blessings and he suspected she knew more than she was telling about the nature of their relationship. Maybe he was only kidding himself and he should keep it strictly platonic, but he didn't know how much longer he could hold out against Aidan's relentless flirting. He sighed and found his hand had snaked into his boxers and was fondling is erection. Clearing everything from his mind but Aidan's cute face and body he began to masturbate and when he came with such intensity that he felt ready to black out, he called the boys' name once then fell asleep oblivious of the mess in his boxers.

End of Chapter 4

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Kewl Dad

12-17-13