Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 10:39:13 -0700 (PDT) From: JMH Subject: Re: The Watch/Circle the Noun chp2 Here is chp 2 folks. Sorry if I threw too many names at you at once. I promise that only a few more will be added. It can get really confusing keep track of all of them at once I know but as this is a sequal to another story..."The Watch" many of the characters have an establsihed history. I hope you enjoy this chp and tell me what you think. Again, this is a story about gay relationships so 1. if you are breaking the law, underage, or just hate gay stuff don't read any further. The World Wide Web is a big place so you can find something else. 2. The story is not based on any real person place thing, or another person's idea. So any similarities are pure chance. 3. Since this story is of my own creation, I have the copyright to it. No other postings, except at nifty, are allowed. Nor is the selling of the story to others permitted. Any questions about the above, please write. Enjoy JMH trandar2002@yahoo.com ************************************************************************ It was late at night and Josh was still on the couch with Robert when they heard the front door open. Josh, knowing that it had to be Andrew made to get up but Robert held him in place. Josh gave up, knowing that it was too late to hide the fact that he and Robert had been snuggled together. "So how are my two adulterers doing?" Andrew greeted the two of them snidely. "Making passionate love as always," Robert said as he gave Josh a wet kiss in the check while Josh blushed from embarrassment before breaking free and walking upstairs. "Well I hope you enjoy how tolerant I am about your infidelity," Andrew called after Josh. "I hope you are enjoying your fun too you jerk," Robert hissed at Andrew when Josh was out of earshot. "What, calling you a whore is not fun, not by a long shot," Andrew retorted. "That's not what I'm talking about and you know it." "No, I don't know what you're talking about," Andrew said as he tried to get past Robert and up the stairs. Robert grabbed Andrew by his coat collar and slammed him against the wall. "I'm talking about your trips to the baths. Don't deny you've been going there." "..." "You disgust me. You won. You got Josh but you're not happy with him. I learned the hard way when I was unfaithful to him and it's not a mistake I'm ever going to make again." "You... you think I won him," Andrew said heatedly. "I was second prize. Josh never has nor ever will love me like he does you. So what if I go to the baths at least there I know that the guy just wants me for sex. With Josh I always have to wonder if he`s with me out of love or pity." "..." This time Robert was stunned into silence. "Now if you let me pass I'm going to make love to my husband." Robert moved out of the way and Andrew began to walk past him but just as he was heading up the stairs, Robert put an arm on Andrew's shoulder. "What is it now?" Andrew hissed as he turned to face Robert. Robert didn't say a word but held up a condom to Andrew. Andrew let out a deep breath and nodded his head before taking it. When Andrew finally got to the bedroom, Josh was already in bed. Soon Andrew was under the covers and began the usual foreplay the two would have before sex. After a great deal of kissing and sucking Josh stepped out of the bed and leaned against it, sticking his ass into the air. Andrew soon joined him but instead of going right into the fucking Andrew handed Josh the condom Robert had given him. Josh too just nodded his head, making a good guess as to why Andrew had added this to the routine. Once Josh hand rolled the condom onto Andrew's dick, he retook his position. Andrew then fucked Josh the hardest he had ever done before. All the frustration and guilt that had been building over the recent years came out in his sex until Josh could feel the warm wet drops of tears landing on his ass. When Andrew finally shot off his load he pulled out of Josh, flipped Josh around so he was on his back and fell on top of him. Josh cradled Andrews's head against his chest as he let the man continue to cry. Josh knew that they needed help. He only hoped that Andrew would be open to it. *************************************************** It was during Nathan's off-season workout in the weight room that he finally had a chance to talk to Philip. "So I heard that my brother sketched ya yesterday," he said as an opener. "Can you spot for me?" Philip asked since Nathan was the only one close to him. "Sure, so what did you think?" Nathan said as he took hold of the bar. "I don't know. I never saw the picture." "Well to be honest, he kind of messed up." "He did?" "Yeah, so I was wondering if you could come by the house so that he could do another one." "Well I don't know. I'll have to do it after practice." "That's no problem. You could have dinner with us." "That would be good. It's a date then," Philip said with a wink of an eye. The word "date" surprised Nathan almost to the point of dropping the weights. While he had intended it to be a first date for Greg, he never thought that Philip would see it that way. **************************************************** David was in trouble. Thomas had been a good person to fool around with but now he was becoming a real pain in the ass. David had met Thomas back when he did volunteer work at the hospital to add something to boost his college application. Meeting Thomas had been by accident. He too was a student volunteer and unlike everyone else he had seen through David's tough guy mask. At first Thomas had tried being coy, taking the role of a little brother even though he was the same age as David. That got him close to David but nowhere near the bedroom. For that, Thomas resorted to flirting and when that didn't work he set things up with one of the nurses to get David drunk. With his mind fogged with beer and his inhibitions loosened Thomas found it quite easy to get what he wanted. It was David's reaction the next day that become the new problem. At first he was angry, then guilty, it took getting David drunk three more times before he would admit that he really liked it but it was then that the third as so far largest problem emerged. During sex, David would sometimes refer to Thomas as Nate. At first Thomas would just laugh at it but after meeting Nathan at David's home, jealousy had settled in. It was then that Thomas began to make his mistakes. That whole night and into the next Thomas could not go a minute without saying something bad about Nathan: his hair was too light, his body was fat, his nose was too big, his laugh was too loud. All of this turned David off and made him think of ways to get rid of Thomas. Thomas should of known better then try to get between him and Nathan. In that contest, Thomas would always lose. David had been in love with Nathan for as long as he knew him. At first it had been brotherly love but when he entered his teenage years, it became more. Not that he had any problems being around girls. He liked having sex with them and having them as friends but the person whom he wanted to spend his life with was Nathan. One of the reasons might have been due to his father. Mike had had a crush on Josh, Nathan's father, in college and even though he had given the idea up completely Mike had hoped that his son would one day fall in love with Josh's son and would egg him on. David could remember all the times his father would tell him how Nathan was a perfect man to marry, if he were gay. That was the main reason David kept his bisexuality a secret. The last thing he wanted was his father setting him up on dates or giving him sexual advice. That did not mean that David thought no one knew of his feelings for Nathan. He was sure that uncle Josh knew by the way he would give him a suspicious look every now and then. He was also sure that Robert knew. Nothing ever seemed to escape that man's notice. David just didn't know how to get rid of Thomas while at the same time letting Nathan know his feelings. He wasn't sure how Nathan would take it but he was certain that it would be a shocker to him. It was after his daily run and right before he went to the weight room that he saw Nathan talking to Philip. Nathan was laughing while Philip gave Nate a look that David knew all too well for it was the same look David gave Nate when he was certain Nate was not looking, a combination of lust and love. David wanted to go over to Philip, punch him in the face and then grab Nathan before anyone could take him. Instead he walked over and greeted them. "How's it going?" "Not bad," Nathan replied. "Philip is coming over to the house so that Greg can redo a sketch he messed up. It'll be late so he's coming to dinner," Nathan explained as he began to undress for the showers. Seeing that Philip was also getting ready to shower, David decided to skip the weights and shower himself, just so he could keep an eye on Philip. Since both Nathan and Philip were well ahead of him by the time he reach that decision, both of them were already soapy and wet and David's fears were justified. While the other guys were scattered about as far from each other as possible, Philip was at the showerhead right next to Nathan. David, wanting to scare Philip off, took the spot on the other side of Nathan. "Wow, it's getting crowded in here," Nathan laughed when he found himself sandwiched between the two men. "Just wanted to see how you were doing," David replied while he glared at Philip while Nathan washed his face. Philip played it cool and gave David a wink. "I was just warning Philip about our family and not to be surprised by the affection we men show each other." "I think it's cool living in a men only house. Not having to worry about women butting into your business," Philip smiled at David. "I have to keep telling him that it's really not so different. In fact I think we have more parenting then most kids get because of all our "uncles"." "That's true. There is always someone watching you," David said more as a warning to Philip then in agreement with Nathan. "Don't worry. I know how to handle myself. I think I could easily fit into your family," Philip laughed once again winking at David. If he did that one more time David was sure he was going to punch the offending eye out. "That's great. We'll be glad to have you," Nathan said as he gave Philip a slap on his back. Nathan took the statement as a sign that Philip might just swing Greg's way. Nathan then started shampooing his hair and once again Philip took advantage of Nathan's distraction and stuck his tongue out at David. This was too much for David. Feeling that he was quickly losing his temper, he quickly washed the soap off his body and stormed out while Philip's laughter chasing after him. ************************************************* At the law firm where both he and Andrew worked, Josh practiced what he was going to say to Andrew in the privacy of his office a dozen times but still he could find no nice way to say that they needed to see a therapist. He tried wording it so it would sound like they were just trying to find better ways to loving each other, but with the bitterness Andrew now seemed to carry within him, that was a joke. Threatening to leave him seemed like a weapon Josh could use on Andrew, but if Andrew called his bluff then Greg and Nathan could suffer. An emotional plea to Andrew that they try and save what was left in their relationship seemed a more realistic portrayal of the events but Josh did not want to resort to begging but that seemed to be his only choice. Josh left his office with a heavy heart and walked toward Andrew's office constantly practicing his speech. He waited at Andrews door for almost five minutes with people in the halls giving him questioning looks. When Josh finally got the courage to open the door his heart fell down to the pit of his stomach... the room was empty. Josh went to Andrew's secretary and asked if she knew where Andrew had gone. Her face paled to the question, but she informed him that he had gone off with a new paralegal he had just hired. To say that suspicion did not jump right on Josh's head would have been an understatement. Andrew had never hired a single person without introducing the person to Josh but Josh did not have proof that this was anything more then a normal hiring... yet. ************************************************ Greg came home to a few surprises. First, uncle Josh was home early and talking to a motherly looking black woman who kept on asking if he was sure he really wanted her to do whatever Josh was asking. Upstairs he could hear laughter coming from his room. One of the laughs Greg was sure belonged to Nathan. The other, deeper laugh Greg could not recognize. So ignoring the strange person in the living room, Greg raced up the stairs to his room. When he finally arrived he was taken aback, there was Philip in his dark blue speedo but the real shocker was that Nathan was in one as well. Greg had to admit that his stepbrother looked hot. "Hey Greg... what do you think... does the suit... suit me?" Nathan joked. "You look like you are about to pop out of it," Greg laughed. "Hey... I have a soccer build. How do you expect me to fit into Philip's swimsuit?" "You could of tried David's?" "Yeah and watch him kick my butt." "Ass... Nathan... you have an ass," Philip corrected causing Nathan to blush. "Give up Philip... Nathan never swears." "Why fucking not!" Philip laughed. "Cause dad did not raise him that way. If you have not noticed, Nathan is the ideal clean cut all American boy... doesn't smoke, drink, swear or even..." "Fuck?" Philip asked with raised eyebrows. "You telling me that Nathan here is still a virgin?" "As far as I know he is..." Greg snickered, enjoying Nathan's discomfort. "So are you!" Nathan returned. "Well, I am a gay kid at the straightest high school in the nation... I have an excuse," Greg replied only showing a fraction of the embarrassment Nathan was expressing. "Well maybe he just needs to find the right person... just like you," Philip said with a wink of an eye that only Greg could see. If this didn't get a blip on Greg's gaydar then Greg was sure he needed a refund. The fact that Philip said "right person" instead of "right woman" might have been a slip of the tongue, but the wink of the eye and getting Nathan into that tight fitting swimsuit could not be taken lightly. The only problem Greg could see was that Philip seemed more interested in his straight brother then in Greg himself. As Greg got to work sketching he watched as Philip kept his eyes on Nathan. There was no mistaking the puppy dog look he was giving Nate. Nathan as always seemed oblivious to it all as he talked sports with Philip. Near the end, Greg had to excuse himself to relieve his bladder but instead of closing the door the whole way he left a crack open so he could listen in. "So what do you think about Greg?" Nathan asked when he thought Greg was out of earshot. "He's cute," Greg heard Philip say evasively. "But..." "He's not my type." "Are you even gay?" "I am... but I only feel safe tell you that... with your family and all, you would understand." "Because almost everyone in my family is gay?" "Yes... you have a cool family... mine on the other hand is not so cool." "Sorry to hear that." "Because of them I had to get a girlfriend... not one from my school but one to show then whenever they start talking about marriage. Can you believe that, I'm only 18 and they are already talking about me getting married? It is as if my whole life has been planned out for me... As soon as I graduate I have to go to agricultural school. My dad already promised my grandfather that I would help run all the farms he bought out ten years ago." "I thought your father was a veterinarian." "He is... he used to work on the farm until he and grandpa had a falling out. They made up five years ago when they both started going to the same church... one of those whacked out evangelical ones that are always saying fags will burn in hell. That is where I met my "girlfriend", her father owns some of the richest land in Kansas, after my grandpa that is. It is less about religious duty to marry then it is about money." "I'm sorry Philip... I didn't know you had it that bad." "Yeah well it's not like I have told anyone this before." "Why not?" "Well as Greg said... we go to one of the straightest school in Kansas." "Well no one has picked on me or my family for being weird." "Not to your face... everyone thinks you and David are cool because you two are both good in sports and have been know to date some of the more popular girls in school." "You are popular as well," Nathan said. "Not really... most people think I am too aloof." "Well that's because the only words out of your mouth is usually hello and goodbye. You just need to talk more." "I can't... I'm just afraid I might let something slip that would let everyone know I am gay." "Well you don't need to worry about that here." "Thanks Nathan... you don't know how much I wanted to join your family just so I could be myself." "Well do you think you can hang around us more often," Nathan said cheerfully. "I have to introduce you to uncle Robert... you'll love him." "Thanks..." After a long period of silence Greg assumed the conversation was over. He flushed the toilet and made his way out to find his brother asleep in his bed while Philip was sketching something on Greg's pad. "He looks so peaceful... doesn't he?" Philip said not looking up from whatever he was drawing. "He does..." Greg agreed. He also looked hot in the speedo Philip gave him with his chest falling and rising with each breath. "So... I'm not your type?" "Sorry... I was afraid you were listening in." "May I ask why I am not your type so at least I can know why men don't find me attractive." "It is not that you are not attractive. It is just I am interested in someone else is all." "You're interested in Nathan," Greg said in a near whisper. "Yes... can you blame me?" "For liking Nathan... no. But you have to know how clueless he is when it comes to seeing how people feel about them." "I know... that is one of the things I find attractive about him." "Well other's find it annoying." Greg said in reference to David "What can I say? I have a soft spot for confused gay men." "You really think Nathan is gay?" "No... I'm not sure but I do know if there was a straight guy who would be open to a little male bonding." "Just don't expect too much from him." "Too late I think. More then I want to fool around with him, I want him to become my first best friend." "Well he is a good friend to have... can't tell you how many times he has saved my ass. You'll like his dad as well... the two act so much alike they could be twins." "I know... I seen his dad in action... gives me hope that since Mr. Harper is gay that..." "That Nathan is as well. It is a long shot but good luck." "So what do you think?" Philip said as he showed his sketch to Greg. Greg had to hold back a laugh, for while it was not a bad sketch, it just seemed to focus on Nathan's crotch with the shape of his dick easily made out from under the speedo. "I think you better keep this with you," Greg chuckled as he tore the page out of his notebook. "Thanks," Philip smiled before he pulled Greg closer and kissed him on the cheek. "Why did you do that?" "Cause we both need a kiss every now and then." "I can get used to having you around," Greg blushed. "Well what we need to do is find you a boyfriend." "Know any available men?" "In fact I do... so lets make a deal. I will set you up on the few gay pals I have if you help me out with Nathan." "Deal!" Greg was so desperate for a boyfriend he would have agreed to almost anything. Greg in fact had been a little too enthusiastic as his voice woke Nathan up. "What?" Nathan asked dreary eyed. "I'm going to take Greg out on a group date but Greg wants you to come along as well," Philip quickly explained "Sure you don't want to be alone with the others," Nathan smiled, happy that it seemed that Greg and Philip were getting along. "Well..." Greg was about to speak but was interrupted by Philip. "Well if he comes with us he would only know me and he just met me so I thought it would be good for Greg to have his best friend come along also... you are Greg's best friend?" "I don't know... am I Greg?" Nathan said concerned. "Nathan... you are my only real friend," Greg said not embarrassed to admit it. "Then I guess I'll come," Nathan smiled before given Greg a hug. "But you have to stay for dinner Philip... let me go tell dad." "Alright... I might as well spend the night here if that is ok?" "Sure... I'll be right back," Nathan said right before darting out of the room. Greg could not hold back his smirk, "You are manipulating him... aren't you." "Me... manipulate him. I think Nathan is too smart to be controlled like that," Philip said with a shocked look on his face. "Yeah right... I love my bother but the word gullible is written all over him," Greg laughed. "That is what makes him so attractive... everything is like a new experience for him. He is lucky in that he is not yet jaded." "Well just make sure you don't make him so... or I will kick your ass." "Don't worry." Philip said with an innocent smile. ************************************************ Nathan, thinking he had just gotten Greg a date, came bounding down the stairs to ask his dad if Philip could sleep over. He could smell food cooking and so assumed that dad was in the kitchen. When he reached the door he stop when he heard a woman's voice. "Josh, are you really sure that you want me to spy on Andrew." "Yes... I need to know what is going on." "It would be better if you just told him your suspicions." "But I have no proof." "But what will you do when you have it? Josh, trust me, 80% of the time a spouse thinks their partner is cheating, it turns out true. Knowing the details will only make it harder for the two of you to make up." "So I am just to tell him I think he is sleeping with other men?" "Yes." "He'll just laugh in my face and ask me to prove it." "Then that is his choice to lie to you and it will be him who breaks up the relationship. Josh, I have known you for years... you don't want this relationship to end, but if you sink to the level of spying on your lover the message you are sending it that the relationship is finished." "Alright Mary... you have always known best." "That I do... now get yourself cleaned up and go hug your son." "What?" Josh asked confused. "He's been standing at the door for the past few minutes." Nathan knew he had been caught so there was no point in running away. He opened the door and saw his dad standing next to Mrs. Williams, half owner of a private investigation company and family friend. "Hi, Mrs. Williams," Nathan greeted, trying to hide his embarrassment after being caught eavesdropping. "Don't give me any of that Mrs. crap... come here and hug you auntie Mary." "Yes aunt Mary," Nathan half smiled but his eyes did not leave his father's face which was splotchy. "Well I think I better leave the two of you alone to talk." Mrs. Williams excused herself. "Thanks Mary... I'll call you so we can have lunch together soon," Josh said as he followed her out of the kitchen. While both of them were gone, Nathan looked around to see what was cooking. It looked like minestrone soup with sausage and meatballs, a spinach salad, and two loaves of French bread. His dad cooked for all nine of them and each meal tasted like he had spent all day on it. Nathan had noticed Andrew's weird behavior, but until he had listened in on his father's conversation he had not suspected that Andrew had been cheating on his dad. This made him feel betrayed. He and all of the other kids knew of the choice his dad had made in picking Andrew and all of them knew that Robert still loved Josh as well. It was that understanding that Nathan had treated Robert as more of a father then uncle since if things had turned out different Robert might just have been his other dad. The fact that Andrew would do this to his dad filled him with anger. He knew he could team up with Robert and kick Andrew out of the house. Then Robert and his dad could go up to Canada, get married, and come back as a happy couple. It was not that Nathan had disliked Andrew before this revelation he just was more protective of his natural father. He wanted his dad to be happy. Over the past few years he had noticed that beside himself, the only person who seemed to always get a smile out of his dad was Robert. This earned Robert a special place in Nathan's heart for if there was one thing that Nathan wanted most in the world was for his father to be happy. Nathan was so deep in his thought and emotions that when he felt a familiar hand touch his shoulders he was shocked into the realization that his dad was standing next to him. "How can he do this to us!" Nathan wailed as he cried on his father's chest. "We've both been unfaithful." "No you haven't dad. I know you. You would never sleep around on Andrew." "Yes... but you can be unfaithful in more ways then just the bedroom. I was unfaithful with my heart." "Because you love Robert." "I do." "Then why did you not pick him?" "Because I wanted stability. Back then you uncle Robert was a player. He still slept with other men even when he was dating me. When he caught syphilis from one of his tricks that was the last straw. We both loved each other but the risk that he might bring an STD back to our bedroom was too much for me. I picked Andrew because he promised that I would be the only man in his life and for a long time I was." "But he has betrayed you." "Yes but I understand why. You've seen me in Robert's arms. We've not been able to hide our feelings from any of you. Andrew has had to watch Robert and I under his own roof. How faithful would you be to someone you know loves another person more then you." "Dad, don't blame yourself." "Sorry son, but I'm the only person I can blame. There is only one way I can save things with Andrew and that is to ask Robert to leave." "Dad... you can't do that!" Nathan protested. "I know... that is why it is my fault. I can't do what is necessary to save my relationship with Andrew. I can't give up Robert." "That's ok dad. You will finally be with the man you love." "But the cost is high, son. Andrew would not only leave but he will take Greg with him... and what will Dan do. I'm not just losing a husband but a son and friend as well." "Just worry about one thing at a time dad, that is all you can do." Josh laughed listening to his son giving him such wisdom. "And what about you son... when are you going to find your special someone." "Not for a long time dad... not until I finish with college, have a career will I start looking for my counterpart." "Counterpart... I like that. So when are you going to tell me which team you bat for?" "Dad... just because you're gay doesn't mean I am." "I know, son and you know I will love you either way you turn out." "I just want a family. I want to be like you, have a son I can name after you." "A little Josh junior?" "Yeah... but I need a wife for that." "You can adopt." "I could but I want my son to be a part of me, of the same blood." Josh personally felt that this was unimportant but the passion in his son's voice told him that have a biological son was important to him. "We'll find a way... so does this mean you are gay?" "I don't know dad. I like girls but... but I have dreams about doing it with guys." "You might be bi then." "I know but I don't want that. I don't want to be attracted to both sexes. I don't want to get married to a woman only to find myself wanting to be with a man. I don't want to be with a guy but sneak around him to be with a girl. I don't want to be like you in that way dad... divided between two people." "I know Nate," Josh said as he hugged his confused son. "You've seen first hand what a divided heart can do. I would not wish that on anyone." "But you found the love of your life... you might not have been able to act fully on it but you always had Robert close to you." "Yes... and it is now costing me Andrew and Greg." "But you can finally be with the man you love." "Yes Nate, but you need to understand that I still love Andrew... not like Robert... but I do love him." "Then dad you should be with him. Andrew is a grown man and I'll take care of Greg. Just do what you need to do to be happy." "Thanks Nate." "Well I got some good news, I got Greg set up on a group date." "That's great!" Josh said, happy to change the subject. "Yep... it turns out the that water polo team captain, Philip, is gay also and knows some friends that Greg might like to meet. That was why I came down here, to ask if he can spend the night over." "Ok... if his parents are fine with it. No funny business thought, at least on the first night." "It's ok dad... Philip has already told me that Greg is not his type." "I know... I was talking about you Nate." "Me?" "You are an attractive man and a good catch for any guy." "That's `cause I take after you dad." "What can I say... we Harper men are heart breakers." "Darn... and I was hoping we were excellent lovers." "No... that role goes to Andrew." "Andrew is a better lover then Robert?" Nate said surprised. "In bed anyway." "But uncle Robert..." "Has a hell of a lot more experience in the sheets then Andrew and I put together but just between the two of us, Robert tends to rush things." "And you like it long and slow?" Nate laughed. "Well I like a little foreplay before we get to..." Josh hesitated to finish. "The F- word?" Nate blushed not able to say the word himself. "Yes..." Josh blushed as well. "Maybe I better talk to uncle Robert about this," Nate decided in an attempt to avoid making the conversation more awkward. "Good idea," Josh agreed. "Sooo... tell me about this Philip person who will be joining us." "Well I don't know too much about him. He is captain of the water polo team. He comes from a religiously conservative family so he has to stay in the closet. What he really wants is a place where he can just be himself." "Well then I hope he finds what he is looking for here." "Well it would be good for Greg to have a gay friend." "Yep... the same with you too... to have one outside your family that is." "Thanks dad. I guess I better tell Philip the good news." "Ok... dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, I just need to add the zucchini to the soup." "Alright," Nathan said as he left his dad in the kitchen.