Author's Notes:

I want to thank my Readers. You guys are the best. Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or dead persons. I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this story. If you do not agree with the idea of guys being in love, then find something else to read. Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at

_Hnstskr4@aol.com_

Copyright © 2008-2017 by Chuck B

The Journey Begins

Chapter 27

Dale's Dad

Dale is not happy with the fact that Eric and Steve are still together, but more importantly that justice in his eyes has not been served. He shouldn't be sitting here unable to do anything. Eric should be excommunicated.

`Eric deserves to be excommunicated.'

In Dale's twisted mind, death could save Eric from his path. The time has come for Dale to step in and see what he can do to save Eric from himself. He's going to get his chance to set a plan into action. When his dad comes to visit, they discuss plans to set Eric free from his path of sin. Getting excommunicated will tear Eric apart or at least that is what he thinks will happen. Another possible outcome will be putting more space between Eric and his dad. Dale maybe in lockup but he's not out of the loop and he knows that Eric's mom is back in his life completely, which complicates matters just a little.

***

Eric and Steve are out running errands when a phone call comes in at Eric's parent's house. Dale's dad is hoping that Mr. Keiser will answer the phone call. Instead of Eric's dad, it's his mom that answers the phone.

"Mrs. Kesier, this is Dale's dad. I think, it's time that you have a serious talk with Eric. He needs to repent, `course that means excommunication, but at least he can begin the healing process."

She is silent for a few minutes while she tried to control the anger that is growing inside of her so that she can remain calm.

"There was a time when I might have sided with you, and went with you on this little journey. If Eric is excommunicated then fine, but I've grown as a person, and I've seen Eric and Steve together. Yes, they may kiss but Eric and Steve are in love, so strong is their love that Steve has promised to hold off sex until Eric and him can be married. I know the church's outlook on their relationship, but I also love my son. I will support him and I will love him. I don't think it's right to hang excommunication over his head like some dagger. It's not meant to be used for revenge Brother Scott. If your intent is to use this tool of forgiveness as a weapon, then I hope you're kind to your own soul."

Dale's dad is furious at the moment but like Mrs. Keiser he swallows his emotions.

"I'll have to talk to your husband myself. You should reflect and pray on the situation."

She smirks at his last words.

"I would be a bit foolhardy if I didn't tell you the same thing. You need to pray about it." She loves her son, but what happens is what happens.

After hanging up with her, Dale's dad calls Mr. Keiser to tell him what he thinks the next step should be. In an instant Eric's life is taking a different path then he ever planned. This time Eric has Steve, his mom, Sarah, and Mark standing with him in case the pain becomes too much.

***

Before Eric gets home, Sarah and Mark get a call from Sarah's mom and she told them what Mr. Scott wanted. Sarah and Mark aren't sure they should tell Eric, but then that would be cruel. Telling him would be akin to opening up old wounds, he deserves to be happy. Still, they need to tell him so he can prepare for whatever might be coming down the road. In the end, they decide to tell Eric what might be coming. Eric is up in his bedroom when Sarah and Mark decide to talk. Since the door was open, the couple just walk into Eric's room.

"Eric, we need to talk."

He can tell by the sound of their voices that something is wrong.

"Okay, just say it."

It's never easy to hear bad news and they need to tell Eric the news that is almost as bad as the news that his parents didn't want him at home.

"Eric, we don't know how to say this, but Mom called and Dale's dad is talking about revoking your church membership."

His heart just drops at the thought.

"What does Mom think will happen?"

Sarah gives him a hug as Mark gets ready to explain things to Eric. Mark hugs his brother in law. Now, they have to tell him even more bad news.

"Eric, Dale's dad called Dad on his cell phone right after the ass spoke with Mom. Dad plans on going forward with the excommunication."

"I knew...I knew he was going to pull something like this. Dad has wanted to do this for a while now, and even though he claims it's done out of love, it still hurts."

Sarah can't imagine what her brother is feeling right now, but she is sure that he would like to have Steve by his side. All they can do is hope that things go smoothly and without a lot of tears.

***

Eric needs a chance to relax a bit and then come back to the problem. He knows the best way to relax is to spend time with is boyfriend. He gets on the phone and calls Steve who quickly realizes that he needs to be by his boyfriend's side.

"I know we've talked about me being excommunicated, but it looks like it might actually happen."

Steve isn't sure what to say to him.

"Dale's dad called my dad and I think they're going to work together to get the goal done."

"Babe, I'm coming right over."

The call ends and Eric isn't really relaxed, but he's getting there. In ten minutes, Steve is at the house and knocking at the door. Mark lets hum in and Steve heads straight upstairs to see Eric.

"Hey Baby, come here."

Steve says with his arms outstretched to Eric. As Eric begins to sob, Steve just stands there gently rubbing his boyfriend's back. After a minute, Eric lets go of Steve and they walk together to the bed. Steve doesn't need Eric to tell him that he's scared. He could hear it in his baby's voice while they were on the phone. For right now, he just wants to let Eric get relax. Eric begins to cry again as they sit on the bed, and Steve wraps him up into his arms. There he stays until the sobbing and the tears vanish. Eric takes a minute to compose himself and then he looks up at Steve. He's bounced back a little from his tears, and now he just wants to hang with Steve.

"I know this might sound crazy but can we go outside and shot some baskets?"

Eric looks up into those amazing eyes of Steve, who is smiling up at him. Eric grabs his basketball and heads out of his room with Steve following right behind him. Being outside and moving is helping chase off some of the pain that Eric's feeling. It's also has another benefit in that Eric gets to see his man shirtless. Even better than seeing Steve without a shirt is just spending a moment or two enjoying each other's company. After another half hour they drink some lemonade, and then they just relax inside the house. Steve and Eric kiss and then Steve heads out for home.

***

Eric is in the pet room when everything hits him and he crumples down to the floor. Tears come to his eyes as he thinks about what Dale, Dale's dad, and his own father have triggered. He can't handle the stress of knowing what is coming, and it's eating at him. The truth is, this is one hurt teenager. His dad, the person who is supposed to love him, is working with the enemy.

`Why is Dad doing this to me? I get it, I'm gay and that doesn't work with the church. I knew this would happen someday, but I never thought it would happen out of revenge.'

Despite knowing that he needs to forgive them, all he can think about is how much he hates them right now. His brain doesn't want to give them the time of day, and yet they're on his mind. Everything needs to just happen now, and end this torment that is running through his mind. He needs to find a way to just let it go. Can he let it go and I mean really let it go?

***

Eric knows what he has to do, he has to talk to his big brother, i.e. Shaun. Shaun is one guy who is sure to understand the bigger picture in his world, and is one of his best friends. Jason's car is not in the driveway, and Eric wishes that he was here too. Eric knocks on the door and then waits for just a few seconds before Shaun answers the door.

"Hey Eric, what's going on? You look like crap."

Eric does look a little ragged.

"Can I come inside?"

Shaun doesn't need to be told that something is wrong with the teen.

"Yeah, I think we had better step inside."

Shaun turns and steps inside the house while Eric follow right behind him. The door is shut right behind them, which is good because Eric needs to talk about stuff he doesn't want others to hear, other than maybe Jason. They sit in the living room across from each other and start to talk amongst themselves. Taking just a second to remind Shaun who Dale is and what he him, Eric gets ready to explain the new ordeal.

"My mom got a phone call from Dale's dad telling her that he was going to seek excommunication because of "What I did to him".

Shaun gives him a questioning glance.

"What exactly did you do to his son?"

"I did nothing other than to report what he did to me. This guy posted pictures of me kissing Steve, and told me that I was going to hell. He threatened to attack me if I stayed with Steve. He did...he did, he attacked me, he attacked me because... because I'm gay. Now his dad is out for revenge, because his little boy committed a hate crime. He wants my dad to work with him in getting me excommunicated, and I'm scared."

This is when it starts, the tears are rolling down Eric's face. Shaun understands being afraid, and he's certainly had his fair share of shed tears over his sexuality and the conflict between his faith. Shaun hugs him and it's more than just arms encircling a friend, they come with empathy, friendship, and the type of love that might come from a big brother, a step-brother, or a best friend. The tears don't last long and neither does the hug. The hug was enough to let Eric know that someone cares for him.

"Look, I know none of this makes any sense right now, but someday this will all blow over, and you will be fine. I mean, come on, did you ever think that your mom would reach out to you?"

The young man's heart softens a bit at the words of his friend.

"No...no, I didn't. I hoped, she would come back to me."

Shaun patted him on the back.

"She did come back to you, didn't she?"

"If my mom can come back to me, then maybe this will be okay too."

All Eric can do is have faith in Shaun's words, even if this crap doesn't blow over, at least he'll still have a part of his family and his friends standing by his side.

***

While Eric is over at Shaun's, Mrs. Keiser comes over to Mark and Sarah's house to discuss what's going on with his dad and with Dale's dad. Sarah and her mom are sitting in the living room currently having the discussion of a lifetime.

"How is your brother doing?"

Sarah glances down at the floor trying to come up with the words to say.

"I think he's stressing. I know he's dying inside. He's afraid of losing whatever he gets from being a member of the church. I think he's terrified of losing us, Steve, and his friend."

The world does feel like it's closing in around her brother. Even with his friends by his side, Eric feels like things are slipping away from him. Thanks to his family and friends, there are plenty of people standing by his side.

"Sarah, he needs to know that we're here for him. He needs to know that his friends will also stand by him. It's...it's important."

A smile comes across her face as she looks into her mom's eyes.

"Mom, his friends will never lose sight of him, just like we will never lose sight of him."

Sarah reaches out with her hand and takes her mother's hand. Between everyone in the world who supports him and his own strength, it's what will get him back to where he needs to be.

"Do you believe he's strong enough to face this?"

Sarah gets up and moves towards one of the windows. She sees her brother along with Shaun exiting the house, and she knows in that second that he'll be in pain and he'll suffer, but in the end, he'll come out okay.

"I...I...do."

"I hope you are right Sarah."

Mrs. Keiser smiles. She wants to cross her fingers but she doesn't. This conversation feels so good to her. It makes things feel so much better. The world could still collapse on her and on her son. They end the conversation as someone starts to mess with the door.

***

Eric enters the house and smiles at his mom and Sarah. He walks up to his mom and reaches out to her. They hug each other quickly and then they drop their arms. Sarah takes off towards the dining room to color in one of her coloring books. Mrs. Keiser and Eric sit down across from each other and start to talk. She wants to make sure that Eric is okay. His safety and happiness are always her top priority.

"Mom, how close is dad to getting this excommunication going?"

When he asks that question, she turns her head but she can't look at him in the eyes for a few seconds. He realizes that her reaction isn't the one he was hoping for at all.

"I'm sorry Eric, but between your dad and Mr. Scott, it's going to be sooner rather than later."

"I...I...guess, that I should have known it was coming."

Eric starts to cry, and he's immediately wrapped up in his mom's arms.

"I...I...don't want to lose Dad."

Eric knows that his dad is already gone to him. He wants to his dad to return to him just like his mom came back to him.

"Does Dad love me?"

Mrs. Keiser turns her head away from him because she doesn't want him to see her sadness. The answer never comes from her lips.

"Mom?"

Still, she doesn't answer. Eric can't take the silence and retreats as fast as he can into his room. Sarah and Mom sit at the of the stairs calling up to Eric. Even with them calling up the stairs, Eric refuses to answer.

***

A notebook now sits on Eric's lap, it's his journal. Eric isn't happy about what's been happening in the world around him. As the pen finds its place, Eric is trying to etch out something that makes sense in the journal.

"Dear Journal,

Dad and Mr. Scott are determined to give me a boot as far as the church is concerned. I believe that Mr. Scott wants me out of the church if for no other reason than for revenge. How do you carry that revenge in your heart? I'm scared to death that when it happens, I'll be pushed into depression. As much as I love Steven, I don't know if he fully understands what I'm about to lose. Someday, he'll understand and maybe that will help things feel better. I'm afraid of what the days will bring and what the weeks will bring. Nothing feels right, right now, and the world seems to be digging into my back. I don't know if they will drag Steve into this mess. I have always wanted to keep him free of the problems. I just hope he understands. I would understand if he decides to break up with me. I'm going to be an ugly, ugly mess. I do love him, and I really don't want this to ruin us, and I'm afraid it will. I know he won't like the fact that I'm worried about what he will think about the situation. Even though I know, that he knows about what happened, and it still worries me."

He places his pen on his desk and then quietly reads over what he wrote.

***

As he is about to lay down to take a nap, Steve comes into the room unannounced.

"How are you doing?"

Steve asks as he glances down at his boyfriend who still has the journal sitting open on the desk. Steve does his best to keep his eyes off of it, but he can't help himself.

"I'm about as good as can be expected. I suppose."

Steve has managed to read everything up to "keep him from my problems" and that was enough to cause some pain in his heart. Eric makes no attempt to close the journal until he notices Steve's wandering eyes.

"Good."

Eric is hoping that Steve basically ignores what he read in the make-shift journal. If he chooses to bring something up, then Eric would have to explain himself and he doesn't know if he can handle doing that right now. There is tension building between the two of them. Steve finally reaches a point where he can no longer hold in his feelings.

"Hold is just a second, I can't believe that you actually think that I'm worried about them dragging me into your problems. I thought I proved myself to you after the Vince episode. I love you, but apparently you don't trust me. Sorry Eric, but I need some air. Don't call me, I will call you."

When Eric needs him the most, Steve is finding out that he needs a break or things might get worse between them. He just can't do this right now, and he leaves the room, but by the time he reaches the front door, he closes it while looking back at his boyfriend. On top of everything else going on in his life, Eric thinks he just lost his boyfriend. Eric's eyes are filled with tears as he follows Steve to the door. They don't have disagreements that often but they always seem to hurt when they do have one, it always seems to end in tears, but they always seem to get past the whatever the problem might be at the time.

***

Shaun just happens to be working in the yard when he sees Steve come running out of the house. Steve isn't crying but you can see the pain in his eyes. Shaun gets up and walks over to him ready to talk to him.

"Whoa, what is going on Steve?"

At first Steve is quiet and doesn't say anything but then the tears start to fall. Shaun wraps his arms around Steve long enough to give the teen a hug. Shaun walks with Steve to the porch swing and then they sit. For just a couple minutes, they sit and relax.

"Want to tell me what's going on with you?"

"I...I...came over to see Eric and his journal was open. I tried to keep my eyes off of it. But it was sitting right next to him. I didn't read the whole thing, but apparently, he doesn't want me there by his side. He doesn't trust me to there with him. I don't get it, I thought he knew. I thought he knew that I loved him unconditionally. I love him Shaun, I love him."

Shaun is quiet at he listens to Steve's vent.

"I don't know what to do to get him to see that I love him without question. I thought after Vince and all that mess that he would know I love him unconditionally, and that I'm strong and that I'm willing to see him through anything."

Shaun knows that what Steve is saying is true, but he also knows there is something that Steve needs to understand.

"Steve, Eric has been a member of his church all his life and even though he hasn't been attending since he been living with Sarah and Mark, it's still a big part of his life. He's feeling like he going to lose everything. It's possible, he may be feeling that it's possible he loses you too..."

Steve flinches when he hears Shaun say that Eric is afraid of losing him.

"...so, don't be so quick to run away. You have every right to be upset. I'm not going to discount your feelings because they're important."

Steve looks at Eric's neighbor and sighs. He was never going to leave Eric, but it must have felt that way to Eric when he left. Looking back at Eric's house, Steve gets a knot in his stomach.

"...So, what are you going to do?"

He wants to go back to Eric but he's not sure Eric will listen to him, not this time. Steve needs a chance to shed some more tears.

"I...I...guess, I guess, I need to talk with him."

"Yeah, you do need too. I'm not a betting man, but I would lay odds on that you'll be okay."

Shaun knows that everything is going to be okay, but the boys need to believe it. They need to see it within themselves. Eric and Steve just want peace; they want to be left alone in their lives. As Shaun and Steve finish their talk, Eric is quietly watching from the living room window. Shaun sets Steve on the right track while Eric begins to walk out of the house. Everything feels so wrong right now, but it will improve.

***

Eric cannot stand to be in the house feeling the way he does. His eyes are glued on his boyfriend and he's hoping Steve will listen to him. Steve hasn't seen Eric yet, and somehow, he knows that his boyfriend is close behind him. Steve turns around just as Eric is about to tap him shoulder. Before Eric can say anything, Steve gets up and hugs him.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Steve looks into his boyfriend's eyes hoping for something that looks like acceptance of his apology.

"I'm sorry too Babe."

Both of the guys have said that they're sorry now, they just have to accept their apologies. It doesn't take long for them to get back to where they were before Steve's visit."

"So, do you want to just sit here for a while?"

Eric suggests as they sit on Shaun and Jason's porch. Steve smiles as he points to Eric's house.

"Can't we just go to your house, and sit in the backyard?"

Eric grabs Steve's hand and they begin walking over to the house. He freezes as Steve and him get to the edge of the property. He's actually feeling very scared. Steve doesn't understand what is going on over that Eric's house, but he knows it's causing his boyfriend some anxiety.

***

It doesn't take long though for Steve to see what is wrong. Dale's dad is parked in Sarah's driveway and is standing right beside his car. It looks like he is waiting for someone to either come out of the house or to pull up to the house. As they enter the driveway, Mr. Scott stares right at them. There is nothing happy about this guy's expression.

"Eric Keiser, you disgusting pervert strop right there."

Steve grabs his phone and starts the video camera so that he can show the police or anyone else exactly what is happening right now. The older man gets Steve's and Eric's attention. Steve can't keep Eric safe from harm in this situation but he's going to try.

"Don't listen to him Eric. This is your home, your property, and he shouldn't be here."

Steve is trying to remind Eric about the situation.

"I shouldn't be here? You shouldn't' be here."

Steve glares at Dale's dad and he immediately speaks up.

"I have every right to be here. This is my boyfriend and you have no right to belittle him."

Mr. Scott doesn't look one bit intimidated by what Steve just said. Instead, Mr. Scott walks closer and gets even angrier with both Steve and Eric.

"Dale told me that he gave you chances to walk away from this, this abomination and you refused to step away from him. Why, why would you even want to be with him? What can he give you that a girl can't?"

Steve and Eric try to force their way through but they can't get past him.

"You have no right to be standing here calling my boyfriend an abomination. Your hate is the wicked thing here. No good has ever come out of hate."

"I don't hate you Eric. I hate your sin. If you had listened to my son, none of this would have had to happen."

Eric doesn't want to listen to this man. Eventually, they get around him but he just gets louder.

"All you had to do was walk away and you didn't. You should have known that Dale wasn't going to back down when it comes to his friends."

Steve laughs right in front of Mr. Scott's face which just makes the older guy even more upset.

"You led Eric away from us. You caused him to leave the church. This is your fault you, your filth."

Eric gets out his phone to call Shaun only to have snatched away by Dale's dad.

"Who in the hell are you going to call, Sarah and Mark? They are just as evil as the two of you? Even your mom is fooled by your evil charms and lies."

Eric is ready to hit him and he might, if he thought he wouldn't get in trouble for doing so, so he brings himself in from the brink.

"You need to leave my yard."

"It isn't your yard, young man. This yard belongs to your sister and I am not leaving till either the cops come or your father shows up."

"I'm not telling you again. get out of my yard."

Sadly, Mark and Sarah are taking a shower and can't hear what's going on outside of his house. Jason won't be home for another hour and Shaun is watching a video using his headphones.

"What are you going to do if I don't leave? Are you going to hit me? Big, bad fag going to hit me?"

"Why are you taunting a bunch of teenagers who have nothing to do with you?"

Mr. Scott looks surprised by what Eric just said.

"You did nothing? My son was escorted out of your high school in handcuffs and taken to prison, all because of you, you lied to a bunch of school officials and the police. I can prove that my son never sent those emails to you, and I can prove that he didn't hit you too."

Again, the guys laugh in his face.

"Are you really that stupid? The police have all that evidence already. It's already been proven."

"You're lying. You need to shut your mouth and apologize to my son."

"No way, not happening."

"I'll drop the excommunication if you just leave this, this loser and apologize to my son."

Steve's heart sank and he looks at Eric and whispers in his ear.

"If you want to break up with me. I'd understand if you agreed to drop me."

"Listen, I've stood here long enough listening to your garbage. I'm done talking to you sir. If you don't move, you will be sorry."

Mr. Scott didn't say anything to Eric and instead he looks at Steve.

"Are you going to allow Eric to suffer because of you? You know he's going too?"

Steve takes Eric's hand and doesn't let go.

"What I know is that he loves me and I love him. I don't' think you can stand here, sir, and honestly tell him that you love him. I think, you might say it, but you don't believe it."

Mr. Scott just stares at Steve in disbelief. Perhaps, he did have love for Eric in his heart, but it vanished once Eric's love for Steve was discovered.

***

By this time, a couple of Eric's friends have come out of their houses and are also videotaping from a safe distance, but Mr. Scott still isn't backing down.

"If you don't leave Eric and his family alone, I'm calling the cops."

"I'm not leaving my boyfriend alone with you."

This time, Mr. Scott raised his hands violently towards Steve. Eric gets between Steve and Mr. Scott. Anyone that was watching could clearly saw the threat being made by Dale's dad.

"I will have you both arrested for threatening me."

All he's trying to do is to scare Steve away so that he can intimidate Eric into leaving Steve and apologizing to his son. The guys are right though, he doesn't intend to stop the excommunication process. When Mr. Scott sees that his threats aren't working and with his anger mounting, he decides that he's had enough. Raising his hand, he slaps Eric across the face. Shaun comes out of the house just in time to see the slap.

"Your mommy should have done that when she found out about the two of you, instead of simply letting you walk away."

When it appears that Eric might get slapped again, Steve grabs Dale's dad's hand and squeezes it.

"You need to let go of me right now boy."

Mr. Scott says to Steve as Shaun walks over with his phone in his hand. He's still on the phone with the police when he arrives at this friend's house.

"You need to let go of me right now, or I'll slap you too."

Course the dispatcher heard exactly what was said put that into the notes for this call.

"Yes, the offender is still here and the victims' boyfriend grabbed his arm to keep the victim from being hit again."

"Who in the hell are you talking too?"

Mr. Scott asks Shaun who he's on the phone with at the moment.

"I'm on the phone with 911."

Mr. Scott isn't bothered by Shaun's revelation.

"I hope they do come so I can press charges for the way the two of you slandered my son, and on you sir for spying on me."

"Shaun, he has Eric's cell phone."

"Really, you're going to steal from a minor and you hit a minor. Pretty ballsy dude."

"You need to stay out of this, it's not your problem."

Shaun smirks at what Mr. Scott just said, and then a couple of Eric's friends come over to make sure that he's okay. They manage to get Eric into the house so that Sarah and Mark can see him. The friends fill Mark and Sarah in on what happened, so that they don't call the police too.

"Actually sir, it is my problem. Eric is my neighbor, and unlike you, I care about my neighbors."

Shaun says as Mr. Scott tries to intimidate Shaun, but it doesn't work. Shaun flexes and then shrugs it off. This time around it's Mr. Scott who seems to be visibly intimidated. It looks like Mr. Scott was getting ready to strike Shaun.

***

As Shaun is readying his arm to block the incoming attack, two squad cars pull up to the house. When Mr. Scott sees the cars pull up, he immediately moves towards them.

"Officers the teenager in the house assaulted me and so did his friend that is also in the house."

The officers glance at Mr. Scott and then they glance up at the house."

"This man..."

Pointing to Shaun, Mr. Scott frowns and looks very distraught.

"...he threatened me."

The officers do not believe anything the older man is saying because according to the information from dispatch, it was the older man who was causing all the problems.

"Where is Eric Keiser?"

One of the officers says as he looks at the two men and Steve.

"He is in the house recovering."

Steve stands there and watches as the officers walk right up to the front door. They knock on the door and then announce themselves loudly. Sarah opens the door to the officers after looking out the window.

"We're sorry for the intrusion but we need to talk to Eric Keiser. We understand that he's been the victim of an attack."

The officers follow Sarah into the dining room where Eric sits holding an ice pack to his face.

"That is Eric, my brother, he's the one you're wanting to talk too."

In just a few minutes, the officers come out of the house knowing that Eric wants to press charges against Mr. Scott. Eric watches from the doorframe as the officer's approach Mr. Scott. The older man has a confused look on his face.

"Why do you not have that sinner in handcuffs?"

One of the officers begins to read Mr. Scott his rights while the other one gets out his handcuffs. Mr. Scott becomes even more confused, when the cuffs are placed on him.

"Why are you arresting me when he's the one that ruined my son? He's the one who caused all of this, and you're going to arrest me for striking a sinner?"

"I have no idea how he ruined your son, and I don't care either on the other hand, I am going to arrest you for hitting a minor"

As Mr. Scott gets into the squad car, Steve embraces Eric in a hug.

"I...I...I...love you Eric, and no one, and I mean no one is going to tear us apart."

Eric begins to cry in Steve's arms. Steve traces the mark on his boyfriend's face put there by Dale's dad.

"Thanks Steve, I...I...love you."

Sarah and Mark watch as the guys exchange hugs and kisses, but Sarah and Mark have bigger concerns then the love of two gay teens. As the car pulls away from the house, Eric sits down on the porch. Steve sits down next to him and takes him in his arms.

"It has to be alright Eric. It has too."

Sarah and Mark are torn between going out to comfort Eric and figuring out what the next move might be. She is afraid their father might not be done with Eric, and if he isn't finished with him.

"I am not going to relax until I know what the hell my dad is up too."

Mark takes his wife in his hands and hugs her.

"Sarah, I know you want to figure this out, but he needs us."

Mark takes his wife in his hands and hugs her.

"You're right honey."

They get up and leave the house and they sit on the porch with Eric and Steve. Shaun is still standing nearby looking at the house. Dale's dad is getting the justice he deserves, just not the way he wanted to see it happen. Fear is still really strong in Sarah's heart, and Eric is still struggling with his encounter with Mr. Scott, and everyone else can only sit and watch everything unfold and be there for Eric and each other.

***

Mr. Scott makes a call to Eric's dad letting him know that he failed at reaching out to Eric. Mr. Keiser immediately heads out for Sarah and Mark's house. If Mr. Scott failed, then he has to be the one to succeed. Arriving at Sarah's house, he walks right up to where everyone is sitting.

"Your ungrateful little snout. Mr. Scott came over to help you out and you had to mess it up."

"Why is he here?"

Mr. Scott says as Steve stands up ready to speak up in defense of his boyfriend.

"I didn't ask for his help Dad. He hit me, your friend hit me."

Mr. Keiser stares at his son as Eric points to the bruise spot on his face.

"If he hit you, he was trying to knock some sense into your brain."

The words that came out of his mouth surprise all of them. Eric knows his dad doesn't have a solid father-son relationship anymore with him, but his words are horrible and even more then the slap did.

"You need to drop this sinner and make things right with the Lord."

"How about you stop spreading hate and love me?"

Mr. Kesier smirks as he looks at his son.

"I've always loved you, it's you that needs to evaluate who you truly love?"

"I know who I love."

Eric says as he pulls Steve into a hug and gives him a kiss. His father is completely insulted by Eric's actions.

"You are disgusting. How dare you kiss him in front of me? Look at me faggot."

Yes, Mr. Keiser is calling his son that slur and not Steve. Eric turns and takes Steve's hand and they walk into the house together. Sarah turns and enters the house to see about comforting her brother.

***

With Sarah's entry into the house, it leaves Mr. Keiser, Shaun and Mark outside in the yard.

"I can't believe you, how can you be so cold to your flesh and blood? That is Eric, the same kid you taught to ride a bike. The same kid who spends every day looking for someone to help out. He's willing to drop whatever he's doing to assist people. I've known him to cry over the loss of someone he barely knows just because he can feel their pain. He still loves all his hobbies, the only thing that has changed is you. Anyone who knows this kid, if they honestly saw him would have known he is the same kid."

Mr. Keiser isn't buying any of this though, because his son has changed and it's everyone's fault but his.

"You can't stand here and believe what you just said. He is not the same kid. He used to have girlfriends while he as in junior high, until the day that boy appeared in his life, and he allowed himself to be tempted into damnation."

Shaun feels like he knows how to respond to this, because he's lived through the events that Eric now finds in his life. He's not sure that he wants to speak up, but Eric is worth speaking up for, and this man needs to hear what Shaun has to say.

"You don't know me, and I don't' know you, but I do know that your son loves you. If you would drop this veil of hate, you would see that what Mark just said is true. I know because there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray that my own mother would love me the way that I love her. I dated girls in junior high and high school only because I didn't' want my parents turning on me like other parents have turned on their kids."

Mr. Keiser's expression hasn't changed at all since Mark spoke up.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Eric's dad says as he looks into Shaun's eyes.

"I'm a friend of Eric's and I care about him."

"So, you're a queer just like my son."

Mark looks appalled at what his father in law just said. He wants to tell this man to get off his property but he decides to see what Shaun does before he speaks up. Shaun just keeps his mouth shut.

"Dad, I think you should go home."

Mark's voice is very stern as he talks to his father in law.

"Mark, I want to hear what the homo has to say for himself."

Most people would walk away from Shaun without wanting to hear what he had to say.

"I really think Mark has the right idea. You need to back off."

It looks like that maybe Mr. Keiser isn't going to get the fight that he was expecting out of Shaun. Eric's dad turns and heads towards his car, which makes Shaun and Mark both smile. Before he opens the driver's, door and gets inside, he turns around and looks at Shaun and Mark. He then looks at Mark and frowns.

"That boy doesn't need protecting, he needs to be seeking forgiveness."

Mark shrugs his shoulders and Shaun quietly chuckles to himself, because he's heard something like this from his mom and step-dad before and it sucks hearing it someone else.

"Seems like you need to be seeking after forgiveness too."

Shaun says as he watches the homophobe to see what he's going to do next.

"Okay, I'm done Shaun."

Mark has had enough and heads inside to get away from the fool.

"Yeah, there isn't anything else to be said here."

Shaun says as he turns to enter the house.

"Why don't you tell Eric that he needs to come out and talk to me so I can help him?"

In his own way, Mr. Keiser is hurting. It's pretty clear that Eric is hurting more than his father is. Mr. Keiser has lost his audience so he gets into his car and heads out for home.

***

Back in the house, everyone has gathered into the living room. Eric is still sitting with the ice pack on his face.

"Did Dad finally leave?"

Sarah asks Mark hoping that he had left. Mark peeks outside through one of the living room windows.

"Good news, he's gone."

Eric is glad that their father has left. He simply doesn't want to go through any more of his father's garbage. Right now, it's best that his father just stays away from him. It's quite possible that his dad could end up having the police called on him should he come over again spewing his hate.

"How are you feeling?"

Steve asks Eric. He knows his boyfriend enough to know that he's pissed, but it's a little harder to tell how is feeling physically.

"Honestly, I'm a little disappointed. The way that Dad treated me after finding out about me being hit by that ass, it hurts and makes me mad all at the same time. He didn't even seem upset at all. A normal, loving father would have called the police, the minute that they heard about their son being hit by someone outside the family. I just don't know what to think."

Eric sounds pretty calm but all you have to do is touch him to see that he is anything but calm.

"I think we need to eat out and get away from the house for a little bit."

Sarah says as she looks at everyone trying to judge their moods.

"If you don't mind, I'd rather just eat in tonight."

No one can blame Eric for wanting to stay in considering what he's been through tonight. It's moments like these that he's glad he has a support system in place. There is nothing more he wants than to just eat some food, have some solitude and get some cuddles with his boyfriend. Eric just wants some cuddles on the couch, which Steve is happy to supply. When he is happy that Eric is going to be ok, Steve leaves and Eric heads upstairs to his room. He brushes his teeth and then retreats into his bedroom. Curling up under his blankets, Eric wants to fall asleep and wants to completely forget about the day. He sits on his bed with a blanket wrapped around him. While he is sitting on the bed, he can hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

***

A soft knock comes from Eric's door, he looks over to the door to see his sister. Eric doesn't say anything as she walks right into the bedroom. She walk up to the bed and plops down next to her brother.

"Interesting day today huh?"

Eric isn't sure that he even wants to deal with his sister. He still hasn't said anything to her. He has at least acknowledged her though by giving her a small smile.

"Eric, I know things are very difficult right now, but look how much stronger you've become after each one of your trials."

Eric pulls his sister into a hug and he sheds a few quick tears. Neither sibling says a thing, as they sit there together.

"I just wanted you to know that Mark and I love you."

Eric is feeling very tired and just wants to lay down and rest. In true style, Eric nudges his sister. He wants her out of his room.

"Okay, I get it. You want me to head out."

"Yeah, I want you to get out so I can sleep."

Sarah gets up and heads out of the room. Just before she steps out, Sarah turns to her brother. She sees him wrapping himself up in his blanket. Eric carefully drops his head down to the pillow. Sarah heads downstairs and Eric lays down slowly falling asleep.

***

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