Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 18:07:00 EDT From: Bwstories8@aol.com Subject: The Castaway Hotel-Book 7, chapter 17 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with this chapter, and Art, the real Vinnie and John for their additional input on each chapter. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com. * * * * * * * * Although the boys in these stories have unprotected sex, I strongly urge all of you out there to be smart and protect yourselves from various sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms when having intercourse. * * * * * * * * The Castaway Hotel-Book 7-by BW (Young-Friends). Copyright 2004 by billwstories Chapter 17 - More time with Ted. February 2004 Ted's Aunt Jane arrived around 5:00 Friday evening, to pick him up. We knew she was going to stay overnight this time, so I'd set it up with the Spences to have her sleep there, but we were all going out to dinner with her first. However, the minute we heard her car pull into the driveway, Ted bolted from the house and raced to greet her. He barely let her get out of her car before he was hugging and kissing her on the cheek. "Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane...I love it here. I wish I could stay with Pop forever," he gushed. "Pop?" Jane questioned, looking from her nephew to me. "Yeah, he lets me call him that, cuz he didn't think it would be right to call him dad, like I wanted to," he explained, his words falling off his tongue so rapidly that we were all surprised she understood a thing he said. "Very interesting," she chuckled, looking at me again. "I take it you two hit it off then?" "Oh, yes," Ted answered for me, thinking his aunt was talking to him. "I got along great with everyone, and this is Sammy and Graham, my new brothers," he announced, with equal conviction. "We got along the best, although I really like everyone here." His aunt was looking at him quite oddly, watching him carry on and listening to his comments. Finally, she interrupted him. "Josh, where is my Teddy? This can't be the same depressed boy I brought here the day after Christmas," she teased, causing him to look around to see if anyone was going to tease him about her pet name for her nephew. When he saw no one snickering or mocking him, he returned his attention to her. "Oh, Aunt Jane. It's me, but the only difference is I know I'm loved when I'm here. I wish Dad loved me like Pop does." "He does love you, Teddy, and so does your mother. How can you say that?" she asked, looking at me, as if I put these ideas in his head. "Jane, that's exactly what I told him," I assured her. "Didn't I, Ted?" "Yes, I know everyone says he loves me, but he never shows me he does. He looks at me like he's disgusted with me, he avoids me like I have some sort of contagious disease, and the only time he ever talks to me any more, he just screams and tells me everything he thinks is wrong with me." I think his response convinced Jane I had nothing to do with his attitude. "Teddy," she said, "if you want, I'll talk to your parents when we get back, to see if I can make them understand how you feel." "I doubt it will do any good," he replied, dryly. "Would it hurt for me to try?" she persisted. "No, I guess not," he conceded, though not looking terribly convinced it was worth the effort. "Okay, then give me a chance to do that," she told him, looking hopefully in his direction. "I think they'll make some changes, once they understand this isn't just a teenage rebellion thing." Ted rolled his eyes after she said that, though he had turned his head so she couldn't see what he'd done, and then I invited her to come inside, so we might have a cup of coffee and chat. Once in the house, Ted led her to the family room, to chat in private, but after that conversation had ended, she joined Jake and me in the dining room. While Jake went to pour her a cup of coffee, she decided to spill her guts to me. "I had no idea he felt that way or that things were so bad for him at home," she admitted. "I thought his problems just stemmed from being gay, but now he tells me it's been bad for years and that it just got worse when they discovered he was gay. When I asked him why he didn't tell me this before, he said it was because it would have only made things worse for him and he didn't have any other choices. Now, he thinks he can come here and live with you, if his dad throws him out." Of course all kinds of things went through my mind as she told me this, but I thought what I had to do first was convince her that he felt that way when he arrived, not because of anything I had said or done. Jake returned with her coffee and a plate of snacks just then, so I allowed her time to fix her coffee and select a treat before I responded. "Jane," I began, once she was set, "I hope you don't think I tried to turn him against his family?" "Oh, no," she blurted out, but then she began to blush. "Well, maybe a little at first, but not since I've had my little chat with him. I'm not sure if he didn't want to put me in the middle, felt I'd just take his parents side, or just thought it was an utterly hopeless situation, but he did explain he kept quiet intentionally." "I'm glad that's clear," I sighed, feeling relieved. "Josh, I can't tell you how grateful I am for the change I see in Teddy, and I wasn't joking outside. He IS a totally different young man than I brought here. The day I picked him up, he was moody and upset. Even though I knew he was looking forward to meeting your boys, he hardly spoke to me during the whole trip. He's told me more since I've been here than the total of all of our conversations over the past couple of years." "Jane, I think just being with my boys, hearing their stories, and seeing how they are now kind of got him thinking about his own situation. I think he's worked out his own strategy to improve things unilaterally, without discussing it with anyone else." "I understand that, and I'm not questioning how it happened, just that he is so upbeat now because he has hope and feels loved - and that came from you. Almost every sentence he spoke during our conversation included something about you. He idolizes you, loves you, and wants to stay here with you." "I'm sorry, Jane. I didn't mean for that to happen." I felt I owed her that apology. "Sorry? Are you nuts? That's the miracle I was hoping for. I thought it would be one of your boys who might bring it about, but just because he's fixated on you - there's nothing wrong with that. He's obviously needed a strong and loving father figure, which he isn't getting at home, so I couldn't be more thrilled that he's bonded with you." "Whew! You had me worried for a minute, but I'm glad you feel that way." "Josh, if I could, I'd leave him here until the situation improved for him at home, but I know his father would go ballistic if I did that. I did promise Teddy that I would help him with this though, and if that doesn't work, I'll see what I can do to have him come live with me, or live with you, if you'd be agreeable to that?" I was stunned. I didn't see that coming at all. "Jane, I would never turn my back on him, and I've told him that, but I'd rather see him work things out at home." "And so would I," she cut in quickly, "but if that doesn't happen, I know he'd prefer to be here with you, rather than me." "Just see what you can do, and if that time comes, just call me and we'll work something out." "Thanks, Josh. You don't know what that means to both of us." Our conversation about Ted's situation ended there for now, but I knew it would most likely come up again. Jane was spending the night and we were going out to dinner too, so there would be plenty of opportunity. I took her over to the Spence's, so she could get settled in, cleaned up, and changed, and then I told her I'd see her at the restaurant, as she would ride with the Spences. When I returned home, I walked in the door, only to be leaped on by one excited kid. "Aunt Jane's going to help me talk to my parents, and if they don't want me any more, maybe I can come back here and live with you!" He seemed more like an excited twelve-year old, rather than someone who was seventeen. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves again," I cautioned him. "There are many factors involved, and many other options to be considered, and coming here is near the bottom of that long list." His joyful face suddenly soured. "You mean you don't want me now?" he pouted. "Ted, that's not what I said or meant," I corrected, hugging him against my body. "I want what's best for you, and I truly believe that means patching things up with your parents. If that doesn't work, well, there are still other options, but I'd bring you here in the blink of an eye, if I was convinced that would be best." His face started to brighten again. "Okay, I understand. I was just scared you'd changed your mind." I gave him a squeeze, just to prove I hadn't. "How could I not want to keep you, if I got the chance?" He gave me a very special grin, instantly melting my heart and making me want to keep him, regardless of any other issues, but I knew I had to do what I thought was best for him. "Ted, or do you prefer Teddy?" I teased. He just gave me a very threatening look, silently warning me never to ask him that again. "Ted, I was only teasing, but not about being willing to take you in, if that's what's needed." He was getting playful again. "I know, Pop, but I really do love you. I can talk to you, come to you for help, tease you, and that's just so far, but I could never do any of those things with Dad. I know I'd be so much happier, if I could come live with you." He gave that pleading look of his again, as if he knew that was the way to get to me. "But if things improve at home, maybe you'll feel differently about that too." "Maybe, but I doubt it." "Just don't count your parents out yet," I urged him. "They may love you so much they might even surprise you." After convincing him that I'd never abandon him, I sent him off to shower and change, while I filled Jake in on everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours. He let me know that he knew how Ted felt about me, but he said he was worried that Ted was falling IN love with me, not just loving me as a father. I told Jake I was sure that wasn't the case, as Ted had never even hinted at anything sexual, and when I brought the issue up, Ted confirmed there was no interest, so Jake didn't need to worry. I'm not sure I convinced Jake of that, but I would watch for signs of that nature, just to be sure. I began to let the other boys know they should be getting ready too, if they planned to go out to eat with us, and then Jake and I started cleaning up as well. I had planned on a fairly extravagant affair, at one of the better establishments, to repay Jane for all she did for Cody and Graham those final few days of Cody's life. I told the Spences this, so they could dress appropriately and make sure Jane did too, but it was harder to get the boys in their good clothes sometimes, as they preferred the more casual look. However, I had warned them, in advance, that they wouldn't be allowed to go, if they weren't dressed to my standards. As it neared the time to leave, I held my inspection, correcting the few problems I found, but everyone had done as they were told. Sammy and Graham had even gone to special lengths, doing something different to their hair, using special colognes, and they must have taken great pains in selecting what they thought would be the most appealing combinations of clothing. I immediately knew why they did this, even though I knew neither boy considered himself gay, but maybe bi. I'm sure Ted was totally oblivious to the fact that their efforts were for him. To the boys chagrin, Ted announced that he was planning to sit between his Aunt Jane and me, if I didn't mind. I told him that would be fine, which I think he took to mean that he would be my shadow for the rest of the evening. He was right beside me, no matter what I was doing, and he climbed into the front passenger seat of the van, when I went to drive my share of the family to our destination. At the restaurant, he was clinging to my arm, almost like a date, but I determined it was because he was afraid we'd get separated, or that he might possibly get lost in a place that was strange to him. Whatever the reason, I didn't make a big fuss about it, and none of the other boys did either. When we sat down to eat, he sat on my left, and Jake took the seat to my right, but Ted made sure his Aunt Jane was also where he wanted. I could see the disappointment on Sammy and Graham's faces, as they watched Ted throughout the entire meal, but I could also tell they were scheming to correct this perceived wrong. Jane had gotten along very well with the Spences, so they sat on the other side of her, and I spent much of my time thanking her for all she had done for Cody and explaining to everyone else how special she was. I believe Ted was most impressed listening to what I had to say. Even though he had been close with his aunt, I think this made him begin to see her in an even better light. Before we left the restaurant, everyone had made sure they either thanked her or made some other appropriate comment about what she had done, but it was Graham who was accompanying her as we walked out. He even rode with her and the Spences back to our house, as I had invited everyone to come there for dessert. Once our guests arrived, I set out the cake I'd ordered earlier, so people could read the message I had the decorator place on it. It read, 'Our special thanks to our living angel, Nurse Jane.' She hadn't seen it, until I asked her to make the first cut, and she paused after reading those few words, as she dealt with her emotional response to our sincerest appreciation. Eventually, she began to cut it and we passed around the pieces, but while everyone was eating, she made a secretive comment to me. "Josh, we're even," she told me. "Whatever you think I did for Cody, you've more than made up for with Teddy. You don't need to do any more." I understood what she meant and I knew she understood how we felt, so I just nodded, to let her know I agreed. Throughout the evening, Jane got to get acquainted with our extended family, and by the time things were breaking up and everyone was heading home, I think she'd had a chance to speak with almost everyone. When it came time for her to go back to the Spences, she stopped to talk to me one more time before she left. "Josh, I can't believe how much support you have from all of these wonderful people. If I was impressed before, I'm ten times more impressed now. How in the world did you bring all of this together?" "Luck. Blind luck," I told her. "Some of these wonderful people were friends before I began to take the boys in, but the rest happened to find us, more than we found them, and it was a lucky thing they did. They have been invaluable and each of them has helped in so many different ways. Each has taken a personal responsibility for various boys, should anything ever happen to me, and I don't know what I'd do without Jake." "Yes, I can tell you two are very close." "I hope that doesn't bother you," I told her, with a little bit of concern. Although she had been so open-minded in the past, I wasn't sure if that same level of acceptance would apply to Jake and me. However, I soon discovered my fears wear unfounded. "Josh, I think it's wonderful that you found someone, especially someone as caring and loving as Jake appears to be. You both set fine examples for the boys and Teddy told me if he came to live here, he'd have two dads." She let out a little chuckle after saying that, but then she read the questioning look on my face. "Don't worry. We've talked more, since I first arrived, and he's explained to me that you feel he has to try to work things out first, but I'm warning you, if I don't see things improving, I'll let you know. As much as I love my nephew, I have to admit he'd be better off with you, than with me. As much as I adore him and want to protect him, he needs a man's influence and love. I could never give him that. We won't force you to take him in to live with you, but I do hope you'd at least seriously consider it, if things don't work out for him. I see how much you love your boys, and I know you'd learn to love Teddy the same way." "I have no doubt about that, for I already do love him and I would take him in, but I want him to try his hardest to see if he can mend things with his father. I truly believe that's what he really needs." "I know you do, Josh, and thank you for caring about him like you do. I can see how much he loves you. It pours from his eyes when he looks at you and radiates from his whole being when he's around you." "That may be another problem," I admitted. "Jake thinks Teddy is IN love with me, not just loves me like a father." She thought about that for a few seconds, before she responded. "That may be true, but I can't say for certain." She looked thoughtful, but nonplussed. "I don't think that would be a problem, though, because he's also told me about a couple of the boys too, boys he thinks might like him a lot. So, even if he does have a teen crush on you, he is considering other options, but he hasn't mentioned you in that same way. He just talks about 'Pop' and how much he'd love to be your son." Her words gave me some comfort, knowing I wouldn't have to deal with possibly breaking his heart, and hopefully things were under control. We talked a little longer, before she left with the Spences, but by that time, I think we had a pretty good understanding of each other and what we expected or wanted for Ted. Without my knowledge, Jake and Ted had agreed to let Ted stay with me again tonight, but it was Jake who informed me of this fact. "Josh, I'm going to stay with Shannon again tonight, so Ted can spend his final evening with you. It seemed very important to him, and I didn't think you'd mind, so I told him it was fine with me. He said he came to me first, to make sure I understood and wouldn't be jealous, and I think I misread the boy. From all he's said, you're just a father figure to him and nothing more. I hope you don't mind that I agreed to this without checking with you first, but he really needs you, and this will be his last chance, unless his parents allow him to come visit again." "I know, Jake," I said soothingly, "and I don't mind. In fact, I appreciate your being so understanding. I think it's very big of you to have even considered it, knowing that you thought Ted's intentions might be more than they appeared. I love you, Jake, and thanks for just being such a fantastic guy." As we finished cleaning up after everyone left, I kept turning around and bumping into Ted, who was voluntarily giving us a hand. He would grin at me, each time I looked at him, and he was always doing some sort of a task close by to where I was working. I knew Jake was right and Ted did need this one more opportunity to spend time with me, so I would do my best for him. Once everything was finished, Ted followed me to my bedroom, but he didn't seem sure if I knew he was supposed to spend the night with me. "Is it all right for me to stay with you tonight?" he asked, timidly. "Yes, Ted. Jake told me about your conversation with him, so you're more than welcome here." He began to relax and lighten up. "Okay, I wasn't sure. I didn't want you to be mad that I didn't ask you first." He looked a little apprehensive again. "No, not mad, but I do hope you will come to me first, in the future." He nodded that he would. "So, shall we go to bed then?" He didn't respond immediately. "I don't want you to think me weird or anything, but could I ask you a big favor?" He looked worried that I wouldn't agree to this, and I had no idea what he might ask, but it did seem to be very important to him." "You may ask me anything, and I'll listen to what you have to say, but that doesn't mean I'll always do what you want. If it is reasonable, I may do as you ask, but if I see any problems or illegalities in your request, then I'll tell you that too. So, what did you want to ask me?" He didn't look very confident, but he did manage to gather up enough confidence to pose his question. "Would you mind if we didn't go to sleep right away? I'm not sure what I want exactly, but I know I enjoy being alone with you like this and I just don't want it to end right away, by going to sleep." I could tell by the look on his face how important this was to him, and his body posture told me he was nervous that I wouldn't agree with his request. "Sure, if that's what you want to do, but I'm not sure I understand why." I looked at Ted, to see if he might respond. "I'm not sure I understand either, but last night you made me feel good, like I was your son, but it ended way too soon. I want that feeling to last longer tonight, that's all." His eyes were pleading with me, like he thought I'd think he was nuts and not go along with his request. "Okay, that sounds fine to me," I began, "I'm in no hurry to go to sleep. So, do you want to take your shower tonight or in the morning?" "Can I wait 'til morning?" "Sure, I have no problem with that. Why don't you get ready for bed then, while I turn down the covers?" "Okay," he responded, taking off his clothes, until he was just in his underwear. While, he was doing that, I pulled the covers back, getting it ready for him to slide in. Once we were both ready, I gave him his next instruction. "Hop into bed," I advised him, lifting the sheet and quilt for him to crawl underneath. Once he was in place, I tucked the covers in around him, and kissed him on the forehead. He looked at me, bewildered. "Aren't you going to sleep with me?" he wondered. "Eventually, but you said you didn't want this to end too soon," I advised him, "so, we'll do something a little different tonight." He looked confused. I crawled on the bed beside him, on top of the quilt, began to stroke his face and hair, and then I began to tell him a story. "Long ago, in a far away land, where kings and queens still ruled, there was a lonely young man who longed to have a family of his own. He had been taken during a battle, when a neighboring kingdom had raided his village, and since that time he had been forced to live as a slave, working for a wealthy family. "He hated his life, not just because he was a slave, but most of all because he had no family and no one to love him. He would watch his master's children and the children of other wealthy families, and he would see how they were loved and adored, which caused him to long to be loved and cared for as they were. "He couldn't even play with the other children, because he was only a slave and that wasn't allowed, so he became even more depressed. He wondered why he had been relegated to such a life and why he had been taken from his old home. Then one night another slave tried to explain the situation to him. 'The Gods have plans for us all and even though we sometimes cannot see the reasons for their actions, a larger power is at work here.' This didn't seem to help the boy either and only befuddled him more, but things didn't change for him. "Months later, the king had a dream, but no one could tell him what it meant. He promised great wealth and power to anyone who could explain the meaning of his dream, but still there was no one who could give him the answers he sought. Finally, the king issued a proclamation, which was read aloud in every village, telling the details of his dream, to see if anyone could advise the king as to the meaning of his vision. No one could, until he reached the village where this young boy was a slave. As soon as the boy heard the dream, he understood what it foretold and advised the herald who had read it aloud. The boy was immediately taken before the king, to share his explanation. "When the boy was brought before him, the king looked skeptically at him, doubting such a young man could do something even his most powerful advisers could not, but he decided to listen to what the lad had to say. 'So you can tell me the significance of my dream?' the king asked. The boy nodded. 'Then give me this information now, and you shall have whatever you desire.' "The boy looked at the king, swallowed hard, and began to tell him the gist of his vision. 'Sire, is it not true that you saw a giant snake coming out of the water, sneak up behind a bear and then devour it?' The king nodded his head in agreement. 'Then this is what I think it means. Your crest has a bear in it, symbolizing the strength of your line, and I believe the bear symbolizes your kingdom. The serpent that slithers out of the water and devours the bear symbolizes an invading army which shall cross the ocean and defeat your armies, if you are not prepared.' "The king thought about what the boy had told him, saw the possibility it was true, and advised his generals to prepare for such an attack. When the attack finally happened, the king and his army were able to defeat the invaders and save his kingdom. The king was so ecstatic about this that he advised the boy his reward would be coming to live with the king and be raised as his own son. However, this was not what the boy wanted. "After considering his options, he finally spoke to the king. 'Sire, though I am honored by your offer, but you did promise I could have whatever I wanted, didn't you?' The king nodded. 'Then, there is another reward I would much prefer.' The king told him he wasn't quite sure he understood why he would turn down his offer, but asked him what that might be he wanted instead. 'I wish to be reunited with my own family. "After asking the boy's parents' names, the king immediately sent some of his warriors out to locate them. After a couple of weeks of searching, the warriors returned with the boy's parents and they were reunited. The king made the boy one of his advisors, gave the boy and his family a wonderful home to live in, and the boy finally had what he wanted. He was loved and doted on, from that day forward." After I finished the story, Ted thought about it for a while before he looked up at me and spoke. "Are you trying to tell me that will happen for me too?" "In a way, but I was also telling you that there are many things about life we don't understand, and maybe we're not meant to. Maybe there was a purpose for the way your life turned out, and maybe there wasn't, but even though the king offered to love and care for the boy, the boy preferred the love of his parents instead." "So, you told me this story so I'd try to work things out with my parents?" "I told you this story to show you that you have more than one option to any problem, so don't hurry to chose the most obvious, because that may not be what's best for you. The boy could obviously have been happy being the son of the king, but he knew there was more that he wanted. I hope you take the time to determine what you really want too and do what's best for you." Ted nodded, and then laid back and got comfortable. I continued to lie beside him for several more minutes, giving him time to think about what I had just told him. Eventually, I got up, undressed and climbed into bed beside him, spooning up behind him and drawing his body close to mine, as if I were protecting a small child. He gave my arms a squeeze and then relaxed completely, and it wasn't long before he contently slipped into a deep slumber. * * * * * * * * If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at 'BW's Rainbow Youth Connection,' at http://bwsryc.gayauthors.org/ You can also locate my stories by clicking on the Nifty author link and scrolling down to "BW". This will give you the links for everything I have posted there. I also love to hear from my readers and get their reaction to my stories. If you don't mind, please share whatever information you feel comfortable with, because it helps knowing my readers better when I decide what to write or how to gear it. Please email me at bwstories8@aol.com and let me know what you thought, so I can do even better in the future. Thanks, Bill.