Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 15:53:58 +0200
From: "solark36@yahoo.co.uk" <solark36@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: 15 Hartford

Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional and not intended for minors or
those judged unable by law to read this material.  Any resemblance to
actual people is purely coincidental and unintended.

The author reserves all rights to this work.

15 HARTFORD

The story so far: Michael's mother recovers from a bout of high blood
pressure and the two men realises that they have to change their meeting
habits, agreeing only to reveal their relationship after Michael graduates.
Michael's birthday comes along and he reveals something special.


Part 9 - A Birthday and A Wedding

"Can you fuck me too?" Martin asked, surprising Michael.

"if you really want to.  We'll have to do this right, though.  We'll need
to prepare ourselves.  I want to show you how to do it so that it all
becomes part of the love making process.  But first we have to empty our
bowels.  If you have any difficulty, I have something that can help.  So
into the bathroom.  You first."

They eventually had their shower and Martin had an enema too.  They kissed
a lot whilst cleaning themselves.  There was a lot of tenderness and love.

After the shower and the cleaning, Martin and Michael dried themselves and
went to bed.  They lost no time in getting their lips together.  Within
minutes their erections were pressing against each other.  Their hands were
all over each other caressing and loving.  Michael decided that Martin
should be the bottom first.  The experience would serve as a guide as how
to top himself afterwards.

To Martin, it seemed like a long time of preparation.  Michael took pains
to stretch Martin's sphincter muscles properly so that entry would be as
painless as possible.  When Michael entered Martin, he was lubed up and had
a rubber on.  Martin felt uncomfortable at first but then when Michael
started to stimulate his prostate, Martin began to understand why Michael
said it was an extraordinary feeling.  He squeezed his muscles when Michael
told him too and he brought Michael to a frenzy.  Michael came with grunts,
soft moans and lots of heavy breathing.  That seemed to excite Martin more,
but he did not reach his climax.

Then, instructed by Michael and his experience, he began to loosen Michael.
Michael, having experienced it before, loosened his muscles rather quickly.
Michael rolled a rubber on Martin's dick and spread a liberal amount of
lubrication there.  Martin, also coated the stretched sphincter with the
lube.  Then Martin entered in Michael.  He did it slowly, taking his cues
from Michael.  Then he hit MIchael's prostate and Michael moaned.  He knew
what he was doing to Michael because he had just experienced it.  As he
moved in and out of Michael, he began to feel stimulated too.  Michael knew
when to squeeze and when to relax, prolonging his experience.  In what
seemed like hours, Michael brought him close and then stopped.  At last
Michael asked him to pump faster and harder.  Martin was going into Michael
until his pubic region was making slapping sounds with Michael's buttocks.
Without warning, Michael started to spurt semen.  His spurts coincided with
the tightening of the sphincter and that brought Martin to his point of no
return.  Martin started spurting to, but into the rubber.  When Martin
finally stopped panting, he collapsed onto Michael, spreading Michael's
semen between them.

Michael's lips found Martin's.  He sucked the upper lip for a moment and
then the lower.  Martin was enjoying the sensation that Michael was giving.
Then he felt Michael's tongue licking his lips.  Martin opened his mouth
and they invaded each other's mouths with their tongues.  When they parted,
Michael's semen was starting to dry.  "We'd better get washed up again,"
Michael said finally.

As they got into the shower, Martin found out that it was close to one in
the morning.  They had been making love for at least four hours.

When they finally got to bed a second time, Michael said, "Thanks Martin
for your birthday presents.  The cuff-links and the love making."

"Thanks for teaching me how.  From now on, love making would be a complete
thing.  I am going to send you to the heights."

"The heights, eh?" Michael chuckled.  "I'll be checking how high I will
go."

"You doubt me?  Want a second round?"

"No, Martin, I am quite worn out and sleepy."

"I love you, Michael.  Good night."

"I love you too, Martin."

They fell asleep with Michael behind Martin, like two spoons.

Michael woke up and felt his organ in something wet and warm.  He did not
have to open his eyes to know what it was.

"Feeling hungry, love?" Michael asked.

"Yes.  When I felt you hard against my back I started getting hungry,"
Martin said, taking a break from his activity.

"You'd better stop first, I need to go to the toilet.  You might get more
than protein if you carry on."

Michael was released and he went into the toilet.  Martin marvelled at the
beauty of his lover.  So masculine and loving.

Michael called from the toilet, "If you want that breakfast of yours, we
might need to postpone it or have it in the shower.  It is already eight.
We don't want to be late for lunch at Mom's do we?"

"Of course not," Martin replied.  He went into the toilet and stood in
front of the toilet.  Michael was already taking out the towels.

As he was peeing, he felt Michael's arms round his waist and there was a
mischievous voice that said, "I think you need some help here."  Michael's
hands reached his dick and held it.  It immediately began to grow.  Michael
expertly pointed it down so that it would not spray out of the toilet.

"Look what you've done!" Martin chided Michael playfully.

"I am sure it feels nice," Michael replied as he shook the organ to get the
last few drops of urine out.

Martin turned around and planted a kiss on Michael's lips.  Michael
responded immediately and they were locked in an embrace of arms and lips.
When they needed air, they released their lips.  Michael shook his head as
Martin wanted to kiss him again.  "We cannot waste any time, you know."

Martin grinned.  He got into the shower stall with Michael and closed the
door.  The shower had enough room for the two of them.  They could even
turn around, but bending down for some arse action was difficult.

Martin started to soap Michael, rubbing his hands against Michael's body as
if he was scrubbing him but he was actually feeling the contours.  When
Martin was 'scrubbing' the chest, Michael let out a soft moan when his
nipples were brushed.  Martin also 'scrubbed' Michael's privates, making
sure that it was all clean.  After rinsing, Martin mouth engulfed Michael's
dick and his hands fondled Michael's testicles.  He could tell Michael was
enjoying it because Michael was moaning and thrusting his hips slightly
forward as if he wanted to push himself deeper into Martin's mouth.

When Michael said that he was coming, Martin released the organ and used
his hands to bring Michael to climax. Michael came all over Martin's chest.

"Happy Birthday, Mike," said Martin.

Then, as the organ was shrinking, Martin put it back into his mouth to lick
away any excess semen.

"That was beautiful," Michael exclaimed.  "Now it's your turn."

Martin grinned, "You'd better wash properly, I made sure that you came over
my chest so that I can feel your wonderful hands."

Michael grinned but said nothing.  He knew what Martin wanted.  Martin
liked the way he massaged when he soaped.  As he went about Martin's body,
he noticed that his body was firmer.  It was slight but because he had
massaged Martin's body a few times already, he noticed.

"You've been working out, right?"

"Yes, for the past five weeks.  I didn't notice any difference.  How could
you?"

"Your muscles are slightly firmer.  The difference is not very noticeable
but I can feel it."

"I told you I was flabby."

"Martin, let's not get into that again.  I am starting to get aroused.  If
we go into that, I'd have no mood to do what I want to do."

"Sorry.  I love what you are doing.  Please continue."

Michael continued to massage Martin's body.  Like what Martin did, just
after rinsing, he used his mouth on Martin.  Martin came with force.
Michael did not release Martin's dick from his mouth but continued to
swallow what Martin had to offer.  Martin thoroughly enjoyed himself
because he was being stimulated even during his orgasm.

They cleaned themselves up and got dressed.  They had spent about an hour
and a half in the shower.

-----

Michael was surprised when the lunch turned out to be a party.  His family
had hid the surprise party well.  Even Martin did not know about it.  Both
of them had agreed to say that they had gone to dinner and then to a pub
and played a round of darts at a pub.  Michael was genuinely surprised with
the cake.  It was an angel cake.  His mother had remembered that he had
asked for angel cake at his last birthday celebration when he was only
twelve.  He wept when he saw his present.  It was a picture of his whole
family of his last birthday celebration on one side and a montage of
pictures of him, his mother, brother and sister from the past year.  There
were also special captions written for the pictures.

As they were eating the cake.  The doorbell rang.  Adam went to answer the
door.

"Good afternoon," he greeted a woman at the door.

"Is Michael in?"

"Yes, won't you come inside."  Adam showed the woman in.

Michael saw the familiar face of Sally.  He exclaimed, "Sally, what a
surprise!"

"I came to invite your family to my wedding."  Then her eyes became wider
when she spotted Martin.  "Mr. McBain.  You are here as well.  I thought I
saw a familiar car when my fiance was parking."

"Hello Sally."  Martin was worried.  He was afraid that she might discover
that Michael and he were together.

Michael introduced Sally to his family and they congratulated her.

"Where is your fiance.  There is enough of Michael's birthday cake to go
around," Mrs. Watson said.

"Michael's birthday?  Happy Birthday Michael.  Many happy returns of the
day."  Turning to Mrs. Watson she said, "Oh no, Mam.  Thank you very much.
We are running late and we do have some more stops to make."

"Then why don't you take some cake and you can have them in the car."
Mrs. Watson went to take two pieces of cake.  Martin, feeling
uncomfortable, retreated to help her.  Sally watched in interest.

"You have to take the cake, you know.  My mother does not like to take no
for an answer.  If you want us to be at your wedding, you'd better take the
cake," Michael teased.

"In that case, I'll have to accept."

"The cake is very good," Charlene chipped in.  "If you had come later, it'd
probably be finished."

Martin came with a little bag and handed it to Sally.

"Here you are, Sally."

"Mr. McBain," Sally said, "I am sorry that I do not have your invitation.
I had given it to Gabe and Ian.  They said they'd be seeing you this
evening."

"That's right.  I'll see them at about five this evening.  Thanks for the
invitation."

"Well, sorry to grab and run.  I've got to go.  I'll see you at the wedding
then?"

"Yes you will," Michael answered.

When Sally left, Michael asked Martin, "Who are Gabe and Ian.  Where have I
heard the name 'Ian' before."

"Gabe Duncan is the one who took over my place in the original plant when I
was transferred to the city.  Ian Fitzpatrick was with me the night I first
came to the city."

"That night?" Michael asked.

Martin just nodded.

"Which night was it?" Adam asked.

"Oh ... ," Martin looked at Michael and then at Adam, "it was the night
that I discovered a restaurant with good food but had extremely bad
service.  I told Michael about it some time ago."

Adam seemed to accept the answer but no one knew that Mrs. Watson had
noticed the looks that Martin and Michael were giving each other.  She
thought it strange but kept quiet, but resolved to keep observing.

Martin got the invitation from Gabe when he visited the exercise club that
evening.  Martin was late.  He was just coming in when he saw Gabe about to
leave.

"Hi there Gabe.  Sorry for not being able to meet you.  I had to go for a
friend's birthday lunch."

"No matter, I am glad you came just now.  If I had missed you, you'd have
to explain to Sally why you did not get the invitation."  Gabe took out a
light blue card and gave it to Martin.

"Thanks."

"Aren't you going to introduce us?"  A young man which Martin did not know
asked Gabe.

"Martin, this is my cousin, Will.  He's been working overseas and is back
for a two month holiday.  He's in the navy as a civilian advisor or
something like that."

Will held out his hand and said with a grin, "Nice to meet you, Martin."

Martin shook his hand; it was a firm grip.  "The pleasure is mine."

"Actually, I am a like a one-man tour agency for the ship.  Sometimes it is
easier for a civilian to deal with people in other countries than it is for
an officer."

Ian came running.  "Hi there, Mr. McBain.  I see you've met this rascal
Will.  I'd be wary of him.  He is a real charmer."

Will defended himself, "You may joke and tease when I am around you guys
but you don't have to make me look bad in front of people I've just met.
Please don't believe in what they say."

"Don't worry Will, I can see that they are joking," laughed Martin when he
saw how worried Will looked.  Will's frown disappeared with Martin's reply
and was replaced by smile.

"I've got to get to my workout guys.  I think I had a little too much
birthday cake this afternoon and I need to workout a little more.  See you
at the wedding."

They bid one other good-bye and Martin got into the machine room.

Martin went first to see Ronnie.  Ronnie had originally prepared a special
workout for Martin.  Unfortunately, after the birthday party, Martin was
not exactly in the right disposition to do the intense workout that Ronnie
had prepared.

"I saw that this might happen.  We need variety in our lives and this
happens," he chuckled.  "Take this," he said as he pulled out a blue sheet
of paper with a set of different kinds of exercise.  Pointing to a cycling
machine in the corner, he said, "Why don't you spend about thirty minutes
on the cycle there.  It is already set to the correct resistance so you
just have to hop on it and cycle.  Just make sure you are moving above the
10 mph mark.  I'll come to you when your thirty minutes are up."

Martin had a difficult time.  Normally, he would be at the treadmill but
this time, he was using a different set of muscles and it was hard work.
His workout was made easier when he thought of spending some time at the
beach with Michael.  He needed to look his best for Michael and so he
motivated himself.

His workout was difficult.  When he had finished, Ronnie said, "You did
well Martin.  Actually, I had only wanted you to do half the exercises, but
you looked so motivated that I just added one and then another until every
exercise was done.  I don't know how you did it but good work.  Just to
warn you, you may feel aches tomorrow and the day after.  Soak yourself in
a warm bath tonight and relax the whole of tomorrow.  Take another warm
bath tomorrow and you'll be fine on Monday though the aches and pain would
still be there though barely."

"Thanks," Martin said.  "I'm already feeling the aches.  Do you think that
I should not have pushed myself so hard?"

"Normally, I would say that you shouldn't overdo it.  However, you are
quite fit now.  When I took your pulse at the end of the lat exercise, you
were well within the acceptable limits.  Just don't do this again without
supervision.  If your pulse had been racing, I would have asked you to stop
there and then."

"Thanks again, Ronnie.  See you next week."

"See you next week!"

-----

The day of Sally's wedding came.  Martin came to the city in his car to
pick up the Watsons.  Martin had been very uncomfortable with the the
possibility that Sally knew of his relationship with Michael.  Though he
thought it was best if he was seen less with Michael, he offered to drive
the family when Mrs. Watson said that she had trouble finding her way to
the church.

He made Mrs. Watson sit in front with him whilst her three children sat in
the back.  Being with the family might throw Sally off.  He had discussed
his fears with Michael and they both decided that they should not sit
together during the wedding.

The car wound round some hills in the countryside to get to the church.
The sides of the hills were green with grass and they saw sheep grazing on
the sides of the hills.  The flat land between the hills were filled with
wheat fields.  Martin was silent when Adam remarked that the wheat fields
were beautiful.  Michael could only guess that the wheat fields brought
about bad memories for Martin, including the bad dreams that he had been
having.  Once in a while, the car would pass a wooded area.  The oak and
acorn trees by the side of the road brought a break to the seemingly
endless stretches of wheat fields and grazing pastures.

Finally, after about two hours, they reached the church.  It was the church
in which Sally's grandparents attended their Sunday services.  Martin had
not been to church since his father passed away.  He found out the location
of the church through a map.  It was a quaint old church that was probably
build a few hundred years ago.  It sat on a small hill and one had to walk
up to the front gate.  There was a cemetry at the base of the hill, except
the area where there was the track up to the gate.  That morning, the gate
was open and there was a special sign at the gate that announced the
wedding.  It was a grey granite stone building with very little painting.
The colour of the granite was not too dark and so did not give the church a
gloomy look.  It had a normal tiled roof and a beautiful steeple that
showed off three bells with the biggest bell in the centre and two smaller
ones on each side.  From the bottom, the church did not seem that big but
its real size was revealed when one reached the front gate.  Though not as
big as the big cathedrals in the city, the church could easily seat 300
people.

A young man came forward to welcome Martin and the Watsons.  He resembled
Sally and so Mrs. Watson ventured, "Are you Sally's brother?"

"Oh No!" he laughed.  "I am her nephew.  Aunt Sally is the youngest of
eight children.  My father is the eldest."  He found out their names and
led them into the church and to their seats.  The church was surprisingly
cool though the outside was starting to get warmer.  Martin sat next to
Adam and Charlene, followed by Michael and Mrs. Watson.  There were quite a
number of people already seated.  Mrs. Watson asked Sally's nephew before
he left them, "Are all the seats reserved?"

"Yes.  Aunt Sally made sure of all the seating arrangements.  That was to
prevent any unpleasantness during the ceremony."

Sally was a beautiful bride.  Her white satin wedding dress made her look
like a princess.  Her face was hidden by the veil.  It was a special veil
that made her face barely visible from outside but she could see very well
on the inside.  That made her beau, Donald, very anxious to see what she
was like.  However, he could only lift her veil after the vows.  He beamed
when he lifted the veil, Sally looked splendid.  His first kiss as Sally's
husband was a little brief because of their nerves.  They wanted everything
to go as smooth as possible.

The banquet was well planned, though there were a few delays here and
there.  However, it did not really affect the overall outcome of the
wedding celebrations.  Martin got to dance with the bride, so did Michael.
On the whole the atmosphere was light and Sally did not give any indication
that she suspected anything regarding Michael and Martin.  Michael was
beginning to wonder if Martin was a bit paranoid.

Gabe, Ian and Will were also there.  In fact, Gabe's girlfriend was one of
the bridesmaids.  After the dinner, during the dancing, Martin went to say
hello to the guys.  Michael was dancing with his sister and his mother with
his brother.  Martin did not want to invite too much scrutiny.

"Hello guys!"

"Hi!" the three said in unison.

"Whose next on the list?" Martin asked.

"Gabe, I suppose," Will answered.  Gabe blushed a little.

"Duncan," Martin chuckled, "I must say that I have never noticed how red
you can go.  I remember a time when you would be flushing in anger and you
were never that red!"

"Mr. McBain," Ian started.

"I am no longer your boss, Fitzpatrick.  Call me Martin," Martin requested.

"Yes Mister ... er ... Martin, I was just about to say that Gabe had a
chance to see how his bride might look like."

"Uh?" Martin looked at Gabe.

"I am going out with one of the bridesmaids."

"Oh!  Which one?  When are the invitations going to come out?" Martin
teased.

"Uh..." Gabe was hesitating.

Ian interjected, "He'll have to propose first.  I fear that the great
Gabriel Duncan has cold feet."

Will and Ian laughed.  Martin just smiled, "Courage Gabe.  Search your
heart and you'll know when to ask."

"Thanks Martin," Gabe said quietly.  He turned and glared at the two who
were laughing, "No thanks to you two!"  To Martin he said, "They have been
feeding me with stories about the horrors of married life.  I know I
shouldn't believe them but they affect me somehow."

"Search your heart, Gabe."  That was all Martin said.  Ian was still
laughing but Will had stopped.

"That's good advice, Martin," Will said, smiling at Martin.

"I'm glad you approve.  Look guys, I have to run.  I promised to drive the
Watsons back."

"Yes, see you around, Martin," Will said.

Martin went back to his table, which was with the Watsons.  Michael had
left the dance floor and Charlene had gone to the toilet.  Michael
suggested that Martin dance with his mother to make it seem that he was
just a friend of the family.  Martin agreed and went to the dance floor.
They were playing a waltz piece.  He cut in and Adam graciously let him
take over.  Michael did not know that Martin was such a good dancer.  He
glided through the floor with Mrs. Watson.  Many people were watching them
doing the waltz.  When they finished many people clapped for them.
Mrs. Watson blushed but Martin just nodded and accompanied her back to the
table.

"You never told me you could dance so well?" Michael asked.

"I don't," Martin replied modestly.  "When I was growing up, my mother
loved to dance but my father hated it.  So during the afternoons when I was
back from school, my mother would put on the records and danced with me.
My father never found out.  If he did, both my mother and I would have been
in a lot of trouble."  Turning to Mrs. Watson he said, "I did not do all
the work, if my partner was not also an elegant dancer, no one would have
noticed."

Mrs. Watson smiled, "Leonard and I used to go dancing when we were courting
and before the children were born."  Noticing a frown on Martin's face, she
added, "Leonard is Michael's father.  I did not realise that I did not
mention his name before."

"Such talent should not be wasted!" Martin remarked.  "Michael, you ought
to bring your mother out dancing more."

"But where?" interjected Adam, who had been listening to the conversation.
"All the dance places in the city are for us younger folk.  There aren't
any dance places I know that have the waltz."

Mrs. Watson laughed.  "Mr. McBain.  I think our ages show."  To Adam, she
continued, "Firstly, we are not that old and you, young man, are not old
enough to go to those places yet."

Michael looked at Martin, worried that the last few sentences might cause
some anxiety to the older man.  Martin caught his look and just smiled.  It
was just for an instant, but Mrs. Watson noticed it all the same.  Martin
and Michael did not realise it though.

Sally and her husband, Donald, came to greet the Watsons when Charlene had
joined them again.

"Thanks for coming!" she said.

"I'm glad to have met you all," Donald said.

"Where are you going for your honeymoon?" Martin asked.

"We are going on a Mediterranean cruise.  We will stop at Rome, Naples and
Athens during the trip.  It promises to be exciting," Donald answered.

Sally grinned widely.  "I am very excited.  Donald has always been romantic
and surprises me with many things.  You should go too, Mr. McBain."  Sally
had a special twinkle in her eye when she said that.

"We need to see to the other guests as well," Donald said.  He had a slight
frown and tugged at Sally.  "Continue dancing!  The night is still young!"
He waved and the newly-wed couple went off to another table.

Michael's heart skipped a beat.  What was Sally hinting at?  Surely not
that Martin should bring him for a cruise.  He looked over at Martin who
already had a strained look on his face.

"Let's go for another dance before it gets too late," Adam told his sister.
The twins then went off to the dance floor.  The music had changed to a
faster beat and many younger people, including Gabe and his girlfriend were
there.

MIchael and Martin kept silent during the next two dances.  When the twins
finally returned, Mrs. Watson said, "It is getting late.  I would like to
go home now.  I have to work the whole day tomorrow because I took this
evening off."

"Certainly, Mrs. Watson," Martin said.  He got up and helped Mrs. Watson
from the table and all of them left the party.

-----

After the twins had gone to bed, Mrs. Watson suggested a cup of cocoa
before going to bed.  Michael joined her in the kitchen.

When the cocoa was ready and the two of them were sipping the drink,
Mrs. Watson asked her son, "Mr. McBain seems to be a very nice man, isn't
he, Michael?"

"Yes.  I guess so."

"Is there something else that you have to tell me about Mr. McBain?"

"What are you talking about, Mom?"

"What am I talking about?  I'm talking about the looks that two of you
exchange.  I am talking about the change in you after Christmas.  I had
seen that change once before and I knew what it was.  Shortly before your
sixteenth birthday, you had a sudden change in your mood.  I knew at once
that you were in love.  I had hoped that it would not affect your studies.
It did not and so I let it go.  I had a warm feeling inside that told me
that you were growing up and you knew how to handle a relationship.  Then I
noticed another change a few months after your eighteenth birthday last
year.  You became moody.  I worried again for your studies.  I took it that
you had broken off with your girlfriend.  Then, shortly after you had gone
back to school, I noticed that same change you had just before you were
sixteen.  I guessed that you had fallen in love again with someone in
school.  It wasn't until your birthday celebration that I realised that
that someone may be Mr. McBain.  I began to observe and saw the special
look you had whenever you came back on Friday.  I observed both of you
during the wedding and even though you tried not to make eye contact, I
could see the way you looked at him and the way he looked at you.  I hope
that it is just my imagination but I have to make sure.  You are in love
with him, aren't you Mike?"

Michael just stared at his mother.  He did not know what to say.
Mrs. Watson just looked into Michael's eyes.  Finally, with tears in his
eyes, Michael admited, "You're right.  I'm in love with Mr. McBain and he
loves me too.  Yes, I'm gay.  I know that you are disappointed with me,
Mom.  I am sorry."  He searched his mother's eyes for anger and he found
none.  Michael was surprised at his mother's reaction to his confession.
"You seem to be taking this well.  You aren't disappointed?  You are not
angry?  I don't want for you to have another fainting spell."  Michael was
actually growing concerned.

Mrs Watson smiled.  "Mike, all I know is that you are my son and I will
always love you.  I can't understand why or how you're gay but I do know
that I love you.  I am concerned because of the AIDS and the stigma.  What
I do know is that you are a responsible man.  You have a great love inside
of you and you are very caring.  What puzzles me is why is it Mr. McBain?
Though he is younger than me, he is still old enough to be your father.
Does it have anything to do with the help he is giving you?"  Mrs. Watson
asked, looking puzzled.

"No, I was gay before I met Martin."  Michael then proceeded to tell
Mrs. Watson about his relationship with Jimmy and how Martin had come into
the picture.  "I don't know how this had come about.  I had already gotten
over Jimmy's death and then in steps in Martin.  At first, I thought that I
was just trying to fill in a gap.  I don't think it is gratitude for his
help, either.  I just started to grow fond of him and it just happened.  I
have grown to love Martin so much.  Though older than me, he is more
innocent than me.  Everything in his life is black and white and I am
trying to teach him that there are such things as colours and greys."

"Yes, life is full of such mysteries," said Mrs. Watson.

Michael could see that there were tears in Mrs. Watson's eyes.  "I am
sorry, Mom.  I know I have become a disappointment, but you shouldn't let
me break your heart ..."

"You have not broken my heart ..."  Mrs Watson then smiled and wiped her
eyes.  "Oh, you mean this ..." she said as she wiped her eyes again, "These
are tears of relief.  I must remind myself that you are very matured.  I am
relieved that this relationship you are in is not out of some whim but a
really growing relationship.  I know that you are committed, but is he?"

"He has not given me any indication that he is not."  Michael said.

-----

The next Friday, Michael was having dinner with Martin in a new restaurant.
Michael decided to tell Martin about the conversation he had with his
mother.

"My mother knows about us.  She confronted me last Saturday and I
confessed.  I do not know if she is comfortable with us being a couple, but
I know she does not want me to be unhappy.  Are you are comfortable with
her knowing?"

"I don't know how she is going to treat me now.  Will she treat me
differently?  Does your brother and sister know?"

"The twins do not know yet, but it would be difficult to hide our
relationship from them.  I cannot say if my mother will treat you
differently.  You're the only boyfriend I have brought home."

"Perhaps I'll drive you home but will not come over for dinner or lunch
anymore.  I think I'll be uncomfortable until I know for sure how she
feels.  Also, I do not know how to react if your brother and sister knows."

"Perhaps you're right.  We'll just do as you have said and just feel our
way through all of this.  We'll still have to be in the closet, though.  I
think it is better for you job-wise.  Though there are laws against
discrimination, we don't know how the technicians would treat you if they
knew you were gay."

Martin nodded, "I guess it is for the best, but I find the hiding and the
pretending to be stressful all the same."

-----

to be continued.

Author's note: I hope the sex scenes were tastefully done.  I have had
positive and negative comments from a few readers for the first parts but I
have had little feedback for the last few parts.  I hope that I could know
whether the direction of the story is alright and whether I have improved
in my writing.  So, please send comments to me.  Thanks.
solark36@yahoo.co.uk