Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 20:41:08 -0800 (PST) From: Thomas Gaige Subject: The Abandoned Boy - Chapter 12 DISCLAIMER: The following story is FICTIONAL. It contains descriptions of sexual activities between men, teenage boys, and between men and teenage boys. If you are not over 18 years of age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material is illegal where you are, then please DO NOT READ IT! If you choose to read it, then - I hope you enjoy it! The Abandoned Boy Chapter 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was later than I thought it would be when I arrived back at my apartment. I saw Ethan's Camaro was still parked where it had been when I left. When I got inside, I found a note from Simon. He said that Ethan was spending the night with us, and that they'd called his Mom, and it was OK with her. I went down the hallway toward Simon's room. I could see the door was open. There was a dim light on, and soft music was playing. I looked in the room, and was suprised to see that both boys were asleep already. They were lying in bed together. Both of them were on their stomachs. Their sides were pressed up against one another. Ethan had an arm draped over Simon's back, and they were both snoring softly. They only had a sheet drawn part way up over them. Both appeared to be naked, and most of Ethan's bare ass was showing. He had one hell of a nice looking ass too. Just looking at it for a moment caused my cock to begin to rise. Smiling to myself, I watched the two boys sleeping so peacefully with one another. I noticed though that it was a little chilly, so I went over to the bed, and pulled the sheet up all the way over the boys. Then I pulled the blanket and comforter up too. I tucked Simon in, and leaned down and kissed him softly on the cheek. I walked around the bed then and tucked Ethan in. He stirred a little and started to wake up. "It's just me. Go back to sleep," I whispered. Then I leaned down and kissed him lightly on the forehead. Drowsily, he smiled at me and murmured, "Thanks, g'night." He nuzzled up a little closer to Simon, then he fell instantly back to sleep. I turned off the stereo and light, then drew the door a little on my way out into the hallway. I went and took a quick shower, brushed my teeth and went to bed myself then. When I woke up in the morning, I heard the shower running. I could hear both boy's muffled voices and a little giggling through the wall behind me. After a couple minutes, all I could hear was some low moaning, then the unmistakeable sound of Ethan's voice as he repeatedly exclaimed passionately, as he obviously was experiencing a good orgasm. A minute later, there was some more muffled talking and giggling. Then within a couple minutes, I heard Simon's moans, which were shortly followed by his orgasmic groans. These too soon subsided, and again the muffled voices and soft giggles were heard. The shower shut off, and a few minutes later a hair dryer started. After it stopped, I heard the bathroom door open. Simon's face and naked shoulders appeared in my doorway then. He grinned when he saw I was awake. "Bathroom's free," he said, then he disappeared. I got up and went next door to the bathroom then. As I showered, I replayed in my mind, the sounds of Simon's and Ethan's passion just a few minutes earlier, as they stood in the same spot I was now standing in, and my penis stiffened. Grinning to myself, I soaped my penis up and began stroking off. Within a couple minutes, I too was passionately gasping and spurting my own hot cum against the shower curtain. I hoped I'd been a little quieter than the boys were. When I was finished, and had rinsed off, I got out of the shower and dried off. I hadn't worn anything as I walked from my room to the bathroom, but I figured I'd make it quickly back to my room before Ethan caught a gander of me naked. I was mildly embarrassed to find he and Simon walking past the bathroom though, just as I opened the door to go to my room, and both of them saw me fully naked, head-on. "Uh... sorry" I said, as the boys paused and I saw Ethan's eyes drop to my crotch, and a slight smile appear on his face. "Guess we're even now. You got to see me naked in the locker room, and I get to see you now" he said, looking back up at my face, and smiling. I smiled back at him, then blushed a little more as he looked back down at my privates as he and Simon continued down the hall then. I dressed quickly and joined the boys in the kitchen. They were both sitting at the table having glasses of orange juice. Simon had poured me a glass too. Ethan and I looked at each other. As I felt myself blush slightly, Ethan blushed a little too, and we both smiled at one another. "OK, so what do you want to eat?" I asked. They both thought bacon and eggs, sounded good, so I made that, which we all enjoyed. As we were eating, I realized Ethan was wearing the same T-shirt he'd had on the day before. After breakfast I told Simon to take him to my room and let him select one of my T-shirts to wear to school. Ethan smiled sheepishly at me and thanked me. "Ah. One of my favorites," I said, smiling, when he appeared wearing a gray T-shirt with a list of all the bars along the New Jersey shore on it. I'd gotten it at the beach the previous summer. "Oh! I can change into something else then," Ethan said looking nervously at me. I snickered and said, "Ethan! I didn't mean it that way. Don't worry! It's only a T-shirt! If there were any I would've preferred you not to wear, I'd have said something before you went to select one. And although it's a tad big on you, you look good in it! If you'd like, you can borrow a flannel shirt to wear over it. It's supposed to be cold today." "Thanks Greg!" Ethan said, as Simon ran back into my room and emerged a minute later with one of my flannel shirts. Ethan smiled shyly and put it on, then we took off for school. * * * During my free period, I ran down to Tom's office. He was on the phone, but motioned me in. "I'm on hold, what's up?" he said, covering the mouthpiece of the phone. "If I get custody of Simon, and something were to happen to me, would you take Simon and raise him?" I asked. Tom's eyes got a little bigger and he hung up the phone. "You want me to take Simon if something happens to you?" he asked. "Yeah. He likes you, and you're the only person I'd trust to raise him. It'd be if I died, or even just got sick and couldn't. Could even be a temporary thing. It's just in case. That's all." I said. Tom smiled, and his eyes looked like they had tears in them. "I'd be honored, and I'd love to step in and help out anytime you needed me. Of course I hope that'll never be necessary," Tom said. "Me too," I said, grinning. "Thanks! I gotta run. I'll talk to you later." "OK," Tom said, smiling. I went to the teacher's lounge then and called Rick and told him that Simon's parents indicated they'd sign the document, and that I wanted him and his secretary to come with me to their house, when it was ready to be signed. "How'd you do it?" he asked. "They understand it'll be in everyone's best interest," I said. "Still don't want to talk about it?" Rick asked. "Nothing to talk about," I said. "Uh huh," Rick said. "Hey, can you put down in the document that if anything happens to me, that Tom McGrath would become Simon's guardian until he's an adult?" I asked. "Sure," Rick said. He asked me a few more details, then said he'd have the document ready to be signed on Friday. I told him that was fine. We agreed to meet at the school at 10:00. I called Simon's parents after I hung up with Rick. Harriet Snell answered. I told her that the lawyer would have the papers ready to sign on Friday morning. She just said OK. I told her we'd be there at 10:30. She said OK again. Then I told her that in case anything ever happened to me, there needed to be someone to take care of Simon. "What about me? I'm his mother," she said. "I'm sorry, but given the circumstances, I think you can understand that that's not an option. I've chosen Mr. McGrath, the principal here at the school. You met him. He was with me the other night. He knows Simon and cares a lot for him, and Simon likes him a lot too. I hope that this is acceptable with you... not that it really matters if it is or not," I said. Harriet hesitated, then said "that'll be fine." "OK then, we'll be at your house Friday at 10:30," I said. "Fine," she said, then she hung up. * * * The hours until 10:00 Friday morning seemed to tick by slower than ever. The closer the appointed time got, the more nervous I got. Simon kept asking me what was wrong. It got to the point that I could tell he was really nervous. I told him not to worry, that nothing was wrong. He told me he didn't believe me. I told him I didn't lie. He just looked at me. Finally, Friday morning, I told him that there was something going on, but that it wasn't something bad. Of course he begged me to tell him what it was. I told him I couldn't, at least not yet, and asked him to just please give me some time, that I'd explain everything as soon as I could. Finally, realizing that I wouldn't give in, he agreed, and walked away looking rather depressed. * * * "Is something wrong with Greg?" Simon asked Tom. It was Friday morning, just before homeroom. Simon couldn't take it anymore. I was a nervous wreck at this point, and I still wouldn't talk to Simon. He was sure something was radically wrong, and since I wouldn't tell him about it, he scooted into Tom's office on his way to homeroom, to see if Tom knew what was going on. "No, why?" Tom asked. "Haven't you noticed? He's a wreck!" Simon said. "He's distracted, and nervous as hell!" Tom smiled slightly and said, "yeah, but it's OK. There's nothing wrong. I promise you." "You know what's going on then, don't you?" Simon asked, "Please tell me what it is." Tom smiled slightly again. "I can't. Greg will speak to you though and tell you everything, just as soon as he's ready to. I don't think it'll be too much longer anyway." "I can't believe this!" Simon said, looking at Tom with a scared look on his face. "Is he sick? I know something's wrong!" "No! He's not sick. Simon you have to trust me. Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine!" Tom said. Simon looked at him a minute, his eyes blazing, then said "FINE!" and stomped out of Tom's office, as Tom smiled after him. * * * After homeroom, Tom grinned as he saw Ethan walking through the front office, toward his office. He could see Simon hovering out in the lobby. Ethan stopped in Tom's doorway and looked at him. "Hmm! So Simon sent in the big gun! Well, I'm not telling you anymore than I already told him," Tom said, smiling at him. Ethan looked around him, then stepped into the office and said "He's so worried about Greg though Mr. McGrath, can't you tell him something more?" Tom smiled at Ethan and looked past him to the lobby. He caught Simon's eye and motioned to him to come in. Then he said to Ethan "there's nothing to be worried about." Simon trudged meekly into Tom's office and stood next to Ethan. "Sending someone to do your own dirty work eh?" Tom said to Simon. "Well, I thought maybe if it was something bad you'd tell someone else," Simon said. Tom walked around his desk and stood in front of the two boys. He looked back and forth between them, then he said "Greg's OK. He's not sick. He's not in trouble. Nothing is wrong. I do know what's on his mind. I promise you - it's nothing bad! If it was, I wouldn't say that it wasn't. I can't tell you anymore than that. Greg will talk to you as soon as he can. It shouldn't be much longer. Now that's all I can say!" The boys both studied Tom, as he smiled at them. Simon opened his mouth to say something, but Ethan pulled on his sleeve. "OK then. Thanks Mr. McGrath," Ethan said. He turned to leave, and pulled Simon's sleeve again. Simon, gave Tom a disappointed look, but followed Ethan out of the office. * * * "You've got two very worried boys," Tom said to me when I walked into his office after first period. "What?" I asked. He told me then about his visits from the boys. I apologized, and he chuckled and said "I'm just glad this'll be over with soon, so you can tell them about it." "I'm only going to tell Simon if it goes the way I want it to," I said. "It will," Tom said. "Can I use your phone?" I asked. "Sure," he said. I picked it up and called Simon's parents' house. Harriet Snell answered. I reminded her that we would be coming to have the papers signed later in the morning. She said she remembered. I asked if Ed was sober. She said he was. Then I asked her if they still intended to sign. She asked me if I still intended to keep quiet about what had happened between Ed and Simon, and I said I would, as long as they'd sign. She said they'd sign then. I told her we'd be there at 10:30. She said "fine" and hung up. "We still on?" Tom asked. I allowed myself a small smile and said "looks that way at this point yet." "Great! Told you so!" Tom said, grinning. "Still on about what?" Simon asked, from behind me. I spun around to see him and Ethan standing in Tom's door looking at me. "I'm not leaving till I get an answer from you about what's wrong!" Simon said. His face was a mixture of fear, hurt, and anger. "I couldn't stop him. He saw you walk in here. Sorry." Ethan said, looking at me. I smiled and walked over to Simon and gave him a hug. "Nothing's wrong! Can you wait till lunch time?" I asked. "If you can, I'll tell you all about it then." Simon looked up at me. He looked even more upset. "You promise nothing's wrong?" "Absolutely!" I said, looking into his eyes. "Fine. Lunchtime. Your classroom?" he asked. "Yeah." I said, smiling at him. "You come too," I said to Ethan, when I saw him looking hopefully at me. He smiled. "Get to your classes now!" I said. "Um... can we have passes? We're late already." Ethan said. "Already thought of that," Tom said, snickering, and handing them both passes he'd just written. "Now scoot!" Both boys smiled and headed to their classes. "Why don't you join us for lunch?" I said to Tom. Tom grinned and said, "Sounds good. How about we pick up burgers or such for all of us and have a little celebratory lunch?" "Assuming there's something to celebrate, sounds good," I said. "There will be," Tom said, smiling. I headed to my next class then. * * * At quarter of 10, my substitute arrived, and I went back to Tom's office. Rick and his secretary arrived at 10:00. I'd told them to meet us at Tom's office. Officer Hankel walked in the door then. He was in full uniform, which he never wore to work. "I've arranged for us to have a police escort," Tom said, grinning at me. I was horrified. Had Tom told Officer Hankel about what I was using against the Snells? Would his presence scare the Snells into not signing? My face must've given away my thoughts. Officer Hankel winked at me and said, "I'm just going along for effect. I'm gonna wait outside. Just in case there's any trouble." Rick looked at me and said "Do we need to talk privately before we go?" I looked at him a moment, then said "no." "OK, Let's go then," he said. "We don't want to keep Mrs. Riley waiting for us." "WHAT?" I asked. "Mrs. Riley. The social worker. I had to contact her for some information about the parents. She suggested that she join us, so that she could close Simon's case. Didn't I mention that?" Rick asked. "NO!" I said, as I felt like I was about to get a violent case of diarrhea. "Is there a problem?" he asked. "No," I said, looking at Tom. For the first time, Tom looked surprised and concerned as well. As we walked out of the building, Officer Hankel said he'd drive Tom and I. Rick said he and his secretary would follow. * * * We didn't realize that we were being observed from one of the second floor classroom windows as we walked out the front door of the school and headed toward's Officer Hankel's patrol car. Instead of listening to his English teacher, Simon had been looking out the window, trying to figure out what was going on. When he saw Tom and I get into the backseat of the police car, he freaked. He jumped up and ran from the classroom, heading for the stairs. The English teacher ran out into the hallway and called after him, but he didn't stop. We'd pulled out of the school's driveway by the time Simon burst out the front door. As he stood there staring after us, he began trembling. He didn't know why, but a feeling of doom came over him. He rubbed his eyes, which had begun to sting, like he was going to cry, and he turned around and went back into the school. He didn't go back to his classroom. Instead, he went to find Ethan. * * * As we rode to the Snell's house, Officer Hankel said, "Just so you know Greg, Tom hasn't told me anything about what you and these assholes have talked about. I don't know, nor do I care what you have to say or do to get them to sign custody of Simon over to you. And I'll be waiting outside, so I won't be hearing anything. If you need me just holler. Basically, all that's important to me is that they sign the papers! Simon deserves to have you for a guardian!" "I thought it might give the Snells just the extra push they'd need if they saw a uniformed police officer with us," Tom said to me. Tears clouded my eyes as I looked at Tom, then up front at Officer Hankel. "Thanks Dan, Tom. It's great to have friends like you!" I said. I could see Officer Hankel smiling in his rearview, and Tom was grinning at me too. * * * We pulled into the Snell's driveway a few minutes later. Mrs. Riley had been parked on the side of the road. She pulled in behind us. Officer Hankel escorted the five of us to the front door. When Harriet Snell opened the door and saw all of us standing there, and a police officer with us, I thought she was going to pass out. Ed stepped up behind her then, and his eyes bugged out too. Dan tipped his hat to them, then he said he'd be in his car if he was needed. Harriet looked pleadingly at me. "Are you and Ed ready to sign the papers?" I asked. "Yes," Harriet said, opening the door to let us in. Everyone sat down in the living room. I introduced Rick as my attorney. He took over the meeting then. "Are you the parents and/or legal guardians of one Simon David Banning born November 18, 1985?" he asked. [see author's note at end of chapter] "Yes," Harriet said. Ed just nodded. "I understand that you are prepared today to sign documents that gives full and irrevocable custody of your son Simon David Banning to this man, Greg Winslow," Rick said, indicating me. "Is this correct?" "Yes," Harriet said. Ed nodded again. "You do understand that by signing these documents you are giving up all of your parental and custodial rights for Simon David Banning forever, and that Greg Winslow will be the only person who will then have these rights, and that if he is unable to fulfill his duties that Thomas McGrath will step in and assume guardianship for Simon, enjoying all the same rights as Mr. Winslow. Further, you are giving up any rights you now have to change your minds about any of this, and that custody of Simon will never be returned to you?" Rick asked. "Yes," Harriet said. Ed nodded again. "Do you have proof of who you are? Such as a driver's license with your picture on it." Rick asked. They both looked surprised for a minute, but then Harriet said "yes", and excused herself to get her purse, which must've been in the hallway. When she returned, she pulled her license out of her wallet and handed it to Rick, who showed it to his secretary. She noted the information from it. Ed had meanwhile pulled his wallet out and produced his license. His information was duly recorded as well. Their licenses were returned to them. Rick stood up and put a pile of documents in front of Harriet, and showed her all the places she should sign or initial. He handed her a pen. She hesitated a moment, then looked at me. "You'll stand by our agreement?" she asked. "Yes," I said. "And you promise to take care of my boy?" she asked "As if he was my own," I said. She glared at me with hatred in her eyes a moment. Then she signed and initialed the documents in all the appropriate places. Rick placed the documents in front of Ed and showed him where to sign and initial. Without looking up he signed and initialed everything. I visibly felt a weight starting to lift from my shoulders. Rick had both Tom and I sign everything as well. Then, he gave the documents to Mrs. Riley, who also signed them in one place. Rick's secretary notarized everything. Rick gave Harriet one copy of the document. He gave me one copy. He gave Tom a copy. He gave Mrs. Riley a copy. Then, he said he would retain one copy in his safe, and the last one he would file with the county clerk's office. Mrs. Riley, who until this point had remained quiet, spoke up. She said that she needed the Snells to sign a couple of papers as well. My heart constricted suddenly. "What are these papers all about?" Harriet asked. "This just closes the state's files on this case. By signing these papers, you'll be showing that you have your child's best interest at heart, by giving full custody to Mr. Winslow." she said. "You never said we'd have to sign these papers," Harriet said looking at me. Mrs. Riley said, "He didn't know. I think it would be in everyone's best interest though if you sign these papers. By signing them it will close the case against you as well. If you don't sign them, the allegations of child abuse and neglect that were made against you will remain open for investigation. If you sign the papers, the case will be closed, and no further action will be taken." "As a lawyer, I would highly advise you to sign them," Rick spoke up. Harriet looked around wide-eyed. Her eyes fell on me. "I'm sure Officer Hankel wouldn't mind explaining your rights to you if you'd like. He's just outside. Should I get him?" Tom asked. "Sign the damned papers Harriet!" Ed said. Mrs. Riley pointed to a couple of places that required the Snells' signatures. They both signed. The pain in my chest eased immensely. Mrs. Riley had me sign the papers then, and Tom as well, as he'd been the person to formally bring the charges against the Snells to begin with. Rick's secretary notarized these papers as well, and copies were distributed. "Well, this concludes this meeting," Rick said, standing up. "Congratulations everyone. Simon now belongs completely to Greg. And that's a good thing for everyone I believe!" Mrs. Riley thanked everyone and said she'd be outside. Rick and his secretary followed her. Tom and I were left alone with the Snells. "I hope you're happy!" Ed said, as he reached under his chair and withdrew a bottle of bourbon. He unscrewed the top and took a long swig from the bottle. "I am. Simon will be a lot better off living with me! I'll stand by my deal. I won't turn you in. I'd really like to beat the hell out of you for what you did to Simon. But there's a cop outside. I expect someday when he's fully grown, Simon will come looking for the two of you. You'll have to answer to him then. God help you when that happens!" I said. Tomm grinned at me, while Harriet looked at me, and tears filled her eyes. "Just go away and leave us alone now!" Harriet said. "With pleasure!" I said. We stood up and walked out the front door. The others were standing around by the cars. "So I'm really Simon's foster-father now?" I asked. "Well, actually no," Mrs. Riley said. "You're his 'legal guardian' now, which is better than just being his foster-father. And according to the agreement they signed, it's permanent!" Everyone smiled and congratulated me then. After we'd talked a few minutes, Rick and his secretary took off for their office and Mrs. Riley left for her's as well. Dan, Tom and I got in Dan's police car and left too. As we drove away, Tom looked at me and grinned. "Told you it'd work out!" he said. As I looked at him smiling, tears began streaming from my eyes, and I began crying uncontrollably. Smiling, Tom took me in his arms and held me as I cried. Dan paid close attention to the road and tried his best to ignore us. After a minute, I got control of myself and sat back up and wiped my face and eyes with my sleeves. I apologized to Tom and Dan for getting so emotional. Both of them chuckled and Tom told me it was best I did, or I might've gotten an ulcer I was so worked up. We all laughed then. We asked Dan to pull through the McDonalds near the school, and Tom and I picked up lunch for Simon, Ethan, and ourselves. We got Dan his lunch too. He drove us back to the school then. * * * Classes were changing as Tom and I walked back into the school. Lunch period was starting, so we headed right up to my classroom. As we walked down the hallway, Simon's English teacher stopped me and told me how Simon had run out of class. She was concerned because he'd never misbehaved before. I told her I knew what was going on, and that the problem would be fixed right away, and things would be back to normal. She told me she wouldn't write him up then, and gave me his books. Tom and I went on down the hallway to my room then. When we walked in, Simon and Ethan were sitting at a couple of desks next to each other. I could tell Simon had been crying. Ethan looked upset too. Both looked quite relieved to see us walk in. Simon jumped up and ran over to me. Tom quietly closed the door behind us and took the food from me and went over and sat next to Ethan. "Why were the police taking you away?" Simon cried. I looked at him and smiled, "So that's why you ran out of English?" "YES! What happened?" Simon cried. I smiled and said, "Everything's just fine. In fact, it couldn't be better! I know you've been worried for a couple days, and I'm sorry you got scared. I didn't want to tell you what was going on in case it didn't work out. Simon, I wasn't being taken away. Tom, Officer Hankel, and I had some business to attend to. Along with Mrs. Riley and my lawyer and his secretary. All of us went to see your mother and step-father -" "WHAT? WHY?" Simon cried, completely alarmed now. "Relax! It's OK. Remember when Mrs. Riley was over, and you asked her if there was a way to speed up my becoming your foster-father?" I asked. "Yeah," he said. "Well, she and I talked, then I talked with my lawyer. We came up with a way to fix it so that I could become your legal guardian - permanently. That's better than just being a foster-father. AND, we figured out a way to do it so your parents couldn't ever change their minds and try to take you back! SO... this morning, we all went over there and your mother and step-father signed all the necessary papers! I'm now officially your legal guardian! Your mother and step-father are no longer a part of your life! And it's permanent, and they can't change their minds!" I said. Simon stood looking at me, with his mouth hanging open. He closed and opened his mouth a couple times, then he closed it and his lip started to tremble. "I love you so much Greg!" Simon said, as tears welled in his eyes. "I love you to Simon!" I said, getting misty myself. As I smiled at Simon, tears started to run down both our cheeks, he leaned into me and buried his face against my chest and began crying. I wrapped my arms around him and he wrapped his around me, and we held each other and cried together. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Tom and Ethan sitting and smiling at us. Both were wiping away tears from their cheeks and eyes too. Eventually, Simon and I stopped crying. Simon pulled away from me and looked at me. "I'm really all your's now? No more Social Services either?" he asked. "That's right!" I said. Simon beamed at me then. Ethan and Tom had gotten up and come over to us. Both of them gave both of us hugs and congratulated us. I told Simon then that Tom had agreed to take care of him if anything were to ever happen to me. He was happy that Tom was my backup. As time was running short, Tom and I started getting our lunches spread out on my desk. "Pretty cool! You didn't get one dad, you got two!" Ethan said to Simon. Simon was still beaming and failed to notice the bittersweet look on Ethan's face. Tom and I noticed though. "Eeth!" I said, abandoning the lunch and walking over to the boys. "I'm pretty sure Simon would be willing to share us with you!" Ethan looked embarrassed then, especially when Tom walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder, gave it a squeeze, and said "that's right." "I didn't mean it to sound like I was jealous," Ethan said, blushing. Simon looked at Ethan and smiled and said, "I know you didn't mean it in a bad way. You just wish you had a dad too. There's enough of Greg and Mr. McGrath for us to share!" Ethan blushed even more then. I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hug. As I held him, I said, "Simon's my son now. I love him very much. But, I care a great deal about you too Ethan. I'd be proud to have you think of me kind of like a dad. And I'm here for you if you ever need or want me." I gave Ethan another squeeze. When I let go of him, he was blushing and smiling at me, and blinking back tears that had formed in his eyes. "Thanks Greg, you have no idea what that means to me," he said. Tom stepped between the boys and wrapped one arm around Ethan, and the other around Simon. He hugged them both and said "I feel that way about both you guys too! I'm here for both of you too!" Both boys grinned and shyly said "Thank you Mr. McGrath." Tom chuckled and said, "OK, enough of this Mr. McGrath Bullshit! It's Tom! Although in front of the kids here at school, I guess you better call me Mr. McGrath yet. Don't worry if you forget though. No biggie!" The boys grinned at Tom and both said "Thanks Tom!" Tom beamed back at them. We all sat down then and ate our now room-temperature McDonald's food. Nobody cared. We were all too happy to think too much about the food. We just wanted to fill the empty pits that were our stomachs. The bell rang just as we were finishing eating. The boys jumped up to run to their next class. As they started picking up, I told them go on, I'd do it. Tom quickly told them he'd fix it with their teachers about their cutting classes that morning. Simon gave both of us a big hug, then Ethan surprised us and did the same. They both ran out the door then, leaving us grinning at each other. * * * That night Tom and Ethan ate supper with us. We made it into a celebration for my getting custody of Simon. The four of us had a wonderful time together. From then on, the four of us got together for meals and evenings together at our apartment as often as possible. Tom had a lot of outside committments, although he clearly preferred spending time with us. He tried to free up his schedule as much as possible, so he could be with us. Ethan had a home with his mother of course, but she was busy almost all of the time with her work. Ethan spent any time she wasn't home at our house, which was most of the time. He began sleeping over quite often too, which caused his and Simon's relationship to blossom and deepen, which clearly pleased Simon. If either Tom or Ethan were absent from our little group, they were missed. The boys seemed to really crave and appreciate having Tom and I as father-figures, and Tom and I both relished the opportunity to fill the boys' needs in that way. The four of us were fast becoming just like a family, which seemed to clearly please everyone! ... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- * note - this story is written as if it's currently 2004, as you'll see when it ends. The beginning of the story (what you've read in this and previous chapters), takes place a few years earlier though, in 2001. That's why Simon's birth year is 1985. The next chapter in this series will be published shortly. Author's note: Recently, due to a computer glitch, I lost two chapters of this story and five from "My Step-Brother Jacob" (for those of you who are unaware, that's another story I'm writing - it can be found under "Incest") that I'd already written. I ended up having to completely re-write most of them from memory. It takes on average, an entire day to write one chapter, and get it all down the way I want it. Needless to say, I was completely pissed-off! lol Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this isn't to get your pity, it's to inform you that from now on I won't be writing ahead, and stock-piling the finished chapters. I'm not going to take a chance on losing so much again! Instead, I'll be posting new chapters as soon as they're written. In some cases, this might be good. You might see more than one chapter posted per week. In other cases though, it might take more than a week for one to get posted. The bottom line is, please don't expect to see a new chapter being posted on a regular weekly basis anymore. I'm sorry, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thanks for being understanding, and for reading the story. Enjoy! Tom