Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:17:37 -0700
From: DJ <barebuttup@gmail.com>
Subject: Father and Son Byrne Ch 8

It's been a stretch of time, but I'd be grateful for you to post Ch 8.
Thanks much,
DJ

 *Father Son Byrne Ch 8*

The long stay in Greece that Brian initially intended was scrapped as a
plan. Instead, the Byrne men flew into Athens simply to spend time with
Aisling. As they discussed the trip, Ciaran made an eloquent case for Brian
to NOT take on the project in Zakynthos, letting them spend time with
Aisling and take a brief holiday in Greece, then return to the states for a
longer vacation, spending time in cities where they knew they could be open
with one another. Ciaran felt more comfortable with fewer unknowns, and
asked Brian's indulgence. They intended to spend time in San Francisco,
where the leather-daddy mentor Ciaran had located was based.

The flight touched down in Spata and the Byrne men navigated the wildness of
the airport and finally made their way with the help of a patient driver to
Aisling's hotel 40+ kms east of Athens on Pachi beach. Brian briefly
squeezed his son's hand, unsure who was reassuring and who was reassured.
Ciaran let out a big sigh, looked at his dad, and whispered, "I love you,
daddy. Thank you. For all of this. I know we'll get through it, and
hopefully mom will be okay."

"You're welcome, son, and thank YOU right back. I hope that we all will be
okay. No, I know we will. We'll help her through, if she lets us."

They walked into the hotel, feeling both tired and nervous. And there she
was. The lobby of the hotel was open, a desk against one wall, and huge
windows on the water side. Aisling had her back to Brian and Ciaran,
chatting with a Greek man, leaning in close, sharing a private joke?

"Hello, Aisling," "Hello, mother," each of the Byrne men offered
simultaneously. Aisling startled and moved quickly away from the man.
Brian's first impression was a sweet feeling in his gut as his wife reached
up and tucked back an ever-present curl into the haphazard bun of the
copious hair on her head. She came to him and gave him a brief and somewhat
nervous hug and kissed both cheeks. Then, she grabbed Ciaran and held him,
Brian thought with some element of desperation. He passed off the impression
to his own nervousness and tiredness from travel.

"It's so sweet to see you both! Thank you for coming all this way. This is
my friend, our project manager, Lefteris Tsakalis. Lefteris, my husband,
Brian, and my son, Ciaran."

Handshakes all around and Lefteris said, "I will leave you all to catch up.
Ring if you want to visit the site, I'll roll out the uh...dust carpet."

Aisling thanked him, gave him a brief hug, then turned to the Byrne men and
asked, "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you want a shower?"

Ciaran said, "Food sounds good, mother. I could definitely eat." Everyone
chuckled as Ciaran blushed. "Well! I'm a growing boy! Geez!"

Brian rolled his eyes at Aisling and said, "You see, some things are very
much the same..." He winced as the words came out of his mouth.

Aisling had the driver take their bags upstairs and led them to the dining
room. She had a word with the waiter and dispatched him to bring them a
feast.

She sat and touched Ciaran's face. "You are so much a man, my son. I am
sorry to have missed your graduation. We have a lot of ground to cover,
don't we?"

Ciaran colored and glanced at Brian, definitely not displaying a poker
player's face. "Uh yea, mother, we do. It's okay, though, graduation was
just silly. I'm happy to be finished. I need to tell you about my plans. I
decided to wait and tell you in person. I'm just going to dive in right now,
okay? I quit competing, mother. I'm going to take a year off and travel with
father, then I'm going to grad school – architecture or engineering or
environmental science. I want to learn about green building and planning,
then join father's firm."

Aisling sat back when he finished speaking. Brian saw her jaw tighten as she
struggled to not lash out. She took several deep breaths and poured herself
some retsina from the carafe on the table.

"Well. I suppose there had to be a first time when you made decisions
without consulting me, right? You consulted your father, I assume."

Brian spoke, "Actually, you assume incorrectly. Our son chewed on his
decision for several weeks, became quite distant and intractable before
finally letting me know. C, tell your mother your reasoning, why don't you?"

They spoke about Ciaran's choice for an hour or so, which resulted in
understanding all around. In the silence then, Brian felt the air pregnant
with other things unspoken. As a family attuned to energies and clean
communication, the feeling around the table was uncomfortable. Brian looked
at Ciaran for confirmation, received a small nod, and was just beginning to
speak when Aisling put her hand on her forehead and said, "Well, my dear
husband and son, I, too, have substantial news. Actually, it's not precisely
news. It's just that it's time for me to tell you. Lefteris and I are
lovers. We have been lovers for five years. I will not be coming back to the
states to live. Ever. I am sorry that I failed you as a wife, Brian. So
sorry. Ours has been a sweet and compelling partnership, yet for both of us,
I suspect, lacking in some essential ways since I began traveling. You loved
me well and I wish to cause you no hurt. I owe you EVERYTHING for being the
parent to our son you are.

And, Ciaran, dearest, I do hope that you can forgive me. I am so proud of
you. I just am a rotten parent.

I will not ask you both to forgive me anytime soon. I only hope that at some
point, you will." Aisling wiped tears from her face and looked at Brian and
then at Ciaran.

Ciaran played with a piece of pita bread, swirling it in tzatziki, nibbling.
He said, softly, "Mother, you were not ¾are not¾a terrible mother. You
taught me to follow my dreams. Your independence taught me to follow my own
path, even when that path is not traditional. In fact, the gifts you gave me
were what helped me to decide to not keep competing. They also helped me..."
he looked at his father for reassurance. Brian nodded and smiled at Ciaran,
realizing that their secret coming from Ciaran would be better received.
"...help me realize that I needed to be fully honest with myself about who I
am. Mother, I'm gay. And, I'm very much in love. And, mine is not a
traditional love. I hope that it is something that one day you will accept."

Brian wiped tears that he could not quell. He was terrified. And proud of
his boy. The stress of this moment unexpectedly overwhelmed him. While he
felt the absolute rightness of his love for his son, the vulnerability of
the moment simply made him weep. He continued to look at Ciaran with silent
tears cascading down his face. A voice inside his head screamed, "SAY
SOMETHING. IT'S YOUR TURN!" Brian reached inside for calm, took several
steadying breaths, wiped his face and looked at Aisling. "Several months
ago, Ciaran confessed his feelings for me, Aisling. He explained that he has
been in love with me since he can remember. His brave confession helped me
to be ruthlessly honest with myself and with him. It is me to whom Ciaran
refers, Aisling, and it is very much mutual. We considered keeping this from
you. We strongly considered the deception. But, neither of us could justify
a secret of such magnitude. So, here we are, hoping against hope that you
will find some way to not condemn us."

Ciaran reached for Brian's hand under the table. Both men's fingers were
cold and clammy as a testimony to their nerves.

Aisling, head in hand on the table said without looking up, "So, let's
review, in the past seven minutes, I have confessed a long-standing affair
and no intention to rejoin our family, and you two have come out gay and in
an incestuous affair. Well, other than that, what's the news?"

She looked up at her husband and son, shook her head, reached up, pulled the
clip out of her hair and shook it out, unleashing a mane of cascading auburn
curls around her lean shoulders.

"My first thought is relief, how's that for selfishness? I am relieved that
my exit will not cause undue upset. I didn't really think it would, but now
I see that it will also make your lives much eaeier. You won't have guilt
worrying that I am lonely. That said, how do I feel about you two engaging
in this taboo? I never told either of you this, but in my childhood and
adolescence, I had a similar crush on my father. It was neither voiced nor
consummated, but Ciaran, I understand. I do. I cannot judge you. Brian, you,
either. I wish that the world would be easier on you two. I know that we
will need to be so careful about with whom we share this piece of
information. But, as we always have, we will make our way. And, I may at
some point get angry. So may you at me. But, I promise you this: my loyalty
to you both is steadfast. I will never use what is between you against you."

"And, right now, I'd much like to be alone with the two of you for a few
moments before I leave. I'm not staying at the hotel tonight or tomorrow
evening. I didn't feel it would be prudent. And, Lefteris and I have a house
in Athens. I would much like for you both to know him. If you are willing.
Right now, I just want us to all hug and share a few tears in a
not-so-public setting."

She stood and led them from the room. Brian and Ciaran were shocked, neither
quite believing what had transpired. They followed Aisling up the stairs to
the rooms she had for them.

She opened the door and opened her arms. They all three hugged, cried tears
of relief and a little sadness. Ciaran said, "My family ¾wow. You two¾holy
smokes."

Brian kissed Aisling softly, feeling her familiar strong, powerful and
athletic body, sense memories running through his mind making him smile and
ache. She looked into his eyes and they sealed themselves in that moment as
friends on whom the other would rely forever. "If ever you need¾anything,"
Brian said before choking up.

"Yes, love, you, too," came the whispered response.

Moments slipped by as the Byrne family said farewell to life as they'd known
it, and hello to that which would come next.

"I will leave you now, my dears. Know that I love you. And, know that I am
glad you have found this thing that exists between you. Live your lives, my
treasures, and love one another well. Let's figure out a time when Lefteris
and I can spend some time with you two. Perhaps we will meet for Christmas..."

"Thank you, mother. I love that idea. And, thank you...for everything. I love
you."

"I second what C says, Aisling. Christmas somewhere with all of us. Safe
drive back to Athens. Bless your lovely self, my dear. Let's talk soon about
¾well, the business side of our respective new status."

"Ah, yes, business. But right now, the business of love! Fare thee well,
beautiful men. I adore you."

And with that, the mother, the wife swept out of the room.

Brian and Ciaran stood still embracing, staring dumbly at the door. Slowly,
they looked at one another. Relief, disbelief, astonishment, overwhelm,
feelings and thoughts registered on each handsome face. Ciaran reached for
his father and Brian allowed himself to be pulled in to his embrace, knowing
that there would be time to sort and time to plan. At the moment that their
lips melt, however, he felt a grand lessening of stress, as a nebulous,
oppressive weight sprouted wings and lifted off his chest. The WHAT IF that
had nagged at his psyche since the day on the pool deck when Ciaran first
let his father know of his feelings suddenly gone.

"Daddy," Ciaran said softly, taking his father's face in his hands, staring
at Brian's chisled jaw, his eyes, green with dashes of gold, the curly thick
hair, once nearly black, now dark brown yielding to silver. Ciaran smiled
hugely and hugged his father tightly, rocking him gently.

"You can feel it, can't you, son?" Brian held his son in return, feeling
himself coming back to earth after the adrenaline charge of the past couple
of hours. "Bless that woman for her force of nature clarity and strength.
She gave us an incredible gift, son. She gave us our freedom. You gave us
this life and she gave us our freedom. I love you, my son. My stars, can you
feel it? Can you feel that vast relief, Ciaran? It's so good..."

Brian tilted his head up to meet his son's kiss. Ciaran kissed Brian and
Brian groaned then bit Ciaran's lip hard as he felt hunger crash over him,
hunger and need, urgent, intense need. Ciaran pulled his face away and, eyes
blazing, and slapped Brian across the face, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Ah,
yes, daddy, I feel it, too. Now, we are FREE and you are hungry. AS AM I!"

Ciaran pulled Brian's shirt over his head and ripped his jeans off finding
Brian's commando cock fully hard. Ciaran pushed Brian face down on the bed.
"Don't move!"

He bounded to open his suitcase where he unwrapped a stainless steel butt
plug, lube, a riding crop, a blindfold, metal thumb cuffs, several long
lengths of ¾" wide leather, nipple clamps, several cock rings, a chastity
device, and an enema bag with several attachments, including a folding rack.
He smiled evilly as his dick plumped when he handled the goods. He grabbed
the lube, the butt plug, a cock ring, the straps, and the enema bag.

He went to the bathroom and filled the bag. He came out with a towel and
unfolded the rack, set it up, and hung the bag. He then went to Brian and
slipped the black leather blindfold over his father's eyes. With two of the
leather straps, he restrained Brian at the wrists on either corner of the
bed. "Give me some room, daddy. On your knees for a moment, please."

Brian was reeling again at the quick change. The emotions of the day, the
breakneck pace of confessions and resolves, and now, in the dark, smelling
and feeling the leather on his arms, his son's hands on his cock,
anticipating whatever Ciaran had in his growingly devious mind...the darkness
was a blessing, one sensation fewer to overload his senses. Having knelt up,
he felt a narrow band at the base of his cock, around his balls, and
splitting them. "OH FUCK..." was the lust filled moan that escaped his lips.
His phallus and testicles felt the pressure in excruciating pleasure.

"Good response, my dearest daddy. Now, I'm going to fill you with water and
some glycerin. You will want to expel this solution but you may not until I
help you up and to the toilet, understood?"

"Yes, son, I understand," Brian offered, fearing not that he would expel
water, rather, that he would spontaneously ejaculate before Ciaran got the
solution near his anus. "Son, I am nearly ready to cum. Already."

Ciaran grabbed Brian's hair and held his head. "Daddy," he whispered into
Brian's ear, "I know. But you had better NOT cum too soon, or the flight
home will be VERY painful, as your ass will be raw. I do not believe you
want that, do you?"

Brian moaned and his cock only swelled more.

Ciaran put some lube on the nozzle with an inflatable plug. He carefully
inserted it into his father's ass, rubbing his hands over Brian's round
globes, kneading his haunches, leaving a few kisses along the way. Brian had
his head down in the bedding and moaned a steady stream of noise, as he
gently rocked himself back and forth. Ciaran let the water and glycerin flow
into Brian knowing that the glycerin would increase Brian's urge to expel.
Ciaran's rod surged at the knowledge that he was creating a painful,
lustfilled experience for his dad.

"Damn, pops, I really like having you at my mercy. I never knew that my
brain would get off on this stuff. I'm going to make you beg for mercy,
daddy, and then I'm going to fuck you until you are hoarse from screaming.
How's that feel, stud?" Ciaran reached under to Brian's belly and felt its
tightness. He slid his hand down to Brian's thick nine inches and moaned as
he traced every vein, every distended ridge of Brian's meat. "FUCK, that's
beautiful!" he muttered.

"Okay, that's all of the solution," Ciaran said softly after a few minutes
passed. "I'm going to untie your wrists and I want you to squat on the floor
in front of me with your arms clasped behind your head as you suck my dick,
dad."

Brian's belly was a series of cramps. Ciaran had pumped the inflatable butt
plug fully and between Brian's control and the plug's size, he was managing
to hold the water. He was sweating with effort as he squatted, still
blindfolded. He felt the heat of his son's body in front of him.

"Center yourself, father, find your balance," Ciaran advised. "Breathe,
dad." Brian did as his son instructed. Ciaran said, "Now, open wide, daddy."

Brian opened his mouth for Ciaran's dripping rod. Ciaran gripped Brian's
head and pulled him to him. Brian somehow managed to not fall, picturing
himself rock steady. Ciaran said, "You may release your arms and hold
yourself against me."

"Thank you, son," Brian gasped and began sucking the thick mushroom tip of
his son's endowment. "Please, Ciaran, let me go slowly. I need...please."

Something about the quality of his father's ask gave Ciaran pause and he
slowed himself down. "Yes, dad, thank you. That's right, we're not in a
race. Suck my cock, daddy. Show me how you worship my dick."

Brian slowly opened his throat and took Ciaran all the way down. With his
lips at C's belly, he began pushing back and forth in incrementally longer
thrusts, starting very slowly and working up so that after five minutes, he
was impaling himself all the way on, all the way down. Ciaran gasped for
air, tried to control his need, wanted to stay in control of his father, but
Brian's devotion, his unselfish pleasure giving and the sensations of
Brian's extremely tight throat squeezing C's dick proved more than he could
handle.

"Fuck, daddy, here it is for you. Take my cum, damnit! TAKE IT!" He shot his
pent up load down his father's throat and Brian felt the heated jizz jet
directly down his gullet.

As soon as Ciaran finished his orgasm, he lifted Brian to his feet and said,
"It's time, daddy, you were amazing. Please, come to the bathroom." He had
Brian stand in the shower and deflated then extracted the nozzle.

"Just step over and lose the water in the toilet, dad. Take your time and
clean up, then I'll see you in a few minutes." He noted that Brian's cock
still stood rock hard and bound by the cock and ball rings.

Ciaran stepped away from the washroom to collect his thoughts as Brian
emptied himself. He thought about what he wanted, about the stash of devices
he'd collected before the trip, and about next steps for his father and him
along their new path. New. Everything so new. Ciaran felt free, exultant,
and eager to ensure that he continued to do honor to his father and earn
Brian's trust in their nascent power exchange.

"Don't hurry, kid, give him the time he needs. Give yourself time to do
things right. You don't have to play with every damned new piece of
equipment at one time." He closed his eyes and calmed himself.

"How you doin', dad?" Ciaran called softly into the bathroom.

"I'm okay, son, okay with you if I get a quick shower?"

Ciaran came to the bathroom door and leaned on the doorjam. "Nah, I don't
think so, dad." Brian knitted his brow and cocked his head slightly,
curious. Ciaran slipped his shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor.
With a lazy grin, he began slowly to get out of his pants, wiggling and
managing a sexy strip heavy on the tease. "I think instead we will take a
nice, slow shower. You know how much that first fantasy of mine is still my
favorite. I may never let you take off that cock ring. You look so fucking
hot, dad."

Brian came to his son as C slipped into the shower and grabbed him. Their
lips met among a duet of moans. "Dad," Ciaran said into Brian's ear as he
ran his hands over his father's chiseled body, "it's starting to feel real
now. Us. Like we really ARE together. Dad," Ciaran said as his breath went
ragged, "all my life, I dreamt of this, and I could never imagine the how of
it. And now..."

Brian drew apart from his son and looked at him. Ciaran continued to grow
taller, it seemed. Brian grinned and reached up to push the perpetually
falling bit of hair off his son's forehead and out of his face. "You know,
son, we get to these moments together from time to time that are so – beyond
anything I've ever known. You're so right, Ciaran. I am also starting to get
a sense of us, more than we've been before. I get caught, C, between wanting
to slow down and build with you and wanting to feel every damned thing you
call out in me. Damnit, son, I love you so much. How `bout we slow down just
a bit? I want it all with you. I want to be yours, at your feet, at your
mercy. I want to be everything else with you. I don't want us to race
because we can't control the hunger and the magnitude of what exists between
us. No, that's not right, C. I mean, I want to go there, to all the extremes
with you. AND, I want to enjoy these incredible moments when my soul feels
as though it will explode from my body for loving you.

We both came to Greece feeling some mix of hope and dread, and your mother,
bless her amazingly vexsome, restless, ever surprising heart, gave her
blessing effortlessly. I want for us to FEEL that gift she gave us, Ciaran.
I want – I NEED for us to make time to feel that gift. Let me make love to
you now, in the shower, just like you always wanted."

As his father spoke, Ciaran's eyes never left Brian's. C felt the truth of
his father's words and inside, breathed in Brian's wisdom. "Slowing down,
yes. Yes, daddy." Ciaran slid his hand to Brian's half hard unit, as Brian
pulled him back into a kiss, now soft, sweet. Ciaran kept pulling slightly
away, just nibbling Brian's lips, touching the skin of his father's face
with his cheek.

"Daddy, for this to be my fantasy come alive, I am supposed to be in the
shower and you come in to join me," Ciaran said as he continued kissing
Brian's face, neck, and shoulders.

Brian grinned and without a word, stepped out of the shower and left the
bathroom. He walked into the room where they stashed their bags, moved the
bags into the closet and turned the bed down. He located the lube and made
sure it was handy. He felt the hunger for Ciaran, the fundament of his
being, building. Building. A couple of slow deep breaths, stopped to behold
himself in the mirror. He could see the hunger, was damned glad for his
discipline in the pool and the gym. He stroked his now fully tumescent rod,
feeling the ache in his balls from the cock ring and from now having been
hard for nearly two hours. He grinned and walked into the bathroom. The
steam wafted from the shower and he stepped inside.

Ciaran had his back to his father with his face in the water. He was slowly
soaping himself. Brian leaned against his son, playing the fantasy as if the
first time ever. "Ciaran, don't move. I need you, son. I think you need me
to. Let me..." He took the soap from his son's hand and lathered his hand,
then slid it down Ciaran's front and took hold of his cock.

Ciaran moaned as his hand closed over Brian's. "Daddy, really? You're here –
like you want me?"

Brian whirled Ciaran around and kissed him feverishly. "Fuck yes, baby boy,
I want you so much. I love you. I NEED you." The two men stood under the
water and remade their first coming together in each of their minds. With no
doubts, no worries, now, at last, finally together in heart, mind, and body.
Each man wept as hands found tits, teeth found flesh, strength met and
reveled in strength.

Brian turned Ciaran to the wall and washed his son's back. He rinsed it and
then, began playing with his son's ass. "Son, spread your legs," he said
just loud enough for C to hear over the water. "Lean against the wall and
spread yourself."

Ciaran bent and Brian knelt, diving in to Ciaran's pucker, tasting, licking,
penetrating, filling his son with his heated soft tongue. He felt the desire
then, building to a pitch he could not control. He inserted two fingers,
felt the velvet heat snug around him, and he stood up. "Daddy's going to
give you what you've always wanted, son, it's time, baby."

"Fuck me, daddy, yes..." Ciaran looked over his shoulder at Brian as his
father played his nine-inch tool against Ciaran's hungry asshole.

"You need this, baby? You want the cock that made you? Here it is, Ciaran,"
Brian said as he pushed himself all the way inside his son and held his hips
hard against him. "Oh, Jesus," Brian said. "I'm inside you, C. All the way
inside my son. I'm gonna fuck you now, baby.

"Stand up, son," Brian instructed. Ciaran did, as Brian kept hold of his
hips. He reached around and turned off the water and carefully walked them
out of the shower to the mirror.

"Look at us, son," Brian said, leaning his son slightly forward. Ciaran and
Brian stared at the image in the mirror. Ciaran's thick cock stood at
attention. His nipples were tiny erect beads that begged to be twisted.
"THIS IS US, son! I LOVE YOU! You are my LOVER! I am YOURS!" As Brian spoke,
he began to fuck Ciaran, squatting and fucking up into him. He reached for
C's nipples and as soon as he pinched them, Ciaran yelled and nearly lost
his footing.

"Fuck yes, baby! That's it. Let me make you feel good!"

Ciaran bent forward as Brian began trancelike strokes into his son's tight
hole. Each man watched in the mirror, transfixed to see their act of
coupling.

"So good, dad, you feel so good inside me, shit, you're rubbing my prostate
with every stroke! I'm not gonna last very long, daddy, you're fucking me so
good!"

"This cockring makes me crazy. I feel like I could stay in your forever,
we're gonna make this last. I can't believe I'm inside you, son." Brian got
into a rhythm picked up his pace and the sound of flesh smacking flesh
punctuated the groans of pleasure from each Byrne man. The father watched
himself fuck the son, and imagined a time, so near, when his son would fully
use him in ways he was sure he'd not yet conceived.

Ciaran tried his best to keep the tightness in his balls from getting the
better of him. He, too, wanted his father to stay in him for a long time. As
he watched his father's biceps bulge as he held Ciaran's hips and drew all
the way out then slammed back inside. "Daddy, you're so hot. Your body is
fucking beautiful. I'd be in love with you even if you weren't my dad. Oh
SHIT! Fuck! I'm not gonna be able to last, dad. Please, daddy, please, fill
me up with the stuff that made me!"

"You want it, baby? You want my hot daddy cum?" Brian shortened his stroke
to fast, quick thrusts, creating constant friction on his son's hot button.
"You want my hot daddy juice, baby? You want me to shoot it inside your
virgin ass? You want to feel my seed all up inside your tight chute?"

Ciaran was inflamed by his dad's dialog as he continued to pound C's ass and
prostate. "Yea, daddy, yea, daddy, yea, daddy," was his plea.

"Okay, babyboy, here it comes! Oh yea, FUCK, YES!" Brian grabbed Ciaran and
plunged one last time inside and jerked with each jet of cum, keeping their
bodies plastered together. He raked his lips and teeth against Ciaran's back
as he spent his load into his son.

With the edge of his father's teeth against his back, Ciaran felt his orgasm
surging up and out of him. "Hunnnnh, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrph, oh GODDAMNIT!
Daddy, so goooooood."

Ciaran finally fisted his cock, catching the last of his cum in his hand.
"Don't let go of me, dad," he gasped.

"I'm not going to, son." Brian held him against the wall, feeling his own
heart pounding against his son's chest. He caressed Ciaran's hair, ran his
hand down C's shank, reveling in the firm round rump. "Damnit, C, I lust for
your body in a way I never knew with your mom. I swear, I never knew, I
never thought..."

Ciaran slid around to hold Brian, wrapping his arms around his father. "I
know, dad. Because if you had known, I would have managed to seduce you so
long ago. I think it's good, you know? That it didn't happen until now. Now,
we are two men, and mom and you .. well, you know."

"Hey, C, no need to skirt the issue. I know it happened quickly, but she's
in love with Lefteris, and I'm in love with you. Your mother and I will make
our way. But, yea, I'm glad, too."

"Come on in the other room, son, I have something for you. I was going to
save it for your birthday, but somehow, it just seems the right time. Lie
down on the bed. Give me a minute."

Brian went into the closet and rustled around in his bag for a minute before
Ciaran heard, "Ah HA!" Brian said, "Close your eyes, son."

Ciaran was lying on his back with pillows piled underneath him, hands laced
behind his head. "Okay, dad, whatever you want," he replied with a grin.

Brian sat on the bed next to Ciaran. He laid a small box on C's chest and
said, "I wanted to make a statement, son, for both of us. The world can draw
whatever conclusions they will. Um, C, you may open your eyes."

Still keeping his eyes closed, Ciaran said, "I feel a small box. In this
box, I predict I will find...a ring. One that only you could have designed.
And, I predict that you will have one like it. No, nearly like it. Not
identical."

And, I predict that when I open my eyes, my father will have tears running
down his face."

He opened the box, felt for the ring, opened his eyes. Brian's cheeks had
trails of tears streaming. Ciaran sat up and handed the ring to his father.
"Please?"

Brian held his son's left hand and slipped the ring on his ring finger.
Ciaran looked at the ring, embarrassed to be tearing up. The ring, white
gold, had clearly been designed by an architect. It had a floating diamond
with cutaways in the metal. Brian handed his son another ring, similar,
although the stone was an emerald, and the whole ring was chunkier. "They're
a set, son."

Ciaran had to spit on Brian's finger to slide it on. He said, simply, "Yea,
dad, they are."