Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 18:36:34 EDT
From: JuilianJ@aol.com
Subject: story of us part 34

THE STORY OF US
BY: Julien

This story is 100% fictional and is by no means depictive of the life of
any person, place or thing.  It contains sexual activities between males
and should only be read if it is legal to do so in your area.  Read at your
own risk and enjoy.  Comments are welcomed and would be very much
appreciated.  ENJOY!

I would like to thank my editor Frank for doing such a great job on editing
- thanks a lot man...


RICHIE


I watched from my spot in the corner as he took his first steps unaided,
and like a proud father, I couldn't contain the tears that I felt falling
from my eyes.  We had been waiting for this, and he had been working
towards this, for over a year and finally, there was something to show for
it.  It was just a few steps but to me, it was a few steps towards the road
to recovery and towards our newfound life, together.  When he saw me
watching him, he sent a small smile my way, along with a wink.  I smiled
back and mouthed the words `love you' just as Charlene turned around to
face me.

"Enough cooing you guys.  Bobby, you're doing great but you better pay
attention to what you're doing rather than sending kisses over to Casanova
there."

He looked down at her innocently, as if he had no idea what she was talking
about.

"What?" he asked. "I'm not doing a damn thing."  He could have almost
gotten away with it, too, except for that smirk that seemed to have
permanently pasted itself unto his handsome face.

"Uh huh.  Just keep moving," she chanted, looking over at me and shaking
her head, a smile plaguing the corners of her mouth.

I watched as he took two more steps before grabbing unto the bar for
support and letting out an exasperated breath.  Charlene walked over to
where he stood and held his waist.

"You ok, Bobby?" she asked.

"Yeah, just seemed to lose feeling in my legs all of a sudden.  I think I
need a break."

"Ok, let me get your chair."  And while she walked over to retrieve it from
its place in the corner, I walked over to him.

"I can't fucking believe it," he said, just before leaning slightly forward
and kissing me on the lips.  I couldn't help but get lost in the moment and
kiss him back.  When we pulled apart to a less than thrilled Charlene, he
began to tell us how he was feeling.

"I can't even put into words how I feel right now.  I never thought that
I'd be able to come this far."

"Didn't I tell you all those tedious exercises would pay off, Bobby?  All
of the time you've spent working out, sweating, dealing with the
discomfort, the pain, didn't I tell you it would be worth it someday?"

He looked at her as he eased into the chair and smiled.

"I didn't think that it would feel like this...I mean I knew that you said
there was a chance, but wow...I never expected this.  I feel like I'm ready
to just can this contraption and walk out of here on my own, you know."

"Yeah, I know Bobby," she started, "but remember, this is just a first
step.  We still have a long way to go but that attitude of yours is gonna
make it easier to get there.  You should be proud of yourself Mr. Knight."
With that, she leaned over him and kissed his cheek.

"Well, I've got another patient so I've got to jet; I'll see you on
Thursday. OK?"

"Ok," he replied.  I watched as she walked over to him and whispered
something in his ear.  They both then turned to look at me.  Charlene then
walked out, that grin still in place.

When I was sure she was out of earshot, I asked him about it,

 "What was that all about?"

"Nothing.  Nothing at all."

"So you're not gonna tell me," I prodded.

"There's nothing to tell babe."

By the look on his face, I knew that he was lying.  I could also tell from
that look that he was playing me, trying to get some sort of reaction out
of me, but I wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"Fine.  Well, I guess I won't tell you the good news I got today."  The
pout that instantly appeared on his face told me that he was on to me.

"So, it's gonna be like that?"  he asked in mock anger.  "You not gonna let
me in on your little piece of news."

"Nope.  Inside news."

"That's cold, Richie, real cold."  With that he tried his best to look as
hurt as possible.

"Don't even try it, Bobby.  I'm not falling for that pathetic victim bit.
You've gotta give to get, so give me a little and you'll get a little."  He
seemed to take a long time to think it over and finally came back with an
answer,

"All right.  Alright, you got me.  But if you wanna know what's up, you
gotta close your eyes."

"Why?"  I questioned.

"Because you won't appreciate this with your eyes opened ok."

"Ok," I conceded and closed my eyes.  I felt him take my wrist and ever so
slowly lead it to his chest.

"Big surprise," I stated sarcastically.  Of course his chest had gotten
bigger but I had known that, I had felt that happening over the past
several months.

"Just wait," was his reply, and with that, he drew my hand along his
clothed chest, down to his abs and then into his lap, where I felt
something that I found hard to believe.

"Oh, my God," I whispered, slowly opening my eyes and looking at what my
hand had already grasped.  "When?"  I started, only to have him pull me
into his lap and unto his budding erection.

"It's been happening infrequently for the past couple of days.  It comes
and goes but today is the first time it's been like this.  Charlene thinks
it probably came back with the feeling in my legs."  He then took a deep
breath and in a deeper, sexier tone of voice he said, "Feels good doesn't
it, babe."

And damn if it didn't.  If I thought we could get away with doing it right
here in the therapy room, I would have suggested it.  But we both knew that
Charlene would be back, patient in tow.

"Yeah, it does.  I can't wait to get you home," I whispered huskily,
leaning into him more and kissing him with all that I had.

"I love you," he whispered, taking my hand in his and squeezing it.  And
when I looked into his eyes, the intensity of the desire and love that I
saw there gave me a warm feeling inside.  And it reminded me of our first
few blissful weeks together.

"I love you, too," I whispered back, barely able to keep my emotions in
check.  This was what we had spent months working towards.  This peaceful
equilibrium.  As I stood up and looked down at him looking up at me, a
smile plastered over his face, I couldn't help but thank God for giving me
the strength it took to stand by him.

"How fast do you think it'll take us to get home?" he asked, a hint of
mischief etched into his voice.  I picked up on it immediately and grabbed
the back of his chair and wheeled it out of the room as fast as I could,
not wanting to waste another minute in this place, not when we had more
pressing matters to handle.  All thoughts of what we had bargained for fled
from my head.



BOBBY

Of course, it hadn't been perfect; it hadn't even been slow, or even
sensual.  Instead, it had been the quick relief that we both needed.  It
served also as a testament to my sudden virility, as I hadn't gone soft as
of yet, and it had been at least half an hour since I had cum.

"I think it's a good sign," he stated, leaning over and rubbing his hand
over my jaw, feeling the hair that had just started to grow there.

"You think?"

"Yeah.  I mean, for months there was nothing, and now, wow...I still can't
believe it.  I can't believe a lot of things.  I'm so damn proud of you,
Bobby, so damn proud."  With that, he laid his head on my chest.  I reached
up and combed my fingers through his hair.  As I had been doing for the
past few months, I took notice of the little things.  His hair seemed to
shine gold in the moonlight, even though I knew it was just a plain
brownish red.  The dampness that had occurred from our session seemed to
have accumulated at the base of his hairline, giving it a sheen which
reflected the moonlight.  For some reason, I found that incredible sexy.  I
shook all thoughts of sex out of my head though, as I knew Richie was sore
and would likely not be up to it.

"So...how is Michael?"  I asked out of the blue.  He turned his head
slightly and looked up at me,

"He's fine.  He's back you know," he stated.

"Here?"

"Yup.  Moved in with Adam."  The presentation of another person peaked my
attention.

"Who?"

"You remember that guy you met when I was staying with Michael?  The doctor
that treated him?  They moved in together.  It's been a year, I think."

"No shit."  I responded.  That came as a shock to me as Michael didn't
strike me as the domestic type.

"Yeah, I'm happy for him."  And as if as an afterthought, he added, "he
asked about you.  Wanted to know how you were doing, how we were."

Despite all the bad experiences I had had with Michael in the past, I was
glad that he was able to be there for Richie when I wasn't.

"So," I started, changing the subject, "I want your opinion on something,"
I said, looking down at him.

"Anything," he replied.

"Well, I'm thinking...I mean I've decided that I want to do a press
conference to kind of update my condition to the public.  And maybe answer
a question or two."  I paused a second or two, just to let it sink in,
before I continued with, "What do you think?"

He leaned up off me and pulled himself into an upright position.

"You're serious?  You really want to face them?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah.  I mean while there were some assholes, there were also the fans
that were rooting for me.  I want to have a chance to say thank you.  You
know?"

"Yeah, that would be good.  I can give Laurence a call and have him set it
up."  He paused, and then continued with, "Are you sure you're up to this?"
The tentativeness was present in his voice and it led me to take his hand
in mine.

"Yeah, it's time."  And it was.  It had been over a year since the shooting
and I had tried to stay out of sight as much as possible, refusing to give
interviews and limiting my contacts to just my doctor's, therapists, Richie
and on occasion, Laurence.  I had become a virtual hermit, and now, I
wanted out of my shell.  This wasn't apart of my nature, this
introvertedness, and I felt the time had come to redeem myself, to take my
life back.

"Well, if you're sure.  I'm happy that you want to do this, Bobby."  And
with that, he once again placed his head on my chest.  I knew these past
few months had been especially hard on him.  With my mood swings and all,
it couldn't have been a picnic for him to stand by me, but he did, and now,
he was gonna be there to share the road of recovery with me.  I don't think
I could have asked for anything more than that.  And I watched over him as
he fell into blissful sleep, I couldn't help but smile.

*************


The crowd was there.  I could sense it before I could see it, and for the
first time in my life, it scared the shit out of me.  Even more than when I
came out.  The small conference room was packed with reporters from every
news station possible, some of the more popular ones: ABC7, UPN9, CBS2,
MTV, BET, NY1 and even a few of the newer ones such as NY55 and NEWS 32.
And all the publicity was making me nervous beyond belief.  I was planning
on walking unto the stage, with the aid of crutches and of course, Richie
and Laurence.  But the truth of the matter was that my knees were wobbly
and weak and I was afraid to even stand up, so I stayed firmly planted in
my chair.  Of course Richie was trying his best to keep me calm, but it
wasn't helping, and I told him so.

"I can't calm down, Richie, so just stop with the speech, please!  I've
heard it from Laurence already."

He looked down at me and threw his hands in the air.  "Fine, but you can't
go out there in this condition.  You're sweating and you're looking a bit
pale, Bobby.  You lose anymore color and we're gonna be able to pass for
brothers."  His attempt at making a joke came close to breaking down my
defenses, as I felt the corners of my mouth twitch, but it wasn't enough to
make me break out into an all out smile.

"I just need some time alone.  Is that too much to ask?"  I responded, not
bothering to look up at him.

"Fine, fine, but you have five minutes before you go out there.  Please,
baby, just take a deep breath.  It's gonna be fine."  With that, he leaned
down and kissed my cheek.  As he made an attempt to pull away, I gently
reached up and placed my arms around his neck, and held him in that awkward
position.  I repositioned my face and brought my lips to his.  Just having
him so close to me, in such a passionate embrace, it managed to calm me
down, a little.  We pulled apart and I saw that he was smiling down at me.

"Feel better?" he asked, smiling down at me.

"Yeah, a little," I acknowledged.  "Sorry about being a bitch earlier.  I'm
just so fucking nervous.  For all I know, there could be another Ernie out
there, waiting to take me out."  And in a more somber tone I continued
with, "I don't wanna die."

"Oh Bobby."  He started, reaching down and taking my hands in his,
"everyone here has been checked out twice by security.  Laurence made sure
of that and the bodyguards will be there so you have nothing to worry
about.  I'll even be there to hold your hand."  And with that, he put my
hand to his lips.

"I know.  I just can't help but worry, you know.  I don't know how they'll
react.  Supposed they want to know about what happened?"  I sighed and took
another deep breath.

"Well, you answer it.  If you get uncomfortable, then signal me or Laurence
and we'll make sure it stops.  But you can't hide it forever, baby.  There
are gonna be questions about it.  That's what this press thing is all
about.  Letting them know about your condition.  But, it's your call how
far you want to take it."  I had to admit I was glad to hear that.

"You guys ready in here?  They're getting antsy out there."  We both turned
at the same time to see Laurence standing in the doorway, peering at us.

"Yeah, just give us a minute..."  Richie started, only for me to decline
the offer, "we're coming man.  I just want to get this done and over with."

Richie looked at me quizzically and then shook his head.  He then stood up
and walked behind me, grabbing the handle of the chair and slowly pushing
me towards the door.  Just as we reached it, I spoke up.  "No matter what
goes on out there, I want you to know that I love you for standing by me.
It means a lot to me, babe.  More than words can describe."  I didn't look
at him when I said it, but I could practically picture his expression.  I
felt his lips connect with the back of my neck,

"I know, Bobby, I know.  I love you, too."  And with that, he continued to
push me forward, towards the door.





As soon as I hit the stage, lights started flashing and the noise level
went up a decibel or two.  And as strange as it may have seemed, I felt
myself begin to fall back into my old routine.  It was as if this was just
another press conference.  The questions started to come fast and furious,
but Richie took control before things had a chance to get out of hand.

"I'd like to take the time to thank all of you for coming out here today
for this press conference.  I know it came on such short notice, and I do
apologize.  Respectfully, I'll have to ask that you all hold your questions
until Mr. Knight has finished speaking, thank you."

Instantly, silence took hold and all eyes begun to focus on me.  That left
me no other choice but to begin speaking,

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thanks for taking the time out to come
here.  I know that for the past year, I've been absent from the media.
I've had to be absent because of injuries I sustained in a shooting a year
ago.  I survived, though, and I am recovering."

I paused a moment to catch my breath, and for a moment, I seized up.  But
Richie, probably sensing this, reached over and squeezed my hand.  I looked
over at him and smiled.  And just by his response, a returned smile, I was
able to get the strength to continue.

"It was a hard time for me.  I went through a period where I wanted to
be...I wanted to be dead.  I was paralyzed from the waist down.  I was told
by my doctor's that I probably shouldn't hold out hope for ever walking
again.  I was told that I would probably be in a wheelchair for the rest of
my life.  And I was pretty resigned to that fact.  For months after, I
refused to work with my therapist and my doctors.  I didn't think any
number of exercises or regimens would make a difference.  Most importantly,
I turned away from the people that cared about me the most."  I looked at
Richie when I said that, and then lifted his hand to my lips, and kissed it
to the amusement of the photographers who started snapping away.

"But, I wised up quickly.  I decided that I would rather give myself a
chance, and fail, than not try at all.  It's been a rocky road for me, and
for those that stood beside me, but it's been a road worth taking.  For, as
of three days ago, I was able to take my first steps, unaided."

Looking over the crowd, trying to read the expressions on their faces, I
found in that instant, I didn't give a damn if they accepted me or not.
Their opinion of me didn't matter anymore.

"I'm not looking for acceptance here, I'm not looking for pity either, I
just want to have you and the general public, respect my life and whoever
chooses to be in it.  You don't have to accept me, in fact, I don't care if
you accept me or not.  All I ask is that you show me some respect.  That's
all I came here to say, thank you."  As soon as the last few words were out
of my mouth, the room erupted in a mass of questions and once again, Richie
took the initiative to play delegate.

"One at a time, please.  Ma'am, in the blue blazer," he called out.

"Thank you.  Mr. Knight, I know that you have been through a tragic time,
and from all of us at Channel 7, we wish you all the best on your recovery.
My question is this, can you elaborate on what led up to your shooting by
Ernie Mateo?"

Richie quickly stepped in before I could answer,

"Mr. Knight will not be able to..."

"No, Richie, it's ok, I can answer it."  What was done was done, and there
was no point in hiding the facts. I was time for the truth.

"As many of you may have known, Mr. Mateo worked with me for a period of
two years as a publicist, and briefly, as my manager.  Our professional
relationship did not end amicable, and Mr. Mateo, unhappy with what he had
been paid, started to blackmail me.  I paid him a set sum of money, and
when I refused to pay him anymore, he threatened to reveal my sexual
orientation to the press.  When I came out, his plan was thwarted, and
Mr. Mateo resorted to violent means.  As you already know, he was killed by
law enforcement officers, trying to escape, after shooting me."

I thought that having to recount the details would have made me
uncomfortable, but that wasn't the case.  If anything, I felt liberated.
The questions kept coming, though, and I answered each and every one of
them to the best of my abilities.  A few times, I caught Richie holding his
breath as I was asked a question about my homosexuality, but after a while,
he tried his best to look prepared.  But then again, that could have been
my hand resting on his knee, wordlessly reassuring him that they couldn't
faze me.  After an hour, I announced that I had had enough questions for
the day, and I thanked them for coming.  Most begged for a posed picture
with the press conference crew, some with Laurence and myself, and some
with Richie and myself.  I obliged them all.  It was a good forty five
minutes later before I was able to leave the building and head home.

"So...I thought it went well," Richie stated, looking over at me as we
drove home.

"Yeah, it was good.  I'm just glad to be out there again, you know.  I
guess I just miss the spotlight a little bit."  And I did.  It was well
over a year since I had performed my last concert in front of screaming
fans.  I had remembered that night like it happened yesterday, and the
thought alone brought tears to my eyes.  Richie must have noticed, for he
reached over and caressed my knee.

"Its ok, baby, it's alright.  Do you want to talk about it?"

I placed my hand over his, and squeezed it.  I found myself wanting to tell
him all about what I was feeling, but I couldn't.  We had made so much
progress over the course of our relationship, but things weren't yet where
they needed to be.  I wasn't emotionally connected as I needed to be, and I
found it easier to just keep shit in my head rather than letting Richie see
me at my weakest.

"Naw, I'm cool.  It's just these damn allergies," I stated, wiping my eyes
quick time, turning my face away from him, choosing instead, to stare out
the window.  He didn't question me again but I knew that he was aware that
something was amiss.  He had to be.  As we pulled into the underground
garage, I couldn't help but shiver as the spot where I had been shot came
into view.  The surface was scrubbed clean from top to bottom and no
evidence that a crime had been committed here could be found, but in my
mind, I could still him standing there, waiting for me.  Him shooting me,
the blood all around me, and it made me shiver.

"We should get you inside, babe.  You're shaking."  And I was.  He came
around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door.

"Maybe when we get upstairs, we can light the fire and have some hot
chocolate..." and even though I saw his mouth moving, I found that his
words were drowned out by the thoughts floating around in my head.




He sat across from me, his hands firmly encased around his mug, and while
his eyes were trained on me, I could tell that his mind was not.

"Babe, you ok?"  I asked, feeling the urge to go over and sit beside him,
hold him in my arms, make that vacant look, disappear.

He looked up at me and flashed a stretched smile, "Huh.  Yeah...I'm fine,
I'm ok.  How are you though?  Are you hungry, tired?"  His voice held so
much emotion, despite its monotone manner, and I knew he had to be the one
who was tired.  Since I've been laid up in the hospital, doing surgery
after surgery, therapy after therapy, he had been there, right beside me,
never selfish, always thinking about me, never himself.  Even though it
came as no surprise to me that Richie would have been so selfless, the
reality of being at the receiving end of such devotion still managed to
surprise me.  It made me question whether I would have been so strong if
the situation had been reversed.

"I'm fine.  I just got a lot on my mind and...and, I just want to say how
much I love you, babe.  You've been great, and even though I always don't
show it, I mean it."  My words were impulsive, but that didn't stop them
from being true.  I did love him.  This whole fiasco was just the thing to
prove how deep my feelings ran.  I watched as his eyes misted up, and tears
began to spill down his cheeks.  He got up from his spot on the couch and
walked over to me.

"Oh, Bobby, I'm so glad you feel that way.  I know this has been so hard on
you and that...I know how much you've gone through and I'm glad that you
still want me here to help you through it."  And with that, he leaned into
me and planted his lips on mine, in a gesture that over spilled with love.
We must have stayed connected like that for what seemed like forever before
I had to come up for air.

"God, I'm so hot," I exclaimed, nipping his ear, while at the same time
caressing his back under his shirt.  I used my hands to pull him down,
having his weight rest fully on me, something he began to protest at once.

"Babe, I'm too heavy..." he started, but was cut short of saying anything
else by my lips once again crushing his.  That was all it took to get his
full cooperation.  Pretty soon, heavy petting just wasn't enough and I
started to remove his shirt.

"You're...sure...you're...uh...up to...um...it?" he whispered heavily,
trying his best to speed the process up by unbuttoning the hook on my
pants, while simultaneously removing my sweater top.

"Fuck, yes," I whispered back, my hands beginning to wander south.  At that
moment, Richie became more attractive to me than he had been at any other
point in our relationship.  I think I would have done anything just to be
able to make love to him right then and there.

It seemed that only a moment passed before we both were naked and began the
slow, soul enticing process of making love.  This moment held so much
meaning for me, as it was not only the first time we made love without a
condom, but it was the first time that I could remember us ever being this
connected, this in sync, this in tune at the same time.  As he slowly rode
my shaft up and down, I couldn't help but forego the closed eye routine,
and I looked at every display of emotion plastered on his face.  I watched
him bite his lips in ecstasy and then release his tongue, rubbing it along
them, to soothe the bruises he had inflicted.  I watched his mouth open and
emit pants of joy as he gripped my shoulder hard, forcing himself to stay
steady.  I watched as the sweat formed in beads on his forehead, taking
their time, falling down his face.  And most satisfyingly, I watched as his
eyes opened and met mine, the pooling of love in them, and the lurch that I
felt deep in the pit of my stomach that represented the returned love I
felt towards him, and towards us.  As I came deep inside him, my arms were
wrapped tightly around his waist.  His face resting squarely on my
shoulder, I couldn't help but think, `this is the man I want to spend the
rest of my life with, and there was no if, and, or buts about it.'





RICHIE It seemed like forever before we uncoupled and I eased my body of
off his and my ass disconnected from his dick.  There was a recognizable
emptiness there and I couldn't help but groan.

"You ok, baby?" he asked me.  His voice was husky and his eyes trained on
me, as he began to pull up his underwear.

"Yeah, couldn't be better," I responded, barely able to get my words out
before having to take a deep, settling breath.  This was, without a doubt,
one of the must fulfilling experiences, both sexually and emotionally, that
we had shared.  I knew that held so much more meaning for me than the
obvious.  It seemed that for a while, things got quiet, and then Bobby said
something that I had never expected him to say, in a million years.

"Richie, marry me."  It wasn't an offer, or a proposal, but rather, it was
a request that left no room for ifs, and, or buts.  I was shocked, to say
the least, and by the look on his face, I knew that it was something that
he had deep convictions about.

"What?  Bobby, are you serious?"  I questioned, watching his face for signs
of a smile that would indicate that this was a very misplaced joke or
something along those lines.

"Of course I'm serious.  It has crossed my mind before, but tonight,
tonight just sealed it for me.  I want to be with you for as long as I
can."

I was almost tempted to laugh at that, as this was so uncharacteristic of
Bobby.  Marriage was something I had never expected from a woman, much less
from a man.  And when Bobby and I had become an item, I had expected us to
be a monogamous couple, but to me, monogamy in no way, shape, or form,
meant marriage.  Having not been prepared to hear it, I didn't know what to
say.  His hand reached up, and caressed my cheek in a tender way that made
me tingle.

"Don't answer me now, Richie.  Just take your time, and think about it.  I
know it's a big step to take, and with all that's happened, it might be
something you want to think about."

But, to me, there was nothing to think about.  I loved Bobby, and I loved
him unconditionally.  Despite his slow recovery, despite him having to walk
with a cane, despite his public lifestyle, I knew I was willing to go all
the way with him.  I would go to the ends of the earth to be with him, and
I had the funny suspicion that he would have done the same for me, too.

I took both his hands, and brought them to my lips, kissing each hand
separately and then collectively.

"I love you, Bobby, and I want to marry you.  I don't need to think about
anything."  And the smile that graced his face dispelled any doubts that I
may have had about this having been a rushed decision.

"Wow, wow.  I...uh...wow.  You're serious babe?  No regrets?  No turning
back?"  For the first time in my life, Bobby seemed unsure of himself.  I
leaned into him and brought my lips to his in a passionate embrace.  I
needed him to know how important this was to me.

"Babe, I would never, ever regret something like this.  We're meant to be
together now and forever.  I love you so much, Bobby, so damn much, and I'm
gonna be the best damn husband in the world."

"I know you will, babe," he whispered, his hands once again wondering down
south and cupping my sore ass.  "Does it still hurt?"  he asked.

It did, but I didn't care.  I wanted to feel him in me, and I wanted to
feel him in me right now.  But Bobby being Bobby, could read me like a
book, and knew that while emotionally I was ready, physically, I needed to
rest.  He took one look at my grimaced expression and gently helped me off
him and unto the space beside him.

"Rest, babe, tomorrow's another day, and we have a lot of things to talk
about.  Plus, I have my appointment with Charlene at ten, and a release
party to go to at nine thirty."

I looked at him incredulously, "you're really going to that?  I thought you
weren't up to it."

"I wasn't, but that was before I made progress, and before the press
conference.  I'm feeling the need to get out, to be a part of something
again."  And in a more somber tone he added, "I know I don't stand a chance
as a recording artist, but at least I can be a part of a team again.  It's
time for someone else to take the spotlight."

Even though I disagreed with some of his points, I remained quiet. Instead,
I chose to lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder, and listening to
his quiet breathing.  It seemed like forever before either of us said
anything.

"We should probably get you into bed, Bobby.  Charlene would kill the both
of us if she knew the kind of strenuous activity we've been doing."  He
started to chuckle at my words, and leaned over to plant a kiss on my
forehead.

"Yeah, we should, but let's just stay here a bit.  I like this."  And I had
to admit that I liked it too.  This was the life.


I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG DELAY BUT THINGS HAVE BEEN HECTIC.  ENJOY THE
CHAPTER AND LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT ONE.  COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED AND
WELCOMED.  THANKS.