Chapter 12

We were at the dinner table. Vino was staying with us. It was clear that my father wanted to talk to me but for some reason he seemed to have to make some calls and handle some business first. It was always the same growing up. My father always had to handle some business. I had a feeling that the business he was handling now however was notifying the government that there was an alien at his dinner table.

"Are you ok?" I asked Vino.

My father and mother hadn't come to the table yet. I had made an attempt to explain to my father everything that went on. My father hadn't said anything though. He was cold and calculating as usual. He had taken notes and immediately disappeared into his office at him.

Vino pulled at the shirt he had on, "I'm not used to wearing so many clothes."

Vino had on Kaden's clothes. My clothes were a little too small for him but Vino and Kaden were obviously shaped the same way. They both had that tall, lean, fit Antlien frame. Kaden's clothes were almost a perfect fit for him.

"I got used to seeing you naked," I laughed.

Vino smiled at me, "Even with all my studies I never quite understood why humans wear so much?"

I shrugged, "Protect against the elements I guess. Weather can be harsh."

"Why not change it then?"

Vino looked at me seriously wondering about it. I had to laugh at that moment by how serious he was being.

"Because we don't live in a space station like you guys," I explained, "We can't just turn up the thermometer. Besides. Clothing isn't so bad. For real. You get to see people's personalities through fashion."

"What does Kaden's clothes say about him?" Vino asked.

It was odd seeing Vino in Kaden's clothes. Just the mention of Kaden and I immediately felt this urge of regret. Maybe that was why my father hadn't responded to anything he said. The only expression that my father had on his face was disappointment when I told him that I had to abandon Kaden on the Antlien spacestation. He was disappointed in me. He had a right to be disappointed in me. I had abandoned my brother. He wasn't my blood but after all these years he was the closest person I had to me.

When Vino asked me that about Kaden I took a look at Vino's outfit. Vino had on Kaden's polo. He had Kaden's slim fit Levy jeans and Kaden's Timberland boots.

"It says that Kaden was a clean cut person. He was...well groomed. He was a good person. That's what his clothes say about his personality. He is the best person that I know."

I bent my head down. I was trying not to get emotional. God knows if Kaden was still alive. God knows what the Antlien's had done to him. He had betrayed them because of me. He had betrayed them for Earth. The Antliens didn't seem like the type of people to just go around handing free passes for treason. I had seen what they had done to Elder Gree and the other rebels.

Vino nodded, "Kaden's lucky."

"Why is that?"

"To have someone like you around to care about him," Vino replied smiling back at me, "He's extremely lucky."

Vino shot me a stare across the room.

"I'm the lucky one."

Just at that moment my mother walked in the room. She had a turkey. I had no doubt my mother would have gone all out when I came home. She seemed to have been panicking by the way she looked. She definitely seemed like she was on urge. She couldn't stop smiling as she walked in the room and saw me sitting there. Even though she was smiling I could tell she seemed a little bit disappointed that both her sons weren't sitting at this table.

"More water baby?" She stated walking over my shoulder.

"No. Thanks."

"You should drink more water. God knows you've been through a lot," my mother said.

"You're embarrassing me...just a little."

Vino laughed, "You should cherish a relationship like that. Antliens don't have parents in the same way that humans do. Not anymore we don't at least. We all came from the Queen."

My mother looked over at him. There was a nervousness.

"How many are there of you?"

The question hadn't come from my mother. She seemed clearly way too nervous around Vino. She had poured him a glass and quickly took a seat across from us. The question had came from my father. He walked into my room. My father was always a stern, cold man. He always wore a suit...even in the house. He walked into the house meaning business. It was so strange how different my parents were. My mother was always overbearing and my father was always distant, lost in his work.

He sat at the table and he looked over at Vino. At this point my father didn't even seem to see me there. He was staring at Vino studying him. I noticed the holster underneath the table. My father had brought his weapon to the table. I was sure Vino noticed it too because he turned to me. From the training that I had seen on the space station the Antlien boys were well versed in weapons.

"Several thousand."

"That's it?" my father asked.

"That's all that is needed," Vino replied to my father sternly, "To destroy the earth that is."

"Is that a threat?"

"Dad!"

I couldn't believe he was giving Vino this run down. My father's hand had reached into his holster at that moment. He was looking very uneasy. I could tell that he was itching to take Vino down. I had no doubt that my father had been well trained in whatever secret agency that he worked for. I had no doubt my father could take Vino down easily. It was making me nervous to think about it.

"Billy he's not from here," my father told me as though he was giving me some sort of breaking news, "What makes you think you can trust him?"

"He's a friend," I replied.

Vino turned me as though he wasn't expecting me to say something like that. He seemed touched by it. I was glad that he felt that way. I put my hand on his hand his shoulder as he sat next to me. Vino had been with me since the beginning.

"He's an alien," my father replied.

My mother turned around. I could tell she wasn't the type to get too involved in serious business. She had never been too serious.

I knew that I would have to stand up to my father alone about this.

"I have been the Alien...when I was with them," I explained to my father, "Vino treated me well. If he could treat your son well while I was an alien, why can't you do the same?"

My father finally was looking at me. He finally took his attention off of Vino. He took his hands off of the holster underneath the table and put them on the table. In the next few minutes he started to eat quietly and I took a deep breath feeling as though he had loosened his reigns even a little bit.

"You've matured so well," my mother stated smiling across the table at me.

I had to smile. I honestly agreed. I was a mess before I had been abducted. I had been a fucking loser who wasn't going anywhere fast. Now here I was feeding logic to my father of all people. Usually it would have been Kaden at this table making sense. He was the talker. He was the logical one.

My father shook his head, "You've done well Billy. I'll give that to you. You were smart finding a way back here. You'll get a metal for this one day."

"Does that mean you have a way of stopping them?" I asked.

"That's classified Billy."

"Dad. I've been through hell trying to get back here and warn you. I don't know who you work for. I don't know what you do. But this involves me now. I need an explanation."

"Not with him here..." my father stated.

He was looking at Vino. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was still uncomfortable.

"I'm not your enemy sir," Vino explained.

"You are all my enemies."

"Even Kaden?" I asked, "Because Kaden is one of them."

"Kaden's different."

"No he's not," I stated, "Dad. I came to you for help. If you don't tell me what's going on I'm going to anyone who will listen. I'll tell reporters. I'll tell blogs. I'll tell everyone about the Antliens."

"Billy!" my dad looked annoyed at that moment. His lips tightened up and he sent a harsh, stern message across the table, "We have to keep this classified Billy. Do you understand what kind of panic this would start?"

Vino was the one who responded, "With all due respect sir. If you don't have a way to stop the Antliens...it won't matter how much panic you humans do or don't do. You'll all be wiped out."

My dad crossed his arms.

He put down his fork.

"I have a way."

"What way?"

"I can't say," he replied, "But you'll have to believe we've known of the Antlien threat for some time. It is no coincidence that Kaden lives with me. We've known about your people for a while now and we know about your Queen. We've prepared."

My father was being so secretive. I looked over at Vino. I should have known that Vino and I weren't going to get anything out of him.

"Dad. I need to help Kaden."

"You should have helped him by bringing him back."

Was he blaming me? Was he blaming me for leaving Kaden there? I looked at my father at that moment as he talked. I was always the fuck up in the family. I was always the one who didn't do anything right. Even without him saying it I knew that he was blaming me for not bringing Kaden back with me.

"He may still be alive," I responded.

"But he's not safe."

"The Antliens may spare him..."

"You don't get it. Not from the Antliens, Billy. From us."

There he was beating around the bush again. Vino looked nervous. He should have been. The Antliens were thinking the humans were so defenseless but clearly they must have been wondering about the people that my father worked for if they were trying to get information from my father.

What did my father know? What was my father keeping from us?

"You're not going to hurt Kaden...are you?" I asked.

My father shook his head, "If he is with them when he comes I don't know if I can protect him. You have to understand Billy that this is bigger than us. If I could save your brother. I would. You know I love him. And I know you love your brother. You shouldn't have returned without him. You shouldn't have."

My mother put her hand on my father's hand. I don't know if she was trying to support him or calming him down by that gesture. I was pissed. This man was really blaming me for leaving Kaden. He had no idea what I had been through. I didn't know why the tears came at that moment but they just started to come.

He was right. He was fucking right.

I should have never let go of Kaden during the orgy. I should have never let him get taken away. I should have been there for Kaden. I should have been there to protect him.

"I'm sorry to intrude..." Vino stated again.

My father looked at him, "Go ahead. Your people haven't had problems intruding in the past. Seems like nothing has changed here. What do you have to say?"

Vino looked over at me. I felt sick to my stomach at this table. Maybe he noticed it. I never really saw an Antlien cry. I wondered if he understood the emotion that I was having. I wondered if he understood what tears meant.

Vino took a deep breath, "It's my fault that your son Kaden was left there."

"Come again."

"I convinced Billy to abandon him. I felt like it was more important for us to get here and warn you. Billy is a good person. He is in love with Kaden. He would never do anything to hurt him."

My mouth got wide all of a sudden.

My father looked over at me, "In love with Kaden?"

Shit. SHIT!

Vino had no idea what the hell he was saying. I could tell by the look on his face. He was being honest. I guess all that training the Antliens did in understanding humans they still didn't capture the subtle differences of loving someone and being in love with them. Vino seemed to be really thinking he was helping me out here but he had just opened pandora's box. I looked at my mother and father.

My mother started choking on her water.

My father's face had changed from a glare to a grimace.

Fuck!

"What's he talking about Billy?" my mother asked.

I was breathing hard. I was more nervous facing my parents about this than I was talking about the invasion of an Alien race. This seemed like the hardest thing that I had to do.

I didn't know how to respond to them about this.

"Kaden and I...got...close during abduction," I told them.

"Close...how?"

"It's hard to explain."

"Is sexual intercourse hard to explain for humans?" Vino asked me.

"VINO! You aren't helping----"

My mother dropped her glass. It shattered into a million pieces on the floor.

"I'm sorry I'll clean that up," my mother was saying.

"Leave it," my father told my mother, "And why don't you go entertain our guest in the other room. I'd like to speak to my son alone."

My mother, being the obedient wife did what my father said. Vino shot me over a look seeming confused as ever. He honestly had no idea what he just did by telling my parents what happened between us. I guess things had been different when Kaden and I were with the Antliens. It wasn't hard to tell that Kaden and I were acting in a way that didn't seem synonymous to a brotherly relationship there. It wasn't hard for Vino to pick up just how close we were.

The fact that he said things now just seemed to wreck everything.

"Follow me," my father told me aggressively.

I followed him quietly and my father lead me out to the porch.

The night was young outside. The stars in the sky were glittering and glistening above us. I could see feel my father's presence over me even with me looking at him. I felt like shit. The secretive man of mystery perched on the railing on the porch. He looked up at the stars.

It was a few minutes before he said anything.

"I don't blame you," my father stated.

"Huh?"

"I should have told you a long time ago that Kaden and you weren't blood relatives," my father explained to me, "He knew of course. There were certain things Kaden and I shared that you didn't know. There were certain things I even kept from Kaden. I apologize for that."

It was rare to hear my father apologizing.

"I understand."

"Maybe I could it would have avoided the complicated relationship you two had growing up," my father explained to me, "I always knew that deep inside he knew you two weren't blood relatives. I wondered if that would make sense to an Alien race that some people are off limits."

"Whoa. Dad, this isn't Kaden's fault."

He shook his head, "I'm not saying that. I'm just saying, regardless of whether the two of you are blood or not, that is your brother."

"I know that."

"Then act like it," my father explained, "Falling in love ---- with your brother?"

"You think I wanted to?" I asked him, "That's why it's called falling. When was the last time you had control of falling before. Honestly does it matter? Aren't there more pressing things to think of---like this invasion. Maybe we can talk about the fact that Kaden is still with them? Put things into perspective here..."

He nodded, "You're right. But this conversation isn't over."

"I understand."

My father was just waiting to chew me out on the matter. I never thought an invasion would be a good excuse to run away from a very embarrassing conversation.

"Right now. I just want him back. I'll drop my feelings. I'll drop everything, Dad. I just need him back here. I need him back here please..."

My emotion was as dark as the night.

"Go to bed. And keep your alien close..." my father stated.

I nodded, "Goodnight."

"Billy?"

"Yes?"

"I'll think of a way," my father explained, "I'll think of a way to save him. And we'll be finishing this conversation afterward."

I nodded and walked away.

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A few days had passed. Vino had been sleeping in a guest room. It felt weird to be back home really. I thought I would have been so happy but I wasn't. I kept thinking about Kaden. I kept thinking about the upcoming invasion. My father refused to tell me anything about it. He refused to break any sort of news about it.

My father was away for the majority of the time. When he did come home he seemed desperate and he barely slept. I could tell he was on edge. He still didn't come to me or Vino though. He still didn't ask for any help. Maybe he didn't trust Vino. Hell...maybe he didn't trust me for that matter to be of any use to him.

Strange men came to visit the house often. My father had warned us that they would come in advance. The men never really said anything. They came in and gave me a physical to make sure that I was right. They asked Vino some strange questions about his people. They were always very secretive about their work. They always seemed very unfriendly. I didn't complain though. I knew it could be much worse.

It wasn't until the third day that my father told me that I could leave the house and get some fresh air. I wasn't surprised that when I jumped a car and left to go take Vino to a bar that a car was following behind us.

"We're being followed," Vino stated.

I nodded, "I know. It's ok. They're just scared."

"Scared about me?" Vino asked.

"How the tables turn huh?" I asked him, "When I was up there with you guys Shin was following me around everywhere. Think about it."

Vino laughed, "I guess we aren't so different after all huh?"

"I guess not."

We had ended up at a bar. I wasn't surprised when two black cars parked outside the bar. I needed a drink. I had never had one when I went up with the Antliens. It was the middle of the day. After all the shit I had been through I just needed a fucking drink. I needed to let loose a little bit.

"What's this place?" Vino asked.

I sat on a stool and Vino took a seat next to me. Vino was still wearing Kaden's clothes and I had to admit that everything about him kind of reminded me of Kaden. It was actually really crazy.

"It's a bar."

"I've seen videos about these places."

I laughed, "It's nothing like experiencing them first hand."

"What's the function of one? How is it productive?" Vino asked me.

"The function is getting people drunk," I stated and laughed at that moment, "Of course that's only if it's a good bar though."

"How do you know if it's a good bar?"

"See that guy right there."

I nodded across at a drunk guy who was across the bar. The guy was clearly wasted.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's nice and drunk. That's how you know it's a good bar. There should always be at least one LUSH in a bar at all hours of the day."

Vino smiled, "Looks like fun."

"Let's order some shots."

I looked over at the bartender and waved my hand. In the next few minutes the bartender came over and I ordered a round of tequila shots. Vino was staring at me the whole time. I could tell he wasn't used to being around humans like this. The bartender came over and Vino seemed to be studying him too. The bartender looked like shit.

"That's called a belly," I told Vino.

The bartender dropped the shots, "You calling me fat?"

"My friend's from out of town," I told the bartender, "Just explaining things to him."

The bartender looked over at my friend, "They don't got fat people where you from?"

Vino shook his head, "No. I've seen them...in books though. I've read about them in my studies. It's amazing. So intriguing."

The bartender shot me a stare, "Better be careful. This big boy might end up taking your man. You heard him. He's intrigued."

"He's not my man---and he's not intrigued in that way," I stated, "Less talk. Give me another round of shots. All this long talking is taking away from your tip."

The bartender grumbled under his voice at that moment before heading back to work.

I looked over at Vino, "You can't say you are intrigued by someone."

"Why?"

"We're in a gay bar. These gays see someone like you they go crazy. They may think you're flirting with them or something like that."

Vino laughed, "There's a lot of shit I don't know huh? Honestly thought I was the top of my class when it came to Homo-sapien studies."

"Homosexuals are a whole different beast."

Vino laughed, "Is that what you are?"

I nodded, "Yeah. I like men."

"I like men too."

"It's a little different. You guys don't have any females. You don't know any different."

"I've seen women before...in my studies. I find them intriguing," Vino stated, "But not attractive. I like men. You know...like you..."

Vino stared at me hard. It was that stare that he always gave me. I couldn't help but to smile at him at that moment. Vino was looking over at me with this beautiful look. God this boy was amazing. His olive skin glittered like gold in the bar. His eyes were like milk when he stared at me sometimes. I had to admit I found him so attractive and seeing him among humans just made him look even more attractive.

Just at that moment I recognized people that I know walk into the bar.

"Is that Billy Bad Ass Williams?"

I was shocked. Oh my god.

"Tom and Vinny. What the fuck!"

I couldn't help myself from greeting my friends as they walked into the bar. I hugged Tom tight almost immediately. I almost wanted to cry. I missed Tom's gap tooth. I missed Vinny's annoying body odor. They were just normal guys just like me. Seeing them almost made me want to break down.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Vinny asked me.

I shook my head. They didn't want to know.

"Out of town."

"Man you could have told someone," Tom explained, "You just up and leave. You didn't answer your phone or nothing."

"I didn't have signal where I was."

Tom looked over at Vinny, "There's places that don't have signals?"

Vinny shrugged, "Um...Africa?"

My faced got red. I couldn't believe I hung out with these two idiots really. They had to have been the dumbest people that I knew. Still talking to them really made me feel at ease. I wasn't thinking about an invasion right now. For this very moment I just wanted to get drunk and drown in the sorrows I had about leaving Kaden back on the space station. For this moment I just wanted to be dumb...just like Vinny and Tom.

They were the perfect people to be around right now.

I nodded, "Right. That's where I was. Africa."

"And you must have brought home an African prince. Oh...my...god..." Tom stated.

I watched as they caught eye of Vino. I think their tongues literally dropped out of their mouths. I adjusted Vinny's face at that moment. I felt like I literally had to pick his face up off the floor.

"Nice to meet you," Vino stated reaching out his hand.

Tom grabbed Vino's hand. He literally wouldn't let go, "The pleasure's all mine..."

I literally had to pry Tom's hand off of Vino.

"Sorry about my friends."

"No need to apologize," Vino stated, "Any friend of Billy is a friend of mine. Isn't that how the saying goes?"

Tom nodded, "So how do you two know each other?"

"We met...in Africa like you said," I explained, "Morocco to be exact."

I had to admit. Vinny did look he was Moroccan. He had that olive skin. The straight hair. The round lips. He definitely had that North African beauty to him.

"Friends?" Vinny asked.

He was so fucking thirsty. I knew I wasn't a 10 on the scale like Vino or Kaden but my friends were not the lookers. The fact that they thought they could pull someone like Vino, alien or not, blew my mind. They were reaching for the stars here...literally.

"Boyfriends," Vino stated, "Isn't that what you guys say?"

"Not exactly," I told Vino.

"I'm pretty sure that's how the saying goes," Vino stated.

At that moment Vino leaned down and held my hand. I was actually shocked when he did it. His hand cuffed my hand. He held it for a moment. It was at that moment that I realized Vino knew a little bit more than he was letting on. I wondered if he was trying to play dumb about the whole 'boyfriend' thing.

I had to admit it was charming the way he did it.

The look of disappointment on Tom and Vinny's face really was priceless at that moment, "Damn. I need a drink now. Shots for everyone."

Tom was just staring at me as though I had just stolen his dreams, "How come you always are surrounded by these sexy guys? You got this PHYNE prince on your shoulder and sexy Kaden is your brother."

"Where is Kaden?" Vinny asked, "I haven't seen him around either..."

"He's away," I stated before quickly trying to change the subject, "Let's get shots."

Even them bringing up Kaden just made me want to drink. Before I knew it I was downing those things as fast as I could. I hadn't even paid attention to Vino standing next to me watching me do it.

I was depressed really. I couldn't take my mind off the fact that I had left Kaden. I couldn't take the fact that he wasn't here with me right now. I should have never left. I didn't know what I was thinking. It was the worst thing that I had ever done in my life leaving him like that.

"You don't drink?" Tom asked.

He was looking at Vino. He was right. Vino hadn't drunk his shot yet.

"I um...I never had one of those," Vino stated, "Don't know what kind of effect it may have."

"You're right," I stated, "Don't chance it."

"Bullshit," Vinny replied, "I remember Billy Bad Ass saying one time that he did not date men who didn't drink. He said men who didn't drink weren't men at all!"

Shit. Vinny was so annoying bringing up some bullshit conversation we had when I was drunk in some dive bar one time.

Vino looked over at me, "You said that?"

"I was immature," I stated, "Clearly..."

I mean. Look at who my friends were.

"Hand me that shot," Vino stated.

"Vino you don't have to take that," I stated.

"Yes he does," Tom replied patting me on the back, "He wants to be the kind of man you like. That is so romantic! Why can't I find a man."

"Cause your desperate. Vino. You don't have to take that drink. Like you said you don't know what would happen."

"What's the worst that can happen?"

=============================================================

2 hours later Vino was in his underwear. He was hunched over me and kissing all over me in the middle of the bar.

"Vino...Vino stop...we should...we should stop..."

Everyone in the bar was watching. At a normal bar they would have kicked a guy out. At this bar it had turned into a some sort of sex show or something. People had literally formed a circle around us to see Vino sticking his tongue down my throat and grinding on me.

Vino was reaching his hands down my pants. He was grabbing at my dick. I literally had to push his hand away. It wasn't a minute later before Vino was taking his own dick out. The gay guys were LOVING this.

Vino slapped his hard dick against my chest. I tried to calm him down by pushing him on the chair but Vino wrapped his legs around me taking me down with him.

HE WAS BEYOND DRUNK after just one shot! It was not wearing off anytime soon either.

"I need to go to Morocco..." Tom whispered to Vinny.

I rolled my eyes at them.

Vino was reaching his hands down my pants. He was grabbing at my dick. I literally had to push his hand away. It wasn't a minute later before Vino was taking his own dick out.

"Vino. Please, please stop."

"Oh my god look..." Tom pointed out.

"Tom you are not helping," I replied.

"No. Not that. Look at the TV. Hey ... hey turn that up!"

I had stood up at that moment finally peeling Vino off me to see what Tom was talking about. Everyone had stopped looking at Vino and I. They had turned to the screen. This was one of those bars that had multiple televisions hanging from the wall. They were all different channels.

One channel usually played football. One channel usually played music videos. One channel usually played the Real Housewives. It covered all the different type of gays.

All channels seemed to be flashing with breaking news.

The reporter was speaking frantically, "It seems as though a very large vessel...about the size of Manhattan is descending from the sky in Roswell, New Mexico. The coastguard has been moved to place. We haven't had any word from officials on just what this vessel is. We don't know if this is friendly or not. What we do know is that this vessel doesn't appear to be from this world."

I looked at the screen. There were different angles of the station that was floating in the sky. With all the different angles one thing had become very clear.

I looked at Vino. Even in his drunken stupor he seemed to understand.

"They're here."

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