Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2016 02:58:24 +0000 From: Douglas DD Subject: Aiden Chapter 19 Thanks for returning. Aiden isn't certain how to deal with his horny cousin and isn't certain how to bring up sensitive topics to his uncles. But he manages to deal with both, even if he doesn't yet understand what it all means. Please donate to the Nifty Archive. Help keep the stories coming. CHAPTER 19 COUSINS Aiden sat in the multi-purpose room, occupying the chair at the front window. "This is my watching spot," he explained to Gordon, who had taken a chair from the dining room so he could sit next to his friend. "When somebody is coming, I like to watch for them. I watched for you the first time you came." He didn't tell Gordon about the time he waited in his foster home for his uncles to come, wishing they would never arrive because he hated them before he'd even met them. "So, Chase helped you to play with yourself all the way?" Gordon asked. He wanted to confirm what Aiden had told him while they were up in his bedroom dressing. Aiden looked around to make sure his uncles/dads weren't within listening distance. "He showed me how to do it and helped me do it. Like I told you, Gordy, there's nothing in the world that feels better than that did." "But you haven't done it again?" Aiden shook his head. "I need some of the lotion like Chase has." "Don't your uncles have any?" "I'm afraid to ask." "So, just borrow some. They won't know you used it." Aiden nodded, which was his way of telling Gordon he'd thought of doing that. "Do you have to use lotion?" Gordon asked. "It makes it feel better. I've tried it without lotion, but I just can't get there." What Aiden didn't know was that he didn't have the incredible sexual urges brought on by hormones and puberty. In other words, just like his friend, Aiden simply didn't get horny enough to masturbate under any conditions. Aiden jumped out of his seat when he saw the silver SUV slow on the highway and turn into the driveway. He was dashing out of the door before the SUV had rolled to a stop. Chase hopped out of the back seat as soon as the vehicle came to a halt. The two preteen cousins danced around each other and then shared a big hug. Chase kissed Aiden on his right cheek, causing Aiden to hug his older cousin even tighter. He wished Chase had kissed him on his lips. "I take it you two are happy to see each other," Troy said as he exited the vehicle. "He's my long lost cousin," Chase bubbled. "Of course I'm happy to see him." "It's like Chase said," Aiden agreed. Gordon looked at the two cousins like they'd lost their minds. He had a couple of cousins close to his age who lived farther away from him than Chase lived from Aiden, but they didn't dance and kiss like they were girlfriends or something. Phil and Larry met Troy at the front door. The boys followed the adults into the house. Phil had laid out sandwiches and provided a pitcher of iced lemonade for the boys and coffee for the adults. Lunch was served. After lunch, the adults retired to the back of the multi-purpose room where they could discuss family business while enjoying the view of the lake from the picture windows. The boys headed for Aiden's room. "Your room is really cool," Chase observed. "It looks like you live in it." "How can you tell it's me living in it?" Aiden asked skeptically. "I dunno, I just can. It has soccer posters, and baseball posters, and your computer, and all of your books on the shelves, and your toys, and your clothes lying around; but the biggest clue is...," he looked up at the shelf above the desk, "...Horace." Aiden was pleased that Chase had noticed Horace. "Wait here, I'm going to the car to get something." "Where would we go?" Aiden asked. Chase ignored him and dashed out of the room. "What did he go to get?" Gordon asked. "No clue." They found out quickly when Chase returned carrying a stuffed bulldog. "Hercules has really been excited about meeting Horace," he announced as he placed the dog on the shelf next to the donkey. "That is a perfect pairing," he grinned. He didn't feel at all embarrassed about bringing his dog. He'd been ignoring his stuffed animals, but his long-lost cousin had revived his interest, especially in Hercules, whom he was sleeping with for the first time in months. Chase sat on Aiden's bed and checked out the two nine-year-olds. He thought they were both sexy cute, especially for a couple of little kids—he considered anybody under ten to be a little kid. But his cousin had acted much older than nine the night he stayed over, which helped Chase see him in a different light. "What do we want to do?" Chase asked. "Do you have any games?" He looked around the room. "You need a TV to make this room perfect." His eleven-year-old mind was jumping in multiple directions. He knew what he really wanted to do, but he figured it wasn't going to happen. "Gordon wants to learn to jerk off," Aiden told his cousin like it wasn't any more unusual than announcing that Gordon wanted to learn how to throw a curve ball. "No shit," Chase grinned. "You mean Aiden hasn't shown you?" he asked Gordon. "I haven't really wanted to do it until Aiden told me how good it felt to do it all the way." "No duh. Why didn't you show him, cuz?" "I didn't have no...um...any lotion." Aiden was starting to catch his grammatical faux pas even when his uncles weren't around. "You don't need lotion to jerk off—it just helps make it feel better and go faster." "Still, you're older and you can show us both stuff." Aiden looked at Gordon and said, "Chase says this is almost like doing sex, especially if you do it to each other." Chase was becoming very horny as his pubescent hormones boiled through his system. "Sex needs kissing, too." "You kissed him when you got out of the car," Gordon said. "That was a friendly peck for my cuz." Chase beckoned Aiden to sit next to him on the bed. He looked his cousin in the eye, put his arms around him, pulling him close, and kissed the younger boy on the mouth. Aiden felt his heart rate speed up as warm chills shot through his slender little body. "THAT is a sexy kiss," Chase informed Gordon. "But it's not a French kiss," Aiden said knowledgably. "Have you guys kissed for real?" Gordon asked. He had the same feeling jolt through him that he got when he watched Sammy and the big teens jerk off at the skinny dipping party the day before school started. "Just once so Chase could show me how it's done. But, it wasn't a French kiss." "French kisses are the best," Chase expounded. "I've done a lot of French kissing." "With girls?" Gordon asked. Aiden already knew the answer. Chase blushed. He hadn't expected that question. Aiden knew whom he'd kissed, but he'd forgotten that Gordon might be curious enough to ask. "They've just been practice kisses," Chase said, hoping that would stop the questioning. "Chase told me he'd show me how to French kiss," Aiden told his friend. "You know, for practice, like our first kiss was." "You can practice now," Gordon said. He was eager to see what sex stuff was all about. It never occurred to him that what they were talking about was gay sex, like what Larry and Phil did, or the queer faggot stuff that Barry had sneered at. What they were talking about was learning how to do sex type stuff and practicing it. Aiden looked hopefully at Gordon, who had a big grin on his face. "Okay, I'll show you how it's done," Chase said. "But it's just for practice, right?" "Right," the two younger boys agreed. "I want you to put your lips against mine," he told Aiden. "When you do, you open your mouth some and then I'll do the same and I'll push my tongue in your mouth." "Eww, that's nasty," Gordon said. Aiden thought the same thing, but he wanted to do it and to show his older cousin that he was grown up when it came to sexy things, just like he'd been when they had jerked each other off. Once again, Aiden awkwardly pressed his lips against his cousin's. It felt really nice. He closed his eyes, thinking it would help things feel better. He wondered how having Chase's tongue in his mouth could make it feel any better, but he was determined to find out. He opened his mouth as instructed and felt Chase tilt his head a little as he opened his mouth. Then a jolt shot through him as his older cousin's tongue moved past his teeth and pushed on his own tongue. Aiden moaned with pleasure and surprise. "His tongue and spit are going in your mouth." Gordon said, more to himself than to his friend. "Nailed," he added as the scene that he thought was gross made his little cock rock hard. Chase pulled Aiden tightly to him and let his tongue move around the younger boy's mouth. His pubescent hormones were flowing freely now. He reached down and put his fingers around the hard bulge in Aiden's shorts. Aiden issued a long groan as he reached the point of sensory overload. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Downstairs, the adults were finishing their conversation about family matters. "Like I said, I haven't heard from Keegan since before Aiden's mother passed away," Troy reminded Larry and Phil. "It's been over six months." "We have to find him somehow," Phil said. "We're going to need him to sign the documents if we want to adopt Aiden. He has taken being the black sheep son to new lows. It was almost acceptable when he was a boy, but he's over forty now. You'd think he'd have things figured out by now." "That's not how addiction works," Larry pointed out. "I know, but I can wish it was." "Are you sure about adopting him?" Troy asked. "I mean, he's only been living with you for just over a month, after all." "Are you looking out for the interests of your nephew? Do you want him living with you?" Phil asked with a bit of edge to his voice. "Don't be stupid, Phil; we're not kids anymore. It's been a long time since we've taken sincere comments personally." Phil looked chagrined after his brother's rebuke. "But, to answer your question, of course I am looking out for the interests of my nephew, and that is nothing against you two. Aiden is obviously happy here and I have no problem with him living with you two. It's just that once things are put into motion, it will be difficult to turn back." Larry felt he needed to step between the two brothers. "I want to say this. Yes, the time we've known him has been just a few weeks. But I have never loved anybody, except for the man sitting next to me, as much as I love that boy. I cannot believe the feeling I've developed for him." He took a deep breath and went on. "When we first took him in he was sullen and ill-tempered. Phil and I both wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into. But now, I can't imagine this house without him in it. When you get beneath the understandable anger that he carries, our nephew is a very bright boy with a surprisingly positive outlook on things. We love him, and we sincerely believe he loves us. He has told us he wants to be our son and even calls us his dads—or at least he is starting to. I want to be part of his growing up and I want to help him as a parent to succeed in life." "Amen," Phil said. "My hubby said it all." Troy had received the type of answer he had expected to get. He knew how his brother and his brother-in-law felt, but the lawyer in him wanted to hear it. He knew that what he had just heard came directly from the heart. He couldn't imagine his young nephew getting a better home than with the gay couple he loved so much. "Even if Keegan can't be found, there are ways for you to finalize an adoption. You're going to need a good family lawyer," Troy told them. "I know a couple in Seattle I wouldn't hesitate to recommend, but I don't know any lawyers down here." "I'll talk to George Bednarzyk," Larry said. "Family law is not his thing, but he'll know who to recommend." "Things have certainly gotten quiet upstairs," Phil mused. "And with anything boys do, that could signify something good, bad, or something...well...something intimate," Troy said. "Or something in between," Larry laughed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Upstairs, Chase and Aiden were lying on Aiden's bed facing each other. Chase had unzipped Aiden's shorts and had his hand inside of his cousin's briefs, rubbing his little two-inch peg as he continued to show the nine-year- old the proper way to kiss, at least as far as he knew it. Gordon had dropped his jeans to the floor and pulled his briefs half-way down his thighs as he watched the sexy scene in front of him. He wasn't sure about the kissing, but watching Chase masturbate his best friend was a total turn-on for him. Chase broke his sloppy kiss with his cousin and unbuckled and unbuttoned his own jeans. He rolled to his right and sat up on the bed, pulling the jeans down to his ankles. His hard pubescent cock was sticking out of the opening in his boxers. Gordon was standing in front of him masturbating, which sent a new flurry of shivers through his body. The back of his mind told him that the nine-year-old's cock was almost as long as his, but was skinnier. He also noticed that the boy was uncut, just like his friend Hatcher Jones. The eleven-year-old had taken off his shoes before lunch, so it was easy for him to kick off his jeans and then yank off his boxers. Gordon imitated him and both boys were naked from the waist down. "Are you guys getting naked?" Aiden asked as he wiped the combined saliva of his cousin and himself off of his face. Without waiting for an answer he wiggled out of his shorts and briefs, and then went a step further by pulling off his Lakeview Cougars t-shirt. Except for his socks he was now totally naked. "Fuck, this is so hot," Chase hissed. He stared at Gordon's cock which was just a few feet away from his mouth. "I wanna suck you," he told the nine- year-old. "You mean suck my dick?" Gordon asked in horror. "Yeah." Gordon felt like he had just awakened from a dream. He quickly spun around, hiding his boner but revealing the hot little ass that had intrigued Aiden earlier in the day. He bent down, grabbing his underpants and tried to put them on. Aiden and Chase both ogled at Gordon's exposed pucker. As Chase started to unbutton his shirt, Phil's voice came from the stairway. "How about putting away what you're doing and joining us downstairs." "Fuck," Chase said as Gordon breathed a sigh of relief. "I wonder if we can go down naked," Aiden muttered. "You think?" Chase asked as he finished unbuttoning his shirt. He stood up and took it off. Like Aiden he was now naked except for his socks. "I wish," the nine-year-old said as he swung himself around and sat on the bed, his stockinged feet touching the ground. Chase sat up, bent down so he could reach his cousin's lips, and kissed him. Aiden was ready for what was going to happen as he let Chase's tongue enter his mouth. The two naked boys were pressed tightly together, their young erections touching. Gordon stopped pulling up his underpants and watched the two naked boys make out. "We better get dressed before somebody comes up," said the ever practical boy. "My room is private," Aiden said after breaking the kiss with his cousin. "But we better get dressed and go down so we don't get yelled at." "I want to get naked," Chase insisted. Aiden pulled his briefs off of the bed and put them on. "Maybe later. I wish you could spend the night." "We can always ask," Chase said. "You want to stay, too, Gordy?" "As long as I don't have to kiss anybody or have anybody touch my dick," Gordon replied. "But you'll get naked?" Chase asked. "Please?" Aiden added. "Please is the magic word." Gordon nodded as he pulled up his jeans. The other two boys got dressed as well. Just before opening the bedroom door, Chase got in one more kiss. He had developed a huge crush on his young cousin, which meant he now had crushes on Hatcher, Braeden, Stephen, who were his age, as well as his cousin Aiden, who was two years younger than himself. By the time the boys entered the downstairs multi-purpose room the nine- year-olds had lost their hard-ons, but Chase was still quite horny. He adjusted himself before walking through the entryway, hoping his father and two uncles wouldn't notice. Two out of three didn't, but Phil managed to catch the outline of his nephew's erection before he plopped down on the loveseat. "What's up?" Chase asked in his preadolescent manner—polite with an edge. He was unhappy at having his sexual experience interrupted. It certainly wasn't the first time adults had brought an end to his sex. "It's time for you boys to join the men," Troy said. "We're going to play Cribbage." "I don't know how to play," Aiden lamented. "We're going to teach you." "It's easy," Chase told him. "I beat my dad all the time." Troy gave his son a look that said he might want to quit exaggerating. "Well, maybe I beat him sometimes," he grudgingly admitted. While they thought Gordon and Aiden might be a bit young for the game, the adults also knew they were bright boys and would catch on to the basics of the game if not the strategy. The three adults, along with Chase, taught the two younger boys the game, and soon they were playing and having fun. Aiden caught on quickly, but Gordon needed help with his counting and scoring. Chase sat next to him, giving him extra help. He was tempted to grope Aiden's best friend, but doubted he could get away with it, so he stuck to cards. As the boys tired of the game, Aiden brought up the subject that had been discussed in his room. "Do you think Chase and Gordy can spend the night?" he asked. "Not tonight," Larry told him. Aiden instantly went into sulk mode. "Why not?" he whined before Larry could explain his reasons. "One reason is Chase and I are heading home after we have dinner," Troy explained. "Reason number two is we want more warning where Gordon is concerned," Larry said. "Why? Gordy lives close by and we spent the night together before," Aiden huffed. "The reason why is so we can plan and so Gordon's parents can plan." "So when can Gordy spend the night?" "How about next weekend if his parents are good with it." Gordy hung his head. "We're going to visit my aunt and uncle next weekend. They live in Spokane and we're spending the night," he said sadly. "We'll get something figured out real soon," Larry assured his nephew. "Promise?" Aiden asked defiantly. Larry stared his nephew down. "Son, I am hoping you've figured out by now that when we say we're going to do something, that is as good as a promise." "Yes, sir," the chastened young boy said quietly. Then he instantly perked back up and asked, "What about Chase?" "That's going to take some work because of the distance," Troy said. "but just like with your uncles..., no, make that just like your dads," he grinned, "we'll get something figured out." Dinner ended up being pizza at The Bear. Aiden was happy that Gordon had been included. Larry asked for a large table when they arrived. Seventeen-year-old Jerry Curtis, who was the owner's nephew and a senior at Mayfield High School, set two tables together to give them the room they needed. Chase couldn't help but notice the looks the teenager was giving him. The attention made him feel very grown up and sexy. After they started eating, George Bednarzyk came in with his sons Jeffrey and Sammy. Chase and Sammy were very happy to see each other. They had connected at Aiden's birthday party and had kept in contact via texting and online chat. As with Aiden, Sammy wanted to spend a night with Chase. But unlike Aiden, who had many reasons for being with his older cousin, Sammy wanted to be with Chase for just one reason: he knew Chase would be willing to have sex with him. As soon as Sammy sat down, Chase went to his booth and pointed to an empty booth nearby. The two preteens sat across from each other, although they both wished they could be side by side so they could exchange gropes. "You still a virgin?" Sammy asked after a very brief greeting. "Yes." "With boys and girls?" Chase nodded. "You gotta take care of both. I did before I was twelve," the twelve-year-old told the eleven-year-old across from him. "Shit, I took care of it before I was eleven." "I'm trying." "We gotta find a way to spend a night together. I'll take care of your boy virginity." Sammy gave Chase a sensual grin. "Both ways." Their conversation didn't go much farther, but both boys left the booth with budding hard-ons. "That looked like a pretty serious talk," Troy said as Chase sat down. Chase's semi had quickly deflated, much to his relief. "Sammy is pretty cool," Chase told his father. "He even has a girlfriend." Chase thought that would make Sammy seem grown up and mature, which would make him look the same since Sammy was willing to talk to him. "A girlfriend, huh? Sounds very grown-up." Chase nodded as he went back to stuffing pizza into his mouth. "And he must be very cool," Troy went on, "since you picked talking to him over eating pizza." "Daaaaad," Chase snorted as he swallowed his mouthful. Troy grinned, knowing he had just successfully yanked his pubescent son's leg. After eating they piled into Larry's car. He dropped Gordon off and then drove everybody else back to his house. Troy went to the bathroom to take care of business and then thanked his brother and brother-in-law for their hospitality and ruffled his nephew Aiden's hair. "Time to head home," he told his son. They were heading for the door when Chase stopped. "Wait, I have to get Hercules." He looked over at his cousin. "Come on, Aiden, we better go make sure Hercules and Horace have been good." "Be quick," Troy told them as they dashed up the stairs. "And make sure to take a piss." "Pubescent boys," he said to Larry and Phil. "You gotta love them. One moment he is letting me know how grown up he is because he has a new friend who has a girlfriend. The next moment he is running upstairs with his younger cousin to retrieve his stuffed animal. I do hope Aiden becomes your son, because you guys are going to enjoy the ride." "I gather it will be the equivalent of riding a bronco at the rodeo," Phil chuckled. "Good analogy, bro." Upstairs, Chase reached up to the bookshelf over Aiden's desk and took his bulldog down. "I bet Hercules and Horace had sex while we were gone," Chase giggled. "Stuffed animals can't have sex," Aiden told his cousin. "How do you know? Have you ever been able to watch them in an empty room?" "No." "So, you don't know what goes on then." "But they're both boys." "So? That doesn't stop your uncles. And it didn't stop us two times." Aiden took that as a cue to kiss his cousin. It wasn't the chaste kiss they'd shared the morning Chase arrived. It was a wet, sloppy tongue trading kiss, punctuated by Chase pulling down the younger boy's zipper and wriggling his fingers inside Aiden's briefs. The nine-year-old groaned and almost melted in his older cousin's arms. "Chase, let's get a move on," Troy yelled up the stairs, causing Chase to break the kiss. "Guess I gotta go. I had a great time, cuz. You kiss awesome. I better pee, though, or dad will get mad when I say I have to pee bad before we get home," Chase said. "Can I watch?" Aiden asked. His hard cocklet was poking out of his open zipper. "Sure you can watch. I really like you, cuz. I hope we can get that overnight sometime." Chase didn't know who he'd rather sleep with—Aiden or Sammy. He needed to find a way to have an overnight with each of them. Aiden watched his older cousin quickly empty his bladder through his half- hard cock. He wondered why Chase took off his belt and stuffed it down the front of his pants, but he didn't say anything. The nine-year-old was happy he had an older cousin who could teach him stuff. One thing he was determined to do was to teach Gordon what Chase had taught him, and that was how to kiss. He put away his little boner and followed Chase downstairs. Aiden told his uncle and cousin good-bye. Chase hugged his little cousin and then planted a chaste kiss on his smooth, rosy cheek. Aiden gave his older cousin a wide grin. He was a very happy boy—he'd had a great day. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chase buckled himself in behind his father. He wanted to sit in the far back seat to take care of his business, but he knew his father would wonder why he was sitting so far back. Oh well, he thought, I'll just have to be sneaky where I am—at least I know he can't see me here right behind him. He was required to sit in back since he still hadn't reached the minimum height to sit on a front seat with an active airbag. He saw Aiden waving from the front stoop as the SUV backed out of the driveway. He waved back, wondering if his cousin could see him in the darkness. "Did you have a good time?" his father asked as they started down the road to Mayfield where they would meet the highway to Centralia. "I had a great time. I wish I could have stayed the night." He kept talking to keep his father from butting in with his opinion. "I know why I can't, but that doesn't mean I don't wish I could have." "I'm glad you and your new cousin have hit it off," Troy said. And they seem to have hit it off in a big way if I read my horny boys correctly, he thought. "He's pretty cool for a little kid," Chase said magnanimously. Plus, he really kisses good, he thought to himself. After they hit the highway, Chase figured his father would be concentrating on driving. He carefully unbuttoned his jeans and slowly pulled out his belt and laid it beside him on the seat. He then quietly opened his zipper about halfway. Now, I'm ready, he thought. His next step was to put his right hand inside his pants and down into his boxers, feeling his rock hard three-inch boy tool with his fingers. He started manipulating his erection. He knew he had no need to rush—they were almost three hours from home. But he also wanted to finish himself off, both because he was horny and because the quicker he went the less likely his father would wonder what he was doing in the back seat. He closed his eyes and used his index and middle fingers to stimulate himself. He thought about Aiden's awesome kisses. He thought about his kisses with Stephen and Hatcher. Stephen kissed a little bit, but didn't like French kissing ("It's too gay," he kept saying). Hatcher was a really good kisser and liked doing it a lot, but Aiden was better. It was like Aiden was made to French kiss. Braeden refused to kiss when they did sex together, even though he had no problem sucking dick. Hatcher was the best cock sucker he knew. Just like with his kissing, Hatcher really enjoyed giving blow jobs. Thinking of blow jobs made Chase wish he hadn't said anything to Gordon about a blow job, but he was so horny his mouth kind of took off on him. He wondered what Aiden thought of it and if Aiden would do it. Chase was willing to bet that after Aiden had gotten his clothes off he would have been ready to have his dick sucked. It was too bad his dad and uncles had called for them to go downstairs because things had been getting really good. His fingers moved slowly up and down his shaft. He opened his zipper a couple of notches more. His zipper was so close to being all the way down that he pulled it all the way and opened his pants wide. Now his three inches were loose in his boxers and he was able to add his thumb to his manipulations. He knew that if his dad turned around he was dead meat. He needed to go faster. If he had some lotion and a way to apply it he could really speed things up. An idea popped into his head. He removed his hand and quietly covered it with spit. Rubbing his fingers in his saliva, he pushed his hand back into his boxers. His cock jerked at his touch—he was closer than he thought. He tried going fast enough to get the job done, but not so fast he would start making noticeable sounds over the road noise. The spit had been a great idea. He was very close. Images of Aiden and Hatcher kissing each other danced in his head. Then he thought of his own kisses and the feel of his little cousin's soft lips. He imagined Aiden naked, down on his knees, sucking his cock. His body trembled and his boner quivered. He was ready to shoot. The eleven-year-old closed his eyes, rubbed the head of his cock, let out a little squeak, and felt the incredible sensation of orgasm as he shot his clear semen into his boxers. He lay back, enjoying the afterglow of his masturbation session. He had gotten away with being naughty while sitting right behind his father. Now he had to quietly close up his pants. The best and quietest way, he decided, would be to simply button them closed and leave them unzipped. After all, everybody forgot to zip up. Up in the driver's seat, Troy smiled to himself. He had sensed his son's ministrations behind him. When he heard the boy's squeak and change in breathing, he knew exactly what had happened. He had to give Chase credit for his audacity. It wasn't something he would have done at age eleven, but he knew Phil had been that bold as a pubescent boy. Like uncle, like nephew. He would let Chase feel like he'd gotten away with something, at least this time. He had no qualms about telling Phil what he and his nephew had in common. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ When bedtime came, Phil and Larry were surprised when Aiden came downstairs; it was a big change in routine, especially since he was wearing a pair of white briefs. Usually he was naked when he was ready to be tucked into bed. "I'm sleeping with you guys, tonight," Aiden announced, as if it were a done deal. Larry looked at Phil, who gave him a slight nod. "It's fine with us," he told Aiden. "Teeth brushed and flossed?" "And my face is washed and I peed." "I guess we can let you into our bed then." Both men undressed to their boxers, took care of their own evening toilet, and climbed into their bed, placing their nine-year-old ward between them. They didn't turn out the light, wanting to see their young charge as they talked with him. The two men loved having the trusting little boy between them. Their feelings of love were not sexual, but protective and parental. For his part, Aiden loved being between the two athletic men. He loved the warmth they imparted and he loved their smells. A little over a month ago he hated the idea of living with two men who might hurt him. Now he thought he was the luckiest boy in the world because he was going to sleep between two dads who made him feel safe and loved. "This is different," Phil said. "Usually you like to sneak down in the dark to sleep with us," "That's because I can't sleep and feel all lonely and need to be with you. This time I don't feel lonely; I had a fun day," Aiden said in his usual matter- of-fact style. "That's good to hear." "I have some things I want to ask you. You and Uncle Troy talked about adopting me, right?" "Yes, we did," Larry answered. "Are you going to do it?" "Do you want us to?" Aiden nodded. "You're my dads." As far as he was concerned that answered the question. He was ready to move on to his next question. This one scared him some since he didn't yet know his new dads well enough to be certain how they would react. From what he knew so far he was pretty sure of their reaction, but the nature of his question gave him some doubts. It didn't help that just the act of making his request of two adults was a bit embarrassing. "Do you think I can have some lotion in my room for my skin?" Phil knew it would be totally wrong to laugh at Aiden's request and he fought down the urge. He simply said, "We have a spare bottle which we'll give to you tomorrow." He and Larry knew why the young boy wanted the lotion and they understood that asking him about it or making any comments would totally embarrass him. He obviously had a great deal of trust in them to even ask the question and they weren't about to lose that trust. Aiden was surprised by the simple answer. He was expecting a lot of questions as to why he wanted the lotion. The unconditional acceptance of his request made his trust level go up another notch. That led him to his third question, which was even more embarrassing than the second one. He thought about not asking it, but before he could stop himself he asked it in a quiet, uncertain voice. "Do you think I'm gay?" "I think you're Aiden," was Larry's simple reply. Aiden was irked by Larry's answer. He felt like his uncle/dad wasn't taking him seriously. "I'm serious," he said forcefully. "So am I," Larry said. "You're nine years old. Phil and I didn't worry about that when we were your age. Hell, we didn't even know what gay meant." "I want you to answer my question." "Give me a chance, here. I did answer it. Right now, to us, you're Aiden. Don't worry about being anything else. I am surmising you're asking this because you've been playing around with other boys some. It's something all boys do. I did when I was your age, but that's all it was—playing around." Aiden didn't acknowledge Larry's comment about playing around with his friends. "But you two are gay." "That realization didn't start hitting us until we reached puberty. Right now, what you are doing is learning about your body, even if you're doing it a bit younger than some." "I French kissed a boy," Aiden confessed, hoping that would elicit a yes or no answer to his question. "And I'm sure you'll do it again. As long as nobody forces you to do something, what you're doing is harmless and fun." "So, do you think I'm gay or not gay?" "Like I said, I think you're Aiden. But anytime you're not sure about yourself and what you're feeling when it comes to sex, ask us. Your daddy Phil and I have been there and done that. I think it's time for the three of us to have our first birds and bees talk real soon, however." "Will you ever answer my question?" Phil gave Aiden the final answer, at least for that evening. "As you get older you'll figure out the answer, and we will be here to help you with that." Aiden realized that was as much as he was going to hear for now. Phil and Larry both realized this topic, as with so many topics, was going to become more charged and more difficult to answer satisfactorily as Aiden moved into puberty. He scooted over next to Phil and placed himself on top of him. Phil loved the warmth and smoothness of the boy's bare torso. "I love you, daddy Phil." "I love you too, son." Aiden rolled over to the other side of the bed and placed himself on top of Larry. "I love you, daddy Larry." "And I love you, Aiden." "When can you adopt me?" Larry put his arm around his nephew's slender little body. "It could take some time, son. These things don't happen fast. We'll let you know how it's going every step of the way." "How long is some time?" "We don't know. It could be a few weeks, a few months, maybe even a year. Your daddy Phil and I are going to get the process started, but we have no idea how long it will take." "I don't care. I just want to be your son and want you to be my daddies." The boy stayed attached to Larry. He closed his eyes, then reopened them. "When do you think Gordy can spend the night?" He closed his eyes again, and never heard Larry's noncommittal answer—he was dead to the world. Larry very carefully unattached the slumbering boy. It was not the first time he was amazed as to how quickly Aiden could drop off to sleep. He looked at his future son—no, he thought, my present son. He admired the sleeping boy's angelic looks, knowing how quickly they could change when he was awake. He petted the boy's thick, unruly blond hair. Phil looked over at the two with a big grin. "We're really very lucky to have him in our lives," he said. "He's a giant responsibility with a very special place in our hearts." Since Aiden had his back to Phil, Phil planted a chaste kiss on the boy's left cheek instead of on his forehead. "Good night, son," he whispered. "We will do everything in our power to make that official." He rolled over and turned out the light on the nightstand, putting the family into a love-filled darkness. Next: Halloween