(Introducing Glen and TJ)
“Hold still, Sweets,” Rowan said from behind his partner, buckling the cummerbund in place around Darby’s waist.
“Is this bow-tie straight?” Darby asked, looking in the mirror.
“Yes, it’s perfect!” Rowan assured the other man, holding out the jacket for Darby to slide his arms into. Standing back to survey the young man in front of him, Rowan murmured, “You’re beautiful! Black tie and tails look sooo good on you, baby.”
“Yeah, but the money we paid to rent this tuxedo could have been donated to the charity that tonight’s concert is in aide of and I wouldn’t have to be wearing this monkey suit.” Darby tried to sound annoyed even though he secretly appreciated his partner’s compliments.
Eyeing the younger man carefully, Rowan stated, “You look a little flushed, love.” He placed his lips against Darby’s forehead before inquiring. “Are you sure you’re all right? You feel warm!”
“I’m just anxious about this evening’s performance and my throat is a bit dry. I’ll be fine after I get a drink of water,” Darby informed his partner and headed into their en suite.
Following Darby into the bathroom, Rowan saw the younger man wince after swallowing. “Is your throat sore, Darby?”
“Just a little scratchy, is all.” Darby drained the glass and exclaimed, “Let’s go! We can’t be late.”
************
“Hi, we made it!” Riley announced as he tried to squeeze by Rowan.
“Wait a sec, Riley! I’ll move over so you can sit beside Jayson,” Rowan said as he got up to change places. Having arrived at the auditorium early, he had the first choice of seats and had saved two for his friends. “Glad you were able to make it in time. The concert is starting in a couple of minutes.”
“I hope it gets a certain someone into the Christmas spirit,” Riley gripped, gingerly sitting down.
“Hello, Rowan. Quit a crowd in here, isn’t there? Thanks for saving these for us, seems like you got the best seats in the house.” Jayson greeted his friend and sat down before turning to face his partner and state, “Both of us, young man, would be in better moods if you hadn’t wasted time arguing over nothing and almost making us late.”
“Well, I hate wearing a suit and tie!” Riley was still miffed at the other man for choosing what he was to wear.
“This is a special fund-raiser Darby has helped organize and it won’t hurt you to dress up for one evening. Now, stop complaining!” Jayson quietly ordered as the curtain started to rise.
Rowan glanced over the program in his hand, enjoying the feeling of pride at seeing his partner’s name in print. Darby had been responsible for the majority of tonight’s presentation and had put a great deal of time and effort into making it a success. Rowan hoped, not for the first time, that his young lover had not over-extended himself.
Looking up, Rowan saw that the orchestra was seated on stage and the performers were anxiously awaiting their conductor. The choirmaster stood to one side as members of the choir filed in and took their places on the raised platform behind the musicians.
Finally, as the lights dimmed, Darby confidently walked out, nodded at the audience and turned to face the orchestra. Arms raised, baton in hand, Darby slowly brought it down to begin the evening’s entertainment.
Throughout the concert, Rowan kept his eyes glued to the monitor that had been set up for those interested in watching Darby, whose back was towards them. Rowan saw his lover’s face light up as the young man lost himself to the music he loved and he sat back in his seat to let the magic of the night surround him. As the concert progressed, Rowan’s chest swelled with admiration in his partner’s accomplishments, his throat tightened with emotion and his eyes misted as he experienced a growing appreciation of the young man’s marvelous talent.
Two hours later, Shelley announced the closing number. “Now to conclude tonight’s production, the orchestra and choir, both under the direction of Darby Madison, will present their rendition of Handel’s ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’. We hope you have enjoyed yourselves. We sincerely thank you for your support of our efforts to raise badly needed funds for our local Food Bank. We wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season.”
A hush fell over the crowd as Darby momentarily closed his eyes, took a deep breath and raised his baton in preparation for the final number. Rowan picked up on Darby’s exhaustion and marveled at the young man’s ability to tap into his last small reserve of energy and provide the inspiration needed for the musicians and singers to give their best performance of the evening.
When the last note had faded away, Darby signaled for the members of his orchestra and choir to stand and accept the standing ovation they so rightfully deserved. Next he turned and searched the sea of faces until his eyes found the one he sought. He gently smiled at the sole person whose love and support had made it all worthwhile. Then stepping down from the conductor’s podium, he left the stage.
The auditorium was almost empty by the time Darby met up with Rowan and their friends.
“What until you hear what happened, Row!” Darby exclaimed, fairly bouncing with excitement.
“Whoa! Calm down, Sweets,” Rowan laughed at his partner’s exuberance. “Take a deep breath, say hello to Jayson and Riley, and then you can tell us your news.”
“Hey, guys! Glad you could make it.”
Once greetings had been exchanged, Jayson suggested he and Riley meet up with them later.
“I’m sorry for holding you up, Rowan, but there was a gentleman waiting for me when I got backstage and he wanted to know if I would be interested in accepting a position with a nationally-known orchestra. He is sorta like a talent scout and recruits new members for several orchestras. I told him I would have to think about it, so he gave me his card and said to get in touch with him after the holidays.” Darby held up the card for the other man to see, before re-reading it himself. “Man, I can’t believe this,” he whispered in awe, staring at the little piece of paper in his hand.
“Well after tonight’s performance, I can easily understand you attracting attention, love.” Rowan wrapped Darby’s coat around the young man’s shoulders and started steering him towards the exit. “We can talk about it in the morning, okay?”
Darby nodded his agreement and pocketed the business card. “Where are we going now?” he asked, realizing they were outside in the parking lot.
“Out for a celebratory drink with our friends,” Rowan informed his lover as he bundled him into the car. “We’re going to meet them at O’Farren’s and I hope you’re up to it. We won’t be staying late because you are definitely overdue for some major down-time.”
“I’m good, Rowan,” Darby stated, buckling his seatbelt. “But you don’t suppose I have time to go home first and change out of this penguin suit, do you?”
“Hey, I love you in that tuxedo, baby. You can wear it for a little while longer, can’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Darby leaned his head against the back of his seat and as another wave of exhaustion overtook him, he murmured, “God, I’m soooo tired.”
“Like I said, little one, we won’t be staying late. Jayson and Riley just want to congratulate you on this evening’s success and let you know how much they enjoyed the show. I can’t begin to express how your performance affected me, love, except to say that it sure helped me feel the full Spirit of Christmas and I am so proud of you,” Rowan said as he reached for Darby’s hand and lovingly rubbed his thumb over the back of it.
“The only thing missing is snow,” the young man softly sighed. “I really hope our first Christmas together is not going to be a green one but I bet there will be a better chance of a white one at the cabin, right?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me, Sweets.”
************
Rowan reached out in his sleep and woke up when he realized the space beside him was vacant. Seeing the light on in their en suite, he got up to check on his partner.
Darby closed his eyes and grimaced as he swallowed another mouthful of water. “Man, that hurts!” he whimpered. Looking into the mirror over the sink, he saw Rowan’s concerned expression.
“Your throat is worse, isn’t it?” Rowan asked and put his hand up to Darby’s forehead. “You’re also warmer than you were last night.”
“I don’t want to be sick for the holidays, Row. Christmas is only a week away,” the younger man moaned. “And I was sick last year. I had to spend most of it on my own because nobody wanted to catch whatever I had.”
“I wish I had been here for you, love,” Rowan sympathized as he opened the medicine cabinet and removed a bottle of pain medication and a small plastic cup. Pouring the proper dose of liquid into the little container, he instructed, “Open up, Darby. This should help you feel a bit better.”
“I hate this!” Darby complained. What little resilience the young man had was at an all-time low and Rowan knew they were in for a long weekend because Darby was far from being a cooperative patient.
“Let’s go back to bed, baby. You can certainly do with the extra sleep. You have been going to bed very late every night for the past week and sleeping poorly because your mind was going non-stop thinking about the concert. I’m willing to bet money the only time you’ve eaten lately is when I’ve been around to practically force-feed you. Am I painting a fairly accurate picture here, Darby?”
“I don’t know….sorta….kinda….maybe,” Darby muttered noncommittally, climbing into bed next to his partner.
“Well, that’s about to change, young man. We’ll be staying very close this weekend and I’ll be watching you like a hawk. If you are not any better by Monday, you’ll be making an appointment to see Dr. James. Like you said, you don’t want to be sick for Christmas.”
Darby didn’t want to think that far ahead, so he cuddled against the bigger man and concentrated on falling asleep.
************
“Hello, Sweets,” Rowan said in a cheerful voice. “Did you make a doctor’s appointment?”
“Yes, I have to be there in an hour and I have to go on the bus by myself and I don’t want to.” Darby was far from happy.
“Do you mean you don’t want to go by yourself or you don’t want to go on the bus or you don’t want to go at all?” Rowan chuckled as he pictured his Brat’s pout.
“I don’t want to do any of it,” Darby whined.
“Well, I can help you with part of your problem, little one. I’ll be home in twenty minutes to drive you to the doctor’s office and I’ll go in with you. How does that sound?”
“Okay I guess, being as I don’t want to go in the first place and haven’t got any choice in the matter,” the cranky young man griped.
Rowan smiled to himself and shook his head. “You got that right! Please be ready to leave when I get there.”
An hour later, Darby found himself sitting on Dr. James examining table. His disgruntled attitude let it be known that he did not appreciated being poked at as he called it.
“I’m pretty sure he has Strep,” Dr. James said. The doctor knew from past experience communicating with this particular patient wasn’t easy so he directed all his comments to the one he considered the senior partner. “Even though I will be sending a culture to the lab, I’m going to start antibiotics immediately. Darby has already had a sore throat for several days and is running a low-grade fever so I think it is imperative to begin his treatment with an injection of penicillin, followed by a week of oral medication. I’ll be right back. Take down your pants while you’re waiting, Darby.”
As soon as the doctor left the room, Darby jumped off the table and told Rowan, “I’m outta here!”
Grabbing his partner’s arm, Rowan ordered. “Hold it, young man. You’re not going anywhere. Now drop your pants as Dr. James requested.” Rowan struggled to hold onto his last bit of patience.
“But I don’t want a needle, Rowan. Can’t I just get the prescription and make do with that?”
“No! You are going to do as the doctor says and I don’t want to hear any more arguing, got it?”
“Okay, I won’t argue ‘cause I’m leaving!” Darby stated and headed for the door.
“That does it!” Rowan reached out and before Darby knew what hit him, he found himself picked up by his bigger partner and plunked back down on the table.
“Oooow! You don’t have to be so rough,” he complained.
“Apparently, I do!” Rowan proceeded to undo the other man’s snap and zipper. He pulled down Darby’s jeans and boxers then flipped the smaller man onto his stomach. “I suggest you stay right there, unless you want Dr. James to see my handprints on that bare backside of yours, little boy.” Rowan hoped the threat would be enough to settle his Brat as he had no desire to embarrass the young man, but he also had no intention of putting up with anymore attitude.
Dr. James returned a couple of minutes later and as gently as possible, administered the injection.
Darby closed his eyes and held his breath. “Holy shit!” he cried out. “What did you use….a friggin’ darning needle?”
The two older men looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
While Darby was rearranging his clothing, Rowan thanked the doctor, listened to the instructions for Darby’s follow-up care and picked up the prescription slip.
After starting the engine, Rowan turned to his partner and asked, “What happened in there, Darby?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just always been afraid of needles. I said I was sorry,” was the young man’s only explanation.
“Darby, you spent three days with an IV in your arm when you had your appendix removed or don’t you remember?”
“Yeah, but had I been fully aware of what was happening, they would have had to hold me down. Once they had it in, I was okay even if I didn’t like it.”
“You can’t help being afraid of something, Sweets, but you can control your behaviour and how you react to things,” Rowan gently admonished the other man.
Darby sat with his head bowed and tried to rub away the discomfort he still felt at the injection site on his hip. “I really am sorry, Rowan,” he apologized in a quiet, subdued voice before hesitantly asking, “Are you going to spank me?”
Rowan put his arm around his Brat’s shoulders and gave him an understanding squeeze. “Not this time, little one. I imagine your butt is already sore enough,” he teased. “You will have corner time and lines to do, but you can write lying on your stomach, right?” He tenderly smiled down at his very repentant and relieved partner. “Let’s get this prescription filled and go home.”
Later that evening, Rowan found Darby face down on their bed diligently writing out one hundred times, ‘When I am frightened, I will talk to Rowan before I over-react and behave inappropriately.’ The young man had spent twenty minutes of corner time contemplating his behaviour in the doctor’s office and coming up with acceptable ways of handling his fears.
“How’s the injection site feeling, baby?” Rowan inquired as he reached over and gently patted the location he was referring to.
“It’s okay, Row. The rock Dr. James left in has dissolved,” Darby answered with a cheeky grin.
“We’re getting quite a collection of Christmas cards, love,” Rowan said, dropping a bundle next to the other man. Sitting down beside his partner, he opened one of the envelopes. “Hey, this is from an old friend who lives in Ontario. Dennis and I met about six years ago when I did a semester at the same university where he was a teaching assistant and working on his thesis for his Ph.D. It’s too bad we live so far apart because we really hit it off.”
Looking up from the papers in front of him, Darby asked, “Did you date him? If so, what happened to the relationship?”
“We did date for a short time but both of us knew it couldn’t go anywhere. We were just too much alike in certain areas of our character,” Rowan chuckled as he thought about the similarities and contrasts in his and Dennis’ personalities.
“Humph, let me guess….you’re both Tops!” Darby gave him a knowing look and inquired, “Does he have a partner now?”
“According to his card, he has two. If I ever knew anyone who could care for two Brats it would be Dennis, although I have a feeling at one time he may not have agreed. He is the most focused person I have ever met. In his early teens he set himself a goal and headed straight for it. He graduated high school two months after he turned sixteen, condensed his Bachelor degree to three years, had a Masters degree just a month after he turned twenty-two, was published and had his Ph.D. by the time he was twenty-four. Talk about an over-achiever, but he was never pretentious and he doesn’t patronize anyone. He was always just one of the guys when we were at university together. Last year, when I went home for Christmas, I stopped off in his hometown and got a chance to meet his partner, Dusty, and see their lovely home. It sounds as if he is happier than ever…what with two partners and another book almost completed and ready to go to the publishers.”
“Do you think I’ll ever get a chance to meet them, Row?”
“Who knows what the future holds, Sweets. Now if you’ve got those lines done, we can look through these cards and listen to our new Christmas CD. What do you say?”
“Sounds like a plan because we won’t have time to do it tomorrow night. We have to finish packing so we can leave first thing Wednesday morning. It’s going to be a great Christmas at the cabin with Jayson and Riley.”
“Yep, as my niece Brenna would say, only two more sleeps and we head out.” Rowan rolled over to kiss his Brat and enjoy some companionable time together.
************
“It’s only seven o’clock, Row. You weren’t kidding when you said we were going to get an early start.” Darby concentrated on getting the wrapper off the candy as fast as he could so he could get rid of the medicinal taste in his mouth.
“Jayson should be arriving any minute now, Sweets,” Rowan said, shouldering into his heavy jacket. “Get your coat on so we don’t keep him waiting, and make sure you have gloves with you.”
Sighing heavily, Darby checked his pockets. “Here are my gloves! Oh, here is the receipt for my credit card payment. It was in my pocket,” he explained.
“This is paid ten days early, love. How did you manage that?’
“The CPP cheques are mailed out early in December so I figured I better take care of it before I forgot.”
“I’m proud of you for doing such a good job at keeping up your payments, sweetheart,” Rowan declared, pulling his young lover into his arms and kissing him. Hearing a car door slam, he announced, “They’re here!”
“It should be good driving today, Jay. The roads are clear and there is no snow in the immediate forecast, much to Darby’s disappointment,” Rowan commented an hour later as they left the city far behind them. Looking over his shoulder, he confirmed his suspicions that his partner was fast asleep.
“Getting an early start should make it possible for us to get to the cabin by noon,” Jayson said. “By the way, I got an e-mail from Glen last night. He and TJ have a week off and will be able to join us for the holidays. They plan to be at the cabin before supper tonight.”
“What did you say, Jay?” Riley asked, looking up from his Gameboy. He fervently prayed he was mistaken in what he thought he had just overheard.
“I was telling Rowan we can expect company by this evening. Glen and TJ are spending Christmas with us.”
“For shit’s sake, why didn’t you mention this earlier?” Riley demanded.
“Watch your language and how you are talking to me, young man!” Jayson ordered then softened his voice to explain, “Several weeks ago they mentioned something about coming out here for the holidays, but only got around to finally confirming their plans last night. I never said anything earlier because you know how often their plans have changed in the past.”
“Well, that tears it! Our entire Christmas is shot to hell!” Riley lamented, throwing himself against his seat and kicking at the back of Jayson’s.
“I am not going to warn you about your language again, Riley, and if you need an attitude adjustment, I’ll pull over and take care of it for you. Do you understand me?” Jayson’s spoke sternly in a no-nonsense voice. Not getting an answer, Jayson started to slow down in preparation to stop at the side of the road.
“I understand, Jayson. I’m sorry and I’ll behave.” Riley expelled a sigh of relief when his partner picked up speed.
Many miles and several small towns later, Darby slowly came back to the land of the living.
“Geeesh, Darby, you’ve been out of it for just about the whole trip,” Riley commented.
“You mean we’re almost there?” Darby asked, sitting up and looking out at the passing scenery.
“Another half hour, Sweets,” Rowan answered.
“How come you slept so long, Darb?” Riley wanted to know the reason he’d had to go without his friend’s company.
“I guess between the Gravel, the antibiotics, and the pain medication for my throat, it pretty much zonked me out…..that, plus being over-tired to begin with,” Darby explained, undoing his seatbelt so he could climb into the back of the vehicle. “Rowan, is there any water back here?”
“Here’s some,” Rowan said, passing back a bottle. “Sit down and do your seatbelt back up, Darby!” he admonished.
Dropping into his seat and buckling-up, Darby quickly polished off the water. “Man, that sure hit the spot!” he said, and glancing over at the Brat sitting beside him, added, “You don’t look too happy, Riley. Something happen when I was sleeping?”
“Yeah, and once you hear all the facts, you’re probably not going to be any more thrilled about it than I am,” the other young man griped.
“Riley, don’t you go filling Darby’s head with your perception of things. Let him form his own conclusions,” Jayson scolded his partner.
“What’s going on?” Darby’s interest was piqued.
“Old friends of Jayson and Rowan’s are joining us for the holidays. Two guys they attended university with. Glen is a great guy, but TJ……” Riley shuddered and left it there.
“So what’s with this TJ fella?”
“Riley!” Jayson said, warningly.
“I’ll tell you later,” Darby whispered after making sure his partner couldn’t see him in the rearview mirror.
Looking up at his partner’s reflection, Riley gave Jayson an innocent smile; which cause the older man to look skyward and shake his head.
************
“Man, you weren’t kidding, Riley. Glen is a neat guy but TJ is really something else. It’s hard to figure out who is more annoying, him or that yappy little dog of his,” Darby complained to his friend. The two young men were sitting at the kitchen table stringing popcorn and cranberries for the tree they had help their partners cut down and drag into the cabin earlier that afternoon.
“Yeah, that man can talk the ears off a brass pot. He has something to say about everything and it’s really starting to get on my nerves,” Riley offered his uncomplimentary opinion. “It’s not even his dog. He’s helping out an elderly neighbour by taking care of it.”
“It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t complain and find fault all the time. Do you think he is ever satisfied or even the least bit happy?”
“Who knows!”
“I guess if Glen loves him then there must be something good about him. I just can’t figure out what it is.”
“I’m beginning to wonder if the dog even likes him. She’s always yapping at him,” Riley said.
“She always yapping at everybody, Riley,” Darby reminded his friend.
“Yeah, she’s what Freddie would call a slipper dog,”
“What the heck is a slipper dog?” Darby asked.
“It’s what Freddie calls all noisy, hairy, little dogs like Sadie. He claims one good kick in the arse and you’ve got yourself a slipper. He’s only joking though ‘cause he’d never have the heart to hurt anything, he much too fond of all animals.” Riley assured Darby when he saw the shocked look on the other man’s face. Riley started to giggle. “Did you see the look on TJ’s face when Jayson told us to take all that extra cutlery off the table?”
Darby laughed as he thought about the colour changing on their guest’s face. “That shade of purple doesn’t exactly suit him, does it?”
“Served him right, the stuck-up jerk; badgering us into setting the table so it resembled a five-star restaurant. Thinks he’s so smart,” Riley grouched.
Just as Darby put some popcorn in his mouth the object of their resentment entered the room.
“What are the two of you up to now?” TJ asked and then snidely remarked, “You’ll never have enough for garland if you keep eating it.”
Darby tried to speak with his mouth full and started choking which ended up irritating his already sore throat. He got up and fished around in a drawer under the kitchen cabinet and pulled out a sucker. Removing the wrapper, he put it in his mouth and was about to sit down when he heard TJ’s annoying voice once again.
“It is very impolite not to offer your guest whatever you’re having yourself. Didn’t anyone ever teach you etiquette or did they simply give it up as a lost cause?”
“All right, what flavour would you like, TJ; I’ve got cherry, orange, lemon or lime,” Darby offered.
“I’d prefer the lime flavoured one, please.”
Handing the other man the sucker of his choice, Darby said, “Here you go! Enjoy!” and took his seat.
TJ discovered much to his chagrin that the taste was revolting but he wasn’t about to give the younger men the satisfaction of knowing that, so he stubbornly ate all of it.
“Thank God, he’s gone into the family room and left us in peace. He bitched and chewed the rag the entire time he was in here,” Riley griped.
Darby began to mimic TJ’s words. “These popcorn balls aren’t uniformed in size; there should always be four pieces of popcorn between every cranberry; if you insist on eating that, at least wash your hands; don’t talk with food in your mouth…..yackety, yackety, yack!”
In the family room, TJ continued ranting. “Darby just gave me the most vile tasting sucker I have ever eaten and to make matters worse, it has numbed most my mouth and throat.”
It only took a few seconds for Rowan to clue into what his Brat had done. Getting up from his comfortable seat near the fire, he went into the other room to check out his suspicions. “Darby, did you give TJ one of your suckers?”
“Only because he asked for it,” Darby explained.
Darby sat staring at the paper in front of him. Only ten more lines to go; ‘I will not give unsuspecting people my medicated suckers.’ Ten, nine, eight……. “Rowan, I’ve finished!” Darby called out to his partner.
“All one hundred?” Rowan asked, glancing over the young man’s small, uniformed writing. Getting an affirmative nod, he sat down and asked, “Why did you do it, Sweets?”
“He’s driving us nuts, Row. He picks at every little thing and won’t mind his own business. What’s the matter with him anyway?”
“I don’t know what the problem is. It started the last time they came to visit and whatever it is has only gotten worse. You will have to try more diligently to ignore the things he says,” Rowan suggested.
“Why?”
“First, because he is our guest; second, because it’s Christmas and we all want to enjoy ourselves; third and last, because I said so.” Rowan laughed when he saw Darby screw up his face. Leaning over to kiss the younger man, he whispered, “I know you can do it, love of mine.”
“Well, you have more faith in my abilities than I do,” Darby grumbled, moving over to sit on the other man’s lap. “It’s so hard to ignore him when I’d really like to punch his lights out.”
“That is not an option and it would certainly take away from the sincerity of the apology you have to make to him,” was Rowan’s dry comment.
“Not tonight, please,” Darby pleaded and buried his face in Rowan’s shoulder and tightened his arms around the bigger man’s neck.
Rowan relented when he realized that Darby’s frustration was reaching the meltdown point. “All right, baby. You can leave it for the morning. We’re both tired, so let’s call it a day and get ready for bed. We can spend a little quiet time together in our room.”
At that moment, nothing appealed to Darby more.
************
“You should have distributed those decorations more evenly,” TJ pointed out yet another fault according to the ‘TJ-knows-it-all Book of Christmas Tree Decorating, “and, for your information, homemade cookie ornaments are just so passe.”
“Why don’t you find something else to do? Like go for a walk in the woods and, if luck would have it, get lost,” Riley suggested.
“I was merely offering my assistance, but I can certainly tell when it’s not welcomed or appreciated,” was TJ’s condescending rejoinder as he stuck his nose back in the book he was reading.
“How long do you think he’s going to be quiet this time, Riley?” Darby whispered from where he was standing on top of a small stepladder. He was still put out by the patronizing response he had received to the apology he had made earlier.
“It can’t be long enough,” Riley grouched. “Here are some red bows and little apples. These are the last things to put on the tree. Then we can turn on the lights and see how it looks,” he said while handing half a dozen of each up to Darby.
“Surely you’re not going to….” was all TJ got out before a flying missile ricocheted off his forehead and shattered against the wall behind him.
“What the hell was that?” Jayson shouted as he came in from the kitchen, wiping his hands on the towel around his waist that he was using as an apron.
“I…I…” Riley stammered, unable to believe he was responsible for the broken ornament on the floor near the fireplace.
“That wretch threw a glass apple at me!” TJ yelled, pointing at Riley just as Rowan and Glen came in, each carrying an armful of firewood.
“He…he…” Riley pointed back at his tormentor.
“Is that true, Riley?” Jayson asked and getting a nod from the accused, continued questioning, “Is that anyway to treat a guest and friend?”
“He’s not MY friend!” Riley insisted, too upset to prevent digging himself in deeper.
“Be that as it may, I expect you to apologize, young man,” Jayson instructed.
Seeing the firm set of Riley’s jaw, Jayson realized an apology would not be forthcoming any time soon. Grabbing the younger man’s arm, he turned him around and sent him towards the kitchen with a resounding swat on the seat of his pants.
“You can take as much corner-time as you need to think about it, Riley,” he ordered and followed his partner out of the room.
“I’m inclined to believe that you were the instigator of this latest disturbance, TJ. What do you have to say for yourself?” Glen inquired, frowning at the man he felt was to blame.
“I have been kindly offering suggestions as to how they can make that hideous tree look more presentable and this is the thanks I get,” TJ lamented and rubbed at the small, darkened area in the center of his forehead. “I’m going to lie down because I find these two boys’ company just too taxing.”
Glen shook his head in exasperation as he silently watched his partner walk down the hall to their room. “I’m sorry, Rowan. I don’t know what his problem is. I don’t even know if I could help him deal with it if I did know,” he said softly and rubbed his hand over his light brown hair while turning sad, pale blue eyes to his host.
“I’m sorry too, Glen, but I feel it isn’t my place to recommend a course of action. The two of you are going to have to work things out and hopefully find a solution that works for both of you.”
“I think I’ll go out for a breath of fresh air. Maybe a walk will clear my head,” Glen said, slipping on his jacket and pulling a pair of gloves out of his pockets. “See you in a bit!”
Darby was still standing on the stepladder, holding a handful of ornaments and trying to absorb all that had happened. Looking at his partner, he quietly requested, “Rowan, will you please help me finish off here?”
Rowan gathered up the few items Riley had left on the coffee table and gently smiling up at the love of his life, he complied with Darby’s wishes. He easily picked up on the younger man’s apprehension and his need to talk. “How are you feeling and what are your impressions of what just happened, Sweets?”
“It wasn’t Riley’s fault, Row. TJ wasn’t helping. He just sat there, nit-picking and bellyaching about every little thing. He talks down to us as if he is better than we are and he is really beginning to piss us off. I don’t blame Riley at all for losing it. I would’ve liked to have thrown something at the creep myself.”
“Well, I’m glad you managed to control yourself or you’d also be spending time in the corner and there’s a strong possibility you’d be doing so with a sore bottom.”
“Maybe it would be a good idea if you and Jayson left us alone with TJ as little as possible,” Darby suggested, jumping down from the ladder. “The tree’s done, but let’s not turn on the lights until everyone is in here, okay?”
“Fine with me, love,” Rowan agreed, taking the other man’s hand and leading him over to the large stuff chair beside the crackling fire. “Got time to cuddle, Sweets?” he asked, smiling as Darby settled into his favourite place with a muffled, “Huh-huh!”
************
Sliding a roast of pork into the oven, Jayson glanced over at the man in the corner and sadly shook his head. Riley’s back was ramrod-straight, his shoulders squarely set, and his head slightly bowed. The older man empathized with the disheartening emotions his lover was experiencing as he pulled out a chair, sat down and held out his arms before lovingly inviting, “Come here, baby.” It was when Riley turned to face him that Jayson saw the tears and realized the young man had been crying.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. We have plenty of time to work it out,” he assured Riley in a soft, calming voice while rubbing soothing circles over the other man’s back. Only when he was sure the younger man was settled enough to talk reasonably, did Jayson ask, “What made you lose your temper, little one? It’s been some time since you lost control like that.”
Receiving the comfort and strength needed to stay calm; Riley tried to explain his feelings. “I’m sorry, but he just wouldn’t let go, Jay. His voice kept echoing through my head until I wanted to throttle him. You’d think he was an old woman with the rag on, man. He’s driving us nuts! Why can’t anyone shut him up?”
“Apparently polite hints from Glen, Rowan, and I aren’t accomplishing anything nor are blatant demands from you and Darby meeting with any success, so I am at a loss as to how we can change the situation. Do you have any constructive suggestions, babe?”
“A gag maybe, sleeping pills, a club to the side of his head…..” Riley joked, his normal good-humour slowly returning.
“The operative word was constructive, not illegal,” Jayson laughed at the man on his lap. “I don’t think we have much choice other than to work harder at ignoring him and hope things can improve.”
“Only because they can’t get any worse, but I’m not holding my breath,” Riley stated before asking, “Why do you suppose Glen stays with him?”
“Glen and TJ have been friends for more than eight years now. They were casual lovers off and on over that period of time but only became partners about two years ago. Unlike us, it took them a long time to realize how much they love each other. Like all couples, they have their share of rough patches to deal with and this may be one of those patches.”
“You know what I think TJ needs?”
“I’m not sure if I want to know but I’ll bite,” Jayson teased the younger man.
“I think he desperately needs a good Top.”
Jayson laughed out loud at Riley’s observation. “Well, I’m certainly not going to be the one to approach them on the subject.”
“Why not? You or Rowan should talk to Glen ‘cause you’re both great Tops.”
“Probably because we have been blessed with great Brats,” Jayson pointed out, kissing his lover’s forehead and eyes and nose and lips. He would have liked to continue but reminded himself in time that not only was their discussion unfinished but they did not have the cabin to themselves and the kitchen was a major traffic area.
Turning serious, Riley hesitantly asked, “What’s my punishment going to be, Jay?”
“Besides apologizing?” Jayson smiled at Riley’s look of chagrin and added, “Lines….one hundred of them. Be warned, young man, if you ever throw something at someone again, your punishment will take place face down over my knee. Now, go get some paper and a couple of pencils, love.” He gently patted his Brat’s bottom and set the young man on his feet.
Returning with the requested items, Riley sat down at the table and asked, “What do you think I should write?”
“Hmmm, how about ‘I do not bounce ornaments off our houseguests no matter how much they deserve it’?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Right! I think ‘I must not lose my temper and throw objects at people who annoy me’ is more appropriate. What do you think?”
Riley thought it over and nodded. “Yeah, that’ll work!” Riley’s face expressed all the love he had for the older man as he whispered a sincere, “Thanks, Jay!”
************
“I’ve got to hand it to you, boys. You did a great job with that tree. It’s beautiful and just old-fashioned enough to suit the location,” Glen sincerely complimented Darby and Riley.
“There you go, boys! High praise indeed coming from one of the best interior decorators in the business,” Rowan said. “The artificial snow is a nice touch, too.”
“Well, we’re going to have some white stuff for Christmas one way or another,” Darby insisted, still unhappy about the lack of real snow.
All six men were relaxing in the glow of light emanating from the tree. Rowan and Jayson and their guests were enjoying an after-dinner drink while they watched the two younger men working on the tacky substances in their hands.
“We have to keep our hands well buttered, Darb, or this stuff will stick to them,” Riley instructed. “Be prepared for it to take awhile for the colour to change.”
“How will we know when it’s just right?”
“Jay will know,” Riley answered, confident in his partner’s expertise in the art of taffy pulling.
“I trust you washed your hands thoroughly before starting that,” TJ snidely remarked.
Other than making a face at each other, the two Brats ignored him.
Quickly changing the subject before anymore uncalled-for remarks could be made, Rowan commented on Jayson's ability to cook a roast of pork to perfection. “That was one of the best meals you’ve prepared since we got here, Jay, and those roast potatoes were delicious.”
“We only got here yesterday and it was the first time I cooked since our arrival,” Jayson laughed, knowing exactly what his friend was up to. “But thanks for the compliment.”
“Man, my arms are getting tired,” Darby complained a little while later.
Leaning over to look at the light-brown mixture in the young man's hands, Jayson said, “Looks pretty close to being done, kiddo.”
“Fini!” cried Riley a few minutes later. “Now we can eat it, Darb,” he said, slightly nodding his head towards TJ before taking a bite. He waited for the expected criticism and wasn’t disappointed.
“That was rather uncouth! I thought you were making that for everyone but who would want any after it’s been in your mouth?” TJ grumbled.
“It’s not as if he is sick or something,” Darby mentioned before sinking his teeth into his own handful of toffee.
“You’re the one who’s sick. Your partner has been shoving antibiotics into you for several days now,” TJ reminded the young man. “By the way, I’ve been wondering why you need a liquid medication anyway and what’s behind the candy thing,” he sarcastically demanded.
“Not that it is any of your business but seeing as you’ve asked so nicely, I’ll answer. I have trouble taking pills. They have a bad habit of only going half way down and then coming right back up; only they don’t make the return trip by themselves. The candy is Rowan’s take on the theory that a spoonful of sugar...etc,” Darby laughed at the ill-looking expression on the other man’s face. He and Riley were enjoying their efforts to get back at their tormentor.
“That’s absolutely ludicrous! From my observations, I personally believe you’re a couple of spoiled troublemakers and your partners will have nothing but problems if they continue to over-indulge you. You both need a firmer hand to keep you in line.”
“TJ, you’re the one who is way out of line,” Glen admonished his partner. "And I think you owe our hosts an apology.”
“I have no intention of apologizing for speaking the truth,” TJ loudly retorted.
“Um, does anyone want some of this toffee?” Darby asked, feeling uncomfortable in the silence that followed TJ’s outburst.
“You bet, Sweets! Why don’t you boys go into the kitchen and cut the toffee into pieces. Wash your hands first, please,” Rowan requested.
Placing the candy on the counter, Riley giggled as a plot came to mind. “I’m going to get even with that asshole!” He picked up the cardigan hanging on a chair and used it to remove the sugar and butter from his hands. “Here, wipe your hands, Darb.”
“Whose sweater is it?”
“Shithead’s!” Riley smirked. He chuckled as he watched his cohort transfer additional candy residue to the article of clothing belonging to their bothersome guest.
After carefully placing the sweater on the back of the chair in a way that guaranteed it falling off, Riley cut up the toffee and handed it to Darby. “Let’s go join the others,” he said, trying not to laugh too loud.
“This toffee is delicious, guys!” Jayson commented after helping himself to a piece of the candy.
“Thanks but no thanks!” TJ sneered, turning up his nose when the plate was held out to him.
“What’s wrong with the dog, TJ?” Glen asked a few minutes later. He was wondering about the unusual noise coming from the other room.
“I have no idea but I better go check on her,” TJ said, getting up and heading into the kitchen.
Several moments passed before a screech was heard and followed by TJ’s return. “Look what those two miscreants did!” he hollered, clutching a badly chewed sweater in his outstretched hand. “They put my new cardigan on the floor for Sadie to destroy.”
“TJ, why would that mutt want to chew on your sweater?” Glen asked. “It’s not as if she’d find it at all palatable.”
“Yes she would because they put butter and taffy all over it.”
“Is that what happened, Riley?” Jayson demanded and getting only a non-committed shrug, he shouted, “Riley!”
“Aaah, not exactly,” Riley hesitantly mumbled. “We didn’t put it on the floor.”
“Darby!” Rowan only needed to sternly speak the young man’s name to make his displeasure known. “Upstairs...now!”
“You, too!” Jayson stiffly ordered his partner to do the same.
The two older men trailed their Brats up the stairs to the sound of TJ’s whining.
Rowan entered his bedroom and closed the door. He walked over to Darby and gently pulled the young man off the bed and sat down in his place. Looking up into his partner’s eyes, he calmly asked, “Have we or have we not, on more than one occasion, discussed how we were to handle this situation with TJ?” At Darby’s hesitant nod, he continued, “And what did we decided?”
“To ignore him,” Darby softly answered.
“What did I say about retaliating?”
“Not to.”
“In other words, I said ‘NO’. What other rule did you break this evening, Darby?” At his Brat’s confused look, Rowan suggested, “Think about the grocery cart incident.” He patiently waited for the other man to make the connection.
“I helped cause damage to someone else’s property,” Darby mumbled.
“That’s right!” Rowan reached up to undo the snap and zipper on Darby’s pants.
“Do we have to, Rowan?” Darby asked as his jeans and boxers were lowered.
“Yes, we do, young man.” Rowan settled Darby across his lap and raising his hand, brought it down hard on his partner’s backside.
It had been almost two months since Darby had last found himself in this position and as always, he was surprised at how much that first swat hurt. He tried to remain stoic and not give a certain someone the satisfaction of hearing him, but as the heat built to an intolerable level, his resolve gave out and he started pleading.
“Stop, Rowan, please…..Owwww…..I’ll never do it again……Auuugh…….I’m sorry……Stop, pleeease!” He finally gave into the punishment and settled for just crying.
Rowan continued applying the punishing spanks until he was sure his Brat would remember the lesson. Then he landed two hard smacks to the underside of each cheek and ended the spanking. The big hand that had caused so much pain now tenderly caressed the hot, red bottom. Rowan put Darby on his feet, stood up and helped with the removal of the young man’s clothing. He then drew the other man into his arms and murmured words of comfort until the sobs had given way to hitches and sniffles.
“I’m sorry, Rowan,” Darby whispered. “Sorry for embarrassing you and myself by treating a guest like that.”
“We’ve taken care of it, little one. All that you have left to do is offer an apology,” Rowan gently reminded him.
“Noooo, not tonight!” Darby pleaded.
“Yes, tonight!” Rowan said firmly while getting a soft pair of sleeping pants, T-shirt and socks out of the dresser drawers. “Here, love, after you get dressed and wash up, we’ll go down together.”
Entering the second bedroom, Jayson found his partner pacing the floor. Taking a seat on the side of their bed, he called Riley over and ordered, “Drop them, young man! There is no need for a lengthy discussion as we are both well aware of how you earned yourself a sound spanking. Your actions tonight were a definite no-go, Riley, and this is not the first time we have talked about this on-going problem with TJ. ”
When Riley had complied, Jayson pulled him down across his thighs. Then amidst yelps and pleas to stop, he steadily raised and dropped his hand, getting into and maintaining a rhythm until he was confident he had made a lasting impression; one that hopefully would prevent the mischief being repeated. The hand stopped falling much to Riley’s relief and Jayson started the slow process of calming the younger man. Once Riley had himself under control and his cries had diminished to a few whimpers, he submitted to his partner’s loving ministrations of having his face dried and his clothes changed into something more comfortable.
Opening the bedroom door with the intention of escorting Riley down to the family room, Jayson met up with Rowan who had similar plans for Darby.
************
“What do you think of this one, Darby?” Riley asked.
“My God; that must be the ugliest one in the store!” was Darby’s uncomplimentary exclamation.
“You’re right! I certainly wouldn’t be caught dead in it,” Riley agreed.
The two Brats looked over the sweater one more time and gleefully exclaimed in unison, “He’ll love it!”
“Okay, Darb, I’ll take care of it with my debit card and we can settle up later. That is, if we ever get out of this line-up,”
“You realize we could have got something just as good at Wal-Mart for about a third the cost,” Darby pointed out.
“Yeah, but that snob always buys his clothes at this kind of men’s clothing store,” Riley reminded his friend.
“I think he just wanted to be as difficult as possible, and to think last night I thought he was mellowing,” Darby grumbled.
They both remembered the events of the previous evening. Returning to the family room at their partners’ insistence, they had suffered through the embarrassment of tendering apologies for the damage done to TJ’s sweater and telling him they would be replacing it first thing in the morning. Surprisingly, TJ had been rather gracious about it and no unkind comments had been forthcoming. In fact, looking back, their tormentor had appeared to be searching for an explanation of his own reaction to the young men’s attempt at rectifying things.
This morning, however, TJ was back to being unpleasant again. He had complained about one thing after another. “Stop squirming and eat! Finish up so we can get to town before the stores get too busy with last minutes shoppers. Quit dawdling! Aren’t you ready yet?”
“Well, it didn’t last long. Apparently having missed one last evening, he probably took two nasty pills this morning to make up for it,” Riley griped. “I know what we should do,” he giggled in a conspiring manner. “We should buy a cheap sweater at Wal-Mart and put it in a bag we can get here. Who would know the difference?”
“With our luck, Rowan and Jayson would figure it out. Forget it! My butt is still feeling the effects of last night.”
“Now that you mention it, I’m also having a hard time finding a comfortable way to sit down,” Riley admitted.
“Let’s get out of here and meet up with the guys.”
“Did you find what you were looking for, Sweets?” Rowan asked when they finally located each other.
“Yeah, Riley’s got it.” Glancing around, Darby exclaimed, “This is a really nice pub, Row! Great atmosphere!” Then he noticed the not-too-soft benches. “Oh, boy,” he murmured.
Seeing Darby’s pained expression, Rowan took their jackets and folded them so they could be used as padding. Jayson did the same for Riley and both men were rewarded with grateful smiles.
As the waitress walked away with their orders, Riley pulled a bag out from under the table. “Here, TJ, is the sweater we promised you.”
Taking it out and giving it a thorough going over, TJ nodded and said, “Thank you! I guess it’s as close as you can come to the one you ruined.” He slipped on the new cardigan and begrudgingly acknowledged, “I like it.”
Darby and Riley burst out laughing and echoed, “Told ya!”
After enjoying a companionable meal, the six men decided to head back to the cabin. While Jayson went to get the SUV, the others waited to be picked up outside the mall entrance.
“Look at that big German Shepherd. He sure doesn’t seem to mind the lack of privacy,” Riley commented, pointing at a large dog busily cleaning his private parts.
“He certainly appears to be enjoying himself,” Darby concurred, snickering at the sight.
Not stopping to think, TJ wistfully uttered, “I’d sure like to be able to do that.”
Looking at TJ, then down at the dog, then back up at TJ, Darby shook his head and said in a thoughtful voice, “Hmmm, I don’t know, man. I think you should just pet him first.” With that, he walked towards Jayson’s approaching SUV with a look of innocence that only a Brat could muster.
TJ’s face turned red as he began sputtering, “Did you hear…..” Of course the others had heard and their guffaws of laughter proved it.
Catching up to Darby, Riley gave him a high-five and wrapping an arm around the shorter man’s neck, he merrily congratulated his friend. “You got him, Darb! Man, what a shot!”
************
“Come to bed, Sweets. If you stay up much later, Santa won’t drop by,” Rowan cajoled the man standing by their bedroom window.
Smiling at his partner’s words, Darby pointed out, “I stopped believing in Santa Claus a long time ago, Row,” before falling silent once again.
Rowan turned down the blankets, went to stand behind his lover and wrapping his arms around Darby, gently inquired, “Why so quiet, little one?”
“Just thinking! Forgetting about you-know-who, we’ve been having a great time. That Trivial Pursuit game was a lot of fun, even though Glen and TJ won,” Darby mused. “They sure drank their fair share of Moose Milk once we told them it was just eggnog and rum. I guess we all did, for that matter,” he commented on a long sigh.
“But…” Rowan encouraged, placing tender kisses on the back of the other man’s neck.
“I really wanted it to snow, Row. It would have been the final touch to make our first Christmas together perfect.”
“Christmas isn’t over yet, love,” Rowan reminded the younger man, taking his hand and leading him over to their bed.
“Yeah, but I still would have liked to see big, fluffy flakes softly falling before the day was over,” Darby murmured as he climbed in beside his lover and laid his head on top of the bigger man’s chest.
“I know something that will take your mind off it,” Rowan smiled and slid his hand inside his Brat’s flannel pants.
During the night while lovers slept, Mother Nature fulfilled Darby’s Christmas wish by creating a winter wonderland.
************
Pushing open the bedroom door just a crack, Riley hissed to get his friend’s attention without their partners hearing him. “Psst, Darby, get up! It’s Christmas morning and you gotta see this!”
“Turn on a light, man. It’s too dark to see anything,” Darby muttered as he stumbled down the stairs behind Riley. “What time is it, anyway?”
“Almost six o’clock!” Riley answered, throwing open the front door. “Look!” he exclaimed excitedly.
“Wow! It’s beautiful!” For a few moments, Darby stared in awe at the pure-white panorama in front of them and then raced outside. “Come on, Riley.” The other man needed no further encouragement to follow his friend.
Several minutes later, Rowan and Jayson discovered their two Brats running through the snow, seemingly oblivious to wearing only pajamas and slippers.
“Get back in the cabin this minute, Riley!” Jayson bellowed.
“Darby, get in here!” Rowan demanded.
Not getting the response they wanted, Rowan and Jayson slipped on their boots and grabbed jackets off the pegs on the wall. In no time at all, they were standing beside two figures sprawled on the ground. Arms and legs flailing, the Brats were making angels in the snow. The older men reached down and hauled their respective partners to their feet. Moments later, they stood and watched the young men fleeing towards the cabin, each aided by a resounding swat on their very-damp backsides.
“Get out of those wet things immediately!” Jayson ordered, hanging up his coat and stepping over to the wood-box. “Rowan, would you mind fetching some dry clothing for these two rascals while I get a fire started?”
“As soon as I get them stripped,” Rowan promised, helping to pull the pajama top over Darby’s head with one hand and holding onto Riley to provide support while the young man balanced himself to remove his pajama bottoms. Once he had two blanket-wrapped Brats settled next to the fireplace, he headed upstairs in search of the requested items, returning minutes later to supervise the task of seeing them properly dressed.
“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Glen greeted as he entered the family room followed by his partner.
“Merry Christmas to you too,” four men sang out as one.
“I’ll put the coffee on,” offered Jayson, knowing that at least two of them would not want to have breakfast until later. “That should hold us until after all the gifts are opened and we can have brunch.”
“Open up, Darby,” Rowan said as he poured the liquid antibiotic onto a spoon.
“Where’s the candy?” Darby asked before opening his mouth wide enough to allow the foul-tasting medicine access.
“What makes you think you deserve any after that stunt you just pulled?” Rowan asked, holding out the spoon. Seeing the unspoken plea in his Brat’s eyes, Rowan relented and reached into his pocket to pull out the requested treat. After the medication had been swallowed and the candy was being enjoyed, he sternly told Darby; “If you ever go out improperly dressed again, young man, especially when you’re already sick, a certain part of your anatomy is going to be warmed long before the rest of you.”
“I’m sorry, Row, but I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve wanted so much for it to snow. I can hardly believe I got my wish,” Darby spoke softly, hoping for forgiveness.
Aware of how important the wish had been, Rowan pulled the young man into his arms and hugged him before softening his stance. “Let’s find out what’s under the tree, Sweets,” he lovingly suggested.
“Hey, Darby!” Riley called. “Santa left us new toboggans to replace our old ones that got busted last winter. Good thing we have a lot of fresh snow!”
The morning passed quickly as gifts were exchanged and opened.
Rowan started laughing and held up the gift he had just unwrapped. “Look at this, guys!” He lifted the cover and the ceramic policeman said in a very authoritarian voice, “Step..Away..From..The..Cookie..Jar!”
“I figured it would save you from repeatedly telling me something similar,” Darby teased as he tore into another gaily-wrapped package.
“Wow, this is terrific! Thanks, Row!” Darby murmured as he inspected the gold-plated baton in his hand. “It even has my name engraved on the side.” He reached up to bestow a kiss of gratitude on his lover’s lips.
“Knew you’d like it, Beethoven,” Rowan responded and returned the kiss.
“Well, I guess that’s all of it,” Jayson announced, gathering up scattered paper, ribbons and bows to put in the trash.
“No. There’s one present left!” TJ said, pulling a parcel out from under his end of the sofa. “I had originally planned on giving this to Jayson, but over the last couple of days I came to realize Rowan would probably have more need for it.”
Accepting the gift, Rowan removed the wrapping and carefully lifted the cover on the long, flat box and looked inside. He was a little confused as to why anyone would give him something like this. The longer he stared at it, the angrier he became.
Darby was watching Rowan’s facial expressions. He didn’t understand what was upsetting his partner, but he definitely didn’t appreciate whatever was going on.
Replacing the cover, Rowan handed the box back to TJ. “I don’t want this,” he said as calmly as he could.
“No, no, keep it. I’m sure it will come in handy,” TJ insisted, refusing to take back the gift.
“In other words, it’s mine and I can do whatever I want with it, right?”
“Of course, it’s yours to do with as you please,” TJ assured him.
With that, Rowan stood up, walked over to the fireplace, opened the screen and dropped the parcel into the fire. As the flames roared higher, he pulled TJ off the sofa and hauled him into the kitchen. It was time to set this young man straight once and for all.
Picking up the poker, Riley tentatively probed at the burning box, causing sparks to fly up as the package tipped over and the cover fell off. There for everyone to see was a twenty-inch long, fraternity paddle.
“Holy shit!” Riley exclaimed and looked over to see a white-faced Darby. “Ahhh, Jayson?”
Kneeling beside his best friend’s partner, Jayson gently put his arm around the younger man to offer assurance. “It’s okay, Darby. Rowan is taking care of it. I don’t think he’d ever consider using anything like that and even if he did entertain the idea of getting a paddle, he would talk to you first.”
“Why would TJ give that to one of you guys? Why does he dislike Riley and me so much?”
“I couldn’t even hazard a guess, but it’s not your problem, is it?” Jayson squeezed Darby’s shoulders as he softly voiced the question. Getting a nod from Darby, he stood up and quietly requested, “Glen, could I speak to you for a few minutes, please?”
Leaving Darby and Riley to finish straightening up the area in front of the tree, Jayson invited Glen to join him at the game table that was on the other side of the large room and would offer them a little privacy.
“I never thought I’d be encouraging someone to consider…ah….emulating….” Jayson was very uncomfortable and having trouble finding the words he wanted to say. “…but I was wondering….ah…”
“….if TJ and I have every considered a relationship similar to yours,” Glen finished for him and at Jayson’s embarrassed nod, admitted, “It has come up in a couple of conversations but it seemed more like we were talking about someone else rather than ourselves.”
“I’m not suggesting that it’s what you two need……but……man, this is not easy. Glen, do you have any idea what TJ’s problem is?”
“No, I don’t! But I’m going to find out before the day is over because it has gone unresolved long enough.”
“Doesn’t your right hand ever get itchy?” Jayson blurted out before he had a chance to reconsider his choice of words.
“No, but that’s probably because I’m left-handed.” Glen’s light banter eased the tension and enabled the two men to relax and continue talking.
Arriving in the kitchen, Rowan had not-too-gently pushed TJ into a chair. Taking a seat himself, he faced the other man and demanded, “What the hell was that all about?”
“I-I just thought…”
“No! You didn’t think! How could you ever convince yourself that I would allow someone to interfere with or make suggestions regarding Darby’s and my relationship? Where the hell do you get off?” Rowan grabbed the other man’s arm and shook him.
“I-I’m sorry! I’m really, really sorry! Please don’t be mad!” TJ whimpered and put his head down on the table. He couldn’t look the big man in the eye.
Rowan thought about TJ’s behaviour pattern over the last few days and recognizing some familiar patterns, finally understood what might be missing. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he gently asked, “What do you want, TJ?”
“I’m not sure,” the young man whispered. Looking into Rowan’s blue eyes, he saw understanding and acceptance. “I want what Darby and Riley have. I want someone to make decisions for me sometimes.”
“What times?” Now that his friend was talking, Rowan intended to help him along.
“Like when I get home from work and when I’m not feeling well and when I’m stressing out….you know…times like that.”
“You are a top-notch pharmacist, TJ. But I can imagine your work gets very stressful and overwhelming some days, as people’s well-being depends on you doing your job perfectly. Have you ever told Glen how you’re feeling when that happens?”
“No, I’m not sure how to approach him and I don’t want him to think less of me for not being able or even wanting to do everything on my own. Now that I finally know how much I love him, I don’t want to lose him.” TJ chewed on his bottom lip. He tried not to cry because he knew if he let them start, he’d have a hard time stopping the tears.
“Glen loves you, TJ. I doubt very much if he would ever think anything but the best of you. He’s never given me the impression he thinks less of Darby or Riley for needing help.” Seeing the hopeful look in TJ’s coffee-coloured eyes, Rowan kindly encouraged him to have a heartfelt talk with Glen. “I am not the person you need to be speaking to, TJ. You and Glen are the only ones who can decide what changes, if any, have to be made in order to meet both your needs and desires. You know, we were all going tobogganing this afternoon, but maybe you and Glen could use some peace and quiet. What do you think?”
“Sounds good! I know what you’re saying makes sense and I do want to talk about things, I just don’t know how,” TJ answered despondently. “I guess I’ll have to think about it some more.”
“You’ve already taken the hardest step. You’ve admitted to yourself you need help and the next step you know is to…” Rowan left the rest of the sentence hanging in hopes of TJ finishing it.
“Talk to Glen, right?” Getting an encouraging nod of agreement in response to his question, TJ softly said, “I apologize for that last gift, Rowan. I know saying sorry isn’t sufficient, but I do mean it. Is there anyway I can make things up to you and Darby?”
“As a matter of fact, there is. You’re not leaving until Monday, so what are the chances of you spending the remaining two days of your visit enjoying yourself instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of the first few days. I’m not saying you can just magically overturn all that’s been said or done, but a little consideration and politeness can go a long way in setting things straight.”
“Darby and Riley must be so fed up with me! Do you think they’ll ever be able to move past it and maybe someday be friends?”
“You have to be prepared for it to take a little time, but Darby and Riley are generous, kind-hearted men and the receiving and giving of forgiveness is important to them.” Rowan glanced up as a movement by the kitchen door caught his eye. “What’s up, Sweets?”
“Riley and I are hungry. It’s almost eleven o’clock and we’ve only had hot chocolate this morning.”
“Hot chocolate and the rest of last night’s toffee,” Jayson laughed as he followed Darby into the room with Riley and Glen bringing up the rear. “And, you boys better not complain about upset stomachs later.”
“We didn’t eat all the candy, Jay. We did have help, you know,” Riley reminded his partner.
“I don’t consider the rest of us having one piece each as providing you with that much help, Brat,” Jayson pointed out.
“If everyone pitches in, we can have brunch on the table in just a few minutes,” Rowan said, giving Darby a bone-crushing hug and whispering in the young man’s ear, “Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m good, Row,” Darby murmured and wrapping his arms around his partner, tucked his head further into the bigger man’s neck.
“Come on; let’s get this show on the road so we’ll have plenty of time for fun in the snow!” Riley exclaimed as he grabbed up a handful of cutlery and started setting the table.
“Darby, how about putting on the CD you gave me of last week’s Christmas concert. I think it’s still under the tree with my other gifts,” Rowan suggested and placed a soft kiss on his lover’s lips.
“Sure thing!” Darby said, heading back to the family room to fulfill the request.
Soon everyone was enjoying good food, good company, good conversation and great music.
************
“Okay, the vegetables are ready to cook as soon as we get back and I’ve just put the turkey in the oven, so we’re ready to head out,” Rowan stated.
“You guys stay out as long as you want, Rowan. TJ and I will take care of whatever is left to do,” Glen offered. “Because if the rest of you don’t mind, we won’t be accompanying you as we really need some private time together.”
“That quite all right, Glen, and thanks,” Jayson said while hurrying two fully-dressed Brats out the front door. “Come on you two before you get over-heated in here.”
“We should be back in a couple of hours. See you then!” Rowan said as he left the cabin and softly closed the door.
Glen stood at the window and watched his hosts pick up toboggans and head for a hill somewhere east of the cabin. He turned to see TJ standing quietly behind him. The younger man looked uncertain and was shuffling from one foot to the other. Glen held out his arms and gently called, “Come here, my darling.”
The loving invitation was all TJ needed to run into his lover’s embrace. “I’m so sorry for how I have been behaving since we arrived here, Glen. Please believe me.”
“I believe you, honey, but we have a lot to talk over, don’t we?” Feeling a faint nod against his shoulder, Glen suggested, “Let’s get another cup of coffee and make ourselves comfortable. I have a feeling this is going to take awhile.” Seeing a look of despair cross his partner’s face, Glen assured him, “Hey, we can do this, babe. We can accomplish anything if we work at it together, right?” The softly asked question brought forth a smile. A small lopsided grin actually, but it was much better than the look it was replacing.
One hour and several cups of coffee later, Glen tried to clarify what they had discussed to this point by listing the highlights. “First, we both want an end to the arguing, the times spent avoiding each other and the long periods of lonely silence which over the last several months have been occurring more frequently. Next, we both agree you need assistance in a few areas of your life and you want to let me take over the responsibility of decision-making within our relationship, but only at certain times. Have I got it fairly accurate so far?”
“Yeah, I’d like you to take over on the nights I come home tired and when I’m not feeling too good. You know, times when I sorta just feel like throwing in the towel.”
“No!” Glen stated, shaking his head. “That’s not going to work, TJ. If you trust me enough to make some decisions then you have to trust me to make all of them. I want to love you, take care of you, help you, be there for you, but I can’t just be a part-time senior partner anymore than I can be a part-time companion, helpmate, or lover. It’s all or nothing, TJ…..24/7.”
“You mean you’ll leave me if I can’t or won’t agree to a full-time, you’re-the-boss type relationship?” TJ yelled.
“Hey, clam down, babe,” Glen admonished as he lifted his partner onto his lap and, slipping his hand under TJ’s shirt, began to soothingly draw circles on the warm brown skin of the younger man’s back. “No, I can’t leave you. I love you. We’ll have to continue living as we have been and try harder to be the way we were when we first committed to each other.”
“But, Glen, I can’t keep living like that! I can’t go on pretending I can do everything I feel I should be doing…..the little day by day things that seem to pile up until they strangle me.” TJ murmured, hiding his face against the other man’s shoulder.
“TJ, you understand many of the aspects of Jayson and Riley’s partnership, and of Rowan and Darby’s, don’t you?” Glen asked patiently, rubbing his cheek on TJ’s short, wiry curls.
“I-I think so. Well, not most of it but some of it. I’ve watched them and noticed when Darby and Riley do something inappropriate, they are punished and then it is over and done with. There are no drawn-out times of feeling guilt, shame and remorse for things said or done in anger. I know there are things that are the same and things that are different between the two relationships, but I don’t know how it would be for us.”
“You told me you have been learning a lot about discipline relationships on the Internet. I have also been reading a fair bit of the same material and if I understand correctly, every relationship is as different as the people in it. We would have to make rules and consequences that work for us, not for someone else. We are the only ones responsible for our partnership.”
“I want to try it, Glen. Like you said…24/7. I love you and I do trust you. Please, I know I need this,” TJ begged.
“What do you say to us writing down some areas we need to work on. After that we can talk over rules to live by and consequences for breaking the rules. We then have to allow enough time to determine whether or not this works for us…..like say, for six months. It’s your decision but once you decide you want the six-month trial, the final decisions become mine. They will not be made arbitrarily but once we’ve discussed an issue, I have the last say.”
“Yes! I understand and I agree with all you’ve just said. When do you think we should start?”
“We can start after we get home, babe, but that is for you to decide.”
“I want to start now,” TJ stated hopefully.
“Are you sure you don’t want to rethink that, TJ?” Glen was astounded at his partner’s declaration.
“No, I really want to begin this new direction our life is taking as soon as possible, Glen. Please!”
“All right! The guys should be home soon so we really don’t have time to start listing the areas we want to concentrate on,” Glen said, setting TJ on his feet and getting up off the sofa. “But I do think the first thing we have to address is your absolutely appalling behaviour during our stay here,” he sternly added.
“You mean you’re going to punish me already?” TJ squawked.
“No, I am not! I have no intention of punishing you for something you’ve done before making the decision to do this, but rest assured, young man, if it continues you are going to find out very quickly just how hard I can spank!” It took all Glen’s self-control not to laugh at the look of astonishment on his lover’s face.
************
“Things worked out better than I could have wished for, Glen. I talked to Darby and Riley while I helped them clean up the kitchen after dinner. They both agreed to give me another chance to make amends and hopefully become friends.” TJ undressed as he talked and dropping his clothes on the floor, reached for his pajamas.
Scooping up the dark man’s clothing, Glen took the opportunity to inform his partner, in no uncertain terms, of another change. “Another behaviour issue we’ll be talking about when we get home is this habit you have of leaving your belongings anywhere they happen to fall.” Seeing a pout form, Glen smiled and added, “But, I am so proud of the effort you made today to get along with everyone. I love you, TJ! Don’t you ever doubt it! I want the best this life has to offer for both of us.” Glen took the younger man into his arms and sealed his declaration with a very intimate kiss.
In one of the upstairs bedrooms, Riley was sitting in the middle of the big bed, watching his partner strip out of his sweater and jeans. “What did you and Rowan talk to Glen about, Jay?”
“Just life in general, I’d say,” was all the information the older man was going to provide.
“I bet!” Riley laughed. “Well, Darby, TJ and I discussed partnerships, discipline partnerships, our discipline partnerships, ALL three of our discipline partnerships,” he strongly hinted and waited for Jayson’s reaction.
“That’s good!” Jayson replied nonchalantly.
“Awww, come on, Jay!” Riley whined at the teasing. “Haven’t you got anything else to say?”
Stretching out on the bed, Jayson reached for his lover and pulled him over to his side. “It was good to see you three boys getting along. And yes, before you ask again, I’m aware of the change in Glen and TJ’s lifestyle. Now, I’m sure we can find something better to do that doesn’t involve talking about what other people are or are not doing.”
“Oh yeah, I like what you have in mind, love of mine,” Riley groaned as he felt his lover’s hand roam under the waistband of his boxers and tenderly fondle him.
Across the hall, Rowan and Darby were settling in for the night.
Letting himself fall backwards, Darby landed on the bed so hard he bounced. “I’ve thought this over and I know what I want to do about this job offer, Rowan,” he announced, holding up the small white business card.
“What did you come up with, love?” Rowan muffled voice was heard through the sweatshirt he was pulling off over his head.
“I’m going to phone this guy when we get home and tell him ‘Thanks, but no thanks’. I’m honoured and all, but the timing is all wrong. I’d have to move, give up my students, change universities; none of which I want to do. It would also involve a lot of travelling and I don’t want to be away from you. Is that all right?”
“It’s your call, baby. I’ll never interfere with your career unless, of course, it starts affecting your health. If you had wanted to accept this offer, we would have works things out. But I’m rather glad you made the choice you did, sweetheart,” Rowan said sincerely.
“You know, everything’s turned out just right, Rowan! Our first Christmas together and it was perfect,” mused the younger man, beaming from ear to ear.
Rowan lovingly smiled down at his young partner and enjoyed the rapture of the moment. Lowering himself next to Darby, he turned on his side to look into the beautiful, animated face of the man he loved more than life itself. “I
“Well, TJ apologized and tried hard today to make up for the nasty way he acted towards us, so it no longer matters. We won’t let it take away from the really good moments, right?” Darby reached up and wrapped his arms around the other man’s neck and pulled him down for a soul-shattering kiss. Coming up for air, he whispered, “You are what makes everything perfect for me, Row. I love you so much!” he murmured, closing in for another breath-stealing kiss.
“Our Christmas isn’t over yet, love. I have something else for you,” Rowan announced and gave Darby one last kiss before pushing himself off the bed. Under Darby’s watchful eye, he opened the top drawer of his dresser and took out a small square package. “This is something I’ve been holding onto for you,” Rowan said as he handed the gift-wrapped parcel to the other man.
Darby slowly removed the colourful paper and lifted the cover to see what was inside. His eyes opened wide as he stared at the contents. Looking up at his lover, Darby stammered, “I-I….you-you said three months and there is still a couple of weeks to go.”
“Darby, who is responsible for the decision-making in our relationship?” Rowan asked, smiling at the young man.
“You are!” Darby whispered.
“Got it in one, love,” Rowan agreed and kissed him again before continuing, “Sweetheart, our commitment to each other is based on love and trust. It is your love and trust that enables me to be the person I was meant to be and I wanted to show you how much I love and trust you. With the exception of one minor slip-up at Halloween, you have adhered to the restriction of not driving any vehicle for a determined period of time. That punishment was meted out at my discretion and it is subject to change at my discretion. You have proven you’ve learned your lesson and I trust you will never drive without insurance again, so I am reinstating your driving privileges.”
Gazing into dark blue eyes, Darby looked through quickly filling green ones to see all the love and faith that accompanied this gift. As the tears of happiness slowly trickled down his face, he lifted his driver’s license from its’ resting place and discovered the new insurance certificate lying under it. He threw his arms around the other man’s neck and softly murmured, “Thank you!”
Darby was picked up and settled into his favourite place on Rowan lap. “It’s effective immediately, Sweets!”
“So can I be the designated driver for Jayson’s house party on New Year’s Eve?” Darby grinned up at his lover.
“If that’s what you want, baby.” As the tears dried on his cheeks, Darby heard a tenderly spoken, “Merry Christmas, little one.”
The snow was softly falling as six men nestled down with the ones they loved and acknowledged that even though some things change and some things stay the same, “It’s still a good life after all.”
The End
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