"Sounds like a plan. Let's do it. The chests should face out so people can still get into them, but it will do the trick for right now." They moved the furniture Take It Slow 202.

around until they'd made a nice little hidden corner for the two men. It wasn't ideal, but it would work for now.

They looked up as the bathroom door opened and the new members of their group appeared. They stood uncertainly, looking at the three of them.

"Hey, guys, we sort of made you a temporary place over here. It's not totally private, but it should be okay for a while. Come see what you think." Daniel moved, waving them forward.

Jeffrey took Robbie's hand, and they walked over and peered around the chest on the end. He pulled Robbie closer and they both looked at each other and then the three others.

"That's...it's more than, it's perfect. More than we could have expected. We won't bother you or nothing, I swear."

"It's okay, dude. You're gonna be doing a lot of sleeping for a while, and by then we'll have figured something else out. Right now, I know there is a booth table waiting with lots of Boddy's cooking just for us. I seem to have worked up an appet.i.te. Let's go."

Daniel took Benny's hand to show the two that their relationship was totally all right here. He and Benny weren't as far along in their own pairing, but hopefully they would feel more comfortable knowing there was another couple around.

"So what do they do here? We can't just live here for free and take all this from them. It's not right."

Mama Sasy spoke up as she headed toward the table, followed by Mama Rosa, Boddy, Benny and Franklin.

Benny and Franklin drew up a couple of chairs so there were seats for everyone.

"It's right for right now, Jeffrey."

"Uh, actually, we prefer Jeff and Robb. We used Jeffrey and Robbie on the street. Those people didn't Take It Slow 203.

really know us, you know? We're Jeff Tabor and Robb Danson. About the other, we can't just take all this... this food and the help and the place to stay. We wouldn't feel right, huh, Robb?" Jeff turned to his lover as he spoke.

"No, ma'am, it's not right. We want to pay you back.

You've been so nice and so good to us, and you don't even know us." Robb said, leaning a little against Jeff's shoulder.

"Yes, ma'am," Jeff said, then at the look on her face he said, "Uh, okay, Mama Sasy. Robb and I, we want to thank you for helping us." He looked at all four who sat across from him. "All of you, you could have been really hurt tonight, and you don't even know us. Thank you.

We're going to go, like you said, and get some rest. We won't do anything, you know, to embarra.s.s anyone, but thanks for making us a place." Jeff's face was red, along with the other colors from the bruises and cuts, but Daniel thought he was a really nice young man under it all.

The streets hadn't made these two into punks or thugs like it did so many. Well, and then there was Franklin, who had turned out to be a nice guy, too. He was proud of the work they'd done in getting these three to safety before anything really bad happened to them, as if getting the c.r.a.p beat out of you on a regular basis wasn't bad enough.

The boys trailed back to the dorm, Robb nearly asleep on his feet and leaning heavily on Jeff. Franklin led the way and went over to their area with them to make sure they had everything they needed. Daniel watched as Benny grabbed hooded jackets for both of them and told Franklin they'd be back in a little while.

"Will you come outside with me for a few minutes?"

he asked. Daniel nodded as he took the soft jacket and followed Benny out. He wondered what Benny wanted Take It Slow 204.

to talk about. Maybe the new boys and how well the evening's events had turned out. There really wasn't anywhere to go out here except to the picnic table in the back corner.

"Help me move this, will you?" Benny asked as he went to one end of the table. Mystified, Daniel took hold of the other end and moved at Benny's direction. There were a couple of what Daniel figured were empty trailers back there. He didn't know if they'd been abandoned or what, but one of them was angled. Benny was heading to the corner of the trailer, which Daniel realized would make the table nearly invisible. He'd made them a private s.p.a.ce, kind of like they'd made for Jeff and Robb inside. Cool.

"What you got on, your mind?" Daniel teased, deliberately leaving a s.p.a.ce between the two phrases. He realized that his dad used to say that to him all the time.

What you got on... your mind? He also realized that the memory brought only warmth, not the usual angst that memories of their time before made him feel. Progress.

Small steps. Yeah.

"Is this okay, you think?" Benny asked, moving to sit down on the bench and holding out his hand for Daniel to take. When he did, Benny pulled him down beside him, close.

"You mean with them? They shouldn't care. Mama Rosa likes to come out here, but it'll be too cold for her soon. This is a little more protected so it might be better for her. Me? I like it. I've been wishing..." Daniel paused, not sure of how to go on.

"I've been wishing, too, Daniel. I've been wishing you felt the same way about me that I feel about you."

Benny said. Daniel admired his bravery. That's what he'd really wanted to say.

205.

"I think so. I mean, I think I feel the same way. I wish we had more time alone together. Sounds like my dad knew what he was talking about with the apartment thing. That's a really big s.p.a.ce. He said there would be two bedrooms up there. Then there'd be a place for people like Jeff and Robb. Maybe put the bedrooms at opposite ends of the hall, so we're not on top of each other, but..." Daniel stopped himself from rambling away with his thoughts. Benny probably wasn't thinking about plans for the apartment right now! "I'm sorry. My mind went off on a tangent there." Daniel told him, ducking his head.

"No, I like it that you're always thinking of others, and I like the idea. Right now, though, I'm more interested in something else. Can I kiss you again?"

Benny asked, turning toward Daniel and straddling the bench. Daniel mirrored his action, spreading his legs wide so he could get closer to Benny. Realizing that this position put them facing each other but it was a little awkward with the forced lean to reach Benny's lips, Daniel pulled Benny's legs on top of his. This put their groins together, eliciting a groan from both of them.

"Mmm, nice." Benny said, squirming to get even closer, his arms going around Daniel's neck, pulling him close. For a little while they were just in a tight embrace, heads on shoulders, faces nuzzling into necks and lips moving over soft skin.

"Mmm, more." Daniel wanted that kiss now.

Benny understood and pulled his head back enough to be able to see. He smiled down at Daniel, and that was all it took. Daniel leaned up just that little bit that was necessary, with Benny on top of him, to get to that mouth. He didn't mess around, but opened his mouth, took Benny's and pushed his tongue in, meeting Benny's with delight. He sighed, almost whimpered at the Take It Slow 206.

richness of the feelings moving through him. This was what it was about, the songs, the poetry, the movies, the videos and everything else about love and romance. This deep-seated feeling of coming home, being safe and wanted, and loved. He didn't know if Benny loved loved loved him, but if his response meant anything, Daniel felt sure that his feelings were reciprocated. loved him, but if his response meant anything, Daniel felt sure that his feelings were reciprocated.

Benny matched the movements of his tongue and they spent a good while, mouths plastered together, breaths coming a little harder, c.o.c.ks growing much harder. Benny began to move his hips rubbing against Daniel, who met and matched the actions. They both groaned as sensations overcame them.

"Whoa, dude, that feels so d.a.m.n good." Benny said, finally pulling his mouth away and murmuring the words against Daniel's cheek. His tongue flicked against Daniel's ear lobe. Daniel sucked in air and shivered.

Benny moved a little closer and breathed in his ear and Daniel jerked.

"Like that, huh? Make you all shivery?" Benny asked, teasing, sweet teasing.

"Yeah, yeah, I do." Daniel wondered if Benny would like the same thing. He moved his head and did the same to Benny. Benny chuckled but didn't respond the same way. Hmm. Not the same at all. He'd have to find out what made Benny shiver.

Benny was still moving his hips against Daniel, who, truth be told, appreciated the movements greatly, but he said, "Wait, Benny, wait, here..." He pushed Benny back far enough to get his hands on the top of Benny's pants.

With his eyes on Benny's, lit from the streetlights behind Daniel, he opened those pants, pulled down the zipper and reached in, grasping Benny's c.o.c.k and pulling it out.

Benny gasped, jerking in Daniel's hand. "Mmm, G.o.d, that's... mmm." That seemed to be all Benny could get Take It Slow 207.

out, his hips rocking again, now pushing his c.o.c.k through Daniel's hand.

"You're so hot, skin so soft, hmmph, d.i.c.k so hard, feels so good, Benny." Daniel wasn't much better with the words.

"Ya think? You should feel it from this end." Benny mumbled, his forehead rolling on Daniel's shoulder.

"Hey, stop a minute. You, too. I want to do you, too.

Come on, lean back and let me get you out." Benny said, trying to pull away from Daniel's hand and reach down for Daniel's pants at the same time. He wobbled on Daniel's legs.

"Whoa, baby, don't fall. Let me help," Daniel said.

He reached one hand down, meeting Benny's, and with mutual effort, got Daniel out. Benny pulled back and looked at Daniel, watching the evidence of what he was feeling. Daniel was sure it was all right there for Benny to see. This was so s.e.xy, so much more than he was used to, and he loved it. He wasn't going to last long, though. He could feel it, the tingling in his b.a.l.l.s, the tightness.

"I'm gonna come, Benny. I'm not real good at this...or you're too good. But, oh! G.o.d, mmm--" With that, Daniel came all over his hand and Benny's, followed closely by Benny grunting and doing the same. They sat there, hands messy, shivering, foreheads together.

Benny took Daniel's hand, and they moved their hands together, mixing their come, caressing their softened c.o.c.ks gently, easing down.

"Hmm, now what?" Daniel asked, smiling in blissful release.

"Help me take my jacket off. I'll take my tee shirt off, and we'll clean up, then I'll put the jacket back on. I can put the shirt in the washer." They did that, and then Benny looked at Daniel, a smile forming on his face.

208.

"I liked that, a lot. I don't want to go in yet, okay?

Can we just hold each other for a while?" Benny asked.

"Definitely. Come here," Daniel said. In their movements earlier, Benny had slid off his legs; now Daniel took hold of Benny's leg, pulling back around so that he could scoot Benny closer to him, in the vee formed by his open legs. Benny leaned back and looked at Daniel.

"You're my guy, you know that, right? You're it for me. I don't want to do that, or anything else, with anybody but you. Is that too much to tell you?"

Daniel smiled into those pretty, light brown eyes.

"This is perfect, Benny. It's the way I feel. It's what I've been wishing for, yeah? We've got a thing here, you and me. I think I need to talk to my dad. We need our own place as soon as we can get it. I want to be with you, all the way, Benny."

"Me, too. I don't know how we'd work it, with us over there, though. I've got school coming up in January, and now that you know what you want to do, well, are you going to just keep on going out and finding guys and bringing them back here?" Benny laid his head on Daniel's shoulder as he talked, resting against him.

Daniel loved the feeling of his arms around his lover in their own little world out here.

"I don't know about that. I need to talk it out with Dad, the mamas, and Boddy. I need to see what they think would be a good idea for me. We'll work it out."

Daniel yawned and then Benny did, too.

"Okay, let's go in to bed. Will you, I mean, you'll still sleep with me, won't you?" Daniel asked. He'd come to love feeling Benny next to him, even though they didn't do anything but sleep and cuddle. It was necessary to him.

"Of course. Come on."

209.

They got up, walked in with arms around each other's shoulders, Benny holding the sticky shirt. When they got in, Benny went to the laundry section and threw it in.

For good measure, Daniel saw him grab some of the dirty clothes in the hamper by the machine, add it, and start it. They could finish the load in the morning.

Daniel yawned again, heading for the bathroom where he cleaned himself up better and scooted over when Benny joined him, doing the same. They brushed their teeth, went to the bathroom, and headed for bed.

210.

Chapter Ten.

So time pa.s.sed and things changed in Daniel's life, little things and big things. Bruises, cuts, and sc.r.a.pes faded, work went on in the diner. Pies were made and made and made some more. It turned out that Robb loved baking pies with Mama Sasy. Daniel worked with Boddy, learning more and more about all the foods that were on the menu. Jeff and Benny worked in the front of the diner (and Franklin, when he got home from the garage). There was a comfortable routine that formed with them all working and getting to know each other.

Daniel enjoyed the time spent with Benny the most.

They made several trips out to the picnic table to have a little alone time. A few times they worked to get each other off, but they often just sat, embracing, and talked about their plans. Daniel was getting much more comfortable thinking about his dad and asking him for help with what he planned for the future. He found that he was eager to see Nick when he came in and gravitated toward him. They talked about Nick's plans for Benny, how the apartment was progressing. He and Benny had talked to him about making another bedroom for the other couple. Everyone considered the apartment temporary for anyone staying there. It was to be a transition place for those going from Mama Sasy's on to the next stage of their life plan.

Nick reported that things were moving swiftly, and it would be ready soon for them to come help in choosing the furniture and helping design the areas to best fit their needs. Daniel thought it would be a good undertaking Take It Slow 211.

for all of them to partic.i.p.ate in, so he asked Jeff, Robb, Benny, and Franklin to join him and his father for a big meal and a planning session.

This was the first time that he'd had a big meal in his former home, and when they all piled into the kitchen after leaving coats and jackets in the front hall, he felt a sense of homecoming that had been missing until this moment. He felt tears sting his eyes as he realized that he had reached that place in his heart that he had worried he'd never find again. He had forgiven his father, now understood the pain his dad went through, and accepted his own role in the debacle that was that night. If he'd stayed for just a little while, confronted his father, and tried to talk to him, his life would have been so different. They had both made mistakes and he felt like it was time for a new life, a happier life.

His dad looked at him, and Daniel felt like Nick had read his mind. He opened his arms and right there in front of all his pals, he went into his father's embrace and it felt good. They were both on the way to healing.

He could feel his father's heartbeat against his chest and hear the other guys talking quietly, leaving them to their reunion. Despite all the times they had been together recently, this felt like the real thing. He wiped his eyes on this father's shoulder and patted his back. He grunted as Nick squeezed him hard before letting him go. For just a moment they smiled into each other's eyes and then turned to face the others who had settled around the table.

"Sorry, guys." Daniel started, but Nick touched his shoulder.

"I'm not. I needed that," his dad said. "Now, let's get this show on the road. Daniel, you know where everything is. You and Benny set the table. Franklin, will you and Jeff and Robb get all the books and papers Take It Slow 212.

set up on the big dining room table for later? We'll work in there, but we'll eat in here, if that's all right with everyone?"

Of course it was. Soon the smells that filled that big kitchen had them all growling and rumbling from the stomach region. There was chili (made without many spices so it would be okay for Daniel) and sloppy Joes, with all kinds of chips and accompaniments. They ate, talked and laughed, and Daniel felt truly happy. His stomach didn't hurt, he had a plan for what he wanted to do with his future, and he had a lover that he was rapidly coming to love. Peace settled over him, and he wondered that the others didn't notice a difference.

After supper, they all helped clean up and then headed to the formal dining room where there were books and pictures, papers and plans lay out for them to talk about. The easy camaraderie from supper slipped over into this endeavor, and they were soon sharing ideas and suggestions. They looked at furniture and talked about what would work well in the apartment.

Jeff and Robb were amazed that they would be able to share the new s.p.a.ce. Nick shut them down before they could spend too much time saying they couldn't take it or that it wasn't right.

"Boys, I'm doing this for me as much as for you.

After learning my lesson, I got involved with Mama Sasy and her cause, and it has now become mine also, andif I'm not mistaken, it will become Daniel's, too. I want to help in any way I can. This is something that I can do. I have already said that I will not take rent or anything like that from Daniel and Benny, and as the first residents in the apartment, I will extend that to you both, also. In future, the s.p.a.ce will be used by young men who have found a job and want to start out on their own. Since they will be working, I will charge them a Take It Slow 213.

small rent and let them pay the utilities. I'll put the profit back into the program." Nick paused in his long speech to look around at the gathered group.

"I think it's a great idea, Dad. They'll get a chance to feel like they're giving back, but not so much that they won't be able to get a start on their own dreams. I still think we should pay, too, though," Daniel said.

"Yeah, we'll feel like we're taking advantage of you,"

Jeff said.

"Look at it as an experiment. You all are moving in and letting me know the problems with the idea and what works well. I told you from the beginning, Daniel, that this was nonnegotiable. I will not take money from you. The others, well, they're guinea pigs to see if this is going to work or not. I know you have the one car so far, and after Jeff and Robb get jobs, they'll need a way to get around. We'll figure something out about that later. Are you both okay, working at the diner for right now?" He looked at Jeff and Robb as he asked.