Part Two – Discussions

I was already in bed when Ben arrived home from his faculty meeting. I’d spent the rest of the evening thinking about whether I’d really helped Hunter in any way. He was quiet most of the evening, and I imagined that everything we’d talked about was still weighing heavily on his mind.

I needed to talk to Ben about it all; he always managed to look at things with a different perspective, and I guess I also wanted some reassurance that I’d handled it right.

I heard the front door slam, and a smile lit up his face when he walked into the bedroom, and I lifted my face for his welcoming kiss.

"How was the meeting?" I asked, grabbing a pillow and putting in behind my back to make myself more comfortable.

"Good actually! We managed to get most of next semester planned. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve got a great bunch of students who are eager to learn." Ben replied, removing his jacket and scarf, before sitting on the bed next to me.

"The fact that they have a wonderful, and not to mention hot, professor may have something to with their attendance as well." I replied which earned me another kiss.

"So how was your evening?" He asked, reaching down and removing his shoes.

"Interesting."

He looked up a slight frown crossing his face before he spoke.

"Interesting as in you didn’t burn dinner or interesting as in you’ve got something to tell me." His hand found mine, squeezing it gently. Perhaps he could tell by the tone of my voice that it was the latter.

"Why don’t you take a shower, and we’ll talk when you get back." I suggested.

"Sounds serious." He responded meeting my gaze.

"It’s complicated." I wasn’t sure if that was the right word, but it was all I could come up with at the moment.

He nodded before walking towards the door then stopped, turning back to me.

"You want to join me?"

I shook my head.

"No, just come back soon." I replied and snuggled under the covers to wait for him.

It felt like only a few minutes before I heard him walk back into the room. I pulled the covers back, and he climbed in next to me, switching off the bedside light. There was enough moonlight coming through the window so that I could see his face clearly. I rested my head on his chest and found his hand, and I must have let out a sigh because he reached down, lifting my chin, looking into my eyes.

"Michael, what’s wrong?"

I took a deep breath and took him through the conversation Hunter and I had shared earlier in the evening. He didn’t interrupt, and when I’d finished, hoping I hadn’t left anything out, I just looked up at him. I could tell he was thinking about all I’d told him so I relaxed against his body, knowing he would take his time before giving me his thoughts.

"You said exactly the right things, baby." He said, dropping a kiss on my head. "I have a few concerns though."

"Like what?" I asked.

"How young they are. Hunter hasn’t really had a serious girlfriend since Callie, and we know how badly that ended. I’m just concerned that they are rushing into things, this talk about a future together. I would like Hunter to finish college and by the sounds of it, this Amanda is serious about her schooling. Relationships at any age take time, and I wouldn’t like to see that interfering with his education." Ben said.

"I agree, but I also think that if Hunter is happy with this girl, and she wants to do well in school, that could be good for him." I replied. "We both know that although he’s getting reasonably good grades, he doesn’t really like it that much." I said looking up at Ben. I could see he was considering this and waited for his reply.

"That’s a good point, but so many relationships at this age don’t last. I guess the bottom line is I don’t want him to get hurt again."

I understood Ben’s feelings, remembering back to that night, after Hunter broke up with Callie, when nothing we said could comfort him.

"Whether they last or not is something we can’t control." I said. "All we can do is be there for him in which ever way he needs us."

"You’re very wise tonight." Ben said, pulling me closer.

A smile touched my lips at his words. I knew Ben’s main concern would be Hunter’s happiness, which was mine as well, but I also knew what it was like to love someone and want nothing more than to spend the rest of your life with them.

Ben’s voice broke my train of thought, and I concentrated on his words.

"I think perhaps we should ask Hunter to invite Amanda for dinner one night so we can get to know her."

"Before or after he has talked to her?" I asked.

"Mmmmm…….maybe we should ask him how he feels about that." Ben replied. "Like you, I like the sound of her, and if Hunter cares about her this much, I think she must be a good person. He’s a very good judge of character."

"We’ll talk to him tomorrow then and see how he feels." I answered. "And the rest of the problems…..?"

"Let’s just face them one at a time." Ben replied. "There’s no point in us worrying about something that may never happen."

"You mean once he’s told her everything, she may disappear from his life?"

"Yeah…..I hope that doesn’t happen…especially as he seems to have such strong feelings about her after such a short time." Ben said. "But either way he needs to know that he can come to us whenever he needs to talk."

I moved slightly then sat up, resting on my elbow as I looked down at Ben. There was just one thing I needed to say before we finished this conversation.

"What happens if he tells her, and she’s fine with it, but when it comes to that actual moment she…."

"Can’t go through with it?" Ben finished my sentence for me.

I nodded, dropping my eyes, but Ben lifted my face, tracing his fingers down my cheek.

"Michael, what happened between us on that night is just one small part of our lives. I know you still think about it, and I wished you wouldn’t. You were scared, and you were also influenced by other people but in the end….."

"My heart made the right decision for me." This time I interrupted him. "So maybe it will be the same for them?"

"If it’s meant to be – yes." Ben replied.

"But then again perhaps it was my cock that made the decision for me, because you were, and still are, the hottest guy I have ever seen." I tried to keep a straight face as I spoke but failed miserably as Ben’s laughter rang out around the room. I leaned down, silencing him with a kiss and felt myself being pulled on top of him, his hands caressing my back, and I let out a contented sigh as he flipped me onto my back and rained light kisses over my chest.

"I just want him to have what we have." My voice seemed to come from nowhere, and Ben stopped and looked up at me.

"Have I told you how much I love you Michael Novotny-Bruckner!" Ben said, his voice husky with emotion.

My heart did a flip-flop at the naked love shining from his eyes, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly. After a few moments he moved, pulling me with him and wrapped his body around mine, and my last thoughts before I drifted off to sleep were if Hunter was lucky enough to find anything near what Ben and I had, he would be luckiest kid in the world. I wouldn’t tell Ben yet, but I kinda hoped Amanda was the one to give it to him.

Hunter was sitting at the table eating breakfast when Ben and I came down stairs the next morning. He gave us his usual mumbled ‘good morning,’ his eyes meeting mine, and I could clearly read the question in them. I gave him a slight nod of my head and received a silent ‘thanks’ from him.

I headed into the kitchen, flicking on the coffee maker as Ben made a protein shake before walking to the table and sitting next to Hunter. I watched them for a few minutes, their heads close together, and I knew Ben would be offering him some wise words.

Hunter’s ‘tonight?’ floated through to the kitchen, and they both turned to me and I nodded in response. A smile crossed Hunter’s face as he grabbed his cell from his pocket and wandered into the living room.

I finished making the coffees and carried them to the table, sitting next to Ben.

"Well?" I asked, taking a sip of the hot coffee.

"He’s ok." Ben answered. "And he wants her to meet us before he tells her anything."

"Perhaps he wants her to see that a pos/neg relationship can work….and yes I know, it’s slightly different for us…but still…."

"You’re probably right." Ben answered, reaching for his coffee, taking a mouthful before continuing. "I think we just need to let him decide how he wants to handle the whole thing. He knows he can come to either of us when he needs to, and as long as the lines of communication are kept open, and he doesn’t think we are trying to sway him one way or another."

"I have to admit I’m looking forward to meeting this Amanda!" I said and received a grin from Ben in response.

"So am I, baby." Ben answered, leaning in and dropping a kiss on my mouth.

"Christ can’t you two at least wait till I’ve gone!" Hunter stated, walking back into the room, shaking his head.

I ignored the remark for once, more intent on finding out the outcome of the phone call.

"Well?"

"She said yes and said to thank you both for inviting her." The smile on Hunter’s face said it all, and I reached under the table for Ben’s hand, wrapping my fingers in his.

"But there’s just one thing you both have to promise me…..well, two actually!" Hunter said, crossing his arms in front of him a determined look on his face.

"And what exactly would they be?" Ben asked.

"Ben has to cook dinner…" He looked pointedly at me. "And you have to behave, no farting, no rude comments, no necking on the couch….."

"Would we do any of those?" I said innocently, looking at Ben, who was having a hard time trying to keep the smile off his face.

"Don’t worry Pal, we promise we won’t embarrass you." Ben assured him, jumping slightly as I ran my hand along the inside of his leg, my fingers circling the bugle in his jeans. I let out an ‘ouch’ when Ben’s hand grabbed mine, gripping it tightly.

"Christ…what did I do to deserve parents like you!" Hunter exclaimed.

"Just lucky I guess." I replied, laughing at the look of horror on his face.

He picked up his bag muttering something about ‘get a room’ as he walked towards the door, stopping and looking back at us.

"Behave!" He said; a stern look on his face before he walked out the door.

I rested my head on Ben’s shoulder my laugher bubbling over.

"Somehow I think if Amanda survives dinner tonight, everything else will be a breeze." Ben said laughing and I could only nod in response.