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Joseph had no sooner finished peeling the potatoes when his maternal grandparents came in bearing a couple of big dishes of food. Joseph hugged and kissed his grandmother, and greeted his grandfather with a proffered handshake. He was surprised to be pulled against his grandfather's chest and hugged tightly. The old man murmured in his ear. "I love you, Joseph. You've turned into an admirable young man, and I'm proud of you, Son."

Surprised, Joseph hugged his grandfather tightly. "I love you, Granddad." Even though he'd been born and raised less than two miles from his grandparents' home, he was eleven years old before he'd first met his grandfather, and had never developed a close relationship with him like his younger brother and sister had. Even though he'd often heard him say it to Lexy and Lena, this was the first time the old man had ever told him that he loved him.

As he pulled away, there were tears in his eyes as well as his grandfather's. His grandmother who'd been watching and was as surprised as Joseph, smiled at him and patted her husband on the back. Joseph felt slightly uncomfortable with the new affection from his grandfather, so he quickly turned to tell his mother that he was going after Grandy Mabel and left.

Angie watched her oldest grandson walk away with a smile on his face. She recalled reprimanding her husband, for not showing the same affection for Joseph as he did for Lena and Lexy. His reply had been, "Let the boy come to me, Angie. He's obviously at that stage of adolescence where he doesn't want us adults hugging him. Give him time; he'll come around."

At the time, Angie had thought that he was right, but for more than six years she'd watched her Joseph look wistful every time Joe had hugged his two younger grandchildren, yet he never made a move to hug his grandfather. She was happy that her husband had finally forced the issue.

As Joseph drove his father's big black Lexus the few blocks to the Tower, he wondered if Old Joe (that's the term he used in thinking of his grandfather) had been sincere in hugging him and saying those words. He wondered if the old man really meant them.

He then wondered if he had been standoffish because Joseph was openly gay. But he reminded himself that the old man's two sons were gay and he was very close to both of them. Or was the old man still slightly prejudiced because he was a primary symbol that his mother had married one of the blackest men he'd ever seen? No, probably not, Old Joe seemed to really love his younger siblings, so that probably wasn't it.

Joseph then wondered if and how much his grandmother had to do with it. He finally decided that the old man had done it all on his own, and that his grandmother had simply been close enough to hear what her husband had said. Putting his doubts aside, he smiled happily to himself as he pulled under the portico of the Tower.

Mabel had been visiting with the guard on the desk while she waited to be picked up. When she saw the big black car pull into the portico, she wished him a 'Happy New Year' and stepped outside. Joseph jumped out of the car, gave his Grandy M a hug and opened her door for her. As he got back in behind the steering wheel, she astutely studied him. "Something good has happened to you today," she said.

Joseph glanced at her and smiled as he maneuvered the car back onto the street. "Grandpa Joe told me that he loves me."

"Well, I know he does. I've watched him watching you, Joseph, so I know he does. He's very proud of you, too."

"Yeah, but this was the first time he's ever told me, Grandy."

"I can't believe that. I've heard him tell Lexy and Lena that - innumerable times - since I moved up here."

He shrugged. "Maybe I was always stand-offish to him. I was eleven when I first met him. His gruffness scared me."

"Well, he may not have said it before, Joseph, but believe me, I've seen the love and pride in his eyes when he watches you."

He looked over at his beloved grandmother. "I needed to hear that. Thanks, Grandy."

"I didn't say that just to make you feel good. It's the truth, Joseph."

He grinned at her. "I love you, Grandy."

"And you know I love you, Joseph."

Since Mary and Jean had to 'get dressed,' Lloyd dropped Max off in front of the Darcy's. When Lloyd walked back into the condo, he said, "I sure am happy those two boys got back together. I've never seen anyone as miserable as Max was while they were apart."

"How do you think things will go now, with them still physically separated by a continent?" Mary asked

"They both have some more maturing to do. But I think they will make it. I'm sure they both think that four years is a long time, but it'll pass quickly, and then they can be together again."

"I can still remember, Mary," Jean said, "how time passed so slowly while your father was in Viet Nam. I don't think they'll see the time passing that quickly."

"Well, they'll both be involved in their studies … that should help some."

Jean sighed, lost in memories for a moment. "Yes … some," she agreed. "It does help to stay occupied."

As Max walked up to the Darcy's front door, he saw the Lexus coming up the street and that it was Joseph driving, so he stopped to wait. He opened the car door and helped Mabel out, hugged the elderly woman and kissed her cheek, and then he fell in behind them as Joseph accompanied his grandmother into the house. Mabel handed Joseph her mink coat and went to greet everyone while Joseph and Max stopped in the foyer to greet each other in private.

"I missed you," Joseph said.

"My thoughts were constantly on you," Max replied.

"I love you, Max."

"As much as I love you?"

"Yeah, for sure as much… and maybe more."

"Impos..." The rest of the word was lost as Joseph's lips covered Max's in a long passionate kiss.

They ended it when someone cleared their throat. They never saw who interrupted them.

As they entered the living room, Mabel said, "I wondered where you two had gone."

Joseph smiled sweetly at his grandmother. "I had to stop and say 'hi' to Max."

Without prompting, everyone simultaneously said, "Hi, Max." He raised a hand and grinned as he blushed.

"Welcome back home, Young Man," Rence said, and gave him a warm hug. "We've missed you."

"I've missed all of you, too, Dad."

Rence beamed. He'd always admired the tenacity of the diminutive young man that his eldest son had chosen as his mate. He noticed a fleeting shadow cloud Max's features and remembered the turmoil of those first days after his son's 'indiscretion'. He patted Max on his back, and turned to answer something his wife asked.

Other than that momentary lapse, Max succeeded in not thinking again about it. He consciously ignored the fact that it was in this house, in Joseph's bedroom, that the incident had occurred.

Shortly, the Browns showed up with Jean, and not long after that, the newest Brown family came in with the two little twins who were delighted to be the center of attention. Johnny and Tim made their appearance, and after waiting another ten minutes for Gary, Lloyd insisted that they go ahead without the young scoundrel.

Gary showed up soon after everyone was seated, and of course the women had to make much ado over filling his plate for him.

After Joseph had spent an hour cloistered in private conversation with his dad, he went around with a satisfied smile on his face, but he said nothing to anyone about what they discussed.

Max kept eying him curiously, but resisted inquiring about the smile until the evening of the twenty seventh, when they were again ensconced in the privacy of the Eyrie. At that point, he could no longer stand not knowing what was causing the little near-smirk on his lover's face. "Alright, what are you up to, Joze?" he demanded.

Joseph feigned innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about, Max."

"Don't give me that. I've known you for too many years. You're up to something."

Joseph just smiled at him and didn't reply.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Nope." The smile turned to a big grin at Max's frustrated expression. "But I will tell you that you're going to love it," Joseph added.

"Joseph," Max whined.

Joseph just grinned. "Not Joze?"

Max grimaced. "So, when will I find out what it is?"

"You'll find out what it is - when you find out."

Max thought about it and then mumbled, "No shit."

Max's language surprised Joseph. "Max! I don't think I've ever heard you say a foul word before."

Max looked disgruntled, but didn't reply.

"I promise you that it will be worth waiting for."

A little mollified, Max mumbled, "I hate surprises."

Joseph laughed at his lover. "You love surprises."

"Well, yeah," he agreed, "but I hate having to wait."

"I know … it's the pits, isn't it?" Joseph suppressed a chuckle, but Max was aware of it and stuck his tongue out at him.

Joseph grinned devilishly. "I love you, Babe, especially that cute little pink tongue. Wanna put it to good use?"

Max grinned and wrapped his arms around Joseph's neck, holding him tightly as he gave his face a tongue bath.

At first Joseph resisted, but quickly gave in to the sensuality of it. His mouth sought Max's, and soon they were dueling for dominance with their tongues. Gasping for breath, Max broke away. "Damn, I love you, Joseph."

"Aaaah, you just love me for my body."

Max pulled back from him and attempted to look serious. "Oh, I do, Joze. I do love your body." He couldn't hold the straight face and broke into a grin. "But if you weren't in this body, this body would just be another gorgeous body." He lost the smile as he gazed into Joseph's warm brown eyes. "It's you, Joze, that I love."

"I know that, Max, as well as you know that I love you."

At that moment, Joe pounded on the door and called out, "It's time to come out and replenish your strength if you're doing another marathon night."

The two young men looked at each other and burst out laughing. Joze grabbed Max's hand and pulled him off the bed. "Come on, Babe, let's go hassle the uncles for awhile."

The twenty eighth day of December Max and Joseph spent together, first having breakfast with the Browns, then lunch with the Darcys. Dinner was another family affair at the elder Paolini's.

Once everyone was seated, Joseph's grandfather rose with his wine glass in his hand. "As the family patriarch, I wish to make a toast to my eldest grandson and his partner Max.

"I'm sure you're aware that none of us thought your fascination with each other would last. And at first, when you two had trouble, we were sure that it was the end, but I've never seen two people more miserable than the two of you until you got back together. It is obvious to us all that you two are meant to be 'one together'. May you always find happiness and joy with each other. We love you two young men. Don't you ever doubt it."

Their last night together, the two young men quietly removed their clothes without many words and crawled in bed. There was no sex. They simply cuddled and caressed and spoke of how much they loved each other until, eventually, sleep overtook them. They woke in the middle of the night to find themselves still wrapped in each other's arms.

Max murmured, "I want you inside me one last time."

Joseph complied by lovingly licking his way down to Max's spread legs. He ignored his throbbing cock and licked his scrotum, then his super sensitive perineum. Teasing and tickling with his long tongue, he skirted around his anus until Max was begging to be fucked. With that, he plunged his hard tongue into the rosy wrinkled little hole making Max moan and demand more.

Again Joseph complied. After lubing his rampant rod well, he slowly slid into Max's moist hot depths. When he eventually had Max ready to explode, he pulled out. Max opened his eyes and glared, "What?"

"I want you to fuck us both to a climax."

The only thing that Max loved as much as having Joseph's long dong inside him was returning the favor. They traded places, and soon Max had them both on the verge. Joseph's navel was filled with his slick seminal juice as Max repeatedly plunged the tip of his cock against Joze's prostate. Joseph moaned in protest when Max stopped and sat back on his heels. In this position, the head of Max's cock was against Joseph's prostate. They were both so close. Max moved ever so slightly back and forth, massaging it, keeping them both right on the edge. Joseph opened his eyes and stared into Max's. Seeing the love mixed with his intense need to cum pushed Max over the edge; he started plunging with force, taking them over the precipice. They climaxed.

Through the rest of the night they cuddled and sporadically talked. Neither was willing to sleep, and when sleep did come, it was shoved away with a little jolt as their subconscious woke them again. As the day began to creep in, they made love one last time - slowly and tenderly, eventually coming to a gentle climax.

As they lay entwined Max sighed.

"What's bothering you, Babe?" Joseph asked.

"Joze, I don't want you to take me to the airport. I want to say our goodbyes here."

Joseph was quiet for so long that Max began to wonder if he'd heard him.

Finally, Joseph said, "I guess that would be best."

They then lovingly bathed each other and dressed. Max packed up the things he had there. Joseph stayed with his uncles when Max trudged down to say goodbye to his parents. Jean was there. He called down to Mabel and thanked her for her support and said 'bye'.

He then asked Gary to take him to the airport.

After hugging his dad, mom and grandmother again, he went back up to say goodbye to Dave and Joe - and one last goodbye to Joseph… in private. There wasn't anything left to say. They simply clung to each other for a moment, kissed one last time, and as Max moved away, Joseph trailed his hand down Max's arm, grasped his hand for a moment and then let his fingers slide down 'til only the tips touched. Max smiled bravely and stepped into the elevator.

Joe stood beside his nephew with an arm around his shoulders, while Dave stood on his other side with an arm around his waist as they watched Max give them one last little fractured smile before the elevator doors closed.

Gary met him in the lobby, and they quickly were on their way to the airport.

Max sat with his younger brother waiting for his plane's departure. He forced himself to listen to Gary talk - mostly about his latest girl friend. He'd have preferred to submerge himself in his own litany of self pity. He was already missing Joseph.

"I wish Mom and Dad would let me have my own apartment," Gary was saying. "I'm sure I could convince Lisa to move in with me."

"Come on, Gare, don't you think they know you well enough to know that's what you would do, and therefore they don't want you to leave the nest until you're a little more mature?"

Gary looked surprised. "You really think that's the reason?"

"Are you even using protection when you make it with these girls?"

"I'm not stupid, Max. I don't want to get one pregnant and have to marry her."

"To say nothing of catching a STD."

Gary ignored the snide tone of voice. "Right on, Max. And if I do catch one down the road, you'll be my personal doctor."

Max laughed. "Only if you stay a child. Bro."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm seriously thinking of becoming a pediatrician."

Gary shrugged, and without thinking, said, "Easier to molest 'em, huh - have the parents bring them right to you?"

The comment infuriated Max, and without thinking, he threw a hard punch, hitting Gary in the eye. Gary didn't reactas he staggered back, except to cover his injured eye and stare at Max in shock.

Max snarled, "You of all people should know better than that, you asshole."

"I'm sorry… I was only joking, Max." Gary whined.

"Saying that kind of shit is no joke. Ninety-eight percent of child molesters are straight adult males. You have a hell of a lot better chance of being one than me." Max spat out at him.

A middle-aged, pot bellied guard interrupted him. "What's the problem here, men?" he asked, noting that the shorter of the two was the aggressor

"There's no problem," Gary said.

The guard looked at him, and then at Max, who still seethed as he cradled his bruised fist. He could see that they were definitely brothers. He said to Gary, "Right. That's why you're sporting a brand new shiner. You two keep it civil, or I'll have to do something," he jokingly threatened.

Max curtly nodded and Gary looked disgusted, but acquiesced. Gary watched the guard walk away and then turned back to his brother. "Max, I'm sorry - alright."

"No, it is not alright. That vicarious comment was totally uncalled for."

"Max, I---"

"Look, just go on home."

Gary hung his head and glanced up at Max who had turned away. "I apologize, Max." Max showed no sign of having heard him. Gary shrugged and muttered, "I was only joking," then shuffled towards the exit.

Max stared at his brother's back as he walked down the concourse. He shuddered as he wondered that if Gary, having been raised in the environment that he'd grown up in could think such a vile thing, how could the rest of the world not think the same thing? He thought of calling his mother and discussing it with her, but he knew that she'd get to the root of why Gary had a black eye, and that Gary wouldn't lie when asked.

Max had very little hassle growing up gay. He'd been fortunate that at the same time he'd discovered his sexual preference, his family had moved to the university community where the school system allowed no prejudice. And then moving to Los Angeles to continue his education, he'd move into another area that was more accepting of gays than the world outside of UniCity.

He didn't consider whether he'd over reacted to his younger brother's stupid remark, but he did regret having reacted physically. He knew that he would be hearing from at least one of his parents about it. The incident served to make him grumpier than he already was over having to part from Joseph. Preoccupied, he boarded automatically when his section of the plane was called. Until a steward asked if he'd like something to drink, he wasn't aware that he'd even boarded the plane, much less found his seat and buckled in.

Gary knew he was only putting off the inevitable when he attempted to get to his room without his mother seeing his black eye. The moment he opened his bedroom door, his mother called out to him from the kitchen. "Did Max get off okay?"

His momentary pause before saying, "Yeah, of course, Mom," gave Mary reason to call him into the kitchen. He tried to stand where she wouldn't see his eye.

"Gary, what are you hiding? Turn around and look at me."

Gary ducked his head and turned toward her.

"Why are you acting so strange?" she asked.

Knowing he couldn't get away with anything with his mother, he sighed and looked up at her in resignation.

"Oh! My God, what happened to you?"

"Would you believe I ran into a door?" he asked.

"If that's what really happened."

She studied him, waiting. He ducked his head. "Is it?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"So, who hit you?"

"Max."

Mary frowned in consternation. "Max is not violent. What in the world did you say to cause him to hit you?"

"I made a lame joke."

"What did you say, Gary?"

"Well… he told me he was going to be a pediatrician and I said a…"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"I told him it was a convenient way to get kids to molest."

"YOU WHAT?"

"I was only joking, Mom. And I apologized."

"Good God, Gary, whatever possessed you to say such a stupid thing? You know how sensitive Max is on that subject."

"I guess I'm just stupid."

"Your comment was certainly thoughtless, Gary, but you are far from being stupid. Did he accept your apology?"

"No, not really, he just looked through me, and told me to go home."

"Well, maybe you should call him when he gets back to L.A. and apologize again."

"Is it really true, Mom, that ninety-eight percent of child molesters are heterosexual men?"

"I don't know what the percentage is, but it is true that most are straight, and usually married with children of their own."

"So, why does everybody equate being gay with being a child molester?"

Mary sighed and pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table. Gary sat down opposite her. "I suppose that it is easier for them to accept a lie like that… about someone who is different from themselves… than to have to believe the truth about their own kind."

"I just don't understand it all," Gary complained.