“Finn’s here, I’ll see you later,” Ben said as he made his way to the door.
“Hang on,” Fred said. “Finn rides a fucking motorcycle? Since when?”
“For more than a year now. He got it when he was 17,” Ben said.
“Didn’t he just turn 17?” Fred asked.
“No…he just turned 18, a few months ago,” Ben said. “So…can I go?” Aaron started to nod, but Fred spoke.
“No. He can come up to the door and get you,” Fred said. Ben grinned at first, thinking his uncle was joking, but it faded at the stoic look on his face.
“Are you serious Uncle Fred?” Ben asked. There was a knock at the door. Ben stared at Fred with an icy glare. “Can I fucking answer it, or do you want to?”
“OK, Jesus, just relax you two,” Aaron said. He went to the front door and opened it.
Finn stood there with an easy smile on his face that went right to his eyes. He pushed his floppy hair back.
“Hi,” he said. “I’m Finn.” He stuck out his hand.
“Hey Finn, Aaron,” Aaron replied, shaking the boy’s outstretched hand. “Come on in.” Finn walked in and Aaron led him to the living room where Fred and Ben still stared daggers at each other. Aaron cleared his throat.
“Fred, Finn is here,” Aaron said trying to cut the tension. Finn continued to grin until his eyes finally landed on Ben’s face.
“Oh my god, Ben.” Finn went to him and pushed his blond hair back. “Are you OK?” His voice cracked. Ben tore his eyes away from Fred, landing on Finn. The hard ice chips melted away and went soft with relief.
Fred recognized the look as one he had seen numerous times on Aaron’s face and one, he was sure he had worn when looking at Aaron. His anger and suspicion dissolved a bit, leaving him feeling a little ridiculous, and hypocritical.
“I’ll be OK,” Ben said quietly. He glanced at his uncle. “This is my Uncle Fred and his boyfriend Aaron.” Finn turned to Fred and smiled a little, but he couldn’t hide the concern that now glazed his green eyes.
“Hi, I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said to Fred.
“What are you boys up to today?” Aaron asked casually. Finn turned back to Ben.
“Well, we were going to go see a movie, then later a friend of ours is having a party. But maybe you should go to the hospital Ben,” Finn said. Ben rolled his eyes.
“I’m fine, Finn, I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Ben insisted.
“Maybe you should,” Fred said. Ben’s eyes turned a bit icy again.
“I told you I’m fine. I don’t want to go in anywhere,” Ben said.
“We could just stay here,” Finn offered, running a hand down Ben’s arm to hold his hand. “Just chill. I don’t want you on the bike if you’re sore or in pain.”
Fred warmed a bit towards Finn in those moments hearing him encourage Ben to take things easy.
“I want to go out. I’m… antsy,” Ben said.
He caught Finn’s gaze and there was silent communication between the two, that caused both Fred and Aaron to look away.
“Alright,” Finn finally said, with a touch of concern in his voice. “We can skip the party.”
“Nah, let’s go to the party. Sadie would be bummed if we didn’t show,” Ben said.
“Be home by midnight,” Fred said.
“2am,” Ben countered. Aaron raised his eyebrows watching Fred.
“Do you have a shift tomorrow?” Fred asked.
“Closing, doesn’t start until 3pm,” Ben said.
“1am,” Fred said. Ben considered, glancing at Finn who only grinned a little and shrugged.
“Fine, I’ll be home by 1am,” Ben said.
“No drinking,” Fred said. Ben’s eyes darkened at that.
“I never drink Uncle Fred,” Ben said flatly. “I never, ever want to be like my dad.” Fred winced.
“Yeah, OK,” he said. “Be careful kid. Finn, you have a helmet for him?”
“Of course,” Finn said. “He’s been riding with me for a year now so,” Finn shrugged.
“I can’t believe your mom let you ride that motorcycle, Ben,” Fred said.
“She doesn’t know. Never asked.” Ben admitted.
“Jesus Christ, please be careful,” Fred said.
“Safety third!” Finn said brightly. Aaron laughed nervously.
“Come on let’s go, bye Uncle Fred, bye Aaron.” Ben pulled Finn towards the door.
The two men watched Ben and Finn through the front window as they quickly kissed, put on helmets and climbed onto the motorcycle. Both were perfectly at ease on the bike, Ben’s arms clasped loosely around his boyfriend, Finn moving seamlessly beneath them. They roared off and Fred winced again. Aaron put his arms around him.
“They’ll be fine,” Aaron said with only the slightest bit of doubt in his voice.
~~~~
It was nice to have the townhouse to themselves for rest of the day. Fred briefly filled Aaron in on the encounter with his mother and thanked him for offering to help Jennifer with the legal mess that she was about to become entrenched in. Aaron had shrugged and said of course, like it was something anyone would do.
They pulled the shades and put on the movie they had stopped abruptly in the middle of the night before. After it ended Aaron crawled up next to Fred running his hand under his shirt, his fingertips grazing his nipples. Fred pulled Aaron on top of him holding him close, kissing him slowly and softly.
“I love you so much Aaron,” Fred muttered as they held each other.
“I love you too Freddie,” Aaron said thickly.
Aaron ran his tongue up Fred’s neck, kissing him just behind his earlobe. Fred thrust his hips up slowly at the pleasant sensation. He held Aaron’s gaze as he ran his hands up and down his spine.
The late afternoon sunlight shone dimly through the curtains, backlighting Aaron. Fred stared at this man, the gorgeous man, who had started out as a childhood friend, went from that intimacy to a whole new kind of closeness. This friend turned fling turned lover turned partner in life. The best partner he’d had. The most long-term relationship he’d ever had. Something that he had been idly thinking about but not voicing for weeks began to take shape in his mind and he found it begin to be spoken aloud.
“Aaron,” Fred hesitated and swallowed audibly.
“What is it, Freddie?” Aaron asked quietly, noting the slight bit of nervousness in his voice.
“I…” he paused and swallowed again. “I love you so much. I want to fucking marry you.”
If the room hadn’t been so silent Aaron might not have heard him, he’d uttered it so quietly. Aaron faltered for just a moment, his heart skipping a beat. Fred could feel the pounding of Aaron’s heart against his chest, and he saw the heat rising up Aaron’s neck.
“Are you…are you proposing to me Freddie?” Aaron whispered. Fred nodded.
“I don’t want anyone else ever. I don’t want you to be with anyone else. I love you too fucking much. No one else is good enough for you. I’m not perfect, I can be an anger ball sometimes and I’m working on that, but I love you with everything baby. You make me want to be my best self. You’re so kind, so caring. I want to marry you,” Fred said. He had laid himself bare, his heart laid open before Aaron to do what he would with it. Aaron started to nod.
“Yes, Freddie,” Aaron said. “Yes, let’s get fucking married. Oh my god, yes!”
Aaron’s voice had started quiet, but it rose in volume as he slowly became aware of the reality of the situation. He started laughing and kissed Fred on the mouth. Fred’s face broke out into a grin as he returned the kiss enthusiastically. He tightened his arms around Aaron’s torso and squeezed him close.