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Buenos dias, Alberto! Thanks for the present. I promise I'll take good care of him.

That will be much more obvious after the next chapter.

Well, better safe than sorry on the warnings. I guess I'm not able to do too many chapters before bad news arises. I never knew about the Beatles kids. Interesting.

Good morning, children. Hope everyone had a restful night, and that you're having an easy day. B and T, same to you, but the other way around.

Thank you for the wonderful feedback, and it's true. The big family holidays we used to celebrate, even when my kids were younger, got much harder once they grew up. Then we became spread apart, with some of us living in the northeast, southeast, and far west. If you noticed, the grand parents weren't there, either due to health or distance, although the boys and their parents were there.. And once the boys graduate from college and get jobs, there's a good chance they won't be able to have those celebrations any longer, at least until their sons are grown and they're forced to move to the cabin, where they'll be near both sets of parents again.

Thanks for the input. I know personally it's not all crisis focused. All of my recent visits have been checking in, is the medication still doing its job?

Aloha All

Lol

Just for you Nick!

I send you blow darts so you can catch Morgan

Ones with rockets.

I agree @Cane23 that it would be excruciatingly painful for parents to hear that their son has been sexually abused and even more painful to be in court and see their son being cross examined about what happened to him, especially if in Andre's case he was asked "did you enjoy it?" The police evidence is building up so let's see.

Wow! The whole family on both sides gathers together for Thanksgiving, and a month later for traditional Christmas and New Years celebrations. Not something that's always feasible in any generation, but even more difficult in the last half century (NOT saying we're "over the hill") with work/careers, education, travel, and health all being contributing factors that make such gatherings possible. Thank you @Bill W for this well imagined and written story. (of how remembered, or wished they would be).

You love a puzzle don't you. ❓ ❓ - There can't be too many more -

I always enjoy reading your comments @Summerabbacat and yes you are being very un-Australian about Tim Tams, even if I am using them as a running joke through these stories. I'm also with you regarding dark and darker chocolate. Yes, this chapter is a "life goes on" break in all that is happening to Chris and Andre. There are possibly ways Ollie's mother can harass without direct confrontation.

Hearing the story about Andre's rapist is going to be hurtful for Beau and their parents. How can one parent feel to find out that his child has been abused as young boy and they knew nothing about, didn't prevent it or stopped it. They might feel rage, guilt, pain...luckily there is lot of love in this family to heal the scares of the past.

Never had one. Never have I ever had dental implants

Complication on complication seems to be the name of the game - as evidenced by the friends' own litany of complaints about never being able to keep up. - Tan was the instigator for complication in this particular case and his forceful decision to nurture Nathan left Kieran with no other option. Some kind of mystery condition that none of the vets could figure. Rom's healing sure is inexplicable - maybe the glimpse Ranevargar gave the PM left him open to accepting the inexplicable. You're right though - the PM and Rory will be brimming with questions. 🐶

Everything is too much for Sem, funeral, PTSD, memories of loss and betrayal, scars from childhood and refusal to take medicines regularly, friends far away and no Max to pull the break...alcohol seemed the only escape from cruel reality. Maybe not a smart move but can we blame him?! Ben has become a real support, a hard rock for Sem in these situations. No doubt there is strong sexual attraction between these guys but, jumping to bed might not be the smartest thing right now. It would have worked for Sem as one night stand relief but, I'm positive Ben is not looking for a one-night fun. Sem could be helpful with therapeutic group, Ben is right that being in army is something Cayden and Sem have in common and it might help Cayden to open. But Ben must 'open' Sem first, he needs a time... I was again astonished by the dialogs you wrote. The scene in bar is both heavy and witty: "You don't want to call a doctor but you call a priest?” Darcy squawked, eyes rounding. “Please wait till you're outside to drop dead on me." or: Yeah, I was in big fucking trouble and for some reason, any verbal chastisement that came from a mild-mannered priest seemed like it’d be worse than any of the physical beatings I’d ever received in my life from my father. Then again, Ben did have The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost on his side, so shit might get real soon. Fuck. “Ok,” I murmured because just like Forest Gump, that was all I had to say about that. 😁 What to say about description of Troy's reaction: Troy was behind him looking amused. He waved at me, then made the sign of the cross in the air behind Ben’s head before he left the kitchen again. 😂 Writing of genius: I left the holy water and crucifixes in the car,” Ben said, ignoring me when I saluted him with my middle finger like I’d been tempted to do earlier when he’d ambushed me with my nieces in the car. I had a feeling that was going to be the theme tonight. I also wondered what the penance was for flipping off a priest. 😂 Another amazing chapter @JJ Quinn. With little cliff at the end, stays to see is Sem going to ask Ben 'forgiveness on his knees'?! 😉😂

Well, I'm heading out to the Alaskan Tundra in a few days and hope to do some side-reading with some modern low-fantasy based on a system. For those unaware of the subgenre or the genre: The genre of Low Fantasy is based on our normal modern world with a twist of fantasy elements like magic creatures, races, abilities, and so on. Harry Potter for instance is an example of low fantasy (Low does not mean its quality is lesser than High fantasy, it's just a matter of world crafting) Now, the subgenre of low fantasy that I am looking for is "System", where the main character is assigned or obtains a job from the ordinary Warrior to the tragically shunned Necromancer, then they need to develop skills with a level system similar to an RPG video game. The main characters and others in this fantasy setting are assigned classes based on their abilities, levels, and achievements. Here's one class ranking: F-Class : Lowest level, baseline human E-Class: Weakest use of job specialty or item, slightly better than most humans when describing people D-Class: Adequate use of job specialty or item, better than most humans when describing people C-Class: Decent use of job specialty or item, Incomparable to human ability B-Class: Proficient use of job specialty or item, better than most associated with job or "rankers" in the area A-Class: Master use of job specialty or item, One of the best in the associated job or "rankers" in the area S-Class: Transcendant use of job specialty or item, Peak of associated Job, stands above almost everyone else Now, the SS, SSS, and EX classes are usually used to describe main characters or beings transcending the power of Gods, essentially the main character's endgame in most of these stories is going to become a being beyond transcendent, sometimes as a result of their journey and other times to face off against foes at this level to tear down an unfair or unjust world created by God or Gods (Basically in these stories, it's the living answer to Nietzsche's impossible nihilist question, supreme transcendence). Any suggestions with a gay main character?

I could feel the tension and heat, and I don't mean Florida's sticky temperature! Ben can see the honor and goodness in Sam, his concern over Cayden cemented that. Sam is falling apart, but he's still trying to take care of everyone around him. I'm hoping that Ben can take care of Sam, until Sam can take care of himself.

OMG all those Tim Tams and Coke consumed by Tyron and Bradley. Clearly neither has a problem with the scourge of many teens (and was certainly the scourge of my teenage years), acne. I know it is very un-Australian @Paladin I have never cared for Tim Tams. Now Mint Slice, they are a whole different kettle of fish. I rarely each such food now, but still enjoy chocolate with 95% dark chocolate my guilty pleasure. And as for that enormous breakfast eaten by Chris, Andre and Jamie, suffice to say I am vegetarian. A very light chapter, possibly before heavier chapters involving the trial of Ollie and Andre's rapist. I hope there is no confrontation between Ollie and his mother. If she dares to harass or blame him in person I hope she quickly finds herself persona non grata.

We finished cooking and plated the meal. With a glass of wine each we sat at the table and continued to chat while eating. Jamie casually asked, “Have you told Beau and Skye.” Andre fell silent and that silence spread to Jamie and me. Telling about Ollie was easy, but it led ultimately to telling about his own history. Was Andre ready to tell Beau and Skye and then, how about his mum and dad? I reached over for Andre’s hand. I held and squeezed it, letting him know he was n