Denise crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow at her only son, who was half naked and still in the arms of another man. "I take it you didn't check your voicemail again?"

AJ cursed under his breath, making a New Year's resolution several months early to start keeping better track of his cell phone. "Uh, no, I didn't. What are you doing here? I mean…I didn't expect you."

Denise's gaze traveled between AJ and the blond rapper she recognized as Eminem, then back again and said flatly, "Obviously."

AJ and Marshall realized at the same time that they were still pressed against each other and immediately jumped apart. Both turned and bent down to the floor, grabbing their shirts and putting them back on.

After a minute of uncomfortable silence where Denise stood staring at AJ, AJ avoided her gaze and fidgeted, and Marshall stared at the floor, wishing it would crack open and swallow him whole, Denise finally asked, "Well? Are you going to introduce us?"

AJ cleared his throat and said, "Uh, sure. Marshall, meet my mom. Mom, this is…my boyfriend, Marshall."

"Your boyfriend." Denise repeated, not sure she'd heard right.

AJ swallowed. "Yeah. I uh, guess I should have told you a while ago that I'm bi, huh?"

Marshall's eyes got huge and his gaze flew up to AJ's face, which was five shades of red right then. He had just assumed when AJ had invited him down to Florida last week that he was out to his family. He wondered now what AJ had been planning to do with him if he had gone. Hide him away in his house while they were there? Bring him along to their get together and lie to their faces about why he was there? Or had he planned on coming out to his family all at once, with him by his side?

AJ pulled his gaze away from his mom long enough to cast a glance in Marshall's direction, finding what he'd expected to written all over the other man's face. Shock. AJ wanted to disappear right then. He was fully aware he'd officially fucked up in more ways than one.

In a carefully controlled voice that gave away nothing of what she was thinking or feeling, Denise answered, "Yeah, I guess you should have."

Marshall cleared his throat, and mumbled, "Uh, Alex, I'll just…uh, go wait out by your pool okay? I think you need some time alone with your mom."

Marshall started to walk away, but AJ's hand shot out and grabbed his arm. "Marshall…"

Before AJ could say anything else though, Denise interrupted. "Thank you Marshall, I think that would be a good idea. Alex and I have some things to talk about."

Marshall glanced at AJ. He was looking at him obviously worried that he was mad at him. Marshall wanted to offer him a small smile of reassurance that he wasn't, but he couldn't do that, not until he got some things straightened out with him. Finally he broke AJ's gaze and turned away to discover Denise was watching them intently. He started forward again and nodded awkwardly at the older woman as he passed her, deciding he really didn't want to be in AJ's shoes right then.

After Marshall left, AJ fidgeted in place, not quite meeting his mom's gaze as they stood there in awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn't know what to say, how to explain himself. He'd thought seriously about coming out to his mom several times over the last year, most recently last week, but when Marshall couldn't come down to Florida with him, he'd put it off once again. He wished now that he hadn't.

"Listen, mom…" He started at the same time his mom started, "Alex, why…"

They both snapped their mouths shut at the same time, but then AJ nodded to her, finally meeting her gaze and said, "Go ahead."

Denise took a deep breath and asked, "Alex, why didn't you tell me?"

AJ felt about an inch tall at the hurt he heard in her voice and could see in her eyes. "I…I meant to. I tried a few times, but lost my nerve."

Denise was quiet for a moment, then said, "Why? What did you think would happen? Did you think I would judge you? Or disown you? What?"

AJ closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling beyond stupid. Of course his mom wouldn't have reacted that way. He was embarrassed for even thinking she might. Opening his eyes again, he shrugged and said, "I don't know. I mean, I know you wouldn't disown me or anything. I just didn't want you to be…disappointed in me."

Denise's eyes took on a watery sheen as she stepped forward toward her son. Reaching out a hand she touched his cheek and said, "I'm disappointed you didn't trust me enough to tell me Alex, but I'd never be disappointed in who you are. Not even when you were drinking. I was sad, and my heart broke for the pain you were in, but I've never once been disappointed in who you are, and I never will be."

AJ swallowed the lump in his throat and blinked a couple times before pulling his mom against him for a bear hug, mumbling, "I'm sorry."

Denise rubbed his back and hugged him back, answering, "It's okay."

Fifteen minutes later, after explaining to his mom how he and Marshall met and ended up together - minus the parts about Kevin, AJ stepped into the back yard and took a deep breath, not sure what kind of reaction he was going to get from Marshall. Looking around, he located the other man standing near the pool, staring off into the distance.

He walked over and stood next to him. "Sorry."

"For?" Marshall asked, leaving the question hanging in the air between them as he continued to stare off at nothing in particular.

"For putting you in the middle of that." AJ answered, not sure what to make of Marshall's reaction, or rather, lack-there-of.

Marshall nodded and said flatly, "You mean, as opposed to your plans last week to stick me in the middle of it on purpose…without telling me first?"

AJ swallowed, once again feeling like he was an inch tall. "I would have told you, let you decide if you wanted to be there when I told them or not."

Marshall finally turned to AJ, searching his chocolate brown eyes for answers. "Before or after we got to Florida?"

AJ couldn't hold Marshall's gaze, knowing the answer might break some of the trust the older man had in him.

Marshall watched as AJ looked away and had his answer. His heart sank. AJ had planned on telling him after. Which, in Marshall's mind, equaled lying to him to get him to do and go where he wanted.

Looking away from him again, he mumbled, "Never mind. I know the answer."

"Marshall, I…"

Marshall fought down a wave of anger, but lost. "You what, Alex? You're sorry? That doesn't really cut it."

AJ flinched at the hard edge to Marshall's voice, but didn't say anything. There was really nothing he could say. Marshall was right. He fought down a wave of panic that he might have really fucked things up between them.

After a moment of silence, Marshall said, "You know, when I asked you that night whether you and Kevin were together and you told me no, then the next day I found out that had really been a half-truth, it bothered me. I let it go, because we'd only been just getting to know each other, and I could understand your reasoning, but this...." Marshall trailed off, trying to figure out how he wanted to say what he was feeling. "This is different. You deliberately tried to deceive me to get me to do what you wanted."

"No, that's not…" AJ tried to explain, his gut clenched at what Marshall was saying.

It was starting to sound way too much like a break-up speech and he wasn't sure he could handle it if Marshall walked away from him. AJ hadn't realized until right that minute exactly how much the other man meant to him. With a clarity he hadn't had before regarding their relationship, he realized he was in love with the other man. He couldn't loose him now.

Marshall shook his head. "Let me finish." He waited until AJ clamped his mouth shut, then went on, "You know how I am about lies and being manipulated, Alex. I can't stand either. I can't stand people who tell them or try to pull that shit on me." He turned finally to look AJ in the eye, and the hurt he saw there clutched at his heart. Still, he had to finish. "Right now I'm angry that you fucking lied to me, but at the same time, I'm confused, because…" He paused to take a deep breath, then continued, "Because I should just turn around and walk out that door, but I can't. I don't want to."

Relief washed over AJ. He had been sure Marshall was breaking up with him. The fact that he wasn't made him want to leap for joy. At the same time, there was still the fact that Marshall was angry with him, and he definitely didn't like the way that felt.

"I wish there was something I could say to fix this." AJ finally responded.

Marshall studied him for a minute. "You could tell me why."

"I…" AJ stopped, trying to figure out how to explain. "I was scared. I've wanted to tell my family for a long time, and it's stupid that I was so nervous about their reactions, because I know they'll love me no matter what, but I was. I just wanted you there, by my side, because…"

AJ broke off and Marshall waited a minute, but when he didn't start back up, he prompted, "Because why?"

AJ took a deep breath and blurted, "Because you make me feel safe. I knew that if you were there, I could go through with it for a change instead of chickening out. I just didn't want to take the chance that you'd tell me no if I told you why I wanted you there. I'm sorry."

Marshall absorbed what he was telling him and couldn't find it in himself to stay mad at him. Not when his reasoning was because he made him feel safe. Without hesitation, he pulled AJ to him and held him tight, closing his eyes and inhaling AJ's cologne as AJ wrapped his arms around him and held him closer yet.

"It's okay. Just…don't ever do anything like that again, okay? If you've got a problem, tell me. If you had told me why you wanted me there in the first place, I would have found a way to come, even if I had to bring Hailie with."

"I promise. Total honesty from now on." AJ said as he closed his eyes and held on tightly to the man he now knew he loved, a fact that scared him, because he wasn't sure Marshall would, or could return the feelings.

Marshall gave him one finally squeeze before pulling back. "So, how'd your mom take it? She still here?"

AJ nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, she's still here. She was upset I didn't tell her sooner, but she's okay with the fact that I'm bi."

"That's good. I know how much she means to you." Marshall said.

AJ nodded and asked, "Want to come in and meet her? The right way this time?"

Marshall smiled. "Sure. But uh, I'm not exactly the kind of guy who's used to being taken home to meet mom."

AJ laughed and grabbed Marshall's hand as they turned and headed for the sliding glass doors. "Good thing I took you home for sex then huh? No pressure."

Marshall laughed too, letting AJ lead him back into the house. "That's some fucked up logic."

A couple hours later, they were all sitting around AJ's living room, watching a movie. AJ and Marshall were on the couch, AJ leaning against him, Marshall with his arm around him, and Denise in a nearby chair. Denise alternately watched the movie and glanced at the two men, trying to figure out how she felt about who her son was with. She didn't have a problem with the whole boyfriend angle, she had been honest about that, but she had heard so many disturbing things on the TV and in articles about Marshall Mathers, or rather, Eminem - none of which fit with the man sitting on the couch with a protective arm around her son - that she was having a problem assimilating the two.

All three of them jumped slightly when the phone rang. AJ decided to let the machine get it, and turned his attention back to the movie.

"Bone, if you're there, pick up. I need to talk to you."

AJ cursed under his breath. It was Nick and he sounded upset. Getting up, he excused himself, deciding to take it in the other room so he wouldn't disturb them from watching the movie. When he left, Marshall grabbed the remote up off the couch and paused the movie so AJ wouldn't miss anything. Unfortunately, that left him and Denise in awkward silence.

After a couple minutes of fidgeting, Marshall cleared his throat and said, "Uh, I think I'll just go…take a walk outside or…something, till Alex gets back."

Denise offered him a smile and said, "A walk sounds nice. Mind if I come?"

Marshall fought to keep the trapped feeling rolling through his gut off his face. He had wanted to get the fuck away from her, not take her along. Still, he didn't want to be rude, Alex loved her, so he silently nodded and got up, heading over to the sliding glass doors that led out back.

Denise was fully aware that Marshall didn't want her along, but was silently pleased that he respectfully kept that to himself. Obviously, there was way more to the man than the public saw, which was a good thing.

Once they were out in the night air, Marshall let Denise lead the way after realizing he didn't really know AJ's property that well. It turned out AJ owned a few acres of land and there was a winding path leading away from the house through some trees and shrubs.

After a couple minutes of silence, Denise asked, "You have a daughter, right?"

Marshall was startled by the question. "Uh, yeah."

"You love her?"

Marshall tensed slightly wondering where the conversation was going, but continued to walk along side the older woman. "Of course. More than life itself."

Denise smiled. "Good. Then you can understand how I'd be worried about Alex, dating, well…you."

Marshall was caught off guard by that comment. His eyes flew up to Denise's face and he almost tripped over a tree root sticking up out of the ground. Stopping dead in his tracks, he studied her for a minute before asking, "Because I'm a guy?"

Denise stopped too and turned to face Marshall, shaking her head. "No. Because of all the things I've heard about you. In the media."

Marshall stiffened slightly, trying to keep his calm, not wanting to say something he'd regret later. "I would have thought, having Alex as a son, that you'd know the media twists shit…a lot."

Denise arched a brow. "So, you didn't attack that man that was kissing your wife? Or pull a gun on that guy from that other group?"

Marshall looked away from her steady gaze, understanding where she was coming from, but not liking it. Still, he knew if Hailie was dating someone like him, he'd have problems with it too. Taking a deep breath, he looked back at her and said, "That stuff's true. But it's in the past. I can control my temper better now." He paused and thought of how he'd beat the shit out of his car and trashed his living room in Detroit recently, amending, "At least when it involves people. Inanimate objects are still fair game."

Denise surprised him by cracking a smile and chuckling lightly. "Honesty. I like that. Thank you."

Marshall nodded, looking down at the ground in front of them. "Anything else?"

Denise was more impressed by the man standing in front of her by the second. She hadn't expected him to react so civilly to her questions. Truth be told, she'd expected a lot of swearing and excuses for his behavior, or even flat out refusal to talk about it.

"Drugs. I've heard lots of things, some from your own mouth in interviews and stuff, about you taking drugs. Alex is clean and sober, and I want to make sure there's no…temptations staring him in the face."

Marshall nodded, and answered, "It's true, I'm an addict. Like Alex. I've been clean for a couple years now though, and have no intention of ever touching the shit again."

Denise's smile broadened. After a minute she said, "You know, I think I can see why Alex fell for you."

Marshall had no idea how to respond to that, so he just mumbled a quiet thanks as they started to walk again. After a few more minutes, they decided to head back to the house. When they were almost there though, Denise stopped again, putting a hand on Marshall's shoulder to stop him too.

"There's one more thing."

Marshall stared at her and asked, "What?"

"There's something going on with Alex, isn't there? I could sense it in Florida. It's why I'm here. Earlier, after Alex told me he'd tried to tell me about him being bi while he was there, I thought maybe that was it, but now, after spending the last couple hours with the two of you, I can tell it's more than that. Something's…off with him. Call it mother's intuition."

Marshall hated feeling like he was on the spot, and right then was no different. He didn't want to lie and say everything was fine, but he'd be damned if he'd be the one to tell her that AJ was trying to recover from nearly being raped. It was AJ's decision whether he wanted her to know or not, not his.

Denise sensed Marshall's hesitation, and asked, "You know what it is, don't you?"

Marshall stared into her eyes for a long minute and finally settled on merely nodding in response.

Denise felt anger swell up inside her at the fact that AJ was keeping more secrets from her. Turning away from Marshall she sighed. "I can't believe he's still doing it."

"Doing what?"

"Keeping things from me."

Clearing his throat, Marshall said, "It's not exactly something that a guy would ever want to talk about, especially which his mom."

Denise turned back, her voice slightly accusatory. "But he can talk to you about it?"

Marshall wasn't put off by her tone, understanding where it was coming from. "I'm the only one who knows, and I probably wouldn't even know if I hadn't found out on my own."

"He hasn't even talked to one of the guys about it? Brian?" Denise asked in surprise.

Marshall shook his head.

Denise was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you helping him through it?"

"As much as I can." He said sincerely.

Denise nodded. "I guess I'll just have to trust you on that then."

Marshall wasn't sure how to feel about that either. All around, his conversation with AJ's mom was making him feel tense and unsettled. He was out of his depths with her. Never had the parents of someone he'd been involved with taken the time to talk to him, let alone tell him to his face they were placing their trust in him. Usually they all judged him before even meeting him. Shit, half of them never let him in the front door. But here he was, standing face to face with AJ's mom and she'd just basically told him she trusted her son's well-being to him.

"Damn."

Denise's lips quirked up in a grin at the complete surprise on Marshall's face. "I take it a parent hasn't ever said that to you before huh?"

Marshall shook his head. "Uh, no. The conversation usually doesn't get past the point of 'Get out of my child's life and out of my house…now.' ."

Denise laughed outright then and turned to the house. "Come on. We'd better get back. AJ is either still stuck on the phone with Nick, or pacing the living room freaking out about us being alone together and talking about him."

Marshall smiled and chuckled lightly, able to picture AJ doing just that.

As it turned out, it was the former. AJ was still on the phone when they got inside. Just as Marshall and Denise were sitting back down, AJ finally said goodbye and hung up, walking back into the room and flopping down next to Marshall.

"What did Nick want?" Denise asked.

AJ sighed. "Just someone to talk to. Beth broke up with him."

"Oh, that's too bad. She seemed nice." Denise said.

Marshall reached toward the end table to pick up his soda for a drink while Denise and AJ talked about Nick's love life.

AJ snorted at the idea of Beth being nice. After what she'd done, nice wasn't the way he'd describe her, even though, in all fairness, Nick had cheated on her with various guys…repeatedly. "She broke up with him to date Chris."

Denise looked at him in confusion, wondering what Chris he was talking about. Marshall, completely disinterested in Nick's love life, lifted the soda to his lips and took a drink.

AJ clarified, "Kirkpatrick."

An instant later, Alex sucked in a sharp breath as soda spewed out of Marshall's mouth at him.

"Oh fuck!" Marshall exclaimed, setting his soda down. At AJ's glare, he added, "Alex, I'm…sorry," but the apology was ruined by his laughter.

AJ glared at him for a moment longer as cold soda dripped down his face and seeped through his shirt, then couldn't hold the false anger anymore in light of Marshall's nearly out of control laughter. Slowly he cracked a grin, and eventually started laughing himself, along with his mom.

After a few minutes, they all calmed down, and Denise glanced at the clock, standing up. "Well, guys, I'm heading off to bed. I'll see the two of you at breakfast?"

AJ smiled at his mom, knowing that was her way of saying she approved of Marshall, by acknowledging he would be spending the night. Standing, he reached out to hug her goodnight, but she danced out of his reach.

"Oh no. Keep your sticky soda body away from me. Even a mother's love has limits, and getting covered in soda backwash is mine."

AJ rolled his eyes. "Ah, mom. Come on."

Denise just shook her head laughing as she left the room. "Night guys!"

They both called back goodnight, then AJ turned to Marshall as Marshall stood. Marshall caught the mischievous glint in his eyes and started backing up as AJ advanced on him. "Oh no, Mclean. Don't even think about it."

AJ grinned menacingly. "Oh? And why not?"

Marshall nearly tripped over the edge a nearby chair as he continued to back up. "Because. What your mom said. You're covered in sticky soda backwash."

AJ laughed and took another step forward, enjoying the wariness in Marshall's eyes. "Yeah, your sticky soda backwash. For some reason, I feel like sharing. Come here."

Marshall jumped out of AJ's reach as he suddenly lunged forward. "The fuck I will. You are not touching me until you get those cloths off."

AJ's grin turned seductive. "Oh, I intend to touch you then too." He paused, noting with satisfaction the lust that flared up in Marshall's eyes. Quickly changing to a sarcastic tone, AJ added, "But first, I want a hug from my wonderful boyfriend who so thoughtfully shared his soda with me."

Marshall glanced behind him and noted that there was no more furniture in his way. Turning back to AJ, he smirked. "Have to catch me first." As AJ lunged again, Marshall turned and took off, the younger man hot on his heels.


Chapter Thirty-Two
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