JC entered their house and dropped his bag next to the door. It was a nice feeling, knowing it was no longer just his house, but their house now. They had been living together for six months now, and it was nice being able to come home after a long day in the studio and have someone to cuddle up with, to share his day with.
“Justin? You here?”
“In here.” JC heard the reply come from the kitchen and made his way though the hallway. Stopping in the doorway, he took in the scene before him. Justin was standing by the sink, draining what looked like pasta noodles. On the island behind him sat a bowl of steaming spaghetti sauce, a basket of garlic bread, and a big bowl of salad. “You’re just in time.”
“What’s all this?”
“It’s called dinner, Jace.” Justin said, his tone amused as he set the pot down and made his way over to JC, placing a soft kiss on his lips.
“I know that, smartass,” JC said, rolling his eyes playfully. “I meant, why are you making dinner?” The two of them usually lived off of frozen foods and takeout or fast food. This was a rare change.
“Because I felt like spaghetti. And because I knew you spent all day in the studio and I figured a home-cooked meal would be a nice change to the takeout we would have gotten otherwise.” JC smiled, amazed once again by Justin.
“Do you even realize how wonderful you are?” Justin blushed slightly and ducked his head, dropping his eyes to the ground. JC placed a finger under his chin and lifted it until their eyes met again. “I mean it. I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”
“It’s just dinner, C.” Justin was still embarrassed.
“It’s perfect.” JC leaned in and captured his lips once again.
*****
Justin’s eyes opened and he turned his head to look at the clock on the bedside table. 9:30. JC's side of the bed was empty and Justin sighed. JC was already at the studio. Had been for probably close to two hours now. Usually the alarm woke Justin up as well, but on the rare occasion when it didn’t, the bed felt so empty when he did wake up. The truth was, he had gotten use to waking up with JC by his side, arms wrapped around each other. And momentary feelings of loneliness evaded him when he woke up to find JC already gone.
After heading into the bathroom to shower and get dressed, he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal. A single red rose sitting on the island in the middle of the kitchen caught his eye and he smiled as he made his way over to it. A note was sitting next to the rose.
J,
You looked too peaceful to wake. I should be home around 6. I’ll call you later.
I love you,
JC
Justin smiled again as he made his way over to the sink to get a glass of water for the rose to sit in.
*****
Justin felt the warm spring sun against his naked skin, warming him. He felt a soft hand running the length of his chest, up and down and then back up. It was soft, barely a brush of fingertips. Opening his eyes, he turned his head to the side and smiled. JC was leaning up on one elbow, smiling down at him, one of his legs wrapped around one of Justin’s, nestled between his thighs.
“Morning,” Justin whispered, sleep still evident in his voice as he stretched. JC's hand stilled and he glanced up curiously.
“What would you say if I asked you to come somewhere with me? If I asked you to just pack a few days worth of clothes and get on a plane with me this afternoon? No questions asked?”
“I wouldn’t say anything. I’d simply pack my bag." He paused to consider. "Ok, that’s not entirely true. I’d probably bug you the entire time trying to get it out of you where exactly we were going, but I’d still go. I love you, baby. I’d follow you to the ends of the earth if I had to.”
“Then I have somewhere to take you. Something for you to see. Today.” JC said slowly. Justin just nodded and leaned up, capturing JC's lips with his own.
*****
The ticket said Chicago. Justin didn’t know anyone in Chicago. Justin didn’t know JC knew anyone in Chicago. But that was where they were going. Justin tried to keep his questions to a minimum, knowing JC wouldn’t answer them anyway. But when JC handed him his ticket, he couldn’t help himself.
“What’s in Chicago?” JC just smiled, his eyes lighting up with secrets.
“I told you, it’s a surprise. You’ll see when we get there.” Justin sighed but kept his mouth shut as they boarded the plane and took their seats.
*****
The cab pulled up to an average sized home in a middle class neighborhood. The grass looked freshly cut and the trees held blooms of fresh leaves. Climbing out of the cab, Justin looked up at the house, then across the top of the cab to JC as he paid the fair before meeting Justin’s eye.
“Welcome to my grandparents house.” Justin’s heart leapt into his throat. His grandparent’s house? What were they doing here? “Well, one set of grandparents, my dad’s parents. I’ve always been closer to them than my mom’s parents that live in Boston.”
“JC, what...”
“My parents are here for awhile. I’m going to tell them, Justin. I’m going to tell them everything. The truth about me. About you. I just...” JC sighed and looked up at the house before meeting Justin’s gaze again. “I’ll tell them this evening. I just want one more dinner with them, just in case...” He let the sentence hang in the air, but Justin got what he was trying to say.
“Baby, you don’t have to do this. It’s not an issue. I swear.”
“I know, but I want to. I do. Just. Tonight. Can you pretend for a couple hours?” His eyes were almost pleading and Justin had to resist the urge to reach out to him, to comfort him. He wasn’t sure if they had been seen from inside yet or not.
“Of course I can.”
Suddenly the front door opened and a short woman stepped out onto the porch with her hands on her hips. Justin noticed JC catch sight of her and saw a huge smile appear on his face, lighting up his eyes.
“Joshua Chasez, do not stand in that driveway all day. Get up here and give your grandmother a hug.” The woman smiled as JC ascended the porch steps and pulled her into a tight hug. They shared a short whispered conversation before she pulled back, hands still holding firmly onto his arm, and looked at him. “You are skin and bones boy! Don’t you eat out there in LA?” Justin chuckled to himself, causing the woman’s eyes to turn to him. “And who is this?”
“Gamma, this is my friend, Justin. Justin, this is my grandmother.” Justin gave a short wave and the woman frowned.
“Son, we don’t do waves in this household. If you’re a friend of my Josh’s, you get a hug. Now get on up here.” Justin laughed brightly, reminded strongly of his own grandmother as he hopped lightly up the steps and into the woman’s surprisingly strong embrace.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Ma’am. What a polite young man. But please, call me Esther.” Justin smiled again. He liked this woman already. She released Justin and ushered the two boys inside.
The next few minutes were spent in a whirlwind of introductions, hugs, handshakes, and pleasantries. JC's family reminded Justin a lot of his own, and that gave him some hope that tonight would turn out in JC's favor. He would hate to see JC shunned from his family simply because he fell in love with a man. Saying a quick prayer silently, Justin smiled and continued talking to JC's mother, Karen.
She was a delightful woman, witty and quick with comebacks yet warm and friendly and Justin liked her almost instantly as well. JC's father, Roy, was a tall, broad man. Almost a complete opposite from JC in appearance. But he was very soft spoken and intelligent, much like JC was. The more Justin observed them, he realized JC's personality was a perfect mixture of both of his parents.
Just before it was time to eat, Justin caught JC's eye and saw a small amount of fear in them. He needed to get him alone for a moment, just for a few words of reassurance.
“JC, can you show me where the bathroom is?” Justin asked, throwing a meaningful look his way. JC picked up on it and climbed to his feet, leading Justin down a short hallway, away from his family. “Are you ok?” JC smiled slightly, but it was almost forced.
“My stomach is in knots. I don’t want to lose them, Justin.”
“Sweetie, you don’t have to tell them. It was enough just to bring me here, to let me meet them. We can leave it at that.” JC shook his head, cutting Justin off.
“I don’t want to lie to them anymore. I want them to love me for the real me, not for the me they think I am. I want to do this. I’m just scared.” He moved into Justin’s arms, leaning his head on Justin’s shoulder. “I just need you for a minute before we go back out there.” Justin slipped his arms around JC and ran them lightly up and down his back.
“I’m here for you, whatever you need.” JC looked up, meeting his eyes.
“Right now, I need you to kiss me.” He leaned toward Justin, pressing his lips against Justin’s lightly, a soft, gentle, reassuring kiss. A soft gasp was heard from behind them and JC pulled away, spinning around quickly, panic rising in him. “Gamma!”
JC's grandmother glanced back toward the living room before turning back to JC and Justin, motioning for JC to keep his voice down. Opening the door behind her, she stepped inside and turned, waiting for them to follow her. JC's shoulders sank as he moved to step into the room. Justin’s heart broke at seeing the man he loved more than anything like that, the pain and anguish visible on his face. Placing a hand softly on his lower back for just a moment, it was all Justin could offer in the way of reassurance, but it seemed to be enough as JC's shoulders lifted slightly.
Once they were all in, she closed the door and turned to the two men, looking from JC to Justin and back to JC before a smile grazed her lips.
“I knew, the moment I saw you, that there was something different about you. I wasn’t able to place what it was then, but now I know. You’re in love.” JC sent a quick glance to Justin before turning back to his grandmother. She stepped up to him and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. “How come you didn’t tell us?” JC tried to look away, but her hand on his cheek kept his eyes trained on her.
“I was afraid.” It came out as a whisper and Justin stepped closer, not touching JC, but close enough if JC wanted the contact. “I was scared you’d be ashamed of me.”
“Joshua, you’re in love. How is there any shame in that?” She pulled him into a tight hug as a few tears welled up in his eyes, sliding softly down his cheeks. “Are you happy?” She pulled back to see into his eyes.
“Happier than I’ve ever been in my life,” he admitted truthfully.
“Then that’s all that matters. Love is the most pure and precious thing on this earth. As long as it’s real and true, it doesn’t matter who it’s with. I love you no matter what. And if you’re happy, I’m happy for you.” JC smiled through his tears and reached out, connecting his hand to Justin’s waiting one.
“Gamma, this is my boyfriend, Justin.” She smiled and pulled JC back into a hug, wrapping her other arm around Justin and pulling him in as well. They stood like that for a few moments before she let them go and reached up, wiping the tears from JC's eyes and cheeks.
“You deserve all the happiness in the world, Joshua. You deserve to be loved and to love in return. I’m so glad you’ve found that love.” She turned her eyes away from JC and onto Justin. “And you,” she raised a finger menacingly. “If you hurt my grandson, I will find you.” She ended the sentence with a smile and Justin smiled in return.
“I’d never hurt him. I love him.” It was as simple as that, to Justin.
“Joshua, if you’re not ready to tell them, my lips are sealed. But just know that your parents love you, and they will understand, when you’re ready to tell them.”
“Tonight. I’m going to tell them after dinner.” It made it so much easier of a decision to make knowing that his grandmother was on his side.
“You have my complete support, always and through anything.” Esther said, smiling and pulling him in for one last hug. “Now, let’s go eat.”
*****
After dinner, JC called his whole family into the living room. After they were all there, he took a seat on the couch, next to Justin. Esther seemed to sense how hard this was for him, because she crossed the room and sat on his other side, resting a gentle hand on his knee. It was a comfort Justin wished he could have given at that moment, but he was glad someone was, even though he couldn’t. JC took a deep, shaky breath and looked to his mom and dad and grandfather.
“I have something to tell you all. Gamma already knows. She, um, kinda found out early by accident. But I was going to tell you all tonight anyway. Before I say this, I just want you all to know that I love you and my intent here is not to hurt any of you.” JC glanced at each of his family members’ faces. His mother looked worried, like she thought something might be wrong with him. He father and grandfather also looked slightly worried, but more curious than anything. He looked over at Justin and smiled slightly before reaching for his hand. He intertwined their fingers and raised their hands so the rest of his family could see.
“I’m gay. I’m in love with Justin.” Justin squeezed his hand tightly as JC let their hands fall back to the couch between them, his eyes dropping to the ground. He didn’t want to see their reaction, didn’t want the see the hurt or anger in their eyes.
He only looked up again when his mother knelt in front of him, tears in her eyes.
“I know, baby.” It was a whisper, only for JC's ears.
“You know?” Karen smiled.
“Josh, every emotion you’ve ever felt, ever since you were a little boy, has shown through your eyes. And I’ve always been able to read it. Why did you think this would be any different? I’ve known since the moment you walked in here and introduced Justin to us. You’re face simply lit up when you looked at him. I was just waiting for you to say it.”
“And you’re ok with it?” JC asked slowly. Karen smiled.
“All I want if for you to be happy. If Justin makes you happy, which I can clearly see that he does, then I’m perfectly ok with it.” JC looked up to meet his father’s eyes, then turned to his grandfather.
“Are you ok with it?” His grandfather simply smiled and nodded his consent. JC turned to his father again.
“You’re our son, Josh. Every parent just wants their children to be happy. I agree completely with your mother. If you’re happy, then I’m fine with it.” JC looked back down, meeting his mother’s gaze again.
“You guys are wonderful.” He collapsed into her embrace, a huge smile on his face. The smile he caught on Justin’s face mirrored his own, their hands still intertwined between them.
*****
Later, after the rest of his family had gone to bed, JC opened the backdoor and ushered Justin outside. A wooden swing sat in the backyard, in the middle of a flower bed and they made their way over to it, sitting down. JC leaned into Justin and sighed contently.
“When I was younger, I use to sit out here for hours, just staring up at the stars. I always imagined sitting here with someone I loved, leaning against each other. Just like this actually.” Justin wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer, looking up toward the sky. The bright lights twinkled across the wide expanse. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Justin spoke again.
“I’m really glad that went as well as it did for you, C.” Justin turned his head and placed a soft kiss on the top of JC's curls.
“Me too. I had visions running through my head of them kicking me out, of disowning me. Sadly, I even went through the scenario where my dad beat the shit out of me, and he’s never touched me out of anger in his life. I had no idea what to expect.” He let his lips graze over Justin’s shoulder and neck, leaving soft kisses.
“So what made you finally decide to tell them?”
“You,” JC said smiling. Justin smiled back and lifted his hand to JC's face, rubbing it against his cheek. “You mean so much to me. Enough that I was willing to lose them for you. I don’t want to hide you from anyone anymore, my family included. I love you enough to tell them about that love. If they hadn’t been ok with that, it would have hurt, but I would have gotten through it because I know you’d still be by my side.”
“Always. Through everything, baby.”