serafina20 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
serafina20) wrote2007-08-19 12:31 am
serafina20) wrote2007-08-19 12:31 am
Entry tags:
Fic: Cellie
Title: Cellie
Author: serafina20
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Michael/Mahone
Summary: Four months into his sentence for the murder of Oscar Shales, Alexander Mahone gets a new cellie.
Previous
"LJ! Wake up, LJ! We're gonna visit Daddy and Uncle Mike today. Wake up!"
LJ groaned as a small body landed on top of his. Small but solid. The air was knocked from his lungs and his stomach ached from the impact. "Cameron," he whined. "Go away."
Cameron straddled his stomach and bounced. "No. It's Saturday, LJ, remember? We're gonna go visit Daddy and Uncle Mike. You gotta wake up now."
"Too early. Go back to sleep." He wrapped his arm around Cameron's stomach and tackled him to the bed. Then he buried his own head under a pillow and snored loudly.
"LJ!" Cameron shrieked.
LJ mock sobbed. "I'm tired."
"Lincoln's making pancakes, so you gotta get up. Now!" He pulled the pillow away and threw it on the floor. "Come on." When LJ didn't move, Cameron started bouncing. "We're gonna visit Dad-dy! And Uncle Mi-ike. We're gonna visit Dad-dy! And Uncle Mi-ike."
He sighed and rolled onto his back. Cameron doing his best Tigger impression, impressively managing to miss landing on LJ as he bounced around the bed. If LJ didn't know better, he'd say Cameron was on a sugar high. But he did know better, or at least he knew Pam, and if Dad was still making pancakes, that meant all Cameron had had today was toothpaste and milk.
"Dad-dy. And Uncle Mi-ike!" Cameron continued to sing.
He was on a Daddy and Uncle Mike high.
LJ wished he were that young.
"Get up, LJ!" Cameron said abruptly, changing his song. He threw himself onto LJ, full weight.
"Oof." LJ wrapped his arms around Cameron and kissed his forehead. "You're getting too big for that, kiddo.
"No I'm not."
"Yeah, you are." He kissed Cameron again. "Okay, I'm getting up."
"Wait!"
"Are you joking?"
Cameron shook his head. He sat on LJ's lap and pulled a marker from his pocket. It was a washable marker, as all permanent markers were now banned from the house, especially since Cameron continued to draw on himself. "Can you do my back? I can't reach."
LJ took the marker, frowning. "I don't know, Cam. I'm not really that good an artist."
"But it's not done." Cameron pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the intricate pattern of lines he'd drawn over his torso. Among the lines were wobbly pictures: a flower, a heart, some circles. Across his stomach was the family portrait, something he drew obsessively on thousands of pieces of paper that were plastered everywhere: Lincoln and Pam, huge hands overlapping; LJ next to them, Cameron just in front. Then was Alex, just a little off to the side, and Michael, eyes drawn huge and blue, fringed with black, both so close to Cameron they almost smushed him. Cameron's family. "See? I got only the front."
"I know, but... Why don't you ask Uncle Mike to finish it for you?" LJ said, suddenly inspired. "He's a good artist."
Cameron looked doubtful. "But it's for him."
"I know. But he likes to draw. He'll be happy with the front and he'll want to finish it. It's what artists do."
He thought about it a minute, then nodded. "Okay. Thank you, LJ."
"You're welcome." He helped Cameron back on with his shirt and gave him the marker back. "Okay, I'll go take a shower now. Go eat breakfast. I won't be long."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Cameron beamed. "I love you, LJ." He leaned forward and kissed LJ. Then, he bounded off him and out of the room, singing his visiting song again.
Oh, to be young again, LJ thought wryly. Of course, that's was Lincoln said about LJ, especially since LJ was staying up all hours of the night (just on weekends, honest!) to IM with Cindy.
Cindy. Beautiful. Sexy. Completely brilliant. And talent, too. She was the best actor in their group.
And his scene partner.
They four classes together. They hung out before school, during lunch, and after. And then they usually talked after dinner, and chatted online after that.
It was heaven.
LJ showered and took care of the few bristles that had grown on his right jawline that night. Lincoln had been teasing LJ lately about the lopsided growth of stubble that appeared on LJ's face every other day. Pam kept telling him to stop, all the while comforting LJ that he was perfectly normal and it'd grow completely over his face as he got older.
He didn't care. Oh, he didn't like being teased, but other than that, he didn't care. Not while he had Cindy in his life.
Cameron was still singing when LJ got downstairs. His mouth was full of pancakes and there was syrup in his hair. Pam and Lincoln were sitting with their coffee and pancakes, twin looks of amused annoyance on their faces.
"Morning, everyone." He dropped a kiss on Pam's cheek, then one on Cameron's sticky-sweet cheek when the little boy let out a loud, "Me too!" and banged his fork on his plate.
"You managed to wake up," Lincoln said. "You were up until, what? Three in the morning last night?"
LJ blushed and ducked his head. "Just, uh, maybe nearly two? Probably earlier. And I knew I'd be able to get up. Today's important. Even told Cindy."
"How is Cindy?" asked Pam.
He blushed harder. "Good. Just, uh. Good."
She just smiled at him. "Good. I'm glad. You'll have to invite her over for dinner sometime."
"Maybe." Anyone else, he wouldn't be sure. His family was just so strange, what with the uncle in jail and gay and engaged to his father's girlfriend's ex-wife, whom they lived across the street from, but they all practically lived together, and he loved his family, he really did. It was just... hard to explain sometimes.
Just not to Cindy. Everything was easy with her.
"Let's go!" Cameron shouted suddenly. He banged his fork on his empty plate.
"Cameron," Pam said sharply. "Be patient."
He whined but settled back down.
LJ ate quickly. His little step-brother (well, close enough) was getting ready to burst. And, truthfully, he was anxious to visit with Uncle Mike, too. He had a good feeling about Cindy, and thought that, if he asked her out, she'd say yes. But he didn't want to rush anything. He wanted advice. And it wasn't that he didn't trust his dad, it was just... this wasn't the kind of thing they talked about. Not really. Oh, Dad knew about Cindy, and they'd talked about her. LJ had even admitted he liked her. But advice? That was Uncle Mike's place.
The drive to the prison took forever. And not just because Cameron was addicted to and old NSYNC he'd found and taken to listening to incessantly. And, worse, Pam allowed it. So LJ had to live his life with "Bye, Bye, Bye" as the soundtrack.
But it was more than that. It'd felt like forever since he'd seen Uncle Mike. Yeah, he and Dad had gone up a few weeks ago, but Uncle Mike had still be sick. Itchy and miserable and, overall, it hadn't been a fun visit. They'd gone to make sure his spirits were up, because Alex had been worried. And they'd missed him, of course, but they'd figured on waiting until Uncle Mike had felt better. Alex, though, had asked them to come.
That visit didn't count. They hadn't really talked about much, mostly just sat around, playing a game and watching Uncle Mike be miserable. And he and Dad had left, just as miserable. LJ hadn't even gotten to tell Uncle Mike about the discussion they'd had in Civics about pardoning convicted felons, and how Cindy had brought up Uncle Mike and argued that he should be pardoned. And convinced the whole class, including Mr. Avis, the teacher. And Dad hadn't gotten to mention how he'd been to an engagement ring store with LJ, just to look, and was thinking--just maybe he said--about asking Pam to marry him.
Today they would, though. Well. Not the part about the ring, since it was a surprise, but everything else. They'd get to talk about it all.
If they ever got there.
Finally, after an eternity and a half had passed, they pulled into the parking lot of the prison. From there, it was just another forty-five minutes of standing in line with everyone else who'd driven out, signing in, being led to the special needs wing. Of handing over all the stuff they'd brought to make sure there were know weapons. Of enduring the obvious file in the cake joke from at least a dozen people. Of a guard asking Cameron about his arms, then waving another guard over to have a quiet laugh (not at Cameron; both the guards liked Uncle Mike, and they'd never hurt a little boy by laughing at him. Just quietly, behind their hands.)
And then... and then..
"Daddy!"
Cameron broke away from Lincoln and streaked across the room. Alex had him off the floor and in his arms the moment the small body barreled against his.
"Hey, buddy. How's my boy?"
"I missed you, Daddy." Cameron rained kisses on Alex's face, his arms locked tight around Alex's neck.
"I missed you, too." He caught Cameron's lips before they flittered away from his own, then kissed a baby-soft cheek.
"When are you coming home?"
Alex just sighed and held Cameron tighter.
"Let him breathe, Cameron," Pam reminded. She went up to Alex and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey, you. How have you been?"
"Good. You look gorgeous. As usual."
LJ liked how Pam blushed any time Dad or Alex gave her a compliment. Like she wasn't expecting it, or was still pleased they noticed.
"Thanks. You look good, too. And, Michael. Beautiful as usual." She moved over to Uncle Mike, who was at Dad's side, and gave him a big hug.
Uncle Mike's cheeks turned red. "Hi, Pam." When he extracted himself from her, he went to LJ. "How's my favorite nephew?"
"Good." LJ hugged Uncle Mike tightly, pressing his face into his shirt. He hated that the main scent was prison laundry soap, but underneath, he could just smell Uncle Mike. His real scent, the one that meant home and safety.
"Cameron," Pam said. "Aren't you going to say hi to Michael?"
Uncle Mike pulled away from LJ and turned to Alex and Cameron. To LJ's surprise, instead of flinging himself on the other man, Cameron's face turned crimson. A huge grin crossed it, but he pressed his forehead against Alex's shoulder.
"Hi, Uncle Mike," he whispered, looking at him quickly before hiding his entire face against Alex's arm.
LJ had to clap his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. As it was, a giggle escaped. Dad whapped him on the back of the head, but he was grinning too. They all were, except Uncle Mike, who, blushing, had managed to train his face into a semblance of normalcy.
"It's good to see you, Cameron. I've missed you," he said.
"Me too," Cameron whispered with another quick glance. If possible, his face turned even more red.
This time, Michael did smile, although he looked bemused.
Alex, a smile splitting his face, kissed Cameron on the head. "Why don't we sit down?"
They got themselves arranged at a table, Alex and Uncle Mike next to each other, LJ on the other side of Uncle Mike, and Pam and Lincoln across from them. Pam put the cake box in the middle of the table and flipped open the lid.
"No, it does not have a nail file inside it," she said as she lifted the cake out.
Uncle Mike's face turned red when he read the, "Congratulations Alex and Michael," scrawled across in icing. "Thank you," he said, ducking his head.
"I'm so happy for you both." Pam took Uncle Mike's hand and squeezed. "Really. And I'm so glad you're not sick anymore. We had to eat the first cake, and it's delicious. I could hardly resist digging into this one."
The cake was cut and passed around. Cameron was still in Alex's lap, sneaking blushing looks at Michael and hiding his face. He got his cake and took a few bites, smearing some on Alex's shirt from hiding.
"We set a date," Michael said after he'd taken a bite. "December twenty-fourth."
"Christmas Eve?" LJ said.
Uncle Mike nodded, eyes lowered to his cake. "You know. It's like our Christmas present."
"I couldn't imagine a better one," Alex said. He slung his arm around Michael's neck and kissed his forehead.
Between the sweetness of the cake and that gesture, LJ had a had time not gagging. He supported Uncle Mike and his relationship one hundred percent. He'd be fine with watching them kiss, hold hands, whatever. But be cutesy? It was hard enough to take with Dad and Pam.
Uncle Mike rolled his eyes. "Alex. Don't." He looked up at Lincoln. "He thinks we'll be out of here by then, but if we're not... I mean, it's not like it'd be legal anyway, right? So. We'd need rings."
"Pam and I would be happy to start looking. Just tell us what you'd like, of course."
"We want to get them engraved. Just, we don't know with what, yet."
"I was thinking," Alex said, stroking Cameron's back. "Maybe we could choose what goes in the other's rings. As a surprise."
Uncle Mike nodded. "That's fine." Then the idea seemed to take hold, and he smiled, eyes kind of sparkling. "Yeah. I'd like that."
"We can keep a secret," Lincoln said. "Just tell us what you want, get us your ring sizes, and we'll do the rest."
"While we're on the subject, Lincoln and I have been talking about where the two of you will live when you get out. Because I, like Alex, believe it won't be too much longer." Pam smushed a piece of cake onto her plate.
Uncle Mike shifted uncomfortably. He looked down at his cake, entire being focused on eating it.
"I thought we'd live with one of you, at least in the beginning. Then get an apartment or something."
Pam nodded. "That's fine, if it's what you want. Except, well, Lincoln and I have two houses between us. And we've been talking about moving in together, which means I'd have to sell or rent my house. Or he his, depending on which we choose. So, we were talking and..."
"It just makes more sense if we sign one of the houses over to you and Michael," Lincoln finished. "If you want a house, of course."
Alex ran his hand through his hair, then lifted Cameron--who was crawling off his lap--and set him on the floor. "That's really generous."
"You're family," Pam pointed out. "Michael is Lincoln's brother, so it makes sense."
"And we'd be across the street," said Alex, directing it more to Uncle Mike. "It'd be easy for Cameron and LJ to visit. Stay the night, if they wanted."
"And the size shouldn't be a problem, because you'll need room for a studio, Michael," she said.
Uncle Mike nodded, still not looking up from his cake. "That'd be nice. I didn't have one at the loft. I mean, I wasn't doing... I sketched sometimes, painted a few. Had an easel in the corner."
Cameron bumped against Michael with his shoulder. Michael picked him up and placed him on his lap. Cameron immediately turned red again, sitting tall and proud, a silly grin on his face.
"Both houses have four bedrooms. Way too many, but the price was good, and the neighbors..." Pam looked at Lincoln and smiled in a sappy, mushy way.
What the hell was going on? Everyone was lovestruck today.
"I think it sounds good," said the perpetually optimistic Alex. "If you don't mind living with him, that is."
Lincoln rolled his eyes and put his arm around Pam. "She didn't mind putting up with you."
"Children," Uncle Mike said warningly. "Behave." He had his arms around Cameron, and Cameron looked like he was about to fly.
"What do you think, Michael?" asked Lincoln.
Alex gave Lincoln a sharp look, and LJ had to agree. He knew that they had to tiptoe around this kind of stuff with Uncle Mike. Why couldn't Dad be happy that Uncle Mike was actually looking forward to something for once? Why did he have to ask Uncle Mike's opinion about the house?
"I think that if you want to move in together, you should. Don't wait for us."
"Mikey..."
"Cameron, what's this?" Uncle Mike ran his hand up Cameron's marker decorated arm.
LJ had no idea that anyone could turn that shade of red. It was beyond red. Cameron looked like a tomato with hair.
He turned in Uncle Mike's lap and pushed himself to his knees. "It's my map," he said in a near whisper.
"Your what?"
"My map. I drawed a map of the school. Like you." Cameron shifted onto the table and pulled his shirt off.
Uncle Mike laughed, but not meanly. The smile on his face was embarrassed, but pleased. LJ could tell. "Wow," he said. He reached out and ran his fingers over the patterns. "This is impressive, Cameron."
"You like it?" Cameron looked at him through his eyelashes.
"I do. You're a good artist."
"Thank you." Cameron licked his lips. "Uncle Mike? Can you draw the back? Cause I couldn't reach." He turned to show.
Uncle Mike glanced at Pam, who nodded.
"We brought washable markers." She reached into the bag. "We had to go to the hardware store to get something to remove the permanent marker last time. It would have all washed off eventually, but it was taking much too long."
He took the markers and pulled out a blue one. "Do you want anything specific, Cameron?"
"What's that?"
"I mean, what do you want me to draw?"
"You and me."
He smiled. "Okay." As he began to draw, he pulled LJ's chair closer to his. "So. You're quiet. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he answered.
Pam turned to Alex and started talking about... something. And Alex drew Dad into the conversation, so it was basically him and Uncle Mike.
Finally.
"How's school?"
"It's good. Um, Uncle Mike?" His heart pounded in his ears.
"Yeah?"
"How do you know when you should ask someone out? Like a girl? Or a guy, or whatever? I mean. How do you know?"
"You're asking me?" he asked with a sideways look.
He shrugged. "It feels weird asking Dad."
"It shouldn't. He's your father. Plus, he has more experience with that kind of thing. I've always just let the other person do the asking."
"Even if it's a girl?"
"Pretty much. I have problems reading people sometimes, because I read so much into them. I get so caught up in all the details, that I miss things. Like interest. Unless it blatant." He looked over at Alex and smiled, a rosy glow on his cheeks.
"Alex was blatant I take it?"
"A bit," was the dry response. "So. Tell me about this person. Girl, boy, or whatever?"
He ducked his head. "Girl."
"Name?"
"Cindy. She's in my classes. Including acting class. She was a camp counselor over the summer, so she wasn't in the class. But we hit it off right away. Spend all our time together and talk and... she's great, Uncle Mike. You'd really like her." He licked his lips. "I just... I'm not sure, you know? I think she likes me. I mean, she touches me a lot and stands all close."
"I'd say go with your instincts. If you think you have a shot, ask her out. What's the worse that could happen?"
"She could say no, things get weird, and our friendship is over." He looked at his uncle, feeling desperate. "She's the best friend I've ever had."
Uncle Mike looked at him, all serious, eyes dark. He stopped drawing and rested his hand on his knee. "Alex is the best friend I've ever had." He hitched his shoulder. "It was worth the risk. And I was stuck sharing a cell if it didn't work out."
LJ sighed. "I'm being silly, huh?"
"No. Love, dating, it's a complicated thing. Frightening. There's a lot at risk. It's scarier than what I did for your father."
"But worth it?"
"When it works out." His mouth quirked. "It's easier when you're a child," he said, nodding at Cameron.
"Everything is." He lay his head on the table. "She knows all about you, you know. Everything. Even Uncle Alex. And she thinks it's the most romantic thing she's ever heard."
Uncle Mike smiled. "You're smart. And creative. You'll come up with something more romantic. I promise. You do your thing, and Alex and I will pale in comparison."
"Doubt that," LJ said, snorting. "But I will try."
Author: serafina20
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Michael/Mahone
Summary: Four months into his sentence for the murder of Oscar Shales, Alexander Mahone gets a new cellie.
Previous
"LJ! Wake up, LJ! We're gonna visit Daddy and Uncle Mike today. Wake up!"
LJ groaned as a small body landed on top of his. Small but solid. The air was knocked from his lungs and his stomach ached from the impact. "Cameron," he whined. "Go away."
Cameron straddled his stomach and bounced. "No. It's Saturday, LJ, remember? We're gonna go visit Daddy and Uncle Mike. You gotta wake up now."
"Too early. Go back to sleep." He wrapped his arm around Cameron's stomach and tackled him to the bed. Then he buried his own head under a pillow and snored loudly.
"LJ!" Cameron shrieked.
LJ mock sobbed. "I'm tired."
"Lincoln's making pancakes, so you gotta get up. Now!" He pulled the pillow away and threw it on the floor. "Come on." When LJ didn't move, Cameron started bouncing. "We're gonna visit Dad-dy! And Uncle Mi-ike. We're gonna visit Dad-dy! And Uncle Mi-ike."
He sighed and rolled onto his back. Cameron doing his best Tigger impression, impressively managing to miss landing on LJ as he bounced around the bed. If LJ didn't know better, he'd say Cameron was on a sugar high. But he did know better, or at least he knew Pam, and if Dad was still making pancakes, that meant all Cameron had had today was toothpaste and milk.
"Dad-dy. And Uncle Mi-ike!" Cameron continued to sing.
He was on a Daddy and Uncle Mike high.
LJ wished he were that young.
"Get up, LJ!" Cameron said abruptly, changing his song. He threw himself onto LJ, full weight.
"Oof." LJ wrapped his arms around Cameron and kissed his forehead. "You're getting too big for that, kiddo.
"No I'm not."
"Yeah, you are." He kissed Cameron again. "Okay, I'm getting up."
"Wait!"
"Are you joking?"
Cameron shook his head. He sat on LJ's lap and pulled a marker from his pocket. It was a washable marker, as all permanent markers were now banned from the house, especially since Cameron continued to draw on himself. "Can you do my back? I can't reach."
LJ took the marker, frowning. "I don't know, Cam. I'm not really that good an artist."
"But it's not done." Cameron pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the intricate pattern of lines he'd drawn over his torso. Among the lines were wobbly pictures: a flower, a heart, some circles. Across his stomach was the family portrait, something he drew obsessively on thousands of pieces of paper that were plastered everywhere: Lincoln and Pam, huge hands overlapping; LJ next to them, Cameron just in front. Then was Alex, just a little off to the side, and Michael, eyes drawn huge and blue, fringed with black, both so close to Cameron they almost smushed him. Cameron's family. "See? I got only the front."
"I know, but... Why don't you ask Uncle Mike to finish it for you?" LJ said, suddenly inspired. "He's a good artist."
Cameron looked doubtful. "But it's for him."
"I know. But he likes to draw. He'll be happy with the front and he'll want to finish it. It's what artists do."
He thought about it a minute, then nodded. "Okay. Thank you, LJ."
"You're welcome." He helped Cameron back on with his shirt and gave him the marker back. "Okay, I'll go take a shower now. Go eat breakfast. I won't be long."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Cameron beamed. "I love you, LJ." He leaned forward and kissed LJ. Then, he bounded off him and out of the room, singing his visiting song again.
Oh, to be young again, LJ thought wryly. Of course, that's was Lincoln said about LJ, especially since LJ was staying up all hours of the night (just on weekends, honest!) to IM with Cindy.
Cindy. Beautiful. Sexy. Completely brilliant. And talent, too. She was the best actor in their group.
And his scene partner.
They four classes together. They hung out before school, during lunch, and after. And then they usually talked after dinner, and chatted online after that.
It was heaven.
LJ showered and took care of the few bristles that had grown on his right jawline that night. Lincoln had been teasing LJ lately about the lopsided growth of stubble that appeared on LJ's face every other day. Pam kept telling him to stop, all the while comforting LJ that he was perfectly normal and it'd grow completely over his face as he got older.
He didn't care. Oh, he didn't like being teased, but other than that, he didn't care. Not while he had Cindy in his life.
Cameron was still singing when LJ got downstairs. His mouth was full of pancakes and there was syrup in his hair. Pam and Lincoln were sitting with their coffee and pancakes, twin looks of amused annoyance on their faces.
"Morning, everyone." He dropped a kiss on Pam's cheek, then one on Cameron's sticky-sweet cheek when the little boy let out a loud, "Me too!" and banged his fork on his plate.
"You managed to wake up," Lincoln said. "You were up until, what? Three in the morning last night?"
LJ blushed and ducked his head. "Just, uh, maybe nearly two? Probably earlier. And I knew I'd be able to get up. Today's important. Even told Cindy."
"How is Cindy?" asked Pam.
He blushed harder. "Good. Just, uh. Good."
She just smiled at him. "Good. I'm glad. You'll have to invite her over for dinner sometime."
"Maybe." Anyone else, he wouldn't be sure. His family was just so strange, what with the uncle in jail and gay and engaged to his father's girlfriend's ex-wife, whom they lived across the street from, but they all practically lived together, and he loved his family, he really did. It was just... hard to explain sometimes.
Just not to Cindy. Everything was easy with her.
"Let's go!" Cameron shouted suddenly. He banged his fork on his empty plate.
"Cameron," Pam said sharply. "Be patient."
He whined but settled back down.
LJ ate quickly. His little step-brother (well, close enough) was getting ready to burst. And, truthfully, he was anxious to visit with Uncle Mike, too. He had a good feeling about Cindy, and thought that, if he asked her out, she'd say yes. But he didn't want to rush anything. He wanted advice. And it wasn't that he didn't trust his dad, it was just... this wasn't the kind of thing they talked about. Not really. Oh, Dad knew about Cindy, and they'd talked about her. LJ had even admitted he liked her. But advice? That was Uncle Mike's place.
The drive to the prison took forever. And not just because Cameron was addicted to and old NSYNC he'd found and taken to listening to incessantly. And, worse, Pam allowed it. So LJ had to live his life with "Bye, Bye, Bye" as the soundtrack.
But it was more than that. It'd felt like forever since he'd seen Uncle Mike. Yeah, he and Dad had gone up a few weeks ago, but Uncle Mike had still be sick. Itchy and miserable and, overall, it hadn't been a fun visit. They'd gone to make sure his spirits were up, because Alex had been worried. And they'd missed him, of course, but they'd figured on waiting until Uncle Mike had felt better. Alex, though, had asked them to come.
That visit didn't count. They hadn't really talked about much, mostly just sat around, playing a game and watching Uncle Mike be miserable. And he and Dad had left, just as miserable. LJ hadn't even gotten to tell Uncle Mike about the discussion they'd had in Civics about pardoning convicted felons, and how Cindy had brought up Uncle Mike and argued that he should be pardoned. And convinced the whole class, including Mr. Avis, the teacher. And Dad hadn't gotten to mention how he'd been to an engagement ring store with LJ, just to look, and was thinking--just maybe he said--about asking Pam to marry him.
Today they would, though. Well. Not the part about the ring, since it was a surprise, but everything else. They'd get to talk about it all.
If they ever got there.
Finally, after an eternity and a half had passed, they pulled into the parking lot of the prison. From there, it was just another forty-five minutes of standing in line with everyone else who'd driven out, signing in, being led to the special needs wing. Of handing over all the stuff they'd brought to make sure there were know weapons. Of enduring the obvious file in the cake joke from at least a dozen people. Of a guard asking Cameron about his arms, then waving another guard over to have a quiet laugh (not at Cameron; both the guards liked Uncle Mike, and they'd never hurt a little boy by laughing at him. Just quietly, behind their hands.)
And then... and then..
"Daddy!"
Cameron broke away from Lincoln and streaked across the room. Alex had him off the floor and in his arms the moment the small body barreled against his.
"Hey, buddy. How's my boy?"
"I missed you, Daddy." Cameron rained kisses on Alex's face, his arms locked tight around Alex's neck.
"I missed you, too." He caught Cameron's lips before they flittered away from his own, then kissed a baby-soft cheek.
"When are you coming home?"
Alex just sighed and held Cameron tighter.
"Let him breathe, Cameron," Pam reminded. She went up to Alex and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey, you. How have you been?"
"Good. You look gorgeous. As usual."
LJ liked how Pam blushed any time Dad or Alex gave her a compliment. Like she wasn't expecting it, or was still pleased they noticed.
"Thanks. You look good, too. And, Michael. Beautiful as usual." She moved over to Uncle Mike, who was at Dad's side, and gave him a big hug.
Uncle Mike's cheeks turned red. "Hi, Pam." When he extracted himself from her, he went to LJ. "How's my favorite nephew?"
"Good." LJ hugged Uncle Mike tightly, pressing his face into his shirt. He hated that the main scent was prison laundry soap, but underneath, he could just smell Uncle Mike. His real scent, the one that meant home and safety.
"Cameron," Pam said. "Aren't you going to say hi to Michael?"
Uncle Mike pulled away from LJ and turned to Alex and Cameron. To LJ's surprise, instead of flinging himself on the other man, Cameron's face turned crimson. A huge grin crossed it, but he pressed his forehead against Alex's shoulder.
"Hi, Uncle Mike," he whispered, looking at him quickly before hiding his entire face against Alex's arm.
LJ had to clap his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. As it was, a giggle escaped. Dad whapped him on the back of the head, but he was grinning too. They all were, except Uncle Mike, who, blushing, had managed to train his face into a semblance of normalcy.
"It's good to see you, Cameron. I've missed you," he said.
"Me too," Cameron whispered with another quick glance. If possible, his face turned even more red.
This time, Michael did smile, although he looked bemused.
Alex, a smile splitting his face, kissed Cameron on the head. "Why don't we sit down?"
They got themselves arranged at a table, Alex and Uncle Mike next to each other, LJ on the other side of Uncle Mike, and Pam and Lincoln across from them. Pam put the cake box in the middle of the table and flipped open the lid.
"No, it does not have a nail file inside it," she said as she lifted the cake out.
Uncle Mike's face turned red when he read the, "Congratulations Alex and Michael," scrawled across in icing. "Thank you," he said, ducking his head.
"I'm so happy for you both." Pam took Uncle Mike's hand and squeezed. "Really. And I'm so glad you're not sick anymore. We had to eat the first cake, and it's delicious. I could hardly resist digging into this one."
The cake was cut and passed around. Cameron was still in Alex's lap, sneaking blushing looks at Michael and hiding his face. He got his cake and took a few bites, smearing some on Alex's shirt from hiding.
"We set a date," Michael said after he'd taken a bite. "December twenty-fourth."
"Christmas Eve?" LJ said.
Uncle Mike nodded, eyes lowered to his cake. "You know. It's like our Christmas present."
"I couldn't imagine a better one," Alex said. He slung his arm around Michael's neck and kissed his forehead.
Between the sweetness of the cake and that gesture, LJ had a had time not gagging. He supported Uncle Mike and his relationship one hundred percent. He'd be fine with watching them kiss, hold hands, whatever. But be cutesy? It was hard enough to take with Dad and Pam.
Uncle Mike rolled his eyes. "Alex. Don't." He looked up at Lincoln. "He thinks we'll be out of here by then, but if we're not... I mean, it's not like it'd be legal anyway, right? So. We'd need rings."
"Pam and I would be happy to start looking. Just tell us what you'd like, of course."
"We want to get them engraved. Just, we don't know with what, yet."
"I was thinking," Alex said, stroking Cameron's back. "Maybe we could choose what goes in the other's rings. As a surprise."
Uncle Mike nodded. "That's fine." Then the idea seemed to take hold, and he smiled, eyes kind of sparkling. "Yeah. I'd like that."
"We can keep a secret," Lincoln said. "Just tell us what you want, get us your ring sizes, and we'll do the rest."
"While we're on the subject, Lincoln and I have been talking about where the two of you will live when you get out. Because I, like Alex, believe it won't be too much longer." Pam smushed a piece of cake onto her plate.
Uncle Mike shifted uncomfortably. He looked down at his cake, entire being focused on eating it.
"I thought we'd live with one of you, at least in the beginning. Then get an apartment or something."
Pam nodded. "That's fine, if it's what you want. Except, well, Lincoln and I have two houses between us. And we've been talking about moving in together, which means I'd have to sell or rent my house. Or he his, depending on which we choose. So, we were talking and..."
"It just makes more sense if we sign one of the houses over to you and Michael," Lincoln finished. "If you want a house, of course."
Alex ran his hand through his hair, then lifted Cameron--who was crawling off his lap--and set him on the floor. "That's really generous."
"You're family," Pam pointed out. "Michael is Lincoln's brother, so it makes sense."
"And we'd be across the street," said Alex, directing it more to Uncle Mike. "It'd be easy for Cameron and LJ to visit. Stay the night, if they wanted."
"And the size shouldn't be a problem, because you'll need room for a studio, Michael," she said.
Uncle Mike nodded, still not looking up from his cake. "That'd be nice. I didn't have one at the loft. I mean, I wasn't doing... I sketched sometimes, painted a few. Had an easel in the corner."
Cameron bumped against Michael with his shoulder. Michael picked him up and placed him on his lap. Cameron immediately turned red again, sitting tall and proud, a silly grin on his face.
"Both houses have four bedrooms. Way too many, but the price was good, and the neighbors..." Pam looked at Lincoln and smiled in a sappy, mushy way.
What the hell was going on? Everyone was lovestruck today.
"I think it sounds good," said the perpetually optimistic Alex. "If you don't mind living with him, that is."
Lincoln rolled his eyes and put his arm around Pam. "She didn't mind putting up with you."
"Children," Uncle Mike said warningly. "Behave." He had his arms around Cameron, and Cameron looked like he was about to fly.
"What do you think, Michael?" asked Lincoln.
Alex gave Lincoln a sharp look, and LJ had to agree. He knew that they had to tiptoe around this kind of stuff with Uncle Mike. Why couldn't Dad be happy that Uncle Mike was actually looking forward to something for once? Why did he have to ask Uncle Mike's opinion about the house?
"I think that if you want to move in together, you should. Don't wait for us."
"Mikey..."
"Cameron, what's this?" Uncle Mike ran his hand up Cameron's marker decorated arm.
LJ had no idea that anyone could turn that shade of red. It was beyond red. Cameron looked like a tomato with hair.
He turned in Uncle Mike's lap and pushed himself to his knees. "It's my map," he said in a near whisper.
"Your what?"
"My map. I drawed a map of the school. Like you." Cameron shifted onto the table and pulled his shirt off.
Uncle Mike laughed, but not meanly. The smile on his face was embarrassed, but pleased. LJ could tell. "Wow," he said. He reached out and ran his fingers over the patterns. "This is impressive, Cameron."
"You like it?" Cameron looked at him through his eyelashes.
"I do. You're a good artist."
"Thank you." Cameron licked his lips. "Uncle Mike? Can you draw the back? Cause I couldn't reach." He turned to show.
Uncle Mike glanced at Pam, who nodded.
"We brought washable markers." She reached into the bag. "We had to go to the hardware store to get something to remove the permanent marker last time. It would have all washed off eventually, but it was taking much too long."
He took the markers and pulled out a blue one. "Do you want anything specific, Cameron?"
"What's that?"
"I mean, what do you want me to draw?"
"You and me."
He smiled. "Okay." As he began to draw, he pulled LJ's chair closer to his. "So. You're quiet. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he answered.
Pam turned to Alex and started talking about... something. And Alex drew Dad into the conversation, so it was basically him and Uncle Mike.
Finally.
"How's school?"
"It's good. Um, Uncle Mike?" His heart pounded in his ears.
"Yeah?"
"How do you know when you should ask someone out? Like a girl? Or a guy, or whatever? I mean. How do you know?"
"You're asking me?" he asked with a sideways look.
He shrugged. "It feels weird asking Dad."
"It shouldn't. He's your father. Plus, he has more experience with that kind of thing. I've always just let the other person do the asking."
"Even if it's a girl?"
"Pretty much. I have problems reading people sometimes, because I read so much into them. I get so caught up in all the details, that I miss things. Like interest. Unless it blatant." He looked over at Alex and smiled, a rosy glow on his cheeks.
"Alex was blatant I take it?"
"A bit," was the dry response. "So. Tell me about this person. Girl, boy, or whatever?"
He ducked his head. "Girl."
"Name?"
"Cindy. She's in my classes. Including acting class. She was a camp counselor over the summer, so she wasn't in the class. But we hit it off right away. Spend all our time together and talk and... she's great, Uncle Mike. You'd really like her." He licked his lips. "I just... I'm not sure, you know? I think she likes me. I mean, she touches me a lot and stands all close."
"I'd say go with your instincts. If you think you have a shot, ask her out. What's the worse that could happen?"
"She could say no, things get weird, and our friendship is over." He looked at his uncle, feeling desperate. "She's the best friend I've ever had."
Uncle Mike looked at him, all serious, eyes dark. He stopped drawing and rested his hand on his knee. "Alex is the best friend I've ever had." He hitched his shoulder. "It was worth the risk. And I was stuck sharing a cell if it didn't work out."
LJ sighed. "I'm being silly, huh?"
"No. Love, dating, it's a complicated thing. Frightening. There's a lot at risk. It's scarier than what I did for your father."
"But worth it?"
"When it works out." His mouth quirked. "It's easier when you're a child," he said, nodding at Cameron.
"Everything is." He lay his head on the table. "She knows all about you, you know. Everything. Even Uncle Alex. And she thinks it's the most romantic thing she's ever heard."
Uncle Mike smiled. "You're smart. And creative. You'll come up with something more romantic. I promise. You do your thing, and Alex and I will pale in comparison."
"Doubt that," LJ said, snorting. "But I will try."
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He was on a Daddy and Uncle Mike high.
*giggles* That's gorgeous!!
I love that LJ seeks Uncle Michael's advice and that Cindy knows all about LJ's unusual family and sees the romance and everything...Awww!
Michael needs some news about their situation soon...he's still not happy, is he? Even though he has Alex and family visits, he still can't bring himself to hope! Poor Michael.
I'm going to hate it when this story is over but in the meantime I'll savour every chapter!
Thanks, sweetheart! ♥
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Michael needs some news about their situation soon...he's still not happy, is he? Even though he has Alex and family visits, he still can't bring himself to hope! Poor Michael.
He can hope for things he knows are going to happen. He knows he and Alex will get married and he's happy about that. getting out isn't as certain, and he hates dealing with uncertainties.
I'm going to hate it when this story is over
Me too. But I can't keep them in there forever. Maybe I'll have to write some post-story fics, just so we can keep tabs on them. :)
Thank you.
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*sighs* Guess not. :( But post-story fics sounds like a wonderful idea!!
And, as always, you're welcome, sweetheart.
*hugs*
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Isn't he though?
I love family visits,too. I adore writing Cameron.
Thank you.
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Thanks!
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His family was just so strange, what with the uncle in jail and gay and engaged to his father's girlfriend's ex-wife, whom they lived across the street from, but they all practically lived together, and he loved his family, he really did. It was just... hard to explain sometimes.
But ex-wife? Shouldn't it be ex-husband?
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But ex-wife? Shouldn't it be ex-husband?
Um. No. Alex is really a woman, just well disguised, so...
Oops. *blushes* Thanks.
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