Kevin checked the coals and, seeing they were ready, dumped them in the bottom of the grill, then spread them out for even heat. He then put the grate back on. By the time he got the steaks out of the marinade and ready to grill, it should be hot enough to start cooking. On the way, he briefly caught Angel's hand and gave it a squeeze, smiling at him in regards to their new understanding.

He got the meat out of the marinade, pouring what was left over into a pot to be cooked and reused as a sauce, but before Kevin could get back to the grill, there was a splash from the direction of the pool, and then, "It's cold!"

Liam!

"Get out of there! Now!" Kevin yelled at him, as he ran to the pool.

Liam looked shocked and a little afraid, but quickly swam to the ladder and climbed out. Cor! I di'nt fink 'e'd come all over angry, Liam thought. But before he could apologize, the man grabbed him.

Kevin grabbed his wrist and started pulling Liam towards the house, tersely explaining both to the boy and his protesting parents, "I said I was working on it, not that it was ready to use! The chemicals in there won't be neutralized for twenty-four hours!"

Chemicals? Cor blimey! was Liam's silent reaction. He wasn't about to admit he might have done something stupid, though.

Reaching the shower in the mud room, the man turned on the water and shoved Liam under the spray. "Wash!" he ordered.

"It's cold!" Liam complained.

"You liked it well enough in the pool," Kevin argued, "and it'll warm up. Adjust it as you want." He slumped back against the wall in reaction as the adrenalin started wearing off.

"Were it that dangerous?" Mister Talbot inquired. He was still upset with the young man for the way he'd handled his youngest son. The only thing that had kept him from becoming angry before now was the explanation about the chemicals. Now he wanted to know if any of this was really warranted.

"I don't know," the young man admitted. "They've got all sorts of warnings about not going swimming until the PH reaches a certain level, and . . . . Anyway, I just wasn't willing to take a chance. Sorry I was so abrupt, though, Mister Talbot."

Jake looked at him thoughtfully for a long moment, then calmly said, "Call me Jake," and offered the younger man his hand. You just can't fault a man for being careful, especially when it's your son he's being careful for.

"Everybody calls me Kevin," Kevin said, standing up and shaking it.

Jake kept hold of his hand as he considered the developing situation between his older son and this man – despite their age difference – and decided that if it was going to happen anyway, and it certainly looked that way, he might as well give his blessing. This Kevin Lambert seemed to be an alright sort, anyway.

"You an' Angel?" he finally said. "If it works out that way, it's okay with me."

Surprises seemed to be the order of the day. Kevin had a feeling that was a huge concession on Mister Talbot's part, so he treated it with the dignity it deserved.

"Thank you, sir. If it works out that way." And things certainly seemed to be developing quickly between him and Angel. His rational mind said that they were happening too quickly, and the young man wasn't even legal in this state, but he was acting more on instinct, and his instinct said it was right.

Jake studied the man before him, looking for any sign that he might have judged wrongly, then nodded at him, satisfied with his decision, and let go.

The expressions on the others in the room – they had all followed Kevin and Liam – were varied.

Mrs Talbot's – Maggie's – was a mix that would be difficult to decipher at the best of times. Her primary emotion right then was worry for her babby, who might or might not have chemical burns, and was growing up far too quickly. She was going to be keeping a watchful eye on both of those situations. And then there was the attraction her older son had for this man - their host and, incidentally, their next door neighbor. Angel was too old to control, but she wished he hadn't chosen someone so much older than him.

Oh, yes . . . she'd noticed. And Mister Kevin Lambert hadn't been at pains to keep his own interest in her son a secret, either.

She hoped he was worthy of her Angel. Oh, he seemed nice enough, but she was going to be watching for an opportunity to have a Word.

And then her bloody husband! Giving them his blessing without so much as a 'by your leave'!

Megan looked a little shocked, but thoughtful. One day at their new home. One day – and not even a full day, at that. She didn't think she'd ever forget it. Moving in, meeting the handsome new neighbor – who batted for the other team, damn it – Liam deciding to take a swim in a dangerous pool, and Angel – Angel! Her little brother – hooks up with the beautiful, gay, next door neighbor. Then to top it all off, her da gives his blessing! All in one bloody day!

All she had to say, was: those had better be some bloody damn good steaks.

Angel . . . . Angel looked like Christmas had come early, and though happy enough with the fact, he wasn't sure he was included in the festivities.

Undecided. That's what he was. Things had just got a lot more serious. Angel was happy not to have to sneak around to see Kevin, and knowing his da was okay with it was a big plus, but his da had just thrown him in the deep end of the pool, so to speak. It was sink or swim time.

For a wonder, considering Liam's penchant for being just a bit mouthy and opinionated, they didn't hear a word out of him on the subject. Although they could hear him muttering irritably to himself as he washed, it wasn't loud enough to hear any words – just the sound of his voice.

Remembering why they were all gathered in the mud room in the first place, Kevin turned and pulled the plastic shower curtain closed. "Wash all the cracks and crevices too, Liam," he told the boy.

"Coulda tole us it weren't ready to use," Liam grumbled just barely loud enough to be heard, just before unzipping his shorts and pushing them down and off, along with his underwear. He wondered if his 'rescuer' would peek. What worried Liam, however, was that he wasn't sure how he'd feel if he did.

"Angel, fetch yer bruver some dry clothes," Jake quietly ordered.

Without a word, the young man headed for the front door.

They all went back outside, but Kevin stopped just outside the door. "If you need to refill your drinks, please help yourselves. You know where they are."

"Thank you, Mister Lambert," Maggie said quietly.

Kevin didn't think she was referring entirely to the offer of refreshments.

"It's Kevin," he corrected. "May I call you Maggie?"

"An honor, Kevin." She actually thought it was a bit presumptuous of him. But then, he was an American, and everyone she'd met here seemed to be very informal. And as the saying goes, 'When in Rome . . . .'

Kevin acknowledged her with a nod and a smile, and went back to loading the grill with the steaks, the meat sizzling as it hit the hot metal.

Jake joined him.

After a moment, Kevin felt he had to inform the man of a possible problem.

"You know," he said, "the state of California's age of consent laws say you have to be eighteen."

Jake nodded, acknowledging his words. "England's more civilized," he said matter-of-factly. "We know our young people have brains, and trust them to use them."

Kevin had just been informed that the head of the Talbot house didn't care what the law in California said; he considered his son man enough to make his own decisions. The younger man considered the subject closed. He'd take his chances with the law.

Jake tried to talk sports with his host, but Kevin didn't follow football – known in America as 'soccer' – or any other sport.

Kevin liked to watch the men's swimming and diving competitions when they came on, as well as men's gymnastics, but that wasn't because he was interested in the competitions. He tried to discuss them with Jake anyway, but the older man soon saw that his host was struggling, and had mercy on him, using his beverage as his excuse.

"I'm fer anover of 'ese. Would yer care fer one?" he asked, hefting his almost empty glass of beer at his host.

"I think that would hit the spot, thanks," Kevin replied with a smile of both thanks and relief.

The man grinned at his host. "Got ter keep the cook 'appy, right?" he said, just before walking towards the house. Blimey. Who'd 'ave thought – a man 'oo don' like football, he thought in dismay. Then considered: Mind you, our Angel isn't such a sports buff, eever.

The baked potatoes should be close to being done – maybe another ten minutes – but they should be checked, anyway. Mothers being hard workers every day, Kevin decided Maggie should be allowed to stay seated.

"Megan," he called, "do you know how to cook?"

"Would ya like me ta take over?" she asked, almost eagerly. She had felt like she had been being ignored, so was glad of a little attention. She knew it wasn't deliberate, but she had no reason to push herself forward, here, and she was aware that there was no reason for anyone to seek her attention – until now.

Kevin took her reply as a 'yes'. "Thanks, but no. I was wondering if you could check on the baked potatoes for me?"

"'Course!" she exclaimed, and was off.

"We calls 'em jacketed potatoes, back home," Maggie told her host. She finally had him alone, but she wasn't crass enough to just jump into it.

Kevin thought about that, a tiny frown creasing his brow. "Why?" he finally asked.

She gave a little shrug. "'Cause the thin skin becomes a thick jacket?" she hazarded.

"Okay," he replied, dipping his head in acknowledgement. "Sounds reasonable."

After a moment, Maggie asked, "How old are yer, Kevin?"

"Twenty-five," he answered, pretty sure of what was coming.

"Why would yer be int'rested in our Angel?" she asked.

Kevin considered the question. "I don't know," he replied, curious himself: why this young man, and why now? He couldn't find an answer within himself, however. It just . . . was. "Up until now, I've always dated men my own age. Angel just . . . touched something in me."

"'E's a beautiful boy," she offered.

"Yes, he is, but I've seen a lot of beautiful boys – and admired them. Angel's the only one I've ever felt anything about," the young man informed her. "At least since I was that age, myself."

"Lust?" she said, without inflection, although it was really just an expansion on her remark about Angel's looks.

"That too," Kevin admitted, feeling his face heat up, "but it's more than that."

"What?" Maggie asked, getting frustrated. She wanted – needed – answers, and she wasn't getting anything satisfactory. It sounded like 'love at first sight', but she didn't believe in that.

"I don't know. I just can't ignore it."

She asked the question she'd been dreading to ask: the one that might prove her wrong. "Do yer love 'im?"

Kevin's pause was longer this time.

"I don't think so," he finally replied, "but if there's a vat of the stuff that love can grow in, I think I fell right in the middle of it."

Maggie was silent a long time, struggling with her emotions as a mother versus her son's desires, and his need to learn and be independent, and then sighed. "Be careful with 'im, Kevin," she begged.

"You're talking like we're already dating, Maggie," he replied, trying to put her at ease. "We're still feeling each other out."

"If I knows me Angel, 'e's a'ready made up 'is mind," was her resigned response. "An' it don't take much ter see yer smitten wif him, eever."

"That obvious, huh?" Kevin said ruefully.

"That obvious," she confirmed.

The conversation had made Kevin uncomfortable, and the pause after Maggie's last words threatened to drag out into an even worse torture. Needing to end the silence and change the subject, he said,. "He speaks well," referring to Angel.

He was very curious. Megan's Cockney accent was very mild compared to the rest of the family, but Angel's was the speech of the upper middle class – at least as he understood such things.

"'E should," Maggie responded. "Spent enough schoolin' 'im. Liam, too, but th' scamp won't use it. Soon's 'e's 'round 'is da', 'e's speakin' Cockney, agin."

There was another uncomfortable silence which, thankfully, Jake ended by coming out of the house with Kevin's beer. Megan was right behind him, carrying a plate stacked with 'jacketed' potatoes.

There was the sound of music approaching, and then Angel came into the back yard, boombox in hand, correcting an obvious oversight: the entertainment. Maggie had him turn it down, though, and then just as she started asking her host about the community, Liam came tearing out of the house wearing neon green board shorts, and clutching a bright yellow and red striped polo shirt.

"Angie!" he yelled. "Yer've got me made up ter be a bloody clown wif 'ese effin' clothes!"

Angel was grinning widely. Yep. He'd done it on purpose. He dodged Liam's initial attack, and then took off running, laughing triumphantly.

Jake and Maggie just shook their heads at the boys, although their mother was more than a little put out with her youngest's language. Then Maggie returned to asking Kevin about the community: where were the best places to shop, where were the schools, and so on, with Jake throwing in his own questions here and there.

Of course Kevin had questions about the UK, too, so the questioning wasn't all one-sided.

Angel eventually let Liam catch him, but the boy was only able to land a couple of wild, ineffectual blows before Angel tackled his little brother and started tickling him.

Kevin had, of course, been surreptitiously watching Angel in action, and enjoying the interaction between him and his brother.

When the struggle stopped, the boys had a short conversation, in tones so low that nobody heard a word.

"Don't ruin this for me, bruv," Angel told his brother.

Liam's eyes widened. "Yer really do want 'im?" he questioned, looking up into Angel's serious expression from his prone position, his brother still pinning him down.

The elder nodded. "And he likes me, too."

"But 'e's a lot older than yer!" Liam protested.

"He's not an old codger yet, Liam," Angel said with mild irony. "He's still a young man, and he's hot. I want him."

Liam looked up at his brother, considering, then nodded. "I'll behave," he promised, "but if 'e ever 'urts yer . . . ."

They both soon rejoined the group while the questioning was still going on. But first Liam retrieved the shirt and shoes he'd taken off before taking his dip in the pool, and it was that shirt he put on as he completed getting dressed.

The meal was a complete success, with no further incidents. Everybody enjoyed their steaks, Liam and his mother being the only ones who wanted their steaks burnt to a crisp (well done). The others were very civilized to Kevin's way of thinking, having their steaks rare to medium rare.

When Kevin pointed this out, Maggie laughed at him, and Liam stuck his tongue out at him, which prompted a laugh from everybody else.

The laugh was on Liam, though, when Kevin said, "You know, when I was in school, sticking your tongue out at someone meant 'Kiss me, but don't slobber'."

Liam turned a bright red. An' I jus' invited 'im to kiss me? he thought.

"Is that true?" Megan asked.

"It was said," Kevin confirmed, "but I've never heard of anyone using it like that."

Liam was over the moon when he learned the fruit salad had liquor in it, and had a second helping; then he complained that it must have been bad booze, because he wasn't feeling anything at all, from it.

When Kevin explained he'd kept the booze content down just for him, putting in only just enough for a little flavor, the boy had a good pout.

By the time they went home, Kevin felt he'd made some good friends, although he never was able to connect to their daughter very well.

Angel stopped and surprised his host with a hug and a quick peck on the lips on his way out the door, with a promise of 'Later'.

Kevin wasn't sure what 'later' would consist of, but he was looking forward to it just the same.

Jake's Story:

I were at uni when I met Maggie: an' me, Tony, an' 'er become fast friends, we did. Tony were me boyfriend. Anyway, we all palled around for most of a year afore I started 'avin' sexy reactions to 'er. Come as a big surprise ter me, let me tell yer. That triggered me doin' some deep finkin', an' I recognized I were fallin' in love wif 'er. Talk about yer identity crisis! 'Ere I'd bin goin' 'round wi' Tony, sexin' wif 'im 'most ever' night an' 'appy as can be wi' it, an' 'ere comes this chit of a bird an' upsets me world wi'out even tryin'!

It were another six momths afore I give up the fight, though, an' broke up wi' Tony. I still loved the bloke, but I couldn't do it to 'im: cheat on 'im wi' Maggie, when 'e'd become second-best in me 'eart.

So after uni, me an' Maggie tied the knot, an' we started poppin' out babbies: ever' three years, reg'lar. She put 'er foot down after Liam an' the one we lost, though.

I bin 'appy with Maggie an' the kids, but there were always somefin' missin'. I knew what it were, too. But jus' as I couldn't 'urt Tony like that, I couldn't 'urt Maggie by tryin' ter fill that 'ole in me soul.

When we 'it the bloomin' lottery, I thanked god fer Maggie. She kept me feet on the ground, she did. I sent Angel an' Liam ter a good boardin' school, though, an' paid extra fer speech trainin' fer 'em. 'Avin' finished uni meself, I knew I coulda done much better in me career if it weren't fer me Cockney speech, an' I were determined me boys would 'ave a better chance 'an me.

Then we got tired o' fendin' off the leaches an' would-be swindlers, an' others tryin' ter get a piece o' our good fortune. We figgered movin' was our on'y chance. On'y 'cause of the bloody newsies, we was too well known, in England.

It were Liam, wantin' ter visit Disney, what showed us the way. We fought 'bout Florida fer awhile, but all them cyclones and alligators put us off it. California were next choice, and somehow we chooses Vacaville. It were a goodly sized town, accordin' to what we were tole, but still small enough ta be free o' the gangs we'd 'eard 'bout in the big cities, an' still close enough ter the city if we wanted a look-'round. We were used ter cities an' gangs, but us wanted free of the little buggers. No sense puttin' Liam in the way o' temptation.

So keepin' in mind all that, when Angel . . . . I let Maggie name our li'l 'uns, but why 'Angel'? She says to me, she says, 'Because 'e looks jus' like a li'l angel, lyin' there.'

I felt right sorry fer the poor li'l tyke.

Anyways, so when Angel tole us he were gay, it didn' surprise me, none. I 'ad a strong suspicion fer years he were battin' lefty.

So we buys us a nice two-story 'ouse from the online realtor's pitchures an' descriptions. Then we sells all the appliances an' the furniture, 'cept the antiques, an' ever'thin' not necessary fer a new 'ouse, 'cept the keepsakes, an' shipped it all. Then we went on 'oliday to Disney in California fer a week.

An' what der we find when we starts movin' in? A bloody poofter ter tempt me! 'Cept it seems 'e's on'y got eyes fer our Angel. What's worse, Angel were makin' eyes at 'im.

Now, I'm not aginst shirt-lifters, bein' 'alf one meself, so it takes me awhile ter recognize what I were feelin'. Turns out it were the same feelin' I 'ave whenever some young bloke comes callin' after our Meg. I just weren't ready ter recognize it when it come ter me son. 'Ain't nobody goin' ter be good enough fer my kids': that were the feelin'.

'Cept 'e impressed me, Kevin did, actin' so fast fer Liam's sake. 'E seems a good man, so I'll give 'im a chance. At least Angel can't get preggers, should . . . .

Nah, I don't want ter fink 'bout that.

"Angie's got a boy-friend, Angie's got a boy-friend," Liam was chanting at Angel, who was watering their lawn.

"So?" Angel asked dismissively. He was sick of his brother's teasing, so he'd decided that since nothing else had worked, he was going to ignore it – even go along with it, if it just got the brat to shut up!

Liam pouted. "Yer jus' goin' ter take the fun outta all o' it, ain't yer?" he complained, and then grinned as he saw their next door neighbor walking up behind Angel. The hedge bushes, which had gone a bit wild, had hidden the man's approach until then. He'd heard his mother complaining about them to his father earlier, so it wouldn't be too much longer until they were trimmed.

Angel's acceptance of his brother's taunt as what sounded like a foregone conclusion gave Kevin mixed feelings. He didn't like to think he was so predictable that he could be taken for granted, despite his nascent feelings towards the young man.

"So we're boyfriends?" he inquired, making his presence known to Angel.

Angel whirled around, his face turning a blazing red, and incidentally spraying water all over the man he wanted. He immediately dropped the hose, but the damage was done. He got very flustered and tried to brush the water off Kevin's wet clothes, apologizing profusely all the while, while Liam stood by and guffawed at his brother's embarrassing gaffe.

Disarmed by Angel's obvious dismay, Kevin caught the young man's forearms, pressing his hands firmly to his own chest while calling Angel's name until the boy finally calmed down enough to listen to him.

"It's okay, Angel," he said reassuringly. "It's a warm day, and I'm not so sweet that I'll melt from a little water."

Liam found that very funny, and started laughing again.

Angel continued looking his intended boyfriend in the eyes for a moment, then relaxed when he saw the man meant it. A second later he realized he was practically pressed up against him right out in public, blushed, and backed up a step. If they had been inside, or somewhere where they wouldn't be providing a show, Angel felt he could have stayed pressed against Kevin all day. But right out there on the front lawn where anybody could watch, was not the place.

"Angie's got a boy-friend. Angie's got a boy-friend," Liam sang delightedly, almost under his breath.

Kevin looked at the boy, annoyed with Liam's constant needling of his brother. "So?" he said, deliberately using Angel's earlier response.

But Liam's hurt look when he heard that was so precious, Kevin couldn't help but laugh.

Angel was happy that Kevin had shot down his little brother, but now that he had calmed down, he was curious."Why are you here?" he asked the man.

"I thought I'd take you, your brother and sister around town: show you where everything is," was the reply.

"Hurrah!" Liam shouted. "Birds!"

Still a little annoyed with the boy, Kevin responded, "Mostly sparrows," he said, pretending to misunderstand. "No aviaries."

Liam stopped dead, and gave the man a rather nonplussed look. "Not birds, birds, mate," he explained. "Birds!"

Amused with the response, Kevin looked at Angel and gave him a small wink out of the eye Liam couldn't see. "He sounds confused, to me," he said.

"Often," Angel replied with a small grin, more than willing to go along with teasing his little brother. Revenge was sweet.

"Birds, mate," Liam said, trying again. "You know – skirts!" Bloomin' 'ell! Sure, 'e's a poof, but surely 'e's 'eard of girls?

"You want to shop for skirts?" Kevin asked, hamming up the 'confused' bit, having fun with teasing the boy, now.

"A doll! A girl!" the now-frustrated boy almost shouted. Are yer bloody stupid? he thought.

Of course since he pronounced 'girl' as 'guhl'...

"Now we're back to birds? No seagulls around here that I've seen. And aren't you a little old to be playing with dolls?"

Liam screamed in frustration. Playing with dolls?

Kevin couldn't keep a straight face anymore, and broke out laughing.

Of course Angel had long since given up the fight and had fallen to the wet grass, tears of laughter rolling down his face, delighted with the revenge Kevin had rendered him.

Suspicion growing rapidly in Liam's mind, he looked from Kevin to his brother, whom he'd been ignoring since he thought Angel had been laughing at his inability to get his point across. Realizing he'd been made a fool of, he looked back to his next door neighbor, his tormentor, yelled a wordless battle cry, and tried to tackle the man.

Kevin let the boy push him around a little bit while just doing a little damage control, then picked him up, upside down. With Liam's butt right next to Kevin's face, his legs were too high for him to kick the man, and facing away from him, the boy couldn't get a good swing at him with his fists.

"Yer all wet!" Liam cried in protest as the damp penetrated his own clothes.

"You're telling me?" Kevin laughed. "You weren't so concerned a minute ago!"

Hearing someone else laugh, Kevin turned to see Jake standing at the door of his house.

"Wondered wha' all the fuss were about," Mister Talbot explained with a grin.

"Da!" Liam yelled. "Make 'im let me go!"

"Are you going to behave?" Kevin playfully asked him.

"Yeah, sure, mate!" Liam said, too eagerly. Jus' let me get me feet, yer great poof, and I'll kick yer lily white arse all the way back ter London!

"Now, why don't I believe you?" the man holding him prisoner teased.

Liam scowled, irritated that his captor had seen through him so easily. He took a wild swing at the man, regardless of his father's presence, but he only grazed his leg, causing his father to laugh at him. He reluctantly gave up, averse to being the butt of more laughter.

"Wha' were yer doin' ter end up like tha' in the first place, Liam?" Jake asked.

"'E were teasin' me!" the boy accused in a preemptive defense of himself. He had a feeling that trouble might be looming on the horizon. Not that he'd overreacted!

Kevin looked at Jake and, with a straight face, told him, "He kept talking about birds! I tried to tell him we didn't have much in the way of feathered fowl around here, but then he started talking about wanting to shop for skirts and playing with dolls!"

Well, he tried to keep a straight face. By the end of that explanation he was wearing a rather devilish grin, and Jake was roaring with laughter.

Liam's embarrassment complete, Kevin gently let the boy down.

Liam just stood there and pouted at his erstwhile captor, once he was on his feet. Had ter tell 'im, didn't yer? Couldn't let me be humiliated by meself, could yer? he complained in the privacy of his own mind.

The boy's expression had Kevin feeling sorry for him, but he was in too good a mood, now, to let the lad spoil it. He grinned at Liam and gave him a tight, one-armed hug and mussed his hair playfully.

Slowly, a reluctant grin broke through to Liam's face.

"A'right there, Liam?" Jake asked, still grinning.

Liam nodded, but otherwise ignored his father, his attention on the handsome man in front of him. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling. Admiration? Yeah, and a bit o' yearnin', too. But fer what? He ignored the thought of those strong arms holding him earlier. He weren't no babby to be wantin' to be held all the time. He'd growed out o' that years ago!

Kevin walked over to where Angel still sat on the wet lawn and offered him a hand to help him up from where he'd fallen in his laughter. Somehow, he 'forgot' to let go as he led Angel over to the man of the house.

Angel looked rather startled at first, then shot an apprehensive glance at his father. When he saw only a slight lessening of the man's grin, he relaxed. His da didn't often hide his feelings, and the man's reaction told him that he was a little surprised, but otherwise he was okay with him holding hands with Kevin: although it was actually Kevin holding his hand.

"I was just telling the boys, here, that I have a little spare time, and thought I'd take them – and your daughter, if she'd like to come – on a quick tour of the places in town that all young people want to know about," Kevin told Jake. "If, that is, you don't need them for anything?"

He had taken a gamble when he'd kept hold of Angel's hand, testing the sincerity of Jake's words of the day before. He was glad to see Mister Talbot had meant them.

"Wha' places?" Jake inquired. He wasn't really concerned, but he'd like to know where to start looking, if necessary.

"Schools, shops, hang-outs, the library, parks . . . Things like that," was the reply.

"Liam's on'y one still in school," Jake informed him, giving up on the idea of easily tracking them all down if needed. That list of places was too extensive. He'd just do what needed done, if and when.

Kevin looked at Angel in surprise. "I thought you said you're sixteen?"

"I am," Angel averred.

"You graduated early?"

The young man shook his head. "We don't have graduations from senior school," he explained, "but I finished."

Kevin looked at Jake for confirmation, and the man nodded. "'E got A's an' B's in his GCSE's," he added. "Coulda gone on to 'A' level."

"If we hadn't emigrated," Angel agreed. He was a little embarrassed, having his father brag on him like that, but he was also secretly pleased to have Kevin know he hadn't picked a duffer in the brains department.

"Maybe it's something you should look into?" Kevin suggested. He had no idea what a 'GCSE' was, but he had an idea it was similar to high school exit tests. Nor did he have the slightest idea what an 'A' level was; but if it was more schooling, he thought it was probably a good idea.

"How?" Angel inquired. They were in another bloody country! Not as if it's just across the Channel, either. Not likely to be possible, anyway.

"I don't know . . . . The UK consulate? How do your diplomats' children stay educated?"

"Study by post?" Jake said thoughtfully. "Or Internet, maybe. 'Igher education'd do yer a bit o' good in yer future, Angel."

"What's an 'A' level, anyway?" Kevin inquired.

"Advanced level, to prepare you for college or university," Angel absently explained. He hadn't thought of the Internet. If they could set it up, that was a good possibility. Of course they'd have to buy new computers. They had to sell their old ones when they found out America's electricity ran on a different voltage than the UK did.

Strange system, Kevin thought, but he rather liked the idea. And when Angel was ready for college, there were some good ones within a short distance of here.

"Probably a good idea," he opined.

"I'll think about it," Angel replied. "I have to change, though. I'm all wet."

"You're all wet?" Kevin asked disbelievingly. He was all wet! Although Liam's clothes had soaked up quite a bit when he had the boy upside down, so he was mostly just very damp, now. And he hadn't been that wet to begin with – mostly just his shirt.

"Come on," Angel said, ignoring him. "I'll show you my room." Tightening his grip on Kevin's hand, he took the lead.

And a free show while he changes clothes? Kevin thought. He looked at Jake to see what Angel's father thought of that idea, but the man wasn't giving anything away. Kevin gave a mental shrug, and allowed his newly-dubbed boyfriend, even if it wasn't official yet, to tug him along.

There were still boxes everywhere, but they had made a good start at unpacking. Nice furniture, too, including a few antiques - or really good reproductions – and a large plasma screen tv – forty-two inch, high-definition, if Kevin were to guess.

The master bedroom and a den were downstairs, but the other three bedrooms were upstairs, and that's where Angel led 'his' man. He'd picked a room facing Kevin's place so he'd be able to see him if he was outside or at a window.

Angel was nervous. He'd invited Kevin up to his room on an impulse, meaning to give the man another 'nudge' to get things going, but upon reflection, he was rethinking that reckless decision. It was only the second day they'd been here, for one thing, and he was afraid he'd looked like a needy slut, rushing things like this. It didn't feel that way, though. It only occurred to him when he started thinking about it. He steeled his resolve. He was going to do it anyway.

"I'm going to have to change my room," Kevin told him.

"Why?" Angel asked, taking off his shirt, hoping the man wouldn't see how he was trembling just a bit. Kevin's eyes were riveted to him, and he knew it. God, but he hoped this worked the way he wanted it to.

"My room's on the other side of the house," Kevin told him. "I didn't want the neighbors seeing me running around naked."

Angel had been toeing off a shoe when Kevin said that, and he lost his balance. He caught himself before he could fall, but now he couldn't get that picture out of his mind: not that he wanted to, but it was doing things to him.

Kevin saw the youth stumble with his disclosure, and felt some satisfaction about that. The teenager had caused him to be off-balance too often, already.

"Nude?" Angel asked, his voice breaking, and blushing because of it. If he had ever been in control of the situation - and he had thought he was – he wasn't now, and he knew it. He was starting to feel more and more insecure about his hasty plan.

"I love to feel nothing but air on my skin, don't you?" Kevin asked, pushing his advantage, enjoying seeing the teen struggle for equilibrium. He'd stop if he saw it was going too far, though.

"Um . . . Yeah," Angle stuttered. He was almost sweating, and felt lost as saw visions of a naked Kevin running around his house – or swimming nude – or . . . . Oh, god, make it stop! No, don't!

"Are you going to change?" Kevin inquired, letting Angel know he'd been caught.

Angel blushed and pulled his mind out of the clouds, then continued stripping, taking off his socks, but not nearly as confidently, now. Not that he'd been confident before, but now he really had cold feet. I can't do it, Angel thought, in a panic. Naked, I could handle. Naked with a raging boner and a twitching arsehole? No way. He went to his closet without taking off his shorts.

Kevin followed, having a hunch that the youth was chickening out. When Angel reached for a shirt, he gently grasped the young man's wrist, stopping him. Angel could have easily broken out of Kevin's loose grip if he'd made any effort at all, but he didn't. Angel's brain had shut down at the man's touch.

Just as gently, the man turned Angel around to where the young man was facing him, and put his hands on the points of the teen's shoulders.

A shiver of desire ran through Angel's body at Kevin's touch on his bare torso, even if it was only his shoulders.

"Weren't you going to give me a show?" Kevin asked him softly.

The man's words reached Angel as if from a distance, and he nodded. Yes, that had been the plan – hadn't it?

"Don't you still want to?"

Again Angel gave a small nod to the question, but he felt faintly puzzled, too. Did he? He wasn't quite sure, anymore.