Ben and Michael Fans

Fanart

2008-07-19T11:03:15Z

I've been making a bit of Ben/Michael fanart for, Living in the Now. :) I hope I'm posting it correctly?! :)

benmikey_fans @ 2008-07-18T09:31:00

2008-07-18T13:31:47Z

It's time to announce another challenge of ours.. we're VERY excited about this one!

Our next challenge is the author orgy, basically you can create anything but the twist is whatever you create needs to involve two if not more people!

The theme can be anything, whatever of your choosing..just created by two or more people!

End date is August 31st!

If you are interested and need a companion please post here!

Submit all submission to: queen_of_tarts@live.com

Fic: Cookie Face

2008-07-17T15:03:53Z

*Posting this new one for Babs. :)

Cookie Face
By Babs
Summary: Ben and Jenny Rebecca bond.
Rated: G

Ben leaned over the cradle and stared at the beautiful baby sleeping soundly. He knew he shouldn't, but he gently lifted her up and walked slowly to the rocking chair in the middle of the room. He sat down, and gently put the baby on his shoulder. He moved his face to the side and breathed in the sent of her hair. She smelled of baby soap and powder. It was one of the most wonderful smells in the world. Ben gently took hold of Jenny Rebecca's hand and marveled at the size of her fingers. He stared in wonder at her fingernails.

"How tiny and amazing are these?" he said out loud to himself.

"You are a marvel, JR."

Ben placed a soft kiss on her hair and slowly rocked the chair as the baby began to fuss.

"Shhhh. Its OK sweetheart, I have you. You're safe with me”. He rubbed her back in a small circular motion and she sighed and quickly went back to sleep.

It was times like this that Ben felt a sadness that he would never experience having a child of his own. He loved JR, and he loved her because she was a part of Michael. He felt blessed to be part of her life. It had been decided that she would call him 'Daddy Ben' when she was old enough to talk. When Melanie and Michael told him that, he couldn't help the tears that filled his eyes. He had always thought he would be 'Uncle' to any and all children Michael would have, but as Melanie pointed out, he was Michael's husband and that made him Jenny Rebecca's stepfather. So he would be called daddy and that was that!

As he rocked the baby in his arms he whispered to her. "I'm going to be the best Daddy Ben in the whole world. You will always be able to come to me and tell me things. I'm going to make sure that you have the happiest life possible. And I will always be there for you, in good times and in bad. I want you to know that you can tell me all your secrets honey. I will never break your confidence."

Ben placed another gentle kiss, this time on her baby-fat cheek. He couldn't believe how much bigger she had grown in just a few short weeks. He was so happy that Melanie let her spend the night, even though she was breastfeeding. Michael was really nervous when Melanie suggested that he and Ben take the baby overnight.

"How are we going to feed her? We can't nurse a baby!" Michael had yelled.

Mel and Lindsay just laughed.

"We brought a breast pump so I can feed her Michael. We knew that you, Ben, her grandmother and her brother would want to feed her too."

He smiled and whispered in JR's ear. "You should have seen your brother when you were finally born. He was so excited that he couldn't hide it. You're too small to remember, but he held you for the longest time. It was almost as if he wanted to hold you forever. Hunter will be a very overprotective brother, but don't worry sweetheart, I will be there to help you when he gets to be too much. I'm sure that won't happen until you start to date."

Ben chuckled and thought about how Michael would react to his 'honey bun' dating anyone. And now that he thought about it, he didn't think he would be too calm either. He held the baby tighter and she stirred in his arms.

"Whoever you decide to date, they had better be really, really good to you! I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of not only your father and me, but your brothers Gus and Hunter and God forbid, your grandmother! She can be pretty tough. You'll find all this out as you get older."

Ben’s thoughts turned to Debbie. He remembered how protective she was of Michael when she found out he was dating him and that he was HIV positive. It was a rough battle, but Debbie finally came around and now as she put it, he was her 'favorite son-in-law.' He laughed at that since he was her only son-in-law. He really did love her, and she loved him too.

He felt her love every time they saw each other. He really knew things would be OK when she visited him in the hospital and fed him homemade chicken soup, after he had a reaction to his HIV meds. She really was something. Ben's own Mom had been so grateful that she was there to act in her stead. He remembered watching Debbie out of the corner of his eye as his mother leaned over the bed and hugged him. She had a look on her face that Ben had only ever seen when she was around Michael. He had decided that it was her look of love. After that, Ben could do no wrong in her eyes. And that suited him just fine!

Ben stood up and walked into the kitchen. He lit the fire under the small pot of water on the stove so he could heat up the bottle that was in the refrigerator.

"Don't worry sweetie. Both your mommies taught us how to heat your bottle. It will be almost as good as when mommy feeds you, I promise."

After a few minutes, Ben took the bottle out of the pot and shook it. He squirted a bit of the milk on his wrist just the way Melanie taught him to do.

"You don't want the milk too hot." She said in a teacher-like way. "It has to be warm. You can't give an infant a cold bottle or it will upset their stomach."

Ben walked back to the baby’s room and sat in the rocking chair. As if on cue, JR woke up and started to cry. She was hungry.

"Here you go my baby." Ben softly said as he placed the nipple in her mouth. JR sucked right away. And Ben was truly relieved.

One of the things Lindsay had told him was that sometimes breast fed babies don't take well to a bottle. She and Melanie had started feeding JR both ways that first week she was home. That way, Linds could feed her without a problem

"It's all in the way you get them used to things” she had said.

"It's also another way to bond with a baby." Michael had told Ben.

Michael had turned red as Mel had praised him for knowing that.

"I read it in one of the baby books Ben bought me, as soon as we found out you were pregnant."

"Well, I'm really happy to know that you actually read it baby." Ben had said proudly.

"The lady in the bookstore told me that most fathers didn't read baby books. I'll have to tell her how wrong she was."

They all laughed and Michael turned even redder.

Ben took the bottle out of JR's mouth and placed her over his shoulder. He gently patted her back and she let out a pretty loud burp. Ben couldn't help but laugh. He placed the baby back in his arm so he could finish feeding and that's when it happened. She actually smiled at him. Ben was thrilled.

"You smiled at me!"

JR smiled again and it was almost like she was confirming to Ben that it was in fact a smile and not gas, as Brian had said to Michael when he told him that JR had smiled at him for the first time.

"My little cookie face." Ben said as he picked her up so he could give her another gentle squeeze.

"Cookie face?"

Michael had been standing in the doorway, watching as Ben and JR bonded.

Laughing, Ben said, "Yes, Cookie Face. She smiled at me, Michael. And it was a real smile too!"

"I'm very happy for you and I love your little nickname for her." Michael said as he walked all the way into the room.

"You are really good with her Ben."

"I'm going to be the best Daddy Ben in the world."

"I know you will be. She couldn't have a better daddy than you."

"Thank you Michael. That means a lot to me."

Ben's eyes started to fill up.

"Do you want to take over?"

"No. I think you're doing just fine. I'm going back to bed. I'll get the next feeding."

And as Michael looked back, he saw Jenny Rebecca smile at her Daddy Ben and his heart filled with love for both of them.

The end

Short Oneshot

2008-07-16T20:54:55Z

Author: Dunderklumpen
Fandom: Queer as Folk
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Ben/Michael
Rating: R
Summary: What it is...
Beta: A big thank you to kjuw89 .
Disclaimer: Queer as Folk is the property of Cowlip and Showtime.

It is what it is says love

Ficlet - Setting The Mood

2008-07-15T05:46:00Z

Title: Setting The Mood
Author: foreverbm
Timeline: Season 5
Genre: PWP
Rating: NC-17
Words: 768
Beta: jule1122

Setting The Mood

benmikey_fans @ 2008-07-13T20:34:00

2008-07-13T12:37:45Z

Title: Picture Perfect
Author: foreverbm
Timeline: Post season 5
Rating: NC-15
Genre: General
Words: 1608
Summary: Michael gets to see some interesting photos from Ben's past.
A/N: Unbetaed so mistakes are all mine.

Picture Perfect

benmikey_fans @ 2008-07-09T17:37:00

2008-07-09T21:37:37Z

I wanted to inform everyone of our new community queensoftarts We are a challenge based community that features all aspect of the QAF fandom!

Right now we have a couple of challenges going on..our two fic main challenges ending July 31st are: Sleepover and Weddings.

We are also running a little challenge we call: Three Little Words..we take three little words and you can create whatever you want as long as it includes those words (in the case of drawings, icons and wallpaper we like the ACTUAL objects to be there not just the words) The three words starting off this challenge is: Oil, Music, Lights, this ends July 15th.

We are also running a challenge under the theme LOVE/FRIENSHIP for vids as well as icons, this ends July 31st!

Our community is a VERY open minded place where everything is welcome! Our only guidelines are that it needs to be QAF!

Come and check us out!

Ficlet - Making Up For Lost Time

2008-07-05T03:14:02Z

Title: Making Up For Lost Time
Author: foreverbm
Genre: Slash
Rating: NC-17
Words: 1143
A/N: Written for the 3 little words challenge at queensoftarts, words..oil, music, lights
Beta: jule1122

Making Up For Lost Time..At My Writing Journal

Fic: Candlelight, Wine and Rose Petals.

2008-07-01T01:47:51Z

Babs has asked that I pass along her heartfelt thanks for all the nice feedback you have given her stories. She really appreciates it. :) Here is her latest fic.

Candlelight, Wine and Rose Petals.
By Babs
Summary:Ben has a hard day at work and comes home to a nice surprise.
Rated PG

Michael stood back to survey his work. The blanket was spread out perfectly. He had added a few of their softest throw pillows as a sort of finishing touch. He quickly ran over to the fireplace and placed another log on top of the fire. The last thing he wanted was for it to go out and ruin the effect he was trying to create. He took the poker and pushed the bottom logs and watched as a few stray ashes flew in the air. Ben loved it when they sat in front of the fireplace. The smell of the burning wood was amazing. As he took another look around, he noticed one of the candles he had lit a few minutes before had blown out. He relit it and checked the rest. It had taken him a really long time to light them all, but the soft flickering light was just the look he was going for. Ben was going to love this.

Michael went to the kitchen and stirred the pots on top of the stove. He dipped his spoon into the hot liquid and was very satisfied at the flavor that was filling his mouth. Emmett had given him a recipe for this tofu and vegetable dish that he knew Ben liked. Michael was surprised at not only how good it tasted, but that he was actually the one who made it. It was a running joke in their house that without Ben doing the cooking, they would all starve. Michael was not very well known for his cooking abilities; Hunter had let him know that, every time he made dinner.

It surprised Ben that Michael couldn't cook. Michael had to explain that not all mothers wanted their kids in the kitchen getting under their feet. Now that he was a grown man with a family of his own, he decided that it was time to take a few cooking lessons from his mother. That would shut Hunter up. Michael smiled at the thought of their son actually eating something he made and enjoying it. It would be worth the amount of time he would have to spend with his mother in a hot kitchen up to his elbows in sauce. He couldn't wait to see the look on Hunter's face when he tasted a meatball he made, that didn't actually taste like rubber. Although Ben loved to cook, there were times when he was really tired after a long day and Michael would love to take over the kitchen duties on those nights and give his husband a much needed break.

He took a quick look at the clock in the kitchen and realized that he didn't have much time left before Ben arrived home. He ran into the bathroom and added a bit of the herbal bath salt to the hot running water that was quickly filling the tub. Michael knew that this was how Ben relaxed after a particularly hard day. He checked the ice in the ice bucket to make sure that the wine bottle was halfway covered with ice and finally, he lit the rest of the scented candles and thought to himself, 'Mr. Bruckner, you are in for a real treat tonight'.

He closed the door quickly so the soft scent of the candles could fill the room. He smiled as he went to their bedroom and laid out some comfortable lounging clothes for Ben, so he didn't have to go through his drawers looking for them after his bath. Michael took off his bathrobe and dressed in his own comfortable clothes so he would be ready to dote on his husband as soon as he walked in the door.

He spread the red rose petals over the bed and was happy that the smell was soft and not overpowering. As he checked himself in the mirror he heard a car pull up and knew it must be Ben. He went to the door to wait.

Ben was not in the best of moods. He had had a very long day and was exhausted. He decided that he they would order dinner out tonight. He knew Hunter would be thrilled to have a pizza instead of the brown rice and stir fry he had been planning to make. He was just not in the mood to stand in front of a hot wok tonight. He knew Michael wouldn't mind either. The thought of his husband always brought a smile to Ben's face. He never thought he would find anyone he loved enough to marry. When he was diagnosed with HIV, he thought it would be impossible to find someone who would want to share a life with him. How wrong he was! Michael was the best thing that had ever happened to him and Ben counted his blessings every day that he had walked into that comic store. He reached over and grabbed his briefcase, suddenly anxious to see his husband. A hug was just what he needed at that moment and he couldn't wait to hold Michael in his arms. As he entered the house, he was momentarily surprised to see a very sexy looking Michael standing in the doorway with a glass of wine in his hands.

"Hey baby."

"Hey yourself" Michael said as he handed the glass of wine to his stunned husband.

Ben took a sip and watched his husband over the rim of the glass. As tired as he was, the look on Michael's face was unmistakable. He was up to something and Ben couldn't wait to find out what it was. He just hoped it wasn't going to be 'scary movie night', or 'game night'. He was just too tired to concentrate, even though both of those ideas were a lot of fun. When he and Michael first moved into their house, Michael came up with the idea of surprising him and Hunter with various activities that Michael liked to call, 'fun night'. They usually consisted of some sort of family activity, like scary movie night, or game night. As skeptical as Hunter was, he actually had the most fun. It definitely brought them closer together as a family.

Michael took Ben's free hand and started leading him through the house. Ben couldn't help but notice a delicious smell coming from the kitchen.

"Baby, did you order out? I was going to do that when I got home. I felt too tired to cook tonight."

"No, I didn't order out Mr. Smarty Pants. I actually made you dinner for a change."

Michael opened the bathroom door and Ben couldn't believe his eyes. The bathroom was filled with candles and the tub was full of hot steamy water. He noticed the ice bucket and wine bottle and some of the day’s tension left his body. He took Michael in his arms.
Running his hands across Michael ass he asked "Are you going to join me?"

Before Michael could reply, Ben quickly stepped back.

"Wait, is Hunter home?"

Michael laughed.

"He's staying at my mother’s tonight. Something about his grandmother wanting him to try a new lemon bar recipe and then tomorrow morning, she is taking him shopping for some new clothes. So we are all alone, Mr. Bruckner."

Ben leaned down and kissed Michael deeply.

"Not so fast!” pulling away, Michael looked into Ben's eyes.

“I know you had a really hard day today, so I made up a new 'fun night.'"

Ben chuckled "What is this one called?” he asked as he took Michael into his arms again.

As he moved closer, Michael whispered in Ben's ear, "This one is called spoil your husband night."

Ben felt himself relax even more.

"Now, I want you to take off your clothes and get into the tub. I want you to stay in the bath as long as you want. I will be back in a few minutes to scrub your back. I just want to finish a few things first."

Before Ben could grab him for another kiss, Michael slipped from his arms and quickly left the room.

"I think I'm going to love 'spoil your husband night' " Ben smiled as he stepped into what felt like heaven.

Michael was very happy with the way things were working out. He placed the last napkin down on the blanket and when he was done, he went back to the bathroom.

"I'm back. Are you relaxed yet?"

"Yes, I'm relaxed baby. This is the best bath I ever had. It would be even more perfect if you were in here with me."

"As much as I would love to join you, I'm only here to wash you."

Michael sat on the rim of the tub and took a soft bath sponge out of the cabinet under the sink. He dipped it in the hot bath water and proceeded to soap it up and gently rub Ben's back.

"That feels so good, Michael" Ben said as he leaned forward so Michael could reach further down his back.

"How did you know this is just what I needed tonight?"

Michael laughed.

"Well, I guess it was the edge in your voice when I called you this afternoon that gave it away. I knew you weren't having a good day. And that's when it came to me, we should have a spoil your husband night."

Michael dipped the sponge back into the hot water and started washing Ben's neck. He could actually feel the tension leave his husbands body.

"MMMMMMMMM ...Well baby, I can tell you that this is my favorite fun night so far. I'm feeling a lot better than I did when I first walked in."

"Good. I'm glad my plan is working. I'm almost finished and I want to you stay in here as long as you want and soak. I'm going to check on dinner and we can eat when you're ready."

"Thanks, Michael. I won't be too much longer." Ben sighed as leaned back in the tub and closed his eyes.

Back in the kitchen, Michael turned off the stove. He heard Ben come out of the bathroom and he wanted to have dinner all set up and ready, as soon as he came out of the bedroom.

As he closed the door behind him, Ben eyes opened wide. Candlelight lit the room in a soft glow. There were rose petals on top of the bed, along with his lounging clothes. Michael had thought of everything, down to the little chocolates on their pillows. Ben couldn't help but smile. 'He really wanted to make this special for me' he thought as he quickly changed. 'I'm going to show him how grateful I am later.' And with that last thought, Ben left their bedroom, in search of his lover.

Ben found him in the living room. Michael had started a fire and lit more candles than Ben had ever seen. The room was bathed in a soft sensual glow and Michael had even placed scented pine cones in the fire place. The scene before him was something right out a romance novel and Ben loved it!

He walked slowly towards Michael, who was sitting on a blanket in front of the fireplace. He had dinner waiting and Ben's stomach growled as the delicious aroma filled his nostrils. It was then that Ben had realized that he hadn't had time to get lunch. He was busy putting out too many fires at work. For some reason, a few of his students couldn't get along with his colleagues and they were asking him to intervene. Ben had always had a knack for helping people iron out their differences and today his talents were really put to the test. He couldn't wait to get out of work and now that he was home and saw all the trouble Michael went through for him, he let his body relax again. He pushed all thoughts of work out of his mind. He wanted to concentrate on the man he loved who was sitting before him, holding out another glass of wine.

"Here, drink this. It will relax you even more. The guy at the liquor store told me it was the perfect wine to have with dinner. I hope you like it?"

Ben took a sip and savored the taste on his tongue.

"Michael, this is perfect."

Before Ben could say another word, Michael handed him a plate piled high with the most delicious smelling stir fry Ben had seen in a long time. It looked like something you would see in a food magazine. Ben took the plate gratefully.

"I'm starving. I didn't have a chance to have lunch today. I was just too busy. This is all so wonderful baby, thank you. It's just what the doctor ordered"

"Well, after we eat dinner, I have a nice lemon sorbet in the freezer and a dessert wine to go along with it. The guy in the liquor store was a big help today. I usually call Emmett for help with this kind of thing, but I couldn't get in touch with him. I finally remembered that Em had given me this recipe the last time he was here and he said it was so easy that even I could make it."

They both laughed and continued eating and talking all through dinner.

After dinner, Ben tried to help Michael clean up the dishes.

"No way! You just sit there looking hot and let me clean up. This is spoil your husband night and you're the husband who is going to be spoiled!"

"Well, I can't wait to reciprocate and spoil you." Ben said as he placed his empty dinner plate on top of Michael's.

"Although, I don't know if I will be able to do as good a job as you have done, baby. Everything is so perfect. Just like you."

Ben stood up and took the plates from Michael's hands. He placed them back on the blanket and took his lover into his arms. As he placed soft kisses on Michael's face and neck he whispered, "I am the luckiest man alive. I have the most thoughtful, most hot, most considerate husband in the whole world. Not only that, he can cook too! "

"Well, thank you Mr. Bruckner." Michael replied as he lifted his cheek for more kisses.

Ben smiled and leaning down he kissed Michael's ear and said "I am going to take you into our bedroom and make love to you all night."

Michael was so lost in Ben's kisses that all he was able to squeak out, was "What about dessert?"

"Why would I need dessert when I have you?"

And with that, Ben scooped up a giggling Michael into his arms, carried him into their bedroom and closed the door behind them.

The end

Ficlet - Shopping With JR

2008-06-25T14:53:17Z

Title: Shopping With JR
Author: foreverbm
Timeline: 2 years after season 5
Rating: PG
Words: 1471
Beta: jule1122

Shopping With JR -At my Journal

Some drabbles

2008-06-25T08:15:11Z

Author: dunderklumpen
Fandom: Queer as Folk
Genre: Romance, Drama, AU
Pairing: Ben/Michael, Hunter/Daphne
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Only a couple of drabbles.
Warning: character death!
Beta: A big thank you to kjuw89
Disclaimer: Queer as Folk is the property of Cowlip and Showtime.

Drabbles at my lj

New Fic - Learning To Drive

2008-06-24T01:18:43Z

Title: Learning To Drive
Author: foreverbm
Timeline: Post season 5
Rating: NC-17
Genre: General/sex
Words: 4245
Summary: Ben and Michael finally buy a car and Hunter demands to learn how to drive.
Beta: jule1122

Learning To Drive - At My Writing Journal

Save Me the movie, now has an official website

2008-06-22T12:30:59Z

"Save Me" the movie, now has an official website! There are some great movie stills, cast/crew info, a forum and more! So hop on over and check it out! Save Me

"Save Me," also has a page on Facebook! Here's the link. Save Me

Megan, if you don't want me to post this, let me know! :)

New Writing Journal

2008-06-22T04:07:48Z

Looks like we can pimp things here, so thought I would tell you that I have a new writing journal..called Michael's Musings..which are all fics written for a muse community and all from Michael's POV.

You can find it here: Michael's Musings

I also have my main Fic Journal which is here: Ben and Michael Fanfic

Hope you enjoy my writings

Ficlet - Sweat

2008-06-22T02:02:02Z

Title: Sweat
Author: foreverbm
Genre: PWP
Rating: NC-17
Words: 812

Sweat - Can Be Found In My Writing Journal

QAF/L World con in Paris

2008-06-13T14:42:46Z

Robert has confirmed that he will attend the QAF/L World con in Paris. The convention will take place from Friday, October 31st- Sunday, November 2nd. For hotel and ticket information, please visit the
Convention website

Robert's movie, "Save Me."

2008-06-08T23:39:20Z

Here are the screening dates for Robert's movie, "Save Me."

Kansas City, MO... Tivoli Theatre... June 27, 2008

Durham, NC... North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival... August 14 - 17,
2008

9/5 at the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas in Manhattan.

And tentatively set for 9/19 at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in LA.

Robert Gant to star in a new series!

2008-06-08T16:10:31Z

Robert is in the UK filming his new BBC British television series, "PA’s."

According to the IMDB, the series is an off-beat, fast-paced, funny, sexy and candid depiction of office life which follows the fortunes of four Desperate Workwives trying to break through the glass ceiling. Robert will play the role of, Rock Van Gelder.

The drama is scheduled to transmit on BBC Three in 2008/09.</p>

To read the press release click HERE

Thought I'd share...

2008-06-06T02:26:53Z

Thought I'd share the mad love...

Fic: Hidden In A Lifetime

2008-06-05T11:12:35Z

Another story by, Babs.

Hidden In A Lifetime
By Babs
Rated PG
Summary: Ben and Michael stumble on something long hidden.

The warm rays of the sun felt so good on Ben's face. He pulled his bike up next to the canal and watched the ducks fly across the water in search of fish. It was really peaceful in the park early in the morning. He had made a morning bike ride part of his everyday routine since the weather had gotten warmer. He finally managed to talk Michael into coming with him. The only problem was that Michael wasn't too steady a rider.

"Shit! I just can't seem to steer this damn thing." Michael grunted when he caught up to Ben.

"You'll get better with more practice."

"I'll never get the hang of it."

"Look how well you do running your store? You didn't think you could do that, but you have. So I don’t want to hear anymore negative comments come out of that beautiful mouth of yours. OK?"

Ben leaned over his handle bars and kissed his husband deeply.

"That was really nice, Ben, but you should be careful. You never know? Someone could see us?"

"So, let them see, we’re married now you know."

Michael laughed. "Yes, we are. And you make me really happy. Well, except when you wake me up early to ride bikes. I'd rather be riding something else. He winked at Ben and then gasped.

"Ben, it's beautiful here. Look at all the birds!"

"This is exactly why I woke you up so early. I usually have the park all to myself and it's so relaxing. Look how the sun reflects on the ripples in the water."

Michael looked in awe at the reflection of the trees along the shore.

"It's almost like a painting. We should bring our camera tomorrow so we can get some pictures of this. I bet Ted would love them."

"I'm sure he would." Ben laughed.

"So are you going to make this part of your morning routine too?"

"I may Mr. Bruckner, if you'll ride with me."

"I'd ride to the ends of the earth with you baby."

Michael chuckled. "So, what's in the basket big fella?"

"Well, I thought we could spread a blanket under one of the weeping willows over there and have some breakfast. I brought some coffee, buttered rolls and a jelly donut just for you!"

"Is it a strawberry one?"

Ben couldn't help but laugh. Michael looked liked an excited kid at Christmas.

"Of course it is. That's your favorite, right?"

"Yummy! I’m starving! Can we eat now?"

They pulled their bikes up onto the grass and leaned them against the biggest tree they could find. Ben spread out the blanket while Michael took the basket off the back of Ben's bike.

"Wow," Michael said as he stuffed the last of his jelly donut into his mouth. "This place is great!"
Ben leaned over and with his finger he wiped the excess jelly off the side of Michael's cheek.

"I'm really glad you came. I've wanted to share this place with you since I found it a few weeks ago. I knew you would love it."

"I know. I'm just sorry I couldn't bring myself to get out of bed when you first told me about it. I'm here now though and it really is beautiful, Ben."

They drank the rest of their coffee in silence, just taking in the scenery, listening to the sounds around them and enjoying each others company.

After they were done and everything was cleaned up, they decided to do a little exploring. Ben pointed ahead, "Let's see what's at the end of this path, Michael. I think I see something, but it's hidden behind that big tree at the end. "

They slowly rode their bikes forward until they came across a small cabin. It looked like it had been abandoned for a very long time.

"Let's go inside" Michael said excitedly."

Ben grabbed his husbands arm. "Wait. I think we should be careful. The floor could be rotted and I don't want you falling through into the water."

They opened the door and Ben took out the small flashlight at the end of his key ring.

"I think I can pull up this old shade. It will give us more light."

With that Michael went to lift the shade and it fell apart in his hands, flooding the cabin with sunlight.

"At least we can see now." Ben said as he looked around.

The cabin hadn't been inhabited for a very long time. There was dust everywhere and spider webs all over the place.

"Ben, look at this."

Ben walked over to where Michael was pointing. Hanging on the wall was a photograph of two men who were obviously a couple. They looked very happy. They had their arms around each other and were standing on the side of the dock in front of a pretty big white boat. All of sudden, Michael shouted.

"Ben, look at the name of the boat!"

Ben took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the remaining dust off the glass.

"I don't believe it?"

Painted on the front of the boat were the words, ‘The Beautiful Ben’.

"That's amazing." Michael whispered. "What are the odds? I wonder which one of them is Ben?"

They continued looking at the photo for a while when Ben decided to have a look around the rest of the cabin. There was a very tiny kitchen area with a wood burning stove and some rusty pots and pans on the top. There was also a small bedroom off to the side, with what looked like a full sized bed. It took up most of the room. Ben noticed the holes in the blanket as he made his way over to the dresser against the wall. He slowly opened the top drawer and found some more photos. They were of the same two men who were in the photo hanging on the wall in the front room. Michael opened the closet and found three photo albums stacked on the floor. He gently opened them and stared in awe at the various photos from all over the world.

"It looks like they traveled a lot." Michael said as he continued to turn the pages of each album.

"That is definitely Paris," Ben said as he pointed to the Eiffel Tower in the background of one of the photos.

"And this has to be Rome," Michael stated. "That's the Pieta. My Mom has a small one in her bedroom. Uncle Vic bought it for her when he was Rome in the early 70's. She used to threaten me that if I ever broke it, she would take all my Rage comics and sell them to buy a new one. I never went near it again." He squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered.

"It must have been a hoot growing up with her as your Mom." Ben laughed. “I'm sure she smacked you in the head too, right?"

"You know her too well." Michael said as he instinctively rubbed his head.

As they looked through the photos it was apparent that the two men were together for twenty years or more. The last few pictures showed the men standing in front of the cabin again, but this time they were in their late sixties at least! Michael closed the last album and placed them gently back inside the closet.

Ben wanted to look through the rest of the drawers which contained old clothes and a few more photos of various people. When he got to the last drawer, he pulled out an old black leather jewelry box that had been hidden under some shirts. Both men gasp when they saw the two gold wedding rings inside.

"They're both inscribed." Ben said as held each one up. "This one says ‘Ben’, and this one says ‘Jacob’."

"They were married?" Michael whispered.

"Only in spirit, baby. Gay marriage isn't legal here yet, so I can't imagine they were legally married."

"I wonder how long they were together. I mean these photos show them aging at least 20 or more years?"

"That's a life time," Ben said as he looked lovingly at Michael.

Michael's eyes filled with tears.

"We are going to be together even longer."

He leaned over and kissed Ben deeply. They reluctantly broke apart and continued looking through the jewelry box. Ben noticed a piece of yellowed newspaper that was in between the small birthday card they had found at the bottom. It was an old obituary.

‘Ben Connor, part owner of the Daily bookstore, died today at the age of 74. He leaves behind a wife, Catherine and two children, Thomas and Christopher. He also leaves behind his long time business partner, Jacob Murray’. As Ben unfolded the paper, they saw a photo of the same two men, standing in front of a bookstore.

"That must be where they worked." Ben said as he gently refolded the clipping and placed it back inside the card.

"I can't believe Ben was married with kids?"

"You know how it must have been for them baby. They couldn't come out at the time. I'm sure Ben's family wanted him to marry. What better way to hide who they really were? Nobody would suspect that they were gay if one or both of them were married."

"That's so sad." Michael said as he leaned into Ben.

"Well, it seems to me that they were pretty happy together, Michael. I mean look at all the places they traveled together? Their true lives are in those photo albums."

Michael stood up and went back inside the closet. He picked up the photo albums and turned to Ben, "I think we should bring these things home. I want to display them on our coffee table. They shouldn't have to hide anymore."

"That's a very thoughtful and wonderful idea baby. We can fit them in the basket on the back of my bike."

Ben grabbed Michael and hugged him tightly to his chest. As they pulled apart Michael told Ben that they should leave the wedding rings where they found them. They put the clipping and card, along with the rings back in the box and placed it inside the dresser. And hand and hand, they walked out into the sunshine.

The end.

ficlet - Whispering My Name

2008-06-03T16:34:57Z

Title: Whispering My Name
Author: foreverbm
Timeline: Future
Genre: Angst
Warnings: Death References
Words: Approx 500
Written for the prompt word Whisper for 60_minute_fics
Beta: jule1122

I hear you whisper my name, and I follow the sound of your voice. I finally find you, standing in a room bathed in sunlight, a warm glow cast over your body. I walk towards you, and you open your arms, welcoming me into your embrace. I rest my head against your chest, listening to the rhythmical beating of your heart and know this is where I belong. You lift my face, your blue eyes full of love as your fingers trace the outline of my mouth before covering it with yours. You taste so sweet, and I lose myself in the feeling of your mouth on mine. I feel your hands move down my back, fingers caressing every inch of my skin. I pull you closer, skin against skin, heart against heart, breathing in tune with each other. We are one. I know that, we always will be. Even when separated by distance or time, nothing can keep us apart.
You lower me to the floor, covering my body with yours. I lay still and silent, unwilling to break the moment, my eyes watching your every movement as you explore my body with your mouth, your hands. I feel your breath against my skin; your eyes are locked with mine, love radiating from them.
My body is no longer my own, it belongs to you, to do with what you want. You kneel above me, gently lifting my legs onto your shoulders, and I hear a small gasp escape my lips as you enter me. Our bodies move as one, every movement bringing us closer to that moment of exquisite pleasure that will leave us breathless, my name on your lips as you fill me.
I bring my hands up, cupping your face and pull you to me, wanting, needing to taste you, to leave my mark on your skin.
I cry out as you hit that spot deep inside me which is yours alone. I lift my hips as your movements quicken. My skin is covered in a light sheen of sweat, your tongue licks at the small beads which are caught by the rays of sunlight. My fingers dig into your back, my legs tighten around you. You lean in, and I strain to hear my name pass your lips as you come. The sound of your voice, the last thrust which fills me with you, sends me over the edge. Your body is once again wrapped around mine, and I want to stay in this moment forever, lost in you, belonging to you, loved by you.
My eyes open and my body is drenched in sweat. The bed is cold, empty. I shiver, knowing it was a dream. I turn over, running my hand over my face, the dampness of my tears wiped away by a single motion. You are still with me, in my dreams; it is not what I want, but I accept it because the alternative is terrifying.

Fic: A Perfect Life

2008-05-30T10:13:48Z

Another fic by Babs. :)

Title: A Perfect Life
Author: Babs
Rating: PG
Summary: Ben and Michael both realize they have a perfect life.

"Let's go big guy!" Michael yelled though the doorway of his and Ben's apartment.

"I'm coming, I'm coming" Ben laughed as Michael jumped all around him in circles.

"I can't wait to get there. Did you remember the paint brushes?"

"Yes, Michael. I have them."

"What about the drop cloths?"

"I have them too."

"And the paint? You do have the paint, right?"

Ben grabbed Michael in a tight bear hug. "Yes, I have everything we need, so STOP WORRYING! OK?"

"I can't help it. I want today to be perfect. After all, it's not everyday that we buy a house!"

Ben chuckled. "It's going to be a wonderful house, baby. We have everything we need and your mother even packed us enough food to last a week at least!"

"So, you remembered the cooler too, right?"

"Yes! I remembered the cooler too! I didn't forget a thing. I promise! Now get in the car!"

Ben couldn't help but laugh at Michael's excitement. He was really excited too. It was going to be a great house once they fixed it up. It would take them a long time to get it just right, but Ben knew it was the perfect house for them. The neighborhood was great and Hunter and JR each had their own room.

Ben remembered how excited Michael was to tell Mel and Lindsay all about JR's room and how Justin said he would paint it pink with white clouds as his housewarming gift to them. They even bought a new rocking chair with Jenny Rebecca's name painted in pink on the back. The room was going to look great once it was finished.

He also remembered that they had promised Hunter that he could paint his room any color he wanted; Ben remembered the horrified look on Michael's face when Hunter told them he was going to paint it black.

"Dude's my room is gonna look great! Justin said he would paint glow in the dark stars all over the walls. It's gonna look awesome!"

Ben had to grab Michael as he started to protest that 'no son of his was going to have a black room!'

"Michael, we told him he could paint it whatever color he wanted."

"I know we did!" Michael yelled, "But BLACK? Why not green or blue? I could live with that!"

Ben took Michael by the arm and gently sat him on the bed.

"We have to look at this way; he has never had the chance to have a normal life. Rita treated him like a money machine and I'm sure she didn't give him any choices about what color he could paint his room."

"I know Ben, but black??????? It's just such a depressing color." Michael said as he shot off the bed and paced back and forth.

Ben took Michael in his arms.

"Look baby, I think we should let him do this. He seems really excited and I don't have the heart to renege on our promise. I want Hunter to feel that this is his home too. And if Justin is willing to paint glow in the dark stars, I say let him."

"OK. I guess you're right, but as soon as he moves out, I'm painting the room green!"

Ben laughed. "You can paint it whatever color you want."
~~~~~~
30 minutes later ...

Ben had just enough time to pull over to the curb as Michael jumped out of the car. He ran up to the house and was just about to go inside when he heard Ben yell from the street.

"Not so fast!"

Michael turned in time to feel Ben scoop him up in his arms.

"Let's make this official!"

He laughed as Ben leaned in and kissed him deeply as he carried him over the threshold.

As soon as Ben put Michael down, they both let out a sharp breath.

"WOW!"

Justin had finished painting the living room and Debbie was already hanging the curtains they had picked out the week before.

Michael was immediately choked up.

"Ma, Justin ... I don't know what to say?"

"Thank you so much for doing all of this so fast." Ben said as he helped Debbie hang the last curtain rod.

"Well," Debbie piped in. I wasn't about to let my grandchildren see that horrible blue on the walls! Honestly, what the hell were the assholes thinking painting it that color?"

Justin just laughed and agreed. "It was a pretty nasty shade of blue."

Ben and Michael laughed too.

"It wasn't as bad as the pea green in our bedroom." Michael said as he made a gagging motion.

"Speaking of our bedroom, I'll go to the car and get the paint."

"OK. I'll put the food in the fridge, if it will all fit that is!"

Pinching Michael's cheek, Debbie said, "I wanted my baby to have all his favorites."

"Ma, you made enough food to feed an army! I think Ben, Hunter, and I will be eating my favorites for the next year!"

~~~~~

After lunch Michael and Ben carried the paint up to what was going to be their bedroom.

"Do you think we can finish it today, Ben?" I can't wait to move all our furniture in."

Grabbing Ben around the waist, he added. "Especially the bed."

"We don't need a bed baby. I can take you right on the floor. We did bring our sleeping bags you know."

Michael grabbed Ben's ass tightly and was about to say something sexily back when Debbie and Justin appeared in doorway.

"Save that shit until after we're gone."

"Sorry Deb. Sorry Justin.” Ben said as Michael's face turned all red.

"Justin and I are going now. We both have to work the late shift at the diner. I'll call you tomorrow."

Ben shook Justin's hand. Thanks again for finishing so fast."

"No problem. I'll be back the day after tomorrow to help Hunter paint his room. I hope it was OK that I offered to paint the glow in the dark stars on the walls?

"It's fine" Michael said as he looked at Ben. "It's Hunters room and he can paint it whatever color he wants."

Ben laughed. "I'll walk you both to your car."

Michael looked around the bedroom. He had all these ideas running through his head about where they would place the furniture when Ben came up behind him.

"It's really exciting isn't it?"

"Yeah it is." Michael said as he leaned into his lover.

"It's hard to believe it's all ours. We own a house!"

Michael turned in Ben's arms so they were facing each other.

"Ben, I want you to know that you have made me so happy. I never thought I would be with anyone as great as you. Not to mention owing a house and having kids!"

They shared a lingering kiss.

"Michael Novotny, you've made me happier then I have ever been in my life. A few years ago, I thought my life was over. And look at me now! I have you, a son and a new stepdaughter. What more could a man want? We are going to be really happy here. Hunter is going to love his new black room and JR is going to be happy and comfortable in her room when she visits us too. We are going to have the perfect life."

"I think you're right Mr. Bruckner. We are going to have the perfect life. Now why don't you get the sleeping bags so I can show you just how happy and perfect we're going to be."

Michael laughed as Ben ran down the stairs.

"We are going to be happy here. I just know it." And with that last thought in mind, Michael ran down the stairs to help Ben.

The end.

New Fic - Hurting and Healing

2008-05-27T16:54:44Z

Title: Hurting and Healing
Author: Foreverbm
Timeline: 7 years after season 5
Genre: Angst
Rating: NC15
Warnings: This is a Hunter death fic. It is set 7 years in the future, 5 years after his death. His death is in no way related to his HIV status
Beta: jule1122

Feedback and comments appreciated.

They walked hand in hand, a trail of footsteps left behind them on the dew covered lawn, following the same path they used for their every visit.
Five years had passed since the night they had been woken from sleep in the early hours, opening the door to the news that parents dread hearing. Michael immediately had fallen apart, and it was left to Ben to go with the officers to identify his son, holding himself together until he lay in Michael’s arms that night. Then the tears had come, Michael held him as his body racked with sobs for a part of him that he had lost. Michael understood, they had both lost a son but Hunter and Ben shared something unique.
They had cried, raged, and finally made love with an intensity that left them both exhausted as they snatched a few hours sleep, wrapped in each other, taking comfort in the feel of each other’s breath on their skin, gently wiping away tears that stained each others faces, listening to whispered words of remembrance until the sun shone through the window, waking them completely from their fitful sleep to face the day ahead.

They put on a brave face for everyone, keeping their emotions in check as they went through the motions, doing what needed to be done until they climbed into bed at night.
There, alone, they could voice their innermost thoughts, not worrying about showing signs of weakness, as tears streamed down their faces.

Michael lost some of that childlike charm that Ben so loved about him; the light that had always shone from his beautiful brown eyes dimmed forever.
Ben found himself sitting in Hunter’s room, which they left untouched, at odd hours. Michael would often find him there looking through Hunter’s dog eared school books, his eyes bright with unshed tears.
They took comfort from each other, an event which may push other people apart, drew them even closer together. They hated to be parted for any length of time. Michael fretted when Ben was out of his sight for more than a few hours; Ben needed to hear Michael voice at regular intervals.

Days, weeks, months passed as they waited for it to get easier, for the pain to fade. They waited for the time when they didn’t think of the what if’s and maybe’s; when they didn’t think about the potential he had shown, the adventures he had still to experience, the missed chance to dance at his wedding, to hold their grandchildren in their arms. So many moments taken from them on a cold dark night by a person who had no idea that a moment of inattention would rob two people of someone who had filled their lives with more happiness than they had thought possible, given them something that they never dreamed of, a son.

Michael’s step faltered as they neared the quiet corner of the cemetery. Ben knew it would, it always did at this exact spot where the sun caught the edge of the headstone. He wrapped his arm around his husband, giving him a reassuring squeeze. Michael looked up at Ben, a small smile on his lips, no words of thanks needed, as they continued the slow walk to be with their son.

Michael knelt down next to the grave, pulling out a few clumps of weeds that had grown since their last visit. The first months after it had happened neither of them were ready to come here, wanting to remember Hunter as they had last seen him, full of laughter as he grabbed the car keys, raving about the new girl he had met and intended to get to know ‘way better’. They had watched as he had driven off, reminding him to drive carefully and to call if he was going to be later than midnight.

Ben settled next to Michael helping him clean up, brushing off some loose leaves stuck to the headstone. His heart still swelled with pride when he saw their son’s name in full Hunter Novotny-Bruckner. The day the legal adoption papers had come through was one of the happiest days of their lives, Hunter had spent hours on the phone calling his friends, telling them they had better remember his new name or else. That evening they’d gone out for a celebration dinner, Hunter for once not grumbling about having to get dressed up.

“He would be 25 this year,” Michael said looking up at Ben.
“I know.”
“I wonder what he would have been like.”
“I doubt he would have changed very much, Michael.”
”Yeah. Still a smart ass kid that had an answer for everything.”
Ben laughed remembering the running battles that Hunter and Michael had shared over the years from Michael’s lack of cooking skills to Hunter’s choice of music which seemed to be chosen more to annoy Michael than anything.
“He always knew how to get you going, didn’t he?”
“And I always fell for it.”
Ben leaned in, dropping a kiss on Michael’s head. He was pleased that they could talk about Hunter like this; they always had been able to. Other’s shied away from mentioning his name, worried about saying the wrong thing or not saying enough so in the end saying nothing. Ben understood and didn’t mind, but he and Michael had never stopped talking about him, the good times and bad, and he knew that although memories would fade with time, the important ones, the ones that had left an imprint on their hearts forever would never fade.
“I still miss him so much,” Michael sighed, running his hand over the cold marble.
“So do I, Baby.” Ben reached for Michael’s hand, bringing his fingers to his lips and kissing them.
“Ben?” Michael said quietly, his head lowered as he absentmindedly continued to pull at the weeds.
“What?” Ben could tell by Michael’s voice that something was on his mind.
“When Ma came over the other night, when you had that meeting at school, she asked me…” Michael’s voice faltered.
Ben pulled Michael to him, wrapping his arms around his husband’s slight frame, trying to imagine what Debbie could have said. She had been a tower of strength since Hunter’s death, and he couldn’t think of anything she would do to upset her son.
“Tell me Michael, please.” Ben rubbed in his fingers over Michael’s neck; he could feel how tense Michael was, and he started to worry. No matter how strong Ben knew Michael was, he would always worry.

The strength he knew his husband possessed, but which Michael could not see in himself, had proven itself time after time over the last few years. Without Michael’s continued love and support, Ben wasn’t sure he would have made it. There were days early on when he would never have gotten out of bed without Michael’s coaxing, telling him Hunter would not want him to give up. Michael always put Ben’s needs before his own, hiding his own pain until he was alone. Ben remembered back to the times he had come home from classes early, only to find Michael already home, having shut the shop, sitting on the couch, surrounded by photo albums. He used to slip onto the couch next to him, and they would spend hours looking at the photos.
Over the years it hadn’t happened as often, but Ben still sometimes found Michael standing in the kitchen preparing dinner, tears streaming down his face. He’d pick up his husband and carry him off to the bedroom, wrapping him in his arms, rocking him gently until his tears stopped.
Ben realized Michael was speaking and pulled himself back from his memories.
“She asked me if we were ready to do something with Hunter’s room.”
Ben felt a shiver go through Michael’s body, and he tightened his grip on him.
He tried to keep his voice steady when he replied. “What did you tell her?”
“Nothing.” Michael said. “I think she realized she had upset me and didn’t say anything else about it.”
Ben knew this subject would come up eventually. They had touched nothing in his room; both of them drawing comfort from the fact that everything in it held different parts of Hunter, be it his clothes, books or collection of video games.
Ben stood, pulling Michael to his feet, draping his arms around his shoulders.
“Do you want to talk about it, Michael?” he asked quietly, his hands finding Michael’s, rubbing them to get some warmth back into them.
Michael shook his head, knowing tears were close and doing his hardest to hold them at bay. He knew they would have to talk about it, but not here, not now.
“Maybe later,” he said, turning around to his husband, burying his head in his chest, feeling himself relax in Ben’s arms.
They stood there as the sun went behind a cloud, a gust of wind causing them to shiver, both lost in their own thoughts, but knowing those thoughts would be mirroring each other’s as if they were two parts of a jig-saw puzzle, broken forever without each other.

They took their time walking home, wandering hand in hand through the quiet streets, stopping at the market to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables. Ben picked up a book he had ordered from the local bookstore, and Michael wandered around the toy store next door while waiting for him, coming out with a bag full of presents to take to JR on their next visit.
The house was cold when they finally got home. Ben switched on the heat while Michael took the bags of groceries into the kitchen.
“Do you want coffee, Ben?” he called, flicking on the coffee machine, as he unloaded the groceries.
“Yes, please.” Ben called back, putting his newly brought books on the table along with the bag of presents for JR, smiling at the amount Michael had brought. Spoiling JR was something that neither of them could resist. She was always so happy to see them, especially her father, that the gifts were a bonus. She rarely let Michael out of her sight during their visits.
He knew how much Michael missed her and wondered if the last years would have been easier for Michael if she still lived in Pittsburgh. They visited as often as they could, sometimes deciding on the spur of the moment to rent a car and drive to Toronto as a surprise. Her squeals of delight when she saw them gave them a few days to focus on something other than the empty house they had left behind and would come home to. The silence was something that had taken them both a long time to get used to.

Michael poured the coffees, wrapping his hands around the mugs to warm them as he carried them into the living room only to find it empty.
“Ben?”
No reply. He paused at the table covered with gifts for JR, knowing that it was only another 3 weeks until they would be in Toronto to pick her up and bring her back to Pittsburgh. Ben had two weeks off school and he had found someone to look after the store, and they intended to make the most of her time with them. Now that she was at school, they limited their visits to weekends, and this would be the first time they had been able to have such a long time with her and they’d spent many evenings planning activities to fill the days. A smile crossed his face as he thought of his daughter here, once again filling the house with noise and laughter.

He walked to the bottom of the stairs calling out Ben’s name and heard a response so he headed up, sipping his coffee on the way. He looked in their bedroom only to find it empty and moved slowly to where he knew he would find Ben. He stopped at the door. Ben had opened the curtains, and the room was flooded with sunshine; he could see the dust particles floating in the air and realized it was due for a cleaning this weekend. Ben was sitting on the bed, obviously deep in thought and didn’t look up until Michael stopped in front of him.
“Drink this while it’s hot,” he said, handing the steaming coffee to Ben.
“Thank you Michael.” A smile crossed his face, and his heart did a little flip flop the way it always did when he took in Michael’s beauty. Michael hadn’t changes much physically over the years, and Ben welcomed the small changes that marked their years together. And while he might complain about every new wrinkle, Ben thought they only added to the perfection he saw every time he looked at his husband
Michael pulled up a chair and sat in front of Ben, drinking his coffee slowly as he waited for Ben to speak. He knew what was on his mind, the same thoughts that had been planted by his Mother days earlier.

“I’ve been thinking about what Debbie said.” Ben looked at Michael, seeing a flicker of pain in his eyes at his words.
“I know,” Michael answered, putting his empty cup on the floor next to him and reaching out for Ben’s hands. “And what did you decide?”
“That maybe she’s right. That we need to make some decisions.”
“You mean clean it out?” Michael asked, his eyes scanning the room before coming to rest back on Ben.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I mean it’s not as if we would be removing Hunter from our lives. Everything in here,” Ben gestured with a sweeping motion around the room “They represent parts of him, but external parts, the real Hunter, the Hunter that will stay with us forever, is here,” he brought his hand to his heart “and here” as he touched his head.
Michael listened to Ben, hearing the heartfelt love for their son in his every word and knew he was right.
“I’m sure the Gay and Lesbian Centre would be grateful for anything we could give them,” Michael suggested.
Ben leaned over and planted a kiss on his husband’s mouth.
“What was that for?” Michael laughed.
“For being you, for understanding and more than anything for loving me.”
Michael held Ben’s gaze, both of them knowing how hard this was going to be, but knowing that together they would get through it.
“I think we have some boxes in the shed.” Michael said, picking up his cup and Ben’s before continuing, “Should I go and get them?”
Ben nodded and watched Michael leave the room before standing and walking to Hunter’s closet. When he opened the door the sight of his son’s clothes causing an intake of breath. He stood for a few moments, before reaching in and began to remove them from their hangers and lay them on the bed.
By the time Michael returned, the bed was almost covered. Michael placed a box next to the bed, and they folded each item carefully and placed it in the box, stopping every now and then to add something they particularly liked to a small collection on the floor.
When they had finished with the closet, Ben carried the boxes downstairs, then searched through the shed for more, before returning to Hunter’s room.
Michael was sitting at Hunter’s desk, flicking through the pages of some of his school books and looked up as Ben walked in.
“I want to keep these,” he said, and Ben smiled. As always, Michael knew what was important. He looked over Michael’s shoulder, reading the scrawled handwriting that belonged to Hunter.
“He never did learn how to spell did he!” Ben laughed.
Michael shook his head as he closed the book, pointing to the cover. “I think he was more interesting in covering his books with doodles by the look of these.”
They grinned at each other as they tried to work out what the pictures were meant to be, giving up in the end. A teenage boy’s mind sometimes was beyond comprehension.

By the time the sun had gone down, they had cleared the room, everything they wanted to keep packed into small boxes and taken to their room.
“I’ll come in and give it a good cleaning tomorrow.” Michael said, stretching his back as Ben closed the last drawer of the desk. “Good idea. I’ll just move this bedside table so you can clean behind it.”
“Thanks.” Michael picked up the last box and carried it across the landing before returning to find Ben sitting on the bed a book in his hands.
“What’s that?” Michael asked, coming to sit next to Ben.
Ben turned it over, showing the cover to Michael.
“The journal we gave him” Michael said quietly.
Ben heard the break in Michael voice as he flicked through the pages, every one covered with scrawled words.
“Do you think…..”
“That we should just put it away?”
“Yes.”
Ben turned the question over in his mind, torn between wanting to know what Hunter had written over the years but worrying that it would be too upsetting for them. He could feel Michael’s eyes on him, waiting for his decision.
“Come with me.”
He pulled Michael from the bed and led him into their bedroom, laying the journal next to his glasses on the bedside table before turning to Michael. “We may read things we don’t want to know.”
“I know that, but….”
“What?”
“I don’t know. I want to read it because it is his words and his thoughts about his life, but I also feel that we would be invading such a personal part of his life.”
Ben looked at Michael, amazed by the way Michael saw the clarity of the situation.
“Lets get into bed, it’s getting cold.” Ben said, beginning to undress and for the moment avoiding answering Michael’s question.
Michael let it go and followed Ben into the bathroom, before heading back and climbing under the covers to wait for Ben.
Ben switched off the main light and climbed in next to Michael, pulling him close as he reached out for his glasses, his fingers running over the soft leather of the journal, the gold lettering of their son’s name still as bright as the day they had given it to him.
Michael snuggled closer to Ben as he grabbed the journal and opened the first page.
“Today Michael and Ben asked me to be their son, and I said yes.”

Fic: In the Quiet of the Morning

2008-05-27T13:57:39Z

We have a new writer on Living in the Now. Her name is Babs and she gave me premission to post her story here. :) I hope I posted it right! If not, Megan, let me know and I'll try to fix it. I'm not too up on the lj cut thing!

Title: In the Quiet of the Morning.
Author: Babs
Rating: PG
Summary: Ben thinks back on the happiest day of his life.

Ben woke up as the warm rays of the sun streamed through the window and fell across the sleeping form of Michael, who was snoring softly next to him.

As he let his finger gently move across Michael's soft cheek, his thoughts drifted back to their wedding day. It had been an extremely quick and very small wedding. Ben laughed as he thought back to Debbie running around the camp site yelling at anyone she could grab that they should have a huge wedding. She wanted to cook and have a big blow out back home, but Ben and Michael had decided that they didn't want to wait. They wanted their marriage to be legal and so after Michael accepted his proposal, they tied the knot in front of some of their family and most of their friends. Ben let his gaze fall back onto his husband. 'My husband.' He let the words roll slowly and softly over his tongue. He decided that he loved the sound they made. It was like music to his ears.

He also thought about how thrilled Hunter had been when they told him the news. He teased them and said he was happy that they weren't living 'in sin' and that he could go back to school now with his head held high, knowing that his fathers were legally married. They all laughed as Michael swatted him on head, just like Debbie did to him hundreds of times. Sure their marriage wasn't legal in PA, but so what? Hunter told both Ben and Michael that someday it would be and that's all that mattered. Ben thought the exact same thing.

Ben lovingly fingered the white gold wedding band on his finger and thought about their wedding night. It wasn't what he had planned when he first thought about asking Michael to marry him, but it was wonderful nonetheless. They had their sleeping bags instead of a huge, soft king-sized bed with fluffy feather pillows and room service. And their tent was a far cry from a swanky hotel in Manhattan, but he wouldn't change that night for the entire world.

After the ceremony, they celebrated with cake and some really good champagne that Brian had somehow managed to have delivered to the party. They ate and danced far into the night. It was funny but Ben didn't know how the heck they had managed to continue with the Liberty Ride after that. Their family and friends hadn't wanted that special day to end, but Ben remembered how he couldn't wait to get back to the tent with his husband so they could have their own celebration.

Everyone laughed as he carried Michael over the threshold of their tent. Even Michael giggled and told him it was silly and not necessary, but Ben wanted to start things off in a sort of traditional manner and so he scooped his surprised husband off his feet and quieted him with a deep kiss, much to the joy of his mother in-law.

Ben remembered how surprised they were to find even more champagne along with two glasses, some scented candles and even chocolates on their sleeping bag pillows. Michael had been so touched and had told him that he thought Emmett must have been behind their special surprise. He was probably right.

Ben was so happy that Debbie didn't fight them too much about the wedding. Both he and Michael promised her that she could throw them another party later on so that everyone who missed their wedding could celebrate with them at home. It was a lovely gesture and a day that neither he, nor Michael would ever forget.

He also thought back to the day he took Michael home to see his parents and tell them the big news. His Mom was thrilled. She had always loved Michael and still talked about how he had saved 'her son’s life’. Michael would get red in the face as she gratefully hugged him tight. Surprisingly, his Dad grabbed Michael in a bear hug and welcomed him to the family. It wasn't really like his dad to be so demonstrative, but as he said, it wasn't every day that his son got married. They were upset that they weren't at the ceremony but things were OK once Ben explained to them that they had wanted to make it legal. Ben also told them what Debbie had planned. He laughed as his mother ran right over the phone to call Debbie and offer her help. It was a fun couple of weeks watching them plan the event along with Emmett. They were like three peas in a pod.

Ben thought back to the day of the party. The hall was filled with white and silver balloons and hundreds of streamers and different kinds of small purple wrapped chocolates on small silver plates. Each table also had a beautiful rainbow of colored flower centerpieces that Em had put together. There were disposable cameras for each guest so that they could take photos of all the festivities. Later on when they came back from their honeymoon, Debbie presented them with a book filled with all the photos.

There was also more food served than he had ever seen in his life. He remembered telling Michael that Debbie, him Mom and Em must have been cooking for weeks! Out of all of Michael’s friends, Ben felt particularly close to Em. He was a caring man and very loyal to his friends. And Ben had really liked that quality in a friend. He felt blessed that all of Michael's friends were now his friends too.

One of the highlights of the evening was when Michael made a special toast to remember Vic. There wasn't a dry eye in the hall. Ben thought he saw Brian's eyes fill up too as Michael spoke about how much Vic had meant to all of them. After his toast, Hunter stood up and had them and all their guests laughing when he said "Dudes, the party is great, everyone's here, now lets eat!" Typical Hunter, Ben chuckled to himself.

Looking down at the man he loved, Ben felt like the luckiest man on earth. He ran his finger down Michael's arm causing him to stir. Michael opened his eyes but didn't say a word. He just opened his arms and Ben put his head on his husband’s chest as Michael hugged him tight. ‘This is where I want to stay forever’ he thought as sleep overtook him.

The End

Two Ficlets

2008-05-22T14:05:09Z

Two short ficlets..

The first "Thunderstorms" features Ben/Michael/JR and set a few years in the future. Written for the prompt word "Thunder"

The second "Cooking Lessons" features Michael/Hunter/Emmett/. Written for the prompt word "Cooking"

Both are rated PG

THUNDERSTORMS
A clap of thunder followed by a flash of lightening lit up the bedroom. Michael sat bolt upright as JR’s screams filled the house.

“Shit!”

“Stay there, I’ll go to her,” Ben replied, climbing out of bed and pulling on his robe.

He met Hunter in the hallway.

“How the fuck is anyone meant to get any sleep around here,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

“Hey…she’s scared! Go back to bed.”

“Sorry, dude.” He turned back to his room, slamming the door loudly behind him.

Ben opened JR’s door, the night light giving the room an eerie glow as the lightening continued to flash through the windows.

She was sitting up in bed, tears streaming down her face, her small body shaking as he picked her up.

“It’s ok JR,” he crooned as he wrapped her tightly in his arms. “I’ll take you to Daddy.”

She sniveled, wrapping her arms around Ben’s neck.

“I don’t like the scary noise, Uncle Ben.”

“I know sweetie, but you’re safe here.”

He carried her back to their room and laid her in the bed next to Michael. She immediately snuggled up next to her father, her thumb in her mouth.
Michael wiped away her tears, brushing the damp tendrils of hair off her face as he wrapped his arms around her, her small body shaking as another clap of thunder roared overhead.

“Daddy, I don’t like it, make it stop please.”

“It won’t hurt you, Honeybun. It’s just the clouds having an argument; they will stop soon.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes. “What are they arguing about Daddy?”

Michael looked over her head at Ben, who had a look on his face as if to say: you started this, now get yourself out of it.

“Perhaps one cloud wanted to watch TV and the other didn’t.”

“That’s silly Daddy, clouds don’t watch TV,” she giggled.

“How do you know that? Perhaps one hid the remote and the other couldn’t find it, like you do when Daddy wants to watch TV.”

She turned to Ben. “Daddy’s silly isn’t he, Uncle Ben.”

“Very silly, JR. I think they are arguing over who’s going to cook dinner tomorrow night.”

Michael gave Ben a thankful grin as JR turned her head between the two of them.

“You are both silly!” she laughed, sitting up between them.

“Did you hear that Michael, this funny little girl thinks we’re silly,” Ben huffed as he leaned in tickling her.

“Stop Uncle Ben that tickles,” she giggled, trying to push Ben’s hands away.

“No, that’s what happens to little girls who don’t believe what they’re told, they get tickled and tickled until they can’t stop laughing.”

Her laughter filled the room as Michael joined in the fun, glad to have taken her thoughts away from the storm raging outside.

A loud burst of thunder sent her diving under the bedclothes, peeping out when it finally stopped.

“Daddy, I think the clouds should stop arguing and go to sleep.”

“I agree, and I think you should go to sleep as well”

“Nooooooooooooooo Daddy…I don’t want to go to my bed.”

Michael looked at his daughter, her eyes welling up with tears and knew where she would be spending the night.

“It’s ok, Honeybun, you can sleep here with me and Uncle Ben.”

She clapped her hands. “I love sleeping in your bed Daddy” she sighed, snuggling up close to her father, thumb back into mouth, eyes slowly closing.

Michael dropped at kiss on her head before switching off the light, his hand seeking Ben’s across his daughter’s chest, hopeful that the storm would soon abate ,and they would all get a good night’s sleep.

COOKING LESSONS

“What do you mean I can’t cook!” Michael glared at Hunter as he put the dish of, what he thought looked like an appetizing stew, on the table.

“Chill out dude” Hunter replied, looking from the dish to Michael. “All I said was that you’re better at other things”

“Listen smart ass, from what I’ve seen you eat almost from the time you wake up till the time you go to bed, and it doesn’t seem to matter what you put into that mouth of yours.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, most of what I put in my mouth is made by Ben.”

Michael knew he was fighting a loosing battle. They had had this argument many times. He had tried to improve his cooking skills, but somehow whatever he attempted never turned out like the shiny picture in the book.

“Well until Ben gets back from his course, you’ll have to put up with my cooking or starve!”

“Starving sounds good,” Hunter smirked as he left the table, grabbing a slice of bread on the way past. “Lucky I have a secret stash of ‘Mrs. Chips’ in my room.”

Michael sighed before sitting down at the table and dishing himself spoonfuls of stew.
It didn’t taste that bad, he decided as he worked his way through it, ok, the vegetables could have been cooked more, and perhaps it needed a bit more seasoning, but it was edible.
Ben had never complained about his lack of cooking skills; he’d always teased him about it, not quite understanding how someone with a mother like Debbie, who could cater for an army at the moments notice, had not managed to inherit some of that ability.

Hunter was just a spoiled brat who needed to learn some manners, he decided as he cleaned up his plate and took it, along with the leftovers of the stew, to the kitchen.
He rinsed his plate, scraped what was left of the stew into the trash and began the dishes, not even bothering to call Hunter to dry them, which was his nightly chore.
When he finished cleaning the kitchen he headed into the living room, settling onto the couch, flicking through the TV channels but finding nothing that held his interest.
He was missed Ben. He always hated it when they were apart, and there were still another four days to go until he got back. He glanced at the clock, only eight pm, the thought of the long night ahead did nothing to improve his mood.
He reached for the phone, punched in some numbers, hoping for an answer.

“Hello”

“Hey Em”

“Michael!” Em’s voice always managed to bring a smile to his face “How’s things, baby?”

“I’m missing Ben”

“Awww….do you want to come over….we could watch some movies…eat ice cream…”

“That would be great, thanks Em”

He hung up and walked to the bottom of the stairs.

“Hunter! I’m going to Emmett’s for a few hours, make sure you finish your homework by the time I get back”

“Yeah, yeah!”

He sighed, grabbing his coat and heading out the door, the cold night air making him shiver as he made his way to Emmett’s place.
True to his word, Emmett had a stack of DVD’s piled high on the table when he arrived.
They settled onto the sofa, tubs of ice cream in front of them.

“What do you want to watch?”

“I don’t care”

”Michael, what’s the matter sweetie?”

“Hunter’s been giving me shit about my cooking!”

Emmett tried to keep the smile off his face but Michael caught it.

“See, you all think the same!” He fumed

“Sorry, I was just thinking about that birthday cake you made for him”

Michael couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

“Yeah, and that was made from a packet, and I still fucked it up!”

“It was the thought that counted.”

“I guess.”

“So….you want some cooking lessons?”

“I doubt there’s anything you could do that could help me.”

“Now…now…that’s not the attitude to have!”

Emmett jumped up, pulling Michael to his feet.

“Follow me to my magical kitchen where anything is possible”

Michael laughed as Emmett dragged him to the kitchen, producing a brightly colored apron.

“First off you have to have the perfect accessories” He stated, pulling it over Michael’s head and tying it with a flourish.

He donned his own, then pulled out a handful of recipe books.

“So….what do you think would impress the kid?” he asked, flicking through the pages.

“I haven’t got a clue”

“How about this?” Emmett suggested.

Michael looked at the picture of what looked like a four star meal.

“You’re fucking kidding! I couldn’t make that!”

“You can, and you will!” Emmett declared, opening cupboards, dragging out dishes before piling the bench full of vegetables and things that Michael had no idea what they were.

“Em…seriously…I think this is a bad idea!”

Emmett ignored him as he turned on the gas and put a chopping board and large, if not dangerous looking knife, in front of him.

“You are going to do this…no arguments….now getting chopping”

Michael frowned before picking up the knife following Emmett’s directions and taking a sip from the glass of wine that he had provided every now and then to calm his nerves.

Four hours later, Emmett’s kitchen looked like a disaster area, a meal that Michael never thought he could make, sat in front of them.

“See, what did I tell you!” Emmett said proudly.

“I can’t believe it! It looks just like the picture in the book,” Michael said, a huge grin on his face.

“And it will shut that smart ass kid up once and for all” Emmett laughed.

“Thanks Em.” Michael hugged his best friend, not able to take the wide smile off his face.

“My pleasure sweetie…now we’ll pack this up for you to take home and serve up tomorrow night for dinner.

Michael nodded as Emmett rustled around in cupboards for suitable containers.
Another hour and a few more glasses of wine later, Michael was ready to leave, laden down with containers, the aromas still filling the room.
He hurried home, putting them in the fridge before heading upstairs and checking on Hunter who was sound asleep.
He crawled into bed, a happy smile on his face, looking forward to his son’s reaction when he served dinner tomorrow night.

The Next Evening:
“Hunter…dinner’s ready!” Michael yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

He walked back to the kitchen as he heard Hunter’s heavy footsteps running down the stairs, stopping at the kitchen door.

“Fuck….what smells so good?”

“Dinner!” Michael said, carrying the dishes to the table, Hunter on his heels.

“When did Ben get home?” Hunter asked, settling into his chair.

“He’s not.”

“So who cooked this then?” he asked as he piled his plate high.

“I did”

“Bullshit!”

“Watch your mouth young man!” Michael answered “And I did cook it, thank you very much.”

“Fuck…it’s good” Hunter managed to mumble between mouthfuls.

“Glad you approve” Michael grinned, watching his son reach for seconds.

He knew he would never produce a meal like this again, but for the moment he was more than happy to bask in Hunter’s appreciation of his efforts, but more than anything he was pleased that Ben would be home soon to take over the cooking duties.