Fic: By Any Other Name (Ch. 19)

[unavez18.livejournal.com]

Title: Ch. 19 By Any Other Name
Characters: Zach, Shaun, Gabe
Rating: PG13

 

When the custody approval came it was the second greatest moment Zach could remember in is life; the first being when Shaun had told him that he loved him.  That had to remain first, because without Shaun's love he didn't think much else would be possible.  More and more often Zach found himself wondering if he could have been as good a parent to Cody if he were on his own.  And prevalent among those thoughts was the notion that he could have become bitter like Jeannie, leaving Cody to pay the price.

 

Which was all the more reason for him to make sure that Shaun was always a part of his life.

 

It was a difficult feeling that was taking root inside Zach-- a growing desire to have affirmation that Shaun would be spending the rest of his life with him.  For one thing, Zach was not comfortable with appearing so needy.  For another, he still had days when he felt like he didn’t deserve to be so happy.   But everything that Shaun did and said told him that he was loved, and Zach felt foolish asking for anything more.   So for the time being, he chose to live in the moment and take each glorious day as a gift.

 

*

 

Gabe came for a visit in June after demanding to take both Zach and Shaun out for a night on the town to celebrate the year and all of its monumental craziness.  Zach was fairly surprised, however, when he showed up at their apartment with a cadre of friends- Elena, a tall raven-haired statuesque beauty, Beth, a blonde cheerleader type, and Jake, who looked a bit like a brunette and less buff Gabe.

 

“I kinda though it was just gonna be us,” Zach said to Gabe while Cody entertained their guests with Maxy’s less than stellar tricks.

 

“Buffer zone,” Gabe replied with a shrug. 

 

“For what?” Shaun asked, overhearing their conversation.

 

“Uh, I had to drop out of a few classes . . .so I’m not gonna be able to graduate right now.  Maybe another couple of quarters, that’s all.  Anyways, don’t feel like getting lectured all night, so whaddaya say we get this show on the road?”

 

Shaun threw up his hands with a 'why bother' look and went to his room to change.

 

Elena, Beth and Jake left for some “pre-partying” while Zach put Cody to bed and waited with Gabe for Amber to show up.  Zach felt a little guilty about having her babysit instead of asking her to join them now that it had turned into a group affair, but he knew that Amber was nothing if not easy going.

 

When she appeared at the door Gabe came to answer it as well, and Amber immediately flashed him her whimsical smile.  "I remember you," she said with a laugh.  Gabe gave her a curious smirk in response as she entered into the living room and casually tossed her stuff aside before planting herself on the couch.

 

"Dude," Gabe stopped Zach from following with a hand on his chest.  "Why didn't you tell me she'd gotten so hot?"

 

Zach glanced over at Amber, momentarily confused.  Now that he thought of it, she had grown more slender over the past several months, in all areas except her bosom, leaving her as a tiny, compact hourglass.  She had also recently taken up wearing the lightest dusting of makeup- a bit of pink rouge along the apples of her cheeks, and some mascara to frame her emerald green eyes.

 

"Oops, never mind," Gabe interrupted Zach’s appraisal of her.  "Momentary brain lapse.  You're totally the wrong person to ask."  He seemed pleased with the glare he got in response.

 

Shaun popped out of their room then, wearing jeans and a crisp button down shirt with just a few buttons undone, looking both casual and dressy all at the same time.  His perpetual 5 o’clock shadow graced his face, the contrast making his perfect cheekbones even more defined.  Zach suddenly found himself wishing they could stay in instead, but Gabe slapped a hand on his back and started pushing him out the door.

 

"Hey it was great to see you again, Amber.  We should hang out some time," Gabe called over his shoulder as they made their way out.

 

*

 

Shaun seemed willing to go along with Gabe’s plan of not discussing school issues.  That didn’t stop him, however, from relating various embarrassing anecdotes about his little brother as the six of them sat in the crowded bar.  He appeared perfectly at ease with the younger crowd as he easily had all of them, except Gabe, hanging off his every word.  He was a storyteller after all.

 

 Gabe turned most of his attention to flirting with Beth, while Jake seemed desperate to gain Elena’s favor; although it was clear she knew she was in control of that situation and looked prepared to milk it for all it was worth.

 

Beth had evidently done too much pre-partying, and as the evening progressed she was finding it difficult to keep her head upright.  She was escorted to the restroom after a bit, and Shaun left also for his third piss of the evening.

 

"Bro," Gabe said as they left, pointing to the beer Zach had been nursing for quite some time.  "That's lame.  Shaun has you beat by like 6 and I've already lost count."

 

Zach shrugged.  "Yeah, I know.  But we discussed beforehand, I'm the DP."

 

"DP?"

 

"Designated Parent . . . you know, in case Cody needs anything during the night."

 

"Isn't that what the babysitter is for?" Gabe asked.

 

Zach laughed.  "Dude, she’s not staying the night."

 

"Oh.  Hmm, well maybe next time she should," Gabe said with a mischievous look.

 

"Don't get any ideas," Zach put up a hand.  "She's a nice girl."

 

"Whoa, dude, that hurts," Gabe clutched at his heart.  "And what am I?"

 

"Apparently the guy who's not gonna graduate," Zach responded, because he couldn't resist pushing the button.

 

This time Gabe did look a little hurt, but he quickly blew it off.  "Yeah, so I'm a fuck up . . . or maybe I'm just waiting for you to catch up," he pushed back.

 

The rest of the group rejoined them then, and Zach had to smile at the way Shaun was just a little unsteady on his feet.  It had been a long time since they had been able to relax so thoroughly.  But Beth looked a bit worse for wear and it seemed like the evening was winding to a close.

 

"Shit," Gabe whispered to Zach.  "I was planning on hanging with Beth tonight at her parents place--they're outta town-- but it doesn't look like things are gonna work out."  He grimaced as Beth moaned a little a let her head sink down on the table.

 

They paid their tab shortly afterwards and stood up to leave while Shaun went to the restroom for the fourth time.  As he walked away Elena draped the now mostly-limp Beth on Jake's shoulder and walked over to Zach.  Squeezing his arm softly she leaned in, her silky straight black hair tickling his face.  "Gabe's brother is so nice, isn't he?  I think it's so cool that he's your boyfriend-- wait, is that what you call him, or are you more serious than that?" She stopped, putting a finger to her red-stained lips as she pondered her own question.

 

"Uh, boyfriend, I guess," Zach said with a shrug.

 

"Mmm, okay," she laughed, her alcohol-tainted breath blowing in Zach's face.  "Well anyways, I just think you're so cute," and she gave Zach's cheek a little pinch before turning away.

 

Shaun returned and found Zach with a sour look on his face,  "What's up?" he asked.

 

"I'm getting kinda tired of that," he muttered dourly.  "Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm cute."

 

"Oh no?" Shaun said, biting on his lip as he backed Zach up and placed an arm on either side of him, effectively pinning him against the wall.  "'Cause I think you're really . . fucking  . .  cute."

 

Zach found himself grinning like an idiot.  He loved to see Shaun so playful, and as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn’t deny the confusing physical response in his body that seemed to signify he got an extra kick out of it when they were in public.

 

Shaun took the smile as an invitation and pressed his lips up against Zach's hungrily.  Zach blinked, momentarily stunned by the ferocity of the kiss.  His eyes took in the reactions around him-- most of what he saw was amusement, but there were a few pairs of eyes that contained barely veiled disgust.

 

A second later and he was too aroused to care, his eyes rolling back in his head slightly as Shaun gripped the bulge in his pants and pressed his body deeper into Zach's.

 

"Whoa, dudes," Zach felt a heavy hand come down on his shoulder and opened his eyes to see Gabe.  "You guys really need to get a room," he said, shaking his head with a drunken half-smile.

 

Shaun pulled away sheepishly and Zach turned against the wall to rearrange himself.

 

"You're lucky we're in LA," Gabe said with a chastising finger shake.

 

The sound of retching came from outside the bar, and the three of them left to find Elena holding back Beth's hair as she threw up on the sidewalk.

 

"Ugh," Gabe said with disgust.  "I'm definitely staying with you guys tonight."

 

*

 

Back at the apartment, Zach and Gabe greeted Amber, who was busy watching TV when they entered.  Shaun draped himself on Zach and gave her his charming smile.  "Hey Amber . . . hey, did your parents know your hair was going to be amber colored when they named you that?" he asked with drunken curiosity.

 

Amber cracked up.  "Wow, I've never seen him drunk before . . . it's kinda awesome," she laughed to Zach.

 

"Yeah, it is," Zach agreed.  "I better get him to bed though . . . but hey we should really make plans to go out sometime.  I feel bad about leaving you hear to 'sit."

 

"Don't worry about it," she shook her head.  "I was due for a nice cozy night in anyways.  Now, go, get your guy to bed!"  She ended with a wink.

 

Once in their room Shaun crashed face-first into his pillow.  "Tired," he mumbled without turning his head.

 

"Don't you dare," Zach replied, fumbling to undress quickly before Shaun could fall asleep.  "We have a room now," he added as he flipped Shaun over and started to undress him as well.  Despite his inebriated state it didn't take Shaun too long to get with the program, and he was helped along by the fact that Zach took the dominant role, a treat that was becoming more frequent as their relationship progressed.

 

When they were both thoroughly satisfied Zach scooted down a bit to rest his head against Shaun's slightly damp chest.

"I gotta remember that making out with you in public makes you so hot for me," Shaun said with a little laugh.  "Who would have thought."

 

"Shut up," Zach responded as he dragged his hand lightly along Shaun's sternum.  "It does not."

 

"So maybe it was just calling you cute that did it," Shaun teased, ruffling Zach's hair.

 

Zach rolled his eyes even though Shaun couldn't see them.  His hand continued its route up and down Shaun's chest a few times before he spoke again.  "Shaun," he said hesitantly.  "What . . . what should I call you?"

 

Shaun laughed, and the rumbling in his chest stopped Zach's hand from its ministrations.  "You can call me whatever you like, babe.  Hot's a nice option."

 

Zach sighed.  "I mean what term should I use for us?  Elena wanted to know if boyfriend wasn’t . . . serious enough or something . . . and honestly sometimes that word makes me feel like a teenage girl.  And remember Pete's mom . . . when she said life-partners . . . that just makes me feel like I should go out and buy a sweater vest and a bowtie.  In the past I think I've said "dating" or "seeing", but now that just sounds too . . . casual.  Besides, it's not like we go out on dates.”  Zach forced a little laugh.

 

"Hey, babe, we can go out on dates if you want," Shaun said, his words starting to become slightly slurred as he was drifting off to asleep.

 

"No, no, that's not what I meant.  I'm just asking, what word do you think fits best?"

 

Shaun squirmed down in the bed a bit so he was eye to eye with Zach.  "What's in a name?" he said with a shrug.  When Zach rolled his eyes he proceeded to meet his lips gently, and Zach could taste the warm flavor of alcohol on his tongue. "That which we call a rose by any other name," Shaun continued as he began to trail kisses down the length of Zach's torso.  " . . . Would smell as sweet."

 

Zach felt himself growing much too distracted to continue on with the conversation, but just when Shaun reached the lower half of his body he rolled off.  "I'm really thirsty," he said as he stood up.  "Gonna go get something to drink."

 

"Put something on, idiot.  Gabe's out there," Zach admonished him.

 

Shaun put a finger to his head in an 'oh, right' gesture before he put on his boxers and a robe and headed out. 

Zach leaned back to rest his head on an elbow, thinking to himself that it had been pretty dumb to bring up a serious conversation when Shaun was clearly intoxicated.

 

After a few minutes Shaun returned and shirked off his robe before diving back into bed.  "Hey, did you know Amber is still here?" he said with a yawn.

 

"Really?" Zach tilted his head back in surprise.

 

"Yeah, looks like she and Gabe are getting to know one another . . . fairly well.  Just walked in on them making out pretty hot and heavy.  Think they're going over to her place now, though," Shaun said as he rolled over towards the wall.

 

"Crap," Zach said.

 

"Crap?  Why crap?" Shaun asked, his voice growing softer.

 

"I just don't want Amber to get hurt.  You know I love Gabe, but he doesn't exactly have the same track record with relationship longevity that his brother does," Zach said, resting his hand on Shaun's shoulder.

 

"Hmph," Shaun said sleepily, and the next sound Zach heard was gentle snoring.  He scooted his body closer and placed his head against Shaun’s back, letting the rhythmic rise and fall lull him to sleep.

 

***

 

Comments

[figaro23.livejournal.com]

Loved this! So great!

[becomingjane7.livejournal.com]

lol loved the chapter:)

[abaylor22.livejournal.com]

that's my babe! They can call eachother 'babe'. My baby's daddy!LOL!

Great chapter. I was so engrossed that i ignored the phone ringing and company knocking at the door until I finished the chapter.

i don't think beth was thinking being gay was cute. Zach is a hottie. She shoulda just called him on that. 'You're HOT' gay or not'!

[abaylor22.livejournal.com]

Want to add how downright FUN this whole chapter read was!!!!!!!

And Amber being hot suddenly after dropping afew lbs and using less make-up!! It is a simple solution often to achieving HOTNESS

[jasmine661.livejournal.com]

Request please....More tipsy Shaun! More tipsy Shaun! This whole chapter made me smile :D

[unavez18.livejournal.com]

hmm... I'd need a "scenario" first . . .I'm not very good at writing w/o a kernal of issue/event/conflict/plot

[ltklo.livejournal.com]

It's great that you keep writing these. I smile every time Shaun calls Zach "babe" - it's adorable.

[abaylor22.livejournal.com]

agreed itlko: love the babe word also and the 'dude' between Gabe and Zach. unavez: never have them stop calling each other babe and dude!!! :) It's true to their character. I feel good when i hear it too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[unavez18.livejournal.com]

I am a personal fan of the 'babe' word myself :)

[glitzy09.livejournal.com]

Aww so cute :) Never stop writing these please!

[unavez18.livejournal.com]

haha, I'm sure you'll get bored eventually. We'll see who outlasts who ;-)

[glitzy09.livejournal.com]

Lol, I think it'll be long time before I get bored of these :)

[girloftheburbs.livejournal.com]

This was a fun chapter, interlayed with Zach's question about they should call their relationship. Can't wait to find out what the name/label will be, (partner, significant other?). :)