Me coming out...and my Vacation.

So Daniel came early to help me cook and get everything cleaned up.

"Tell me about myself." I told him. We were trying to cook a blasted turkey. I don't even like turkey it's so dang bland but Daniel likes it so I thought I'd help.

"You get angry easily but you can be a sweet and caring person. We met in college you were my roommate. You are my best friend. You've been giving me drawing lessons in exchange for me helping you sleep. You used to be a paramedic. You have scars from your dad beating you when you were little...and that's about it."

I put the turkey and stuffing in the oven. I turned the timer on.

"How do you help me sleep?" I asked. I don't like being confused (don't ask me who does).

"Here I'll show you." I think he was trying to seduce me...it was kind of working.

So he led me to the bedroom and pushed me on the bed. It was coming back to me now. In college we used to do this every night. He would push me on the bed and we'd kiss he would take off my pants and I'd undo his pants. We would have sex until I fell asleep. My sleeping meds never worked for me so I had to take matters into my own hands.

"This is great." I said mostly to myself.

Ding dong!!!! Ding dong!!!!!!!

"Oh shit, it's probably my dorky cousin." I said angrily, "I'll get it you get dressed."

I made myself semi presentable and looked through the peephole. Whew it's just a client. I opened the door.

"Hi, I was just wondering if the drawing I ordered was done yet."

"I shipped the Batman one off last week but I still have a little bit to do on the Bane one."

"You're welcome to come in and sit down while he finishes." Daniel said generously.

"Hi, I'm Daniel."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Kyle."

"Come on in I'll go finish it," I said.

I told Daniel in sign language to entertain him while I finished. He clearly got the wrong idea because when I came back with the completed drawing they were having sex on my couch.

"How many times have I told you Daniel no sex on my couch." I scolded him.

They went straight for the carpet. Meanwhile I finished cooking the turkey and the stuffing.

I was a little jealous so I joined them. I walked in without anything on except my socks and a hat. They were all over me within seconds.

RINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! RINGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

"Sorry ladies, duty calls." I got up and answered the phone.

"Alex's flight was cancelled," I said rejoining them.

"Too bad," Daniel said sarcastically.

Lunch was done so we sent Kyle home.

"He almost forgot his drawing," I told Daniel after Kyle had left.

I rubbed my aching head and scowled.

"Are you ok?" Daniel asked me.

"Yeh...yeah I'm fine."

"Okay." He said, "Remember you can talk to me about anything."

"Yeah I know." I said, "Where do we keep the Advil?"

I had a really bad migraine.

"It's back isn't it." He said worriedly.

"What's back?" I said confused.

"The cancer."

"No the doctors would have told me."

"Whew...you almost gave me a heart attack." He loosened up a bit.

"Yeah," I said in agreement. I had completely forgot the Advil at this point.

"Let's eat!" He gave me a knife so I could cut the turkey like tradition.

I sliced through it gracefully.

"Looks good."

"It better look good because you're going to be eating the leftovers for months," I joked.

"I don't mind." He said.

I grabbed two plates gave him one and put some stuffing on mine. I'm never really hungry Daniel on the other hand is always hungry. It's not like he's fat or anything he's the normal weight for his age I guess he just has a big appetite.

We sat down at the table and then relocated to the couch. I turned on the TV. I was so so so tired. I finished eating and chucked my plastic plate away and got two beers from the fridge. I sank back into the couch and handed Daniel a beer.

"Daniel."

"What Gabriel?"

"I'm really tired." I leaned against his shoulder. I couldn't get to sleep.

"It's ok Gabriel you get some rest I'll clean up." He is so sweet.

"It's not that.....It's just I can't fall asleep."

"Just close your eyes," he whispered in my ear.

"I can't." I said angrily. I stood up and walked to the bedroom. I dropped on the bed. Daniel walked in. I looked at him and gave him a pitiful look I was dying for a nap.

"Are you sure Gabriel?" He said. Doubt was in his voice.

"Just do it."

Daniel did as I requested and I fell asleep almost instantly. I woke up with Daniel laying beside me. He has such beautiful dark blue eyes. He looked at me and smiled.

"You're awake." He said.

"I guess so. What time is it?"

"It's around five."

I looked at him for a little while longer. Then I got up and put my cargo pants and my black shirt on.

"What do you think about Chinese food?" Daniel asked.

"Sounds delicious."

"Great I'll go pick some up."

He knew how to cheer me up. This guy is good...maybe too good. I sat in front of an empty canvas for a little while.

"Hey Daniel!" I yelled. Drat he'd already left. I grabbed my keys and ran down the fire escape. I jumped when it was about a twenty foot drop. I landed on the garbage and ran towards his car. Stupid neighbors stared at me from their balconies.

"Daniel!"

"What now Gabriel?" He said getting out of the car.

"Let's take my car."

He grinned and I handed him the keys.

"Why aren't you driving?"

"I can't." I said trying not to sound glum.

"Oh." He tossed me the keys and hopped into the passenger seat of my car. He couldn't wipe that grin off his face.

I hopped in the drivers seat.

"Some rules were just meant to be broke." Daniel said.

"I couldn't agree more."

We took off. Chinese restaurant here we come.

Daniel kept playing with the radio.

"Your radio is broke."

"Did you turn it on?" I pressed the on button and it came to life.

"Oh."

We made it to the Chinese restaurant without getting pulled over...so shocking....especially since I'm not fit for driving...I don't understand why I am not legally allowed to drive I'm a great driver.

"I've got to go run an errand I'll be right back." I dropped him off and went to a hobby store.

Since the manager is my foster brother I get 30% off.

I walked in.

"Hello and welcome to The Hobby Store!" My foster brother said.

"Hey Nick."

"Gabriel! I didn't recognize you with the haircut." Nick said.

He wrapped his arm around me. It was a bit awkward so I moved away.

"How have things been?" I asked.

"Not bad business has been booming the past few days."

"I bet."

"Where did you get your hair cut?"

"Oh, my boyfriend cut it a couple weeks ago."

"I see." I clearly hadn't told him I was bisexual.

"Gabriel, mom says you haven't returned any of her phone calls." He said seriously.

"I have been busy." I was a poor excuse of a son. "I'll call her right now."

"The phone's in the back if you need it."

"Thanks." I started walking away when I remembered I didn't know her number. "Hey Nick. What's her number?"

He sighed and told me her number.

"Thanks again," I walked to the back of the store. I dialed her number no answer.

"Um...hi mom this is Gabriel. I know I haven't been answering your calls lately but I was in a coma and I've been working hard to get my license. So as soon as you get this call me. I got a new phone number so here it is...(my new phone number)...I want to visit sometime this week...so please call me back. I hope I see you soon. Bye."

I can just picture her listening to that message and thinking what does he want now...but to be honest all I wanted was to be close to someone.

I bought a ton of supplies and went to go pick up Daniel.

"Sheesh. What the hell took you so long?" Daniel hopped in the front seat.

"Nick wanted me to call my mom." I headed home.

"And...?"

"And I did."

"What did she say?"

"Nothing she didn't answer."

"Oh."

"I left a message though."

"We should visit her today." He suggested.

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

"We could make her some paper flowers."

"She'd like that." To tell you the truth I was scared that she wouldn't accept me for who I am.

"What's bugging you?"

"Well...it's just I haven't told her yet."

"Don't sweat it. I'll handle it."

"I don't know. Nick didn't take the news so great."

"Just relax it'll be fine." I hoped he was right.

"Okay." I said reluctantly.

Daniel was making a few paper roses from my supplies. I turned around and headed toward my mom's house.

"So how long has it been?" Daniel asked.

"Since what?"

"Since you've seen your mom."

"Since I moved out."

"Whoa. If I was your mom I'd be ticked."

"Well thanks but I think having two moms is hard enough I don't think I need to add another ticked off mom to the list."

"How often do you see your mom?" I asked him. As soon as I asked I remembered his mom is dead.

"I'm sorry Daniel. I just remembered."

"It's ok." He was about to cry so I pulled over.

"Daniel, I'm so sorry."

Daniel got into a car accident about a year ago and his mom and sister died at the scene.

"You didn't know."

I'm really bad at comforting people. I grabbed his shoulder.

"We could visit them today if you want." I was really hoping I could cheer him up. He was always there for me so why can't I be there for him.

"I think I'd like that." He wiped away his tears and continued to make the paper roses.

"I should visit my sister."

"I didn't know you had a sister."

"I didn't know either."

"Where does she live?"

"The cemetery...I'm not sure which one but I'd know it when I see it."

"What was her name?"

"Eden Mercy Grey."

"That's a pretty name."

"Yeh. That was back when I was Gabriel Dexter Grey."

"What's your latest name?"

"Well my mom calls me Sam and Gabe a lot. So for now I am Samuel Gabriel Juro."

"Ok. So should I call you Gabriel still or Sam?"

"Gabriel."

"Ok."

"Welcome to the Juro house Daniel." I said as we pulled into the driveway.

"It looks haunted."

"It is." I said seriously. The look on his face was priceless.

Knock knock knock....

"Mom, it's Gabriel please open the door."

"Just a minute." I heard her frail voice.

She opened the door.

"Sam is that you?" She hugged Daniel.

"He's Sam." Daniel said pointing to me.

"Hi mom."

"Come on in boys."

She opened the door wide. We went inside and sat down.

"So Sam what have you been up to lately?"

"Mom I'm Gabriel."

"Of course, Gabriel."

"Why does she call you Sam?" Daniel whispered to me.

"My brothers name was Samuel he was her favorite kid. He died a long time ago so she calls me Sam to make his memory live on."

"Oh."

"So who's your friend?" She acted like I was still a child.

"Mom this is Daniel. Daniel this is my mom."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Juro."

"It's good to meet you to."

"Warum ist er hier (Why is he here?)" my mom asked me.

"He's my boyfriend mom."

She looked shocked.

"What just happened?" Daniel asked confused.

"I just admitted to being bisexual."

"How's it feel bro?"

"Great actually."

Mom was crying.

"I love you mom, nothing could ever change that."

"Mrs. Jaro I know how you must feel, but this is who we are we can't change." Daniel added to the drama.

I walked over to him.

"I'm leaving! I can't handle people acting like we're aliens!!!" he shouted.

"I am not getting rid of you that easily." I said. I came close to him touched his hand and then hugged him really tight.

My mom stopped crying and looked at us like we were human again.

"You guys make a cute couple." She said with tears welling in her eyes.

"I love you mom." I walked over to her and gave her a big hug I was quickly joined by Daniel.

I remembered we had food in the car. We dispersed and sat down again.

"I'm going to go get the grub."

"I hope your hungry cause I bought extra." Daniel said with a smile.

I got the food. When I came back in they were laughing their heads off. Daniel you are too good for me. I smiled at the thought of us. I set the food on the table.

"Come and get it."

"I'm starving." My mom said.

"Me too," Daniel said.

We sat down around the table and ate.

"So where do you work Daniel?"

"I'm currently employed at a barbershop."

"Hey mom, I've been meaning to ask you something..."

"Well out with it."

"Where's my sister buried?"

"I was wondering when you'd remember."

"So you knew about her and you didn't feel the need to share!"

"Don't raise your voice at the table."

I walked away from the table.

"Why didn't you just tell me?!??" I was beginning to think I could trust anyone anymore.

"Because I didn't know!!" She shouted and broke into tears.

"Mom...mom I'm sorry." I was always trying to please her. "But I need to know the truth."

"You've earned it." She handed me an address.

We stayed and talked for awhile but Daniel had an appointment tomorrow early in the morning.

It was too late to go to the cemetery so we headed to my apartment.

"That was fun." Daniel said.

"And what was so fun about that?" I yawned.

"I met your mom."

"If you think that's fun you should meet my dad."

"Maybe tomorrow. I'm exhausted." He flopped onto my couch.

"Daniel...Daniel...you can't fall asleep yet I need you to help me."

I can't sleep without you...how poetic.

I carried him to the bed.

I felt really bad for having to do it, but it's the only way I can sleep.

Sleep came after a couple minutes.