A Fluffy Tale 2: Warm & Fuzzy

by Ann Somerville

  “Yeah. It was more the look on Stern’s face and his solicitors when Zachary faced them down. He’s awesome.”

  “He really is.”

  “Linis just yawned at Stern and he went white. It was like he thought Linis was going to eat him.” Daniel grinned. Seeing his boyfriend happy made Spen smile, especially when Daniel had been so miserable that morning. “Zachary said six.”

  “Yeah, that’s cool. We can finish our drinks and walk over. It’s not far from here. Just across the park.”

  Daniel suddenly reached up and loosened his tie, then tore it off and stuffed it into his pocket. “I never want to wear one of those damn things again. Reminds me of going to Mum and Dad’s funeral far too much. And Tony.”

  Spen stroked his hand. “We need to get you back to what you really love. No, don’t say it. Plenty of time to plan and talk about it.”

  “Okay. Right now, this takes the pressure off for a little bit. It’ll take me forever to get another job so this helps a lot.”

  Spen wished he was rich enough to say to Daniel, “You don’t need to worry about a thing, I’ll look after you,” but he wasn’t, and besides, Daniel wouldn’t accept. He was fiercely determined to support himself and his family on his own, which Spen couldn’t exactly fault him for.

  “Drink up. It’s a lovely evening and the park’s cool and shady. Kani and Myko will enjoy it.”

  The kems did love the park, with all the places they could nose around, the leaves they could play with, and the occasional greetings they could deliver to other kems, whose humans were also enjoying the green peace. Spen loved it too, but for different reasons. He could walk holding Daniel’s hand, and even kiss him occasionally, without worrying too much about what the idiots at the office thought. Sure someone might see him, but the risk was greater at the pub. Not that he cared for his own sake, but it bothered Daniel, and he didn’t want to give the gossip mill more fuel than absolutely necessary.

  “It’s still hours and hours before the kids land. I wonder how they’re finding it. They were a lot younger when we flew last time.”

  “I suspect they’ll find it all a huge adventure and have a great time. Don’t worry.”

  “Not even about plane crashes?”

  Spen stopped and took him into a hug. “Not even about them,” he murmured against Daniel’s ear. “Statistically, it’s the safest form of travel.”

  “Actually—”

  “Danny.”

  “All right.”

  Spen kissed him and they walked on. He should get out into this space more often, he thought. The pub was fine but fresh air and trees were better. Probably better for his eyes too.

  “I was thinking....”

  “About what?” Spen prompted.

  “Would it be awful of me to take over Mum and Dad’s bedroom? I mean, it would be more comfortable with you staying over, but it’s...well, it’s their room.”

  “Which they don’t need, Danny. I don’t think they’d want you to keep half the house as a shrine.”

  “Dee would be upset if I threw out their stuff. I’d be upset, I think.”

  “Then don’t. Just use the bed, keep your things in your room. That way you don’t have to commit one way or the other, and you can still use that room as a guest room if you really need to. But it’s your home, Danny. Your mother and father would want you to use it as best you can, and enjoy it. You can tell they wanted it to be for all you kids, a place where you felt loved and happy.”

  “They did. Dad always said he would never move unless he had to go into a nursing home.” Daniel smiled rather wanly. “Guess he managed to avoid that, at least.”

  Spen kissed Daniel again and wiped the moisture off his cheek with his thumb. “Not really much to set against losing them.”

  “No. But you’re right. They wouldn’t want us to make the house a shrine. I won’t disturb the closets and things, but we can use the bed. Uh...if you want to.”

  “You can see the size of me and you wonder if I’d like the idea of sleeping in a bigger bed?”

  Daniel grinned. “See your point. So where’s their place?” They’d reached the edge of the park. Kani and Myko ran back and climbed up onto their shoulders, because clever kems let their humans negotiate hot road surfaces and busy traffic for them.

  Two minutes later they were riding in the elevator up to Zachary and Julian’s apartment. Not Julian and Leo’s apartment, which was on the floor above. Apparently Julian bounced happily between the two. Spen didn’t fully understand the arrangement but then he didn’t need to.

  Zachary opened the door. “Welcome, Spencer, Daniel. Please come in.” His dignified greeting was spoiled somewhat by the way his kem, Linis, squeaked in delight to see Kani and Myko. The three of them jumped down onto the floor for a cuddle, joined in seconds by Pyon and Leo’s little white kem, Nuji.

  Zachary stared at the kem ball in amazement, and Daniel burst out laughing. “He’s a kem, Zachary. Some things are hardwired.”

  Zachary recovered. “Indeed. Do please take a seat.”

  From the kitchen counter, Julian waved in greeting. “Hey, Beanie. Daniel, thanks for coming. Sorry for the short notice but I wanted to wait until this crap with your bosses was sorted out.”

  “That’s fine, and thank you.”

  “Go and sit with Leo. I’ll be about an hour with food, because Leo wants to talk to you. Zachary too. Zachary, wine would help, I think.”

  “Of course.” Spen smiled at the way Zachary took the chance to give Julian a quick kiss as he went to the fridge, but then noticed how worried Daniel looked. Fuck. Spen had an idea what Leo wanted to chat about, but Daniel didn’t. He slung his arm around Daniel’s waist. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Go sit.”

  Daniel gave him a queasy smile, then headed over to the sofa near the armchair where Leo was waiting for him. “Come and sit, dear boy. Forgive me for not standing. I had a double hip replacement a month and a half ago and I have to confess, I find it a nuisance to keep getting up and down, even if I’m supposed to stay mobile.”

  “Listen to him,” Julian said. “The damn man wears me out walking all over the place. I’m grateful when I can get him to sit still for five minutes.”

  “Such a disrespectful fellow,” Leo said, though his smile was affectionate. “And, ah, I should also ask your forgiveness for that trick we played on you the other day. I believed it was necessary, but I would understand if you were angry.”

  Spen joined Daniel on the sofa but carefully didn’t say anything. Daniel shook his head. “No, I’m not angry. I understand it now. It was all just...horrible.”

  “Yes, it was, and I’m so sorry, dear boy. You should never have been in that position, and it’s utterly disgraceful that Edward Stern allowed that situation to develop not just once, but three times, right under his nose.”

  “I think he’s got the message now, thanks to Zachary.” Daniel accepted a glass of wine from Zachary and toasted him with it. “You da man.”

  “Oh. Thank you, I think.”

  “It’s a compliment, Zachary. Thank you from me too.” Spen lifted his glass to Zachary too, and grinned as a flush crossed the man’s pale chiselled cheeks.

  “Come and sit, Zachary,” Leo said. “Well, now we’re all comfortable, I can start. Daniel, I asked you over partly so I could apologise—”

  “Really no need....”

  Leo held his hand up. “Perhaps not, but I felt it should be said. But my main purpose was to talk to you about how you ended up in that terrible man’s clutches in the first place. Spen tells me that prior to your parents’ sad death, you were a brilliant student with a glittering future in engineering ahead of you.”

  “He exaggerates.”

  “I do not,” Spen insisted. “You won prizes and everything.”

  Daniel shrugged. “I told you why I dropped out.”

  “Yes, you did,” Leo agreed, “and you had excellent reasons at the time. But things have changed, and I firmly bel
ieve it’s time you returned to your studies, gained that qualification, and got on with the career for which you are manifestly more suited than working as a PA. Just as Julian makes a superb assistant and doubtless a fairly mediocre engineer, the reverse is true for you.”

  “There are two reasons I can’t do that, Leo. One, I can’t leave my brother and sister to go back to the place where I was studying, and two, I can’t afford the fees or to be out of work for so long. What?” Daniel looked around and saw the grins on the other three faces. “Okay, Spen, what have you been cooking up behind my back?”

  “Nothing, I swear. It’s all Julian, Leo and Zachary. They told me to butt out.”

  “Nothing so vulgar,” Leo said, but his smile only became more devilish. “Daniel, the university where you were studying isn’t the only place in the country which offers that degree, is it?”

  “No, but—”

  “Nor, as I have since discovered, is it the only institution which offers modules in your particular fields of interest. Were you aware that in the coming year, Bentall University here is offering an electrical engineering degree with a major in robotics and prosthetics, and in fact the lecturer who will be taking charge of that is the same one who taught you at your original place of learning? He’s been recruited and offered a professorship. Quite the feather in his cap, I understand.”

  Daniel stared. “Dr Woolley?”

  “Yes, indeed. I have also had Julian investigate, and late enrolments for mature students are still open for another week. I know it wasn’t your first choice four years ago, but things have moved on.”

  Daniel turned to Spen. “I could study here? Without leaving the kids alone?”

  “Yep. Even do some of it by evening study if you want to. Danny, you just need to enrol on that course, then you can apply for summer internships and job experience. Dad says the council offers a few places and he’d be happy to put a good word in for you.”

  “And I have one or two useful contacts in that line, Daniel,” Leo said. “I have one firm promise of a summer placement if you enrol, based on your existing results, and I can probably arrange others.”

  Daniel’s dazed expression was beginning to worry Spen. The kid had had to deal with a lot of shocks recently and maybe this was one too many. “Danny? What do you think?”

  “It’s great...but I still can’t afford it, or to support Dee and Alex.”

  “Ah, this is where I come in, if Leo doesn’t mind,” Zachary said. His uncle waved him on. “As a mature student with dependents, you’re eligible for grants and allowances that you weren’t eligible for as a dependent student. You have this settlement from your employer, which will give you a cushion for six to eight months. Further, with your permission, I contacted your solicitors handling the case against the construction company, and enquired as to the progress of the case. There is no dispute that the company is liable at least for some damages—the main point of contention is the apportionment of blame between them and their subcontractors, and how much, if any, will be awarded in punitive damages. However, there is an agreed minimum that they will certainly be liable for, and your lawyers agree that should you instruct them to do so, they could ask the defendants to make a small interim payment, on account of what they will have to ultimately pay. Even ten percent of the agreed minimum would easily cover your living costs and fees.”

  “And should all that fail,” Leo said, “I would insist on offering an interest-free loan to assist you. Because, Daniel, nothing saddens me more than young people not reaching their potential, and when their potential is so great...well, it’s shocking.”

  “Before you refuse that help,” Spen jumped in to say, because Daniel had that stubborn look on his face, “you should think about the fact that you can earn a lot more as an engineer, and so you’ll be in a much better position to support Dee and Alex when they want to go to University themselves.”

  “Precisely,” Zachary said in his cool voice. “It would be selfish to deny them out of some misguided principle.”

  “Now don’t bully him, Zachary,” Julian said, coming to sit by his husband. “It’s more important that it’s the career that will make Daniel happy, and what makes him happy, will make Dee and Alex happy.”

  Daniel opened his mouth, then closed it. “Drink some wine, dear boy,” Leo said. “And please don’t let any of us, including my nephew, force you into anything. I know it’s a lot to think about.”

  “And he’s not used to the Underwood method,” Julian said, grinning at his boss. Leo lifted his glass in salute. “Anyway, why don’t we talk about something else, give Daniel a chance to digest it all? Daniel, I have a folder of information for you which you should read. The only really urgent deadline is the enrolment on this course if you want to do that.”

  “I do. If I can afford it, I really want it. Dr Woolley is brilliant. I really enjoyed his classes.”

  “Well then.” Leo beamed at him. “Just do it, as they say on television. You have enough money in the bank to go ahead. Even if you refuse all help and your savings take a hit, in the long-term, it’s an investment in your future you simply cannot afford not to make.”

  “Spen?”

  Spen took Daniel’s hands. “I agree with them. Damn it, Danny, it’s what needs to happen. Dee and Alex will agree with me. Dee’s told me a few times how sorry she is that you had to give up your studies. Alex just wants you to be happy. So do I.”

  Daniel tried to smile but his lips trembled. Spen took him into a hug and let him hide his face against his shoulder. “Thank you,” he mouthed to the others.

  “You’re welcome,” Julian mouthed back. “Zachary, I need a hand with the meal. Would you mind?”

  Zachary frowned at his husband for the few microseconds it took for spousal telepathy to kick in. “Of course not.”

  “Ah, and I believe I forgot something in my apartment. Julian, if you would help me up? Thank you.” Leo picked up his cane. “How long to supper?”

  “At least half an hour.”

  “Then that gives me time to find what I forgot.” Leo winked at Spen. “Take your time,” he said quietly.

  Left alone by his considerate friends, Spen could push Daniel back so he could look into his eyes. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Sorry.” He wiped at his eyes. “It’s just been....”

  “Tough. I know. You’ve done a brilliant job looking after them. Now it’s your turn.”

  “Can I really enrol this late? What about prep reading?”

  “Enrol, then talk to Dr Woolley. Don’t tell me he wouldn’t be sympathetic.”

  “He would. He offered to help when I told him I had to drop out but at the time there was just no way I could stay.”

  “Well then. And with the kids away, you’ve got time to yourself to read up. I can help.”

  “You already do. You did go behind my back though.”

  “Nope, I swear. All them. I hoped they could find the answers, but without Julian and Zachary doing the research, I wouldn’t have had a clue.”

  Daniel buried his head in his shoulder again, his arms going tight around Spen. Kani and Myko abandoned their friends and came over, squirming into Spen and Daniel’s laps, squeaking and meeping for attention. Spen freed a hand to pet them both. “It’s okay, squirts. It’s more than okay.”

  Daniel leaned back. “You know, everyone keeps going on about how terrible it was I ended up in that job and being targeted by Tony. But since I’d never have met you, never got together with you...maybe it wasn’t so unlucky.”

  “Oh Danny. I wouldn’t want to be with anyone at that price.”

  “No, I get that. But since I didn’t have any choice...I’m glad things turned out this way.” Kani, who’d managed to make his way up to Daniel’s shoulder, chirped. “He agrees.”

  From Spen’s lap, came another chirp. “So does someone else.” He leaned in and kissed Daniel. “I think I might just love you quite a bit.”

  Daniel grinned, his eyes shi
ning. “I think I might love you too.”

  A clatter of something dropped in the kitchen reminded them that they weren’t alone. Spen smiled and moved back. “We’ll talk about this later. Let’s go help.”

  “Aye aye, cap’n.”

  Kani and Myko did somersaults, then ran over to the kitchen area to cause whatever mischief they could find. Which, with kems, was always going to be a lot.

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