Topic: Family Affairs (18+)

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:39 EST
(***DISCLAIMER***Adult content implied but not played through, some naughty words. Tsk Tsk Tsk. And never forget blood guts gore and anger. ***DISCLAIMER***)

Quinn was dressed in a three piece Armani suit, casual, with all things considered. Sitting fidgeting with his tie in front of the house in Rio that he bought as his very first marital home. Swallowing hard he looked sideways at Dirk, feeling rather hot, and rather nervous about the whole situation. A hand slid from his tie to find its way into dirks. "Are you sure you?re ready for this?"

Although accustomed to wearing formal and semi-formal attire up on the catwalk, Dirk wasn't as comfortable wearing a suit for every day events. Not that this was an every day event, he reasoned with himself. He was dressed similarly to Quinn, three piece Armani with all the cuff links and tie clasps that came with it. Inwardly, he was a nervous wreck. More for Quinn, than himself. He knew all too well how hard it was to come out to family. When Quinn reached for his hand, Dirk turned his attention outwards to his lover. He offered a comforting smile and as one hand held Quinn's the other covered it. "Question is, are you? We don't have to do this, babe. I can be just a business partner, or whatever you'd like me to be."

"If you were anyone else you would be a business partner, or a sales rep from the states, but you?re not anyone else." The statement was finite as if there was nothing more to say. He tugged lightly at Quinn?s hand and walked right to the door. Opening it lightly he smiled and nodded to a young man, clearly a butler of some sort. Where he informed them that the family was out on the veranda waiting for them. A nod from Quinn and he smiled to Dirk his hand still in that of his lover.

Dirk couldn't think of anything else to say, except, "I love you." He smiled and gave Quinn's hand a squeeze as they walked into the lavish home. The bags he carried were taken by the butler as Quinn and Dirk made their way through the house. Just before arriving at the veranda, Dirk paused in his step and tugged Quinn back to him. "No matter what happens, I'm here." Impulsively he leaned close and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Quinn's mouth. "I'm so proud of you."

He nodded, and returned the kiss affectionately. This was not the time to be timid. He pulled open the wide glass doors to the veranda with a bright smile and a spreading of arms. "Daddy's home. Who missed me?" He smiled brightly and scooped up his daughter and then his son. Pressing a kiss to the tops of both their heads before looking to Michelle. "Michelle this is Dirk. Dirk this is Michelle. Before anyone asks. This isn?t someone Daddy works with, or someone who is here to look at a hotel, he's...a very special friend of Daddy?s" He looked to Dirk and wondered how to explain a boyfriend to a six and eight year old.

Dirk gazed into Quinn's eyes for a brief moment before the doors were thrown wide. This was Quinn's time to shine; and a family reunion came first and foremost. He took a half step behind Quinn and smiled pleasantly with a nod to Michelle as he was introduced. His hands went behind his back and he kept them there, letting the news sink in. Of course the children wouldn't understand, but he saw the look in Michelle's eyes and feared the worst for Quinn.

Michelle held a glass of sangria in her elegantly boned and finely manicured hand. When the door opened and the love of her life stepped out onto the balcony, she beamed with happiness. And as the children squealed and hugged their father, her happiness didn't quell. But the moment the tall American was introduced, her smile faded quickly. Storm clouds loomed in her blue eyes and she took a deep breath. A woman of breeding, she knew better than to make a scene; especially in front of the children. "A pleasure, Dirk." Her mouth turned into a firm line and she rose, smoothing out her silk camisole. "Quinn, may I have a word with you, please?"

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:40 EST
A clearing of throat and he straightened his tie a smile and a nod of his head. The halo of chestnut curls bounced lightly and he seemed happy with himself. Only his silver eyes seemed to dull. He set down Maria and little Quinn. ruffling his sons hair he smiled. Looking to the Nanny Rosa he smiled. "Can you tell Clara to bring Dirk something to drink please? We shouldn?t? be gone long." The way he said it meant business. He would be back very shortly. This topic was not up for long discussion.

Little Quinn as they called him crawled up onto a chair and folded his arms over his chest taking in Dirk toes to hair. His face scrunched up in thought. "What?s a special friend?" The look from Rosa made he smile that goofy crooked grin. He knew that it meant he had said something he wasn?t supposed to. "Mom has a special friend too...But he cleans our pool." A nod and he grabbed his cup of juice chugging some back. "But he only comes in once in a while."

Dirk took another deep breath and then settled down into a chair and crossed one leg over the other as he watched Quinn leave the veranda with Maria. A question pulled his attention to little Quinn. He couldn't help but smile. The boy was named aptly. The glass of sangria was sipped from and immediately choked on and spit out. "Oh, is that so?" He laughed and reached out a hand to shake little Quinn's hand. "Well you could say that your mom's special friend is just like your dad's special friend."

Maria had her father's silver eyes and her mother's sculpted face, even at the tender age of eight. She sat, as she was instructed, with her hands in her lap and her feet crossed over the ankles. Her back never touched the seatback. While her brother was silly, she was becoming more reserved with her studies of the traditional female roles. However, she was still a precocious child and couldn't help the next question that came out of her mouth. "Do you and Daddy love each other like Mommy and the pool man do?"

Quinn wandered off the veranda with a snicker to himself about said Pool man. He rose both brows and then peered to Michelle. "A little clich? don?t you think? The pool boy? I cant entirely blame you, he is quite a bit to look at." A smirk and he closed the large glass doors behind him. Eyes on Michelle now and he dropped the happy Daddy act. "If you?re going to chastise me for Dirk you?ll be speaking to yourself. He?s very important to me. And I hope that you can accept his as a part of our family."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:41 EST
"How dare you bring that into your children's home?" She whirled on Quinn and narrowed her blue eyes. "We have raised the children in a Catholic home. You know how the church feels, much less your mother.." she took a deep breath. "You're mother is going to disown you. Why, Quinn? Why are you doing this now? We were all happy pretending your parade of lovers were nothing more than business partners! Must you rub this in all of our faces?"

"He's not a lover! He?s the other part of me. And how would your very Catholic mother feel about you ******* the pool boy while your children are here, and very clearly noticing. Furthermore. It is not THAT. He is Dirk and I love him." He walked into the study and opened a cabinet pulling out a bottle of brandy. He poured himself three fingers into a glass and looked back at her. "My mother can disown me. I don?t need her money, I don?t need her approval, and I certainly don?t need to be reminded of the church. More so because I stopped going. It was just another Lie Michelle. And I am done living a lie. It didn?t make us happy, it doesn?t make me happy, and I am sure as hell that somewhere inside it isn?t making you happy either."


Michelle had followed into the study, her heels sounding and echoing off of the highly polished hard wood floors. Her mouth moved and a sadness came over her face. But no sound was to emerge from her throat. When he poured the three fingers, she took it from him and finished it in a very unladylike gulp. With a trembling hand, she held the tumbler back to him. "God help you, Quinn. You're going to need it." She lifted her chin and made a quick turn, leaving the study. The conversation had, indeed, been a short one.

"I don?t need God's help. I was asking for my best friend?s support. Apparently that?s too much to ask for. We will set out shortly. You'll hear from my attorney about visitation with the children. At OUR home." He set the glass back down on the tray where it came from and composed himself. A deep breath and a couple of short paces in the study before he too left. He walked back to the veranda and smiled to Dirk. Standing behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder with a smile. His thumb ran gently over his shoulder.

"Hell will freeze before I let you take the children," her voice was low and like ice. The smile for her children, already at ease with Dirk, was bright and concealed the ice within her veins. "Come along, children. You've your swimming lessons to attend." She held out her hands to the both of them, expectantly.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:41 EST
Dirk pulled little Quinn into his lap and smiled at the proposed question from Maria. "I'd say it's a bit more than that, but not far off. You're a very smart little girl." Then Quinn and Michelle came back out and he could tell by Quinn's expression alone that it did not go well. He gave Quinn a comforting smile and leaned back into the soft caress.

"Ooh." Maria's eyes went wide, but her attention was quickly diverted to her mother. "But ma ma. I want to stay and talk to Daddy's friend. Please?" She bat her big, silver eyes and held her clasped hands to her chest. "Please, ma ma?"

"We can already swim. And I don?t even use the swimmies anymore...Plus that man wears a funny bathing suit." He leaned in close to describe the Speedo to Dirk. "Daddy wears shorts, and I wear shorts but he wears red underwear." A nod as if he was wise for his six years. Big and noble. "Can Daddy and his friend come and teach us swimming instead?"

Michelle's expression softened, she could never say no when her little angels pleaded with their big eyes and soft voices. "Very well, I'm sure your father and his... friend may take you swimming." She didn't comment on the Speedo that the instructor wore. "I'll be in the solarium, if you need me."

Dirk was overwhelmed by how the children had taken to him. It was quite the pleasant surprise and his easy going smile and southern accent became more than evident. "Thank you, ma'am."

A deep breath was taken and he looked to his ex-wife. A look that clearly said this wasn?t over. Quinn didn?t want to have to play hardball. Then again Quinn loved his children. A deep breath and he nodded to Michelle. "You don?t want to join us? I?m sure that we would all have a great deal of fun.?

Up from the table the little one shot and he looked around. Grabbing the remainder of his juice he swigged it back and smacked his lips together before running past everyone yelling "Thanks Mommy!!" And up the stairs. His Nanny Rosa following after him chiding in Portuguese for him to not run in the house.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:42 EST
Maria leapt to her feet and hugged her mother around the waist. "Thanks Mommy!" Then she raced her brother through the house and up the stairs to their rooms. Rosa had her hands full with these two high spirited children.


I'd love to join you." Michelle watched her children race off, then turned to follow them. A few hours later, the children were safely tucked into their beds and the adults were meeting in the study. Already, Michelle had poured the finest brandy into snifters and she was reclining on the chaise lounge. Her silk robe, emerald green and tied at the waist, was draped over the material, exposing her long, tanned legs.

Dirk had enjoyed the time they spent with the children, immensely. And the few hours between swimming and the meeting were spent trying to keep Quinn and himself as calm as possible. He hadn't liked the look on Michelle's face at all. And the fury of a possible custody battle had Dirk's stomach churning white hot acid.

Quinn gently rubbed his hand over the back of his neck before sipping his brandy. He had changed into a set of gray silk pants and a white tank top. His arms moving to fold over his chest. Eyes fixed on those of his ex-wife. "Can I trust you to be civil to my guest? I?ve put up with quite the motley assortment of your "friends" in the past." He narrowed his brows and watched Michelle as he leaned against the arm of the sofa.

"So he's gone from being very important and to be considered a part of this family to your guest? How long did that take?" Unable to control herself, she eyed Dirk from the top of his blond head down to the hurachi sandals he wore. "You must be pretty bad in.."

Dirk stood up quickly. He wore a white t-shirt and cargo shorts with those hurachi sandals. "We're all adults here and I'm sure that anything Michelle has to say will be civil. Won't it?" The brown hazels fixed Michelle with a stony gaze that had her wilting against the chaise and nodding meekly. Then he turned to Quinn with a smile. "See, it'll be alright babe."

"Where he is and isn?t alright is none of your goddamn business!" There was a roar from Quinn before Dirk stifled his ex-wife. He calmed himself and just drank down the remainder of his brandy getting up to refill his snifter. He didn?t measure in fingers up instead filled the vessel up. Sipping he looked between the two. "Michelle you?ll have to get used to Dirk, he isn?t going anywhere. I'll not make you choose, but its just too damn bad if you don?t like it. I spent six years married, gave you everything you could have ever wanted, and I will not be repaid by your shunning me now because I happen to be in love with someone who shares my gender."

"Baby, calm down." Dirk put his hands onto Quinn's shoulders and gently massaged. "It doesn't matter if Michelle approves of me or not. The kids do, and that's all that matters to me. What we have to worry about is the courts, if she pushes it to that." At this point, Dirk glanced over his shoulder with another glare to Michelle. "I just hope she realizes two things. One, custody battles only hurt the children. Two, the more you try to control them, the more they'll slip through your fingers and detest you." He turned his haze gaze back to Quinn and offered a wan smile. "Who matters, babe? Her or the kids?"

Michelle sat up with a determined gleam in her eyes and set her chin stubbornly. "Six years married and how many separated? Quinn you left me and the children. I've been with them since birth and these last two years where you had to "find yourself." And now you want to just take them away? Are you serious? I don't care what Blondie has to say. You'll have to kill me to take my babies from me."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:43 EST
"I?m not trying to steal OUR children, and I have been here every step of the way with them. From conference calls with teachers to school plays, or that mess when Quinn went missing from Disney, I never once judged you, or your parenting skills. Our children barely know us, they?ve so many lessons and classes and nannies doting all over them. I am not trying to take OUR children away from you. But now that there is a constant in my life, someone who I love very deeply, Id like to have them over nights at our home. I do NOT think I am being unreasonable."? He was heating around the collar at the mention of HER babies. "His name is Dirk, and if you like your pretty little stipend you keep cashing you'll not forget it again." Was the last nail in the coffin of his speech as he dumped the rest of his brandy down his throat for the second time.

Even Dirk had to take a step back from Quinn's heated and angry words. Slowly he sank into an overstuffed Queen Ann and tried to make himself as small as possible. He sipped his brandy slowly and waited for the next shoe to fall.

"You wouldn't dare cut me off!" She hissed and quickly rose from the chaise lounge. Her robe flew open, and flowed out behind her as she crossed the room to the father of her children. "You can have them every other weekend. Consider it a gift. One screw up, by either of you." she turned her angry gaze onto Dirk, then back to Quinn. "A single scratch and you'll never see them again. You and Blondie can do well to remember that." She turned on her heel and marched for the door. "Pedro! Pedro!" she called out as if in pain and in minutes the "pool guy" was there to escort her to her room for "comforting."

"His name is Dirk!" He threw the glass against the wall and stormed off as the broken glass rained over the wall. "And Every other weekend my ***! You'll hear from my ******* lawyers! Maybe your pool boy can pay for yours! because I?m not paying for another goddamn thing you!" He wandered outside and lit a cigarette and wandered back and forth muttering to himself about the ungrateful selfish pompous *****.

Dirk winced when the glass shattered and the expensive brandy perfumed the wall and surrounding furniture. Quietly he got out of his chair and followed Quinn out onto the veranda. Again, he sat down and leaned back in the comfortable wicker seat. He knew it was useless to try to speak with Quinn so angry, so he just sat there and was there, if and when Quinn was ready.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:44 EST
"She?s so terrible! I gave her everything she has. When we met she was working as a waitress in an espresso bar. She had nothing she was nothing and she will go back to being NOTHING." He took a long drag and looked Dirk over. "I?m so sorry you had to go through all of that.

Dirk reached for Quinn's hand and gave him a comforting smile. "Hey, it's alright. I'm just sorry that you're having to go through all of this. There has to be a compromise that you'll both agree to." He brought Quinn's hand to his mouth and lowered his head to kiss the back of Quinn's hand. "I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can come up with something."

There was a waggle of brows and he stopped himself and laughed. "I know how to deal with her kind, she?s a trophy wife, threaten to cut them off and they bend to what ever the hell you want. She?s not a bad woman, just ungrateful, I suppose she's owed some of it, for all she went through." He rubbed his brow and sat on the rail of the veranda. A deep breath and he just stared down at his feet. "I don?t know what to say about this. But I remember now why I wasn?t too upset to end up in a brand new place with no sign of anyone I'd ever met before."

When Quinn laughed, it was the breath of fresh air that Dirk needed to cut the tension. He rose and walked over, behind Quinn and placed his hands around Quinn's waist. With his chin on Quinn's shoulder, he sighed softly. "The children adore her, too, babe. Don't hurt them by exposing her for what she is. They'll find out in time. Ok?" He pressed a kiss to Quinn's neck and closed his eyes. "We'll figure out something. I promise."

"There?s always kidnapping. Or murder." He chuckled and leaned back against Dirk with a sigh. His hands reaching to slid into his lovers. "Maybe we should get some rest...Not to sound like a total ass, but I cannot wait to be back in our own bed back home. This whole place is so stuffy and restricting. I think this is the longest I?ve been dressed in months. And whets worse is you?re dressed too." A mock pout and he looked over his shoulder at his lover.

Dirk inhaled deeply and stiffened slightly when Quinn spoke about running around naked in the apartment. He kissed that little pout, then pulled away from Quinn. He knew he should have asked permission before telling Genny she could move in, he just hadn't thought of it at the time. Dirk was an impulsive man and often acted before thinking. "Yeah, about that..."

"Dear God I tell you if she made you think twice about us I will have to kill my ex-wife. I don?t want to and I am not a violent man but I have never had anything I needed to keep before and if she is the reason that you go I don?t think I could live with that you just don?t even understand about how horrible I would handle all of that..." He trailed off and just sighed.

"No no no!!" Dirk put up his hands, waving them as he shook his head. "No baby, there's nothing she could tell me to make me question what we have." He stepped closer and pulled Quinn to his chest. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Then why are you talking as if I am not supposed to see my darling naked anymore...Work? I can wait it out Cross my heart I wont even lay a hand on myself until you get back." He pressed a little X over his heart with the tips of his index and middle finger.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:45 EST
"No, if and when Marcia calls, you're coming with me." he laughed softly and returned to the chair he'd been in. "Thing is," he pulled out a pack of smokes and lighter. He pulled out two cigarettes and tossed the pack onto the glass top table. Lighting both cigarettes, he held one out to Quinn. "I've offered a friend of mine a place to stay until she gets on her feet."

Picking one up and nodding his head to Dirk with a very relieved look on his face. "Thank god that?s it. But baby does this mean we'll have girlie things in the bathroom? Hosiery, tampons, doilies..." He thought back about his time living with Michelle and then about when he moved to new York and he just thought over and over to himself. He was trying to remember if there was a bathroom off of the guest room. Which brought him to think he should have bought a new home for Dirk. Something lavish and yet simple. Perhaps a Ville somewhere. His brain was on a free flying wonderful trip from thought to thought. Drunk Quinn was certainly an interesting Quinn.

Dirk was just as relieved as Quinn was, even if it were for another reason. "Well, I don't.." He didn't finish, realizing that Quinn was off in la la land. "Earth to Quinn. Come in Quinn." With a laugh, he exhaled a blue gray plume into the air. "Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry." He shook his head as if to get rid of the cobwebs. "I?m sorry did I ask a question in there somewhere? Because I don?t remember now." Another drag was taken and he expelled the cloud from himself with a smirk. "I get a little cotton brained when I?ve had Brandy which is PROBABLY why the she witch gave it to me.


"You asked if there'd be doilies and other girly things in the bathroom." Dirk chuckled and canted his head. Was now a good time to tell Quinn about Genny's abilities? He canted his head again, to the other side. Impulse took over and Dirk spoke without thinking. "You know not everything in Rhydin is everything it's cracked up to be, right?"

"Yes." He paused and then he looked at Dirk with a pained look. "You know in my sheltered little world everything IS what its cracked up to be right?" He was almost worried about the news that came next. Maybe this roommate was an assassin or a vampire. He was already happy with his wolf man, he didn?t know how much more open he could be. He trusted Dirk. But he didn?t know this woman yet.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:46 EST
"I know, babe." he held his hands up, wanting Quinn in his lap. "She's not a monster, I promise. Though, I've adopted her as a fag hag." He chuckled softly. "No, but she has the ability to see your past if you touch her bare skin. So be careful, ok?"

"Oh...All and all that isn?t so scary. She'll see a lot of awkward relationships with women and some horrid sex. Unlike everyone else in Rhydin, I don?t have deep dark secrets." He smiled but something in that smile was trying to recollect something he wasn?t fond of reliving. The expression quickly faded and nodded to Dirk with a bright smile. "Every fags got to hag, so we have to have one too."

Dirk was very happy with Quinn's reaction, but the way he smiled told a story that Dirk wasn't sure he wanted to know, but knew he had to know. "That's right, so now we have one too." Laying his head against Quinn's chest, he sighed wistfully. "If you had deep, dark secrets, you'd tell me?"

"Would you want to know?" He paused and finished his cigarette, tossing the spent butt off the veranda and into the pool. Make sure Pedro had something to do when he was done stuffing his ex-wife. A snicker of a giggle and he rubbed the? back of his neck before looking over to Dirk again. "Because I?ve done some pretty stupid shit in my day."

"Of course I'd want to know, babe. You are my world and anything that you've done is in your past. That's not who you are now, but it helped to create the beautiful person you are now." His cigarette followed Quinn's and he shared in the stifled giggle. Reaching up, he gently smoothed his palm along Quinn's jaw, bringing him in close for a gentle kiss.

Quinn was nestled again Dirk with his head resting against his shoulder. Almost childlike in stance. Perched in his lovers lap. A brilliant smile before the kiss and then a brilliant smile after. Silver eyes shone happily. He sighed and nuzzled his cheek against Dirks in a gentle brushing. "Well...I...I?ve taken someone for everything they?ve had and then when the put me on the spot to come out of the closet I?ve lied straight face while I tore their life apart."

"Oh baby." Dirk breathed out and searched in Quinn's eyes for the slightest bit of regret for the cruel act committed. "That must have been so hard for you to do." His arms tightened around Quinn's body and his eyes closed as he lay his head on Quinn's shoulder.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:46 EST
"That?s the worst part of it. At the time, it was as easy as telling people my name was Quinn DeFortes and I was full blooded Brazilian." He sighed and stroked his fingers through Dirk's hair. "I was a horrible person then. I just couldn?t let anything change my ideal little life."


"That's not so terrible." Dirk pulled his head back a little to gaze into Quinn's eyes. "You were protecting your wife and children. It's what any father would do in that position." He paused then and took a deep breath. The next question was going to be difficult for them both. "Have you contacted him since to apologize?"

"No. I don?t know where he is. I promised Id never contact or speak to him again. And considering my attorney made it out to seem like he was harassing and stalking me, we aren?t allowed with in a hundred feet of each other without him going to jail." A sigh and a frown as he rubbed his brows. Wondering if he should have more brandy. He decided against it as he was already saying things that made him seem like a monster.

"Oh." Dirk pulled Quinn close once again and sighed contently. "I'm sorry that the guy was torn up, but I'm not sorry you did that. It was one step on the path for us meeting." Looking up once again, he smiled. "How about a skinny dip? Really leave Pedro something to clean up?"


There was a lick of Dirks lips and he smiled brightly nodding. He climbed up on the rail of the veranda and without so much as removing a single stitch, he tossed himself into the pool from two stories up. Not only troublesome, but apparently reckless as well.

"Quinn!" Dirk rushed out of the chair and watched as his lover plummeted and then splashed into the pool. "Oh shit, Quinn!" Dirk was up and over the rail, sandals flying off of his feet just before he submerged. He flung the wet hair out of his face as he gasped for air when he broke the surface. "Quinn!"

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:48 EST
"Yes?" He was peeling a soaking wet t-shirt off of himself and tossing it onto the side of the pool. His brow raised in question. Dirk seemed worried and so Quinn was very worried. Swimming over quickly he took hold of Dirks arm and watched him. "I?m fine please, don?t be worried."

Dirk jerked his head around and sighed heavily with relief. "Don't do that to me. You 'bout gave me a heart attack!" Though, with Quinn so close, he couldn't help but smile and then laugh. "You are one wicked man."

"I am not, I?ve been doing that for almost a decade. To be honest I think Michelle used to have that reaction too." He laughed and reached over pressing some of that blonde hair behind Dirk's ears. He canted his head to one side. "But I'll tell you, if she calls you Blondie again Ill have half a mind to kick her in the box."

Dirk was a little humbled, being compared to an ex-wife. He bit his lower lip as the hair was tucked behind his ear. "It's better than Barbie. That's what my first boyfriend called me in front of his friends when I came out and he didn't.

"I'd have slapped her right then and there. No one emasculates my darling." He smiled and rested his head on Dirk's shoulder looking up at him with those quicksilver eyes. He couldn?t help but beam as Dirk bit his lip. "You ok sweetheart?"

"Yeah," he breathed out with a slight moan as they pressed their bodies together under the water. "I love it when you use big words." That country boy dumb grin slowly faded as he lifted his chin and eyes fluttered closed as his lips touched and then suckled on Quinn's.

The kiss pressed against Quinn?s lips was returned with a fiery passion as he swam them both back against the side of the pool, where he pinned his better half. And secretly somewhere deep inside, he prayed that that horrid couple would see just what they were doing in their pool.

"Ah!" Dirk groaned into Quinn's mouth as his back met with the side of the pool. He couldn't keep anything in his head but what was happening in the here and now. He kissed back, just as hungrily and eagerly. He wrapped his legs around Quinn's waist and realized they were both still clothed. Breaking the kiss, he leaned his head back with a laugh.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-29 22:48 EST
When Dirk broke away and laughed Quinn canted his head. A little confused and a little curious. Had he not been slightly drunk he may have been hurt but luckily he had been drinking. "I?m sorry...am I making funny noises or faces I should be made aware of darling?"

"No, nothing like that. It's just kind of hard to make love with clothes on. Wet clothes, at that." he leaned his forehead against Quinn's and smiled. "Come on, let's go up to our room. There will be time to bless the pool later."

He smiled and crawled up out of the pool and with both hands he pulled his lover out after him. He was thinking some pretty interesting and deep things. But he would have to discuss them with someone back home. Despite the heavy thoughts on his mind he had a hunger and happiness in those silver eyes. He tugged Dirk up against him when he got to the door to kiss I?m fiercely before stumbling back and opening the door.

"Mmmm." Dirk's smile was just as brilliant as they kissed and stumbled through that pool house. The back of his legs struck something soft and Dirk fell backwards, his hands flailing and then finally latching onto Quinn's belt. "And we all fall down!"

Quinn broke his fall and made sure that his hand was on the back of Dirk's head to make sure that no harm would come to it. He smiled and nodded his head down to his adorable lover. "That we do my darling. That we do."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:29 EST
Quinn rolled over in the pool house and grumbled something about lights and pain before he nestled himself against Dirk, pulling his lovers arm over his face to keep the sun out of his eyes. Quinn didn?t have to open his eyes to know it was bright out and he didn?t have stand to know he was hung over.

Maria's eyes went wide when she walked into the pool house bedroom and viewed her father and his "special friend" tumbled and in the bed together. She hurriedly turned around and screamed, holding her hands over her eyes.

"Mmmm" Dirk murmured in his sleep and snuggled closer to Quinn's very warm body. But the shrill scream had him sitting bolt upright in bed. "Huh, what?" His eyes landed on the little girl and his jaw dropped. "Oh ****. Quinn, get up baby. We have a visitor." Dirk kept the sheet clamped down across his abdomen.

"****!" He exclaimed and grabbed duffle bag, pulling out a pair of swim shorts he pulled them on and ran after his daughter. He knew Dirk would be ok, and was hoping that he would be right out. As he rushed out of the pool house he ran like a streak to catch up to his daughter. "Maria stop! Stop! Its alright Daddy and Dirk were just asleep...Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?"

Maria stopped when her father said to and turned around. She was crying and dancing from foot to foot. "Just like Mommy! Now we'll never be a family!" She rushed towards Quinn, little fists pounding his abdomen. "You're never going to come home, ever again!"

Dirk grabbed his pants from the floor and tugged them on as he went running. Hearing the screaming child though, he faltered in his tracks. He wasn't sure that Quinn needed his help. So he remained at the edge of the pool, simply watching.

Quinn stood there and took it just let her get it out before he took her by the shoulders and spoke to her.? "Mommy and Pedro are friends too. When grownups love each other they share beds and the cuddle up, just like I cuddle up with you when you?re scared, or Quinn when he fusses. Just because I love Dirk, and Mom Love Pedro doesn?t mean we don?t love each other. We just love each other different is all. And it certainly wont ever mean we don?t love you because you and Quinn and are the glue holding all of us together. Pretty strong glue too if you ask me." He wiped some tears from her cheeks and looked her square in the eyes that matched his. "Plus, I have to come back, I have to pick you up every other weekend to come visit with us."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:31 EST
When her father took her shoulders, she crumpled and fell against him. Listening as best an eight year old could, she looked up with red rimmed eyes and sniffled. "Why can't you and Daddy Dirk come live here, with us? You and Mommy and Pedro and Daddy Dirk and Me and Quinn? How come, Daddy?" Her blue eyes were huge and shining with innocence.

Dirk couldn't help but smile when he was titled with Daddy. Still, he watched Quinn closely and sunk down into a chair. It was one thought and he considered it.

"Well, because Daddy Dirk and Me live somewhere else for right now. I know that Quinns too little to remember how me and Mommy used to fight, but I bet you still remember. And I dont want to put You and Quinn and Mommy through that all over again. It wasnt any fun for anyone. But how about this? Daddy Dirk and me, we'll go out and see if we are interested in any houses in the neighborhood for a little vacation spot. Then we can see you two whenever we want to."

"And I can come to your house?" There was a little tremor in her voice. "I don't want to live here with Pedro anymore." she pouted and looked away. "He's not nice. He spanks us." She folded her arms over her chest and stomped a foot. "I want to live with you and Daddy Dirk!"

Dirk raised a brow and shifted in his seat. Even he knew that it was nobody but the parent's right to dish out corporal punishment. His brown eyes bore into Quinn's back, waiting for his answer.

Quinn froze and he looked down at his little girl for a moment. He took a deep breath and nodded to her. "Lemme talk to mommy. Can you do me a favor Maria and show Daddy Dirk your tomato plants? Im sure theyve got ripe tomatos by now." The look in Quinn's eyes was like murder when he nodded back to Dirk. A nod that said he was going to take care of this.

Dirk stood up and nodded when Quinn gave the diversion. Maria seemed more than happy to take Dirk's hand when offered. Dirk mouthed. "good luck babe." before turning around and picking up Maria. "I love a good mater. Tell me they're beefsteak ones and I'll buy you cotton candy until you can't stand it anymore."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:33 EST
Quinn turned and ran himself into the house. Walking right up the stairs and down the hall. He threw open the door to the room his wife and him shared for so many years and walked inside as if he owned the place, which was funny because he did. Maria quickly tried to cover herself up it was to no avail. He didn?t care either way grabbing the pool boy Pedro by the ankle he tugged him out of the bed and left him in a pile of confused on the floor. A pair of pants were thrown at him. "Get dressed"

Pedro rolled and grabbed the pants thrown at him. He knew Quinn and Michelle had been married in the past but after the divorce jealous husbands usually went away. Hopping around pulling on the pants he looked up at Quinn who towered about seven or eight inches over him.

That was all Quinn needed was to beat a man senseless who was stark naked. Quinn hauled back punched Pedro the pool boy right in nose. A disgusting crush was followed by a fountain of crimson. Again Quinn reeled back and again he punched the man, this time in the mouth. "Piece of shit! You laid your filthy hands on my ex-wife, and you know what that was HER goddamn mistake. But the biggest mistake you ever made was laying a hand on my kids!"

Michelle had been sleeping with Prince Valium the night before, so she was sluggish in her reaction to the slamming of the doors and then to the sound of fists meeting with flesh and bone. "Quinn, stop it!" her voice was slow and slurred. Trying to get out of the bed, she could barely stand up and sank right back down onto it. "The kids? What'd he do to the kids? Did Blondie or Becky or whatever his name is tell you lies?"

"The homo's gone crazy." He swung back at Quinn catching him in the stomach before getting caught once more in the jaw. He turned around and looked at Michelle. "He's lying. Get this crazy ****** off of me!" He swung again catching Quinn in the jaw.

"No..." He threw Pedro on the floor and climbed on top of his enraged by the punch to his jaw and the one in the stomach. He was in pain, his lip fat, his jaw swollen and his ribs hurt but it didn?t stop him. "Maria..." Slamming of his fist to the pool boys face. "Told..." And again. "Me..." One more time.

It was about at that point that Pedro would pass out and go limp on the floor at the foot of the bed. He was very much alive, but he wasn?t conscious and if he got away from all of this without needing some form of surgery it would probably be some sort of miracle. He came to after a few minutes and started moaning and groaning.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:36 EST
Michelle shook the sleep out of her head and stood up again. "Quinn, you're going to kill him! Stop!" She looked at the pool of blood on the floor and put her hands on Quinn's shoulders to try to pull him back. "Please!"

Quinn was pulled back but not before he kicked him swiftly in the ribs. "I?m fine. I?m done! Call an ambulance. Good luck to his ass." Quinn spat on the dilapidated pool man and walked over to Michelle?s nightstand and grabbed a cigarette. He lit it and walked out of the room running bloody fingers through his hair.

Dirk had a thorough tour of the garden and spent a good hour with Maria before Rosa came to whisk the young girl off to her tap dance class. The closer Dirk came to the main house, the more he smelled blood on the air. "Quinn." Dirk broke out into a run and he ran through the downstairs, looking for his lover. "God, if anything's happened to him, somebody's going to die!"

Quinn was in the upstairs bathroom swabbing peroxide on his bottom lip which was split open. There was a shiner on his cheek and his stomach and ribs were sore. All things considered, he wasn?t doing too bad. He called out to Dirk. "Everything is fine darling. I promise you I?m ok."

Hearing Quinn's voice, he bounded up the stairs. The stench of coagulating blood nearly brought him to his knees. "Dear God." Staggering, he finally got into the bathroom and closed the door. The fan was turned on and he gulped the precious fresh air that blew down on him. He had leaned against the door and closed his eyes. But when he opened them, and saw what was reflected back to him, those eyes began to shine and shimmer into molten golden pools. "Where is he?" Dirk's voice was a deep, dark and gravelly growl. He was close to snapping. "I'll kill him.?

"Ambulance took him out a couple minutes ago. I told you I was fine. You didn?t have to come up here darling." He checked in the mirror making sure he had blood nowhere. He looked back to Dirk to notice he wasn?t himself. This was something they hadn?t been over before. If he was pushed that close to the edge how was Quinn supposed to bring him back. A couple of winces, due to a couple of steps and he gently reached out to touch Dirk's arm. "Listen its ok. The blood in there is his. Not mine. I am fine. And he paid for raising a hand to my kids."

Dirk inhaled deeply, delicate nostrils flaring wide. His mouth remained in a solemn frown as he nodded his understanding. Lowering his chin to his own chest, he closed his eyes. An even deeper breath was taken in, and blown back out slowly. When he raised his chin, his eyes were once again the color of sun kissed chocolate. Reaching up, he gently touched Quinn's bruised cheek. "I'm glad you did it." He stared into Quinn's eyes, hoping the steel in them would fade again into the quick silver that Dirk loved. "But we need to talk." Pushing off of the door, he took a step forwards and reached for the peroxide and cotton balls. "First, we take care of this."

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:38 EST
He moved back a bit and when he sat down on the edge of the claw foot tub with a grunt and a wince of pain. He looked up and prodded his lip with his tongue. He hadn?t split it badly at least. He had been quite the scrapper as a kid and he could hold his own. But this was pure unaltered hatred and anger. Something he wasn?t sure was housed in him. Part of him was proud. Part of him was ashamed. But every single last ounce of his being was thankful Dirk had come back

Dirk was quiet, gentle and diligent as he disinfected the cut to Quinn's lip. Inside he was broiling angry, but he dare not show it on the surface. It would be too easy to let the lycan side free. Tossing the used cotton ball into the trash, he reached for a wash cloth. When he turned towards the sink, he spoke, "Well that's done. Now let's see to the bruises. Ice would be better, but this is all I have." He soaked the rag with cold water, then turned off the tap. He wrung it free of excess moisture before turning back and gently cupping it to Quinn's swollen cheek. "Will he press charges?"

"You?re not in the united states anymore gorgeous. The property is mine. The land is mine. There wont be questions if I didn?t kill him. He can try to press charges, but it wont do him much good." He jumped as the cloth touched the bruise and the jumping made him wince. "I swear to Christ though if he broke my ribs I'll beat his ass again. Oh damn where are the kids?"

Dirk nodded in understanding. He'd traveled to many places and knew that not all countries operated like the US. "If he broke your ribs, you won't find him, babe." It was as simple as that. "Maria went with Rosa to her tap class and Quinn was in class learning to read or something." He kept the cloth pressed to Quinn's cheek until it started to warm. "Can you walk to the kitchen? We can get some ice there.

"Yeah I?m good to walk baby. Don?t worry." He reached up and cupped his hand against Dirk's cheek. Steadying himself with a hand on his lovers shoulder with a smile to him. "What did you want to talk about Darling? If its about the fight I?m sorry that you had to be here for this. But I am not sorry I kicked the breath out of him. Oh darn...Is Michelle ok? She was upset with me."

Dirk put his hand on Quinn's back, the other his abdomen and gave him support without pressing on his ribs. "Well I'm worried. If Michelle brings up to her lawyers that you nearly killed her boyfriend, they may question whether or not you'll fly off the handle if the kids get too rambunctious." he sighed as they made their way down stairs. Dirk stopped, half way down, when Quinn asked about Michelle. A searing needle of jealousy went through him and he turned his head to keep it from showing. "I've not seen her." His voice was a bit colder than he wanted it to be.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:40 EST
Quinn stopped and looked at Dirk and his brows knit together. He mumbled something and took his hand off of his shoulder. He was plenty steady and he began walking to the kitchen alone. "I?m sorry Dirk. But I cant exactly ask you about how you?re doing, I don?t even know how to bring up what happened in that bathroom." There was a very harsh whisper. "Werewolves don?t exist in Brazil as far as humans are concerned and I don?t want them to hurt you."? He raked those fingers through his hair and walked right down the stairs as if it was nothing. He was in enough pain to bring tears to his eyes but he ignored the pain.

Dirk stared at Quinn, dumbfounded. He turned his head, confusion written all over his face as Quinn walked away. "Wait a minute. Hold on." He turned and followed after Quinn. "When did this become about me?" He passed Quinn on the stairs and stopped just in Quinn's path and turned around to look up at him. "This is about you, Quinn. This entire trip is about you. It's not about me. Now if you want to ask me how I feel, then do it; I'll be more than happy to tell you." Dirk then reached out his hand. "Lean on me, I lean on you. Isn't that how it's supposed to be?"

"I know what jealousy sounds like Dirk. I may be mortal but I?m not stupid." He leaned against Dirk and sighed lightly. "Why does my concern for the mother of my children upset you?" He couldn?t fathom it. He was happy when they got to the kitchen and he went right for the ice. The bruise one his stomach and his side were already turning purple. A wrinkle of his nose and he frowned tossing the ice into a zip lock bag.

"It's not that." Dirk sighed and leaned against the counter once they were in the kitchen. "Make sure to wrap that in a tea towel. You'll burn your skin if you don't." He put his hands onto the counter edge behind himself and leaned back. "It's just that you keep comparing me to Michelle. I'm not her, I'll never be her and I'll never be able to give birth to your children. I just wonder if I'm enough for you.?

"Thank god you?re not her...Dirk did it ever cross your mind that Michelle and I are close the same way you and the girl you invited to say with us are? I mean you know that if I want another baby we have a world full of surrogate mothers here. He found a dishtowel from a package in the bottom drawer next to the refrigerator. He wrapped the ice and rested it on his side with a wince. "And between you and I it would be the same process that Michelle and I went through...I didn?t...I couldn?t...Never mind."

The thought hadn't occurred to him, ex-wives were exes for a reason. But if Quinn said it were so, then it was. But the last part, the part that was stammered, had Dirk frowning. "You mean, you haven't had sex with Michelle, at all?"

"I have, just never very well. I wasn?t lying when I said I had to think of a really hott guy to even keep myself into it. Our courtship was more a deep friendship, the rest was a mutual respect. We tried a couple of times, but I just couldn?t get my head wrapped into it. I didn?t like women but was too stubborn to admit it. After coming home from my fifth or six business trip she said it to me and I came clean. She didn?t care. She was...involved with a business associate of mine here anyway. So both Maria and Quinn are fertility clinic kids. I donated in New York, we got pregnant in Rio and I was here for the birth." He had NEVER told anyone that before. He and Michelle were the only two

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:43 EST
"Oh." the story was much to take in and Dirk found himself sliding to the ground to sit. He frowned a bit, the thoughts in his head whirling about one central item. Michelle had been unfaithful and then she got pregnant. Quinn was no doubt little Quinn's father, but what about Maria. Dirk looked back up and took a deep breath. "And you got the DNA reports to prove each one?" He hated asking the question, was ashamed to do it. But his first and foremost thought was to protect Quinn from a money grubbing espresso waitress.

"Both mine within two one-hundredths of a percent. And it wouldn?t matter if they were mine by blood. They were too perfect I was home for each of the births. Disgust thing when you think of what happens. Completely fascinating when you can actually see it...Who knows darling, maybe someday we will have our own little half Lycan." He smiled and reached out with a wince to tuck Dirk's hair behind his ear. Looking down to him sitting on the floor.

Dirk looked up, a smile on his face. He knew that it didn't matter if the kids were blood related or not. They loved Quinn and Quinn loved them and that's all that really mattered. When Quinn touched him, he closed his eyes and leaned into the caress. "Maybe." Turning his head, he nuzzled, then kissed Quinn's bruised knuckles. "I'm here for you, no matter what, Quinn. I'm so proud of you. I know it's not been easy." Dirk rose then and gently squeezed Quinn's hand. "Now go talk to your hag. And don't let her get a rise out of you. You've got the money and the resources to make the kids disappear from her life. I just hope that it doesn't come to that. It'll break Maria and little Quinn's hearts."

"I have to pray that she doesn?t beat my ass...I cant hit her back." He opened the drawer under the one where the zip locks were and grabbed a pack of smokes. If people couldn?t tell Michelle was a closet smoker. Appearances were important to Brazilians than anything else. He lit a cigarette and turned to look at Dirk with a smile. "Wish me luck." And with that he was climbing the stairs holding ice on his ribs.

"Good luck." Dirk sighed and turned to walk out of the kitchen. Little Quinn met him in the hall and he picked up the boy. "Would you like to hear a story about werewolves and vampires?"

Michelle was laying in a beautician's chair. Her face was covered in avocado mask and her eyes were covered by cucumber slices. She wore a turban on her head, hiding her hair. On one side a servant was giving her a manicure and at her feet another was giving her the second half of a Mani Pedi. She shivered, the image of Pedro's beaten in face repeatedly haunting her. "I can't do this," she complained and sat up. Her left hand was manicured, but only part of her right. "Do I have to wear the cucumbers today?" With that, she removed the cucumbers and tossed them into the trash can.

"You look like something I could spread on a bagel." He watched as she tossed the cucumbers in the trash and shook his head. "Its to get rid of the puffiness under the eyes...Or some BS like that." He watched her and was kind of happy there were several other people in the room when he got there.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:45 EST
"Finally, something nice and something that makes sense." she threw her hands up and icy blue eyes stared down her ex-husband. "What do you want? You've already made sure that Pedro not only doesn't work here any longer, but anywhere else in this city. What do you plan to do to me? After all I did let him touch your precious ex-wife." Yes, she was still fuming.

"I didn?t give a damn who you bedded when we were married why the hell would I care if he slept with you now that we are divorced? It has nothing to do with you Ms. Stepford Wife." He snickered and sat down beside her gingerly and started picking at his own nails. "This has to do with Maria telling me she doesn?t want Pedro living here anymore because he spanks her?

"The hell you don't care. First thing out of your mouth was "you slept with my ex-wife." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew it was useless to argue the point. The insult was received with another death glare and she didn't move to try to comfort him when he winced. "Spare the rod and spoil the child, Quinn. You know that. You've been away for so long, Pedro stepped up. You should be thanking him for taking care of the children instead of beating him so badly that he'll be surgery for the next eight hours."

"You want to thank him for hitting my kids? Are you insane?" He rubbed his brows and just shook his head. "Im getting soft or you?re getting drunk and drugged to the point where you can let the hired help beat our children?" He just looked at her and adjusted his ice. "What the hell happened to you Mich?"

"He's not just hired help." She sighed and lifted her left hand to show the modest engagement ring Pedro had given her. "I was going to tell you, I just didn't want to do it over the phone. Then Bl... Dirk was with you and things got crazy."

"..." He looked down and shook his head. "You want to marry the man who makes our children miserable? Jesus Mich..." He just shut his mouth at this point. The hired help was going to be moving in and benefiting from his hard work. A deep breath and he looked her over. "Is that what you want?"

"Until you showed back up, I never heard a word from either of them about Pedro. He's been good to them, Quinn. And he's here. They need a father and he stepped up to the plate. He's also been very good to me. You left a huge hole in my heart. He's helped me to mend it." Under the mask, her features softened and the mask cracked and crumbled at the edges. "Let me ask little Q. He isn't old enough to really know how to lie. If he tells me he's miserable, I'll give the ring back and Pedro won't step foot in this house again. Fair?"

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:47 EST
"As long as you don?t make me apologize for beating his ass. Because I don?t like him and I'm not sorry." He nodded and leaned back with a deep sigh. "I believe Dirk was telling him a fairy tale. Lets just say he's rather fond of them." He looked to the door waiting for the little one.

"No, I wouldn't expect you to be sorry." she sighed and closed her eyes as one of the maids began cleaning her face of the green goop. "I know the children are fond of Dirk. They're already calling him Daddy." Michelle waited until her face was free of the mask before opening her eyes. "I've missed you, Quinn." She reached and touched his shoulder.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM" Came booming from outside of the room and in came running Little Quinn. "Daddy Dirk was telling me about men who turn into big dogs and bad guys who suck blood out of people!" His eyes were huge and he looked around trying to find where Dirk went. "Where is new Daddy?"

Michelle pulled her hand from Quinn's shoulder when she heard her youngest calling to her. Her arms were held out to the boy and she lifted him into her lap and hugged him gently. His curls were given a kiss. "big dogs and blood sucking people," she glanced over to Quinn questioningly. "Well those people don't live anywhere around here. So you're safe."

Dirk came to a halt just inside of the mini spa and leaned against the door frame, watching the family within. "I'm right here, little man."

?Oh man Mom! You really don?t think any live here? I want to be a dog man when I grow up." He got down on his hands and knees and started growling and walking around on all fours. "Oh there you are! Come on! Be a big wolf with me! Mom If I give Daddy Dirk my play room and we turn it into a grownup room can He stay and make Pedro go away?"

Quinn?s mouth twitched as he was trying to keep himself from smirking. He was glad he wasn?t the only who knew how wonderful his partner was. Hands folded in his lap and he rubbed his thumbs together.

"Daddy has his own room, and whoever stays in it is up to him." She watched her son crawl about and smiled warmly. "I've always said you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up, baby. But I'm not sure about a wolf man. I'll have to look that up."

Dirk's eyes went wide when little Quinn said he wanted to be a wolf man. He started to shake his head and put his hand up, but the boy was crawling on the ground and his growls were so adorable that Dirk couldn't possibly object. Not now when things were going so well between himself and the children. Not now when little Quinn was too young to really know what he was asking for. Instead, he gazed into his lover's eyes and smiled bashfully under the praise of a six year old and the pride of the six year old?s father.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:49 EST
Smirking to himself Quinn grabbed a nail file from the tray and tapped it against the arm of his chat with a raising of brow to his son. Cheeks flushing pink. Eyes shifted to Dirk and he smiled. A nod and he looked back to Lil Quinn. "Hey Buddy can you tell me how you feel about Mommy's friend Pedro?"

"Ummmmmm He's ok. He spanks Maria though. But he doesn?t spanks me!" Shaking his head and looking around the room. Still walking around on all four and barking. "When he wants to spank me I hide in the laundry chute. But don?t tell him. Maria used to fit there but she?s getting too old and big."

Michelle gave Quinn a look for starting the questioning without him. She then turned her matronly sweet smile towards her son. "Why does Pedro spank Maria?" She'd chastise the boy about playing in laundry chutes later. This was more important.

Dirk could imagine the boy hiding and had to put his hand over his mouth to stop from laughing. He'd done the same thing, only he hid in the hay loft in his father's barn. As Quinn looked at him, he winked back.

"Well sometimes she runs in the house and sometimes she hides from Rosa and once she put gum in Clara's hair. But Pedro gets too angry and sometimes Maria cries for a very long time." Nodding he looked to Dirk and when he winked little Quinn winked...but with both eyes. So he blinked.

"I don?t regret beating his ass Mich..." And when he caught both Dirks and Little Quinn?s wink he burst out laughing. Oh man he was going to be in trouble with the ex over that roaring laughter. He wiped his eyes and then grabbing a cucumber he tossed it at Michelle.

What Michelle was hearing concerned her and she reached for little Quinn. "Come here little Q." She felt the urge to comfort her child. The cucumber fell to the ground as she pulled their son into her lap. She reached over and poked Quinn in the middle of the bruise on his side. "Did he leave marks like that?" She was almost afraid of the answer.

Dirk's smile was back at the sound of Quinn's laughter, but it quickly faded when Michelle asked that question. He, too, leaned forward in anticipation of the question. He knew he'd have to restrain Quinn from murdering a certain pool boy if little Quinn answered the way Quinn didn't want to hear.

"Not always big like that one. Sometimes little. But they only hurt a little while, Maria told me that." He seemed almost smug knowing so much, being six was such a wonderful age. He got to learn a hundred new things every day.

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 03:55 EST
Quinn eyed Michelle widely as she poked him in the bruise and coughed. But in hearing his son's response he dropped his bag of ice and started to get very red in the face and ears. His hands shook slightly and he suddenly did not think anything was funny. He was thinking now. Cold, and calculating.

Michelle clutched little Quinn to her chest at that answer and held him there tightly. "O meu deus meu bebe." She murmured as her crystal blues filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, what've I done?" She rocked little Quinn as she held on tightly. Tear filled eyes turned to the now very angry bigger Quinn.


Dirk was at Quinn's side in seconds flat and kneeling in front of him. "Calm, baby, calm. Don't scare little man." he held onto Quinn's hands and gazed up into very cold as steel eyes and shivered. He'd never seen Quinn so angry.

"Quinn vai achado Rosa e a conta receber seu almoco.? He told his son to find his Nanny and ask her to get him some lunch. A deep breath was taken but those eyes were dull grey and calculating. His hand went to squeeze tightly at Dirks hand and as soon as Little Quinn had left the room, he looked Dirk in the eyes. "Tell me what to do. Because all I want to do is kill him."

Michelle took a deep breath and haltingly reached out. Finally, her hand rested upon Quinn's shoulder. "Me too."

Dirk ruffled little Quinn's hair as the boy obediently ran from the room. He hoped that the little guy didn't think his mother's tears and his father's anger was his fault. He made a mental note to check in on him later. Right now, he was looking into the face of a man set on murder, his friend along with him. "Do nothing. When the time is right. I'll do it for you?

"I am not a patient man Dirk. And he hurt my first born." Quinn just though about it and just had to think of all the things that Michelle had said earlier. How he hadn?t been around, Pedro had to step up to the plate. He felt like he was going to be sick. His hand immediately went to his forehead and he tried to imagine what he had been doing when this man had been beating his child.

Before Dirk uttered anything, he could see Quinn turning a bit green about the gills. "Quick, get me a bucket or pail or pan or something!" he barely glanced at Michelle, but it had the woman running from the room and yelling for servants. "Breathe, baby, breathe. Deep breaths, in and out." He took the ice from Quinn's hand and placed it onto the back of his neck. "Talk to me baby, what's going on?"

QuinnDeFortes

Date: 2010-06-30 04:52 EST
"I should have been here for my child. What the hell type of father does that make me?" Green didn?t even cover how he was feeling. If he didn?t empty his stomach he would have been shocked. A deep breath and he looked up at Dirk pleadingly, as if he was being suffocated but much less dramatic. It was fear, panic. He just looked down into his lap to hide the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Don't do that to yourself." Dirk grabbed a towel and placed it onto the ground, just in case. "Baby, you were stuck in a strange place. It wasn't your fault you got put into Rhydin. And you got back here just as soon as you could. Don't beat yourself up. Not even Michelle saw this coming. Though I'm going to talk to Rosa. That woman bathes and dresses those kids. She knew this was going on and didn't say anything."

It took no time at all after that before Quinn had emptied his stomach into the waste basket next to him. "I leave for a couple of months and this whole place goes to hell I have to wonder now what the hell happens every time I go. What have I put my family through. You should have heard Michelle. Saying that Pedro had to spank the children...because I wasn?t around so he picked up my slack. Jesus Dirk she?s right." All this said with his head still resting on the rim of the basket.

Dirk sat nearby, quietly wiping Quinn's mouth and massaging his shoulders. The things that Quinn were saying made him a sad man to hear it. All of the reassuring couldn't cure an ounce of guilt and Dirk new that, too. Still, he simply sat there, a stone for Quinn to talk to. He didn't agree with Michelle. Nor did he agree with Quinn. Keeping his opinions to himself, he wiped Quinn's mouth, once more.

A deep breath and he was alright, he simply slid out of the chair and sat on the floor head in his hands and the tears streaming down his face. He resolved then as a blubbering full grown man that he was going to kill the pool boy whether Dirk thought he was going to or not. "We need to look for a new Nanny, and a pool maintenance man..."

When Quinn slid to the ground, Dirk held him close and let him cry it out. It wasn't until Quinn started to speak coherently again that Dirk made his second attempt at making Quinn feel better. "Babe, I'll interview the nanny and the pool guy myself. Please stop blaming yourself for what's happened. It's not your fault. You didn't make that asshole beat Maria. You didn't and you wouldn't. You can't blame yourself for being in Rhydin. You don't know how you got there, and you didn't know how to get back. But I can promise you something. Rhydin is our temporary home. This is now our home. The kids want us here. Not down the road and not in Rhydin. We can make this work, baby. I know we can."

"It isn?t so much trouble to get myself back and forth if we want to go back. I?ve heard some people do it." He nodded and took a deep breath nestled against him. Face was dried with the back of his hand and somewhere downstairs he could hear the kids screaming laughing and having a good time. "I think we have to find someone to set Michelle up with."


"Babe, I'll do anything you need me to do, but please don't ask me to be a match maker for your ex-wife/fag hag. I can't do it. It's not fair to her because she needs to learn to judge people better. And it's not fair to us because if we pick somebody that she doesn't like, then we've lost that friend and Michelle will claw our eyes out."

"Then how is there a nice way to prescreen her man friends so they dont abuse my kids?" As one could imagine this wasn't exactly something that came up very often nor had it ever come up before. He trusted Michelle's judgment and he trusted his own. A shake of the head and he shrugged. "Maybe she will want to get away for a while. Send her on a cruise. Or we could send her into the rainforest and let her have a spirit walk. Either way, she?s going to need some her time I?m sure." He noted that she was poolside cuddled up with both children.

"I don't know, baby. Now that we can be here more often, that's a plus. And we'll teach the kids that telling us what's going on is not a bad thing. Even if it means getting somebody in trouble, it's ok to be a tattle tale sometimes." He gently rocked with Quinn in his arms and smoothed his hair back from his face. "She will need some time after this is all over with. But right now, she needs to be Mommy. She feels just as guilty as you do." Dirk sighed and pressed a kiss to Quinn's forehead. "You know, the kids are pretty lucky."

"We've tried to give them everything they could have ever needed, but not to buckle to their whimsical childlike wants. No matter how much money one has, spoiling children is always a bad idea." He laughed to himself, that halfway hurt laughter when you?re laughing but not quite alright. He knew exactly what happened when you spoiled people without hesitation. It ended up badly. He wondered if Dirk felt more comfortable now, knowing that he and Michelle were more brother and sister than anything else.

"Well, I was going to say that they have three grown ups that love them very much. But you said it better." He smiled and his heart ached at the sound of Quinn's half hearted laugh. "It'll be alright baby. Everything will be alright." Craning his neck and tilting his head, he gazed into Quinn's eyes. "I love you."